Business Chic

I love Paris in the Autumn...

2012-03-03T20:49:00.001-08:00

This is the week that I choose Paris.

Seems like a sensible decision. But last week Paris frightened me. Why? Well, because I am business owner. Therefore I am like one of the thousands of business owners across Australia that denies themselves things that ordinary Australians take for granted.

Like holidays, days off and a 38 hour working week.

Why do I deny myself these things? Well because if I was to leave my business the world would come crashing in as I know it. Clients would leave. The bank account would empty. Staff would revolt. World peace would come to an end.

Yes it all seems silly writing it down but for many business owners it is a real and genuine fear. So we abandon holidays, days off and 8 hour days because we can't afford to take such luxuries.

The irony is that by not taking holidays and days off both we and our business suffer. We lose focus, we lose passion, we become tired, unhealthy and we, our business' greatest assets, become a liability.

So what should we do about it?

The simplest thing to do is to have real time off. So on your day off, turn off your phone! Crazy notion I know. Then make sure you have great systems and great people in your business so that your business can run without you being in the office. If you're nervous about leaving for extended periods try roadtesting your systems and your people by taking some long weekends. Then you simply need to book that holiday and go.

During your first few long weekends there will be teething problems. Take a deep breath and address them. Maybe a system needs to be tweaked, a new system adopted or a staff member needs to be trained. That's OK.

Once you are reasonably confident that your business can cope without you then simply book in your holiday as if you were any other staff member. And then go!

Maybe you won't choose Paris. But wherever your 'Paris' is, make sure you take steps to get there this year. Your business needs you there!

My advice to Gerry

2012-02-25T18:56:00.001-08:00

Gerry Harvey has a problem with me. How do I know that? I'm one of the many Australians that purchases on-line (particularly from overseas) and he doesn't like it.

Now if Gerry knew me at all he'd relax a little because my online purchases are mainly books, shoes, dvd's, shoes, clothes, shoes jewellrey, oh and did I mention shoes? What Gerry doesn't realise is that the reason I'm online is because:

1. the Australian dollar is my dear friend at present
2. I don't often get to the shops
3. my online experience is often nicer than a trip to the shops

Now, I'm not setting out to cannibalise the local market (heaven forbid) but overseas retailers, in my experience, simply offer more and do it cheaper and better. What Gerry needs to learn is how to adapt. Because what I've noticed recently is a change in how the smart retailers are offering their product and it's certainly winning a bigger share of my shopping budget.

So who are the Australian retailers winning me back and what are they doing differently?

1. Great customer service including assistance with styling in-store from savvy shop assistants who want to help without being pushy. Scanlan and Theodore are great at this.
2. Amazing (not good or even great) customer service with absolutely no pushiness. Plus using social media to showcase what is in-store including sales items and encouraging shopping via email and post (which means no costly online shopping cart). A gorgeous shop at Berry called Roots and Wings is a fantastic example. While on holidays last October the owner, Bec asked if I wanted to 'play' which involved an hour of me trying a host of different things on (and me buying more than I planned). Using the word 'play' rather than 'help' was genius as I felt no pressure to purchase. Plus I have emailed her over christmas and purchase twice again (all via email) based on her helpfulness and what she showed on Facebook.
3. The emergence of decent Australian on-line stores that showcase Australian designers including the dreamery, frockshop and my catwalk.

Australian retailers (including the online versions) simply can't compete on price with overseas online sites. However what they can do is look for the best local products, offer over the top service (good/great service is no longer enough) and be innovative about how they can access and service their customers.

Gerry's problem is he's trying to argue based on price. However I know that if I bought a TV and sound system from Harvey Norman, that if someone would come to my house, set it up and show me how to use it then I would pay a premium for their product. It's a no-brainer.

Throughout history there has been a theme - adapt or die. Why should it work any differently for Australian retailers? Rather than whinging that things are tough (aren't they everywhere) retailers need to innovate and become amazing (not good or great) at what they do. As my experience shows, it certainly pays off.

What are you scared of?

2012-02-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. My husband is involved with a football club. I know, don't judge me. I've commited to stop calling it 'stupid football' this year but the fact remains that he works with them and travels with them whenever they go away.

Now generally I don't mind a bit of girl time at home. There are girlie films to watch, secret women's grooming to undertake and catching up with girlfriends. However when it's a week away, which it is at the moment, I'm hopeless. Why? Sadly, even though I am almost 40, I'm still not great with sleeping in the house by myself because I kind of get a little bit scared. 39 years old and scared of the dark. Pitiful I know.

Of course knowing that I'm not great at night by myself you'd think I'd change my behaviour to make it easier. No, that would have been sensible. Instead, this week I watched episodes of Law and Order SVU and Criminal Intent. Most of which involved terrible things happening to people that are at home by themselves.

I know, I know.

