BJ Wilson and Company, a professional wardrobe-consulting firm, started up in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1983. The company also offers services in personal styling, special event styling, personal shopping, travel packing and gift buying.
Believe it or not, BJ Wilson, the owner, founder and image consultant for the company, didn’t always want to go into the fashion industry. Before building her business, Wilson was the only woman in an architectural firm, working as an assistant. She became the person her colleagues went to when they didn’t know what gifts to purchase for their wives or girlfriends. This gift-buying service spiraled into an interest in consulting.
We dress ourselves for a majority of our lives, and we develop our own style. We know what we like, and what we don’t like. So why do people turn to a professional wardrobe consultant instead of sticking to what we know?
“People recognize that they need the help,” Wilson said. “They aren’t knowledgeable, they don’t know what to buy. A consultant that’s professional can educate their customers.”
Every business owner has bumps in the road, and those bumps often come one after the other at the very start. Even though she has an entire page of customers raving about her business, Wilson faced a challenge that most companies struggle with in the building process. She struggled to find employees that were loyal and knowledgeable that she could rely on to help her thrive.
Success stories like BJ are what can inspire the rest of us. A few words of advice from someone experienced in the fashion industry can be just what we need to take that next step in our career.
Wilson believes that being trained in some form of retail background, for at least one year, is what many fashion industry newcomers lack.
“Work retail, on the floor,” Wilson said. “That’s what can kind of give you direction.”
Wilson also opened up “Knowledge is Sales,” a fashion retail training resource.
BJ Wilson and Company offers online classes and group seminars to people that are looking for help in specific style areas including how to dress in the workplace and dress codes.
For those wondering what is “in” right now, Wilson has a variety of favorite current fashion trends, including feathers, fringe, the color red and metallics.
Find out more by visiting http://bjwilsonandcompany.com