Now I'm sure you think that I'm being silly (it's OK, I think that too on a regular basis) but this is no different to how many business owners act on a day to day basis.

They may know that they need to get out there and network or sell to their clients but it feels 'scary' so they stay at home or find 'important things' to do at work instead. Or maybe they know that they have a growing business with rising sales but no money in the bank, but they're 'scared' of anything to do with finance and budgeting so they go and get an overdraft or try to ignore the problem instead.

That's no different to me being scared at home and watching shows about things that happen to people that are at home... It's just dumb.

We all have something that we're afraid of. In business, it is usually something that you can receive more training in, mentoring or you can outsource the problem. It's when you do nothing or try to ignore the problem that you and your business suffers.

So, what have I done about my fear? Well I know I'm not going to overcome it this week so instead my gorgeous sister is dropping around to spend the night with her youngest child (she has two others at home still so it's a win-win). We'll watch some rom-coms, laugh and I'll have a rested sleep. Notice I'm not trying to overcome my fear, I'm just managing it. Big difference.

What are you going to do about your fears? Your fears aren't what is holding you and your business back. It's what you are doing (or not doing) about them that is. So decide today that you will not be ruled by those things you're afraid of but like me, that you'll start managing them better instead.

Resolutions Vs Goals

2012-01-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

I don't do New Year's Resolutions. Maybe it's because I'm a perpetual planner that I find New Year's Resolutions to be a little bit twee. Plus there's the fact that they're usually made while completely tanked or in the grip of a raging hangover the next day. Either way, it's not a real recipe for success.

Of course just because I'm a Resolution Knocker, doesn't mean I don't applaud goal setting. Some goals like committing to wear more jumpsuits, discarding tracksuits, being able to pay yourself a regular wage in your business or world peace are worthy goals and should be taken seriously. It's what you do once you have a vague notion of a goal that is important.

So if you've made a vague New Years Resolution here are some (hopefully helpful) steps to turn that wish (because let's face it, that's what it is at the moment) into reality...

1. Is your goal specific and measurable? Wearing jumpsuits too often or making more money in your business is too wishy washy. Wearing a jumpsuit monthly and paying myself a weekly wage of $1,000 can be tracked.
2.   Does your goal get your juices flowing? If you aren't inspired to achieve your goal, you won't bother so make sure you are emotionally invested. For me, a goal to run a marathon would make me want to run a mile (sorry, couldn't help myself) however a goal to achieve sales of $X in my business in 2012 or to wear dresses every day for a month inspires me.
3. What steps do you need to take to achieve your goal?  A fanciful idea is not a goal so you need to sort out the steps that you need to take to make it happen. This doesn't need to be a 100 page prospectus. An A4 page (or a notes page on your i-pad if your'e a little more savvy) with a few steps steps is usually enough to get you started.
4. Is your goal realistic? If I'm 5'10 and my goal is to be 6'2 then it's probably not going to happen (except with the help of trusted heels). Similarly if your goal is to make sales of $1million and you are currently at $5,000 maybe you need to sit down and do the maths to see if it is achievable. Of course, a stretch target is great, just make sure it's within the realm of probability.
5. When are you going to do it by? Success in a month, a quarter, six months, a year? Give it an actual date by which you'll achieve your goal and mark it on your calendar.

Finally, tell people. Nothing makes you actually do something like telling someone your'e going to do it. Tell your partner, family, friends, colleagues, social media, blog it and then tell them how you're going.

Of course for me the only thing missing is the reward. If you're going to put in all of this effort then I think you need to plan a reward for yourself for when you've achieved it.  For me, surprisingly, the reward is usually shoes - the great motivator. You might be different. Find your carrot and then, to use the words of a modern day philosopher, 'just do it'.

Why your business should be more like Iris Apfel

2011-12-11T18:21:00.000-08:00

When I grow up I want to be just like Iris Apfel.

The 90 year old (pictured above and below) has become an international style icon and describes herself as a 'geriatric starlet'. Already a successful businesswoman up until she retired in 1992, she was 'rediscovered' when an exhibition of her colorful and extravagantly accessorized wardrobe was a sensation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York.

Yet when asked for style tips Mrs Apfel has a surprising point of view. She says "I can't tell people how to have style. No amount of money can buy you style.... You have to learn who you are first and that's painful." That's not to say she's not outspoken on what people are wearing today. "Most of the young people today look dreadful. And celebrities look even worse... At the Golden Globes and Oscars they all look alike..."

See why I love her?

What I think that Mrs Apfel is saying is that we need to find our authentic self. Too often we try to copy what someone else is wearing or what the current trends are dictating without a thought for whether it suits us or represents our own style. Take a look next time you walk around your local shopping centre - most people dress almost in an unofficial uniform. Mums wear jeans and a t-shirt, teenagers wear jeans and a t-shirt, men wear jeans and a t-shirt. It's all so very blah.

As business owners I think this unwillingness to stand out in the crowd is obvious in our businesses. Tom Peters, a marketing expert said it best I think. "Think about small business for a minute. In its array of local enterprises your town is probably much like mine - restaurants and shops (and businesses) come and go. What stuns me is how hard people work to launch something new only to create a business that is so, well, ordinary."

I think in our businesses (and in our wardrobes!) we need to start learning that it is OK to stand out. Sure that will mean that you will face criticism and you'll probably make some mistakes. But I'd rather have an inspiring, forward thinking, full of innovation, well branded business than one that might be successful but is limited by my willingness to really stand out.

So throw out your jeans, put on something you're inspired by and start to think about what you could do to make your business really stand out. Iris Apfel style!

Fashion Advice for a Global Financial Crisis?!

2011-11-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

There have been so many experts weighing in on the global crisis in Europe recently that it seems editors have been searching for a different angle. And when I'm thinking advice for a global crisis, I don't know about you but I immediately think 'fashion designer'.

Which is exactly what Womens Wear Daily (WWD) have done. They asked fashion designers for “out-of-the-box ideas on how to break the cycle of lingering economic woes". I'm not sure that their answers are going to solve our current crisis, but they just might make you smile on a Friday afternoon.

Enjoy!

Karl Lagerfeld: I think they should make a tax so that when you earn a certain amount of money, you have to spend a certain amount on shopping. To buy whatever….And that way, we create tons of jobs. I think it’s a good idea. What I hate is people with a lot of money who don’t spend it.

Michael Kors: “Make clothes that make you look thinner, taller and younger. Steal away the plastic surgery money, because if you cut your clothes well, that’s what you’ll be able to do.”

Donatella Versace: I believe that in tough times it is still important-more important than ever, actually-to look your best. It is a way of boosting your confidence and the confidence others have in you.”

Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz: “It’s more difficult to cook with potatoes, eggs and cheese than with caviar … The pieces that are actually flying from the stores, they’re not the cheapest, the commercial versions, but the special pieces.”

Roland Mouret: “Don’t forget that when you buy or sell something expensive, [there's] a good chain underneath-that of people making a living… By spending on expensive luxury goods, you’re supporting life for other people. Rich people should be respected for that, certainly.”

Haider Ackermann: “I don’t have anything else in mind than dreams…and dreams can be useful….Let’s glorify life and reality to search for beauty and to escape from poverty.”

Manolo Blahnik: “Designers - do a good product that lasts, something solid, well-done and handmade if possible. Women - invest in good things. The days of cheap things and gimmicks are over. . You need to buy something that lasts.”

Markus Lupfer: “Peace, Love and Sequins! It’s all about creating jobs. The government should introduce a quota where companies have to produce a certain percentage within their own country in order to create jobs, and in the meantime - sequins for everyone!”

2011-09-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

I am going to blame the fact that the September issue of Vogue (US and Australia) arrived on my doorstep three weeks ago as to why there hasn't been an update for a month. Now for an excuse to talk about it!

I know last month I mentioned that those fashion folks at Vogue are clever. That they know that advertisers want to make a big pitch to the readers for their Christmas dollar but have somehow turned a great big book of ads into a coveted issue!

Still don't believe me? Well here are the stats on US Vogue's September 2011 issue:

•The magazine has 758 pages, 584 of which are advertisements

•More than three-fourths of the pages in the issue are advertising

•The total number of ad pages in this issue is up 50 from last year, or 9.3 percent

•The three page table of contents is not completed until page 172

Surprised? Yet I for one sat there for two very satisfied hours with my 758 pages of US Vogue, completely happy. Why? Because Vogue knows their readers. So they make sure the ads aren't just any ads. They are stylish and sophisticated and look like features in the magazine. While I and thousands of other women (and blokes) happily flick through all 758 pages without feeling like I am being duped for my dollars spent.

Now if you asked me to flick through 584 pages of ads I'd laugh at you. Yet this month I happily did it.

It's called knowing your customers, knowing your suppliers and being able to meet both of their needs with both parties walking away thrilled with the result.

So how can you better serve the suppliers and customers in your business? Maybe you have something that you think is a hard sell. 584 pages of ads certainly is so take Vogue'slead. Get creative about how you can meet your customers needs (and suppliers needs) in a way that everyone is not just satisfied, but thrilled with the result.

The September Issue

2011-08-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

If you are a fashion magazine editor you would know that the most important issue of the year is the September Issue. Why? I'm not sure. The cynic in me suspects it is the lead up to Christmas so advertisers are keen to push their wares on a cashed up, ready to spend public. The fashionista in me doesn't care because she just wants to look at the abundance of pretty pictures.

Whatever the reason they are the size of phone books. Literally. There is even a documentary dedicated to US Vogue's 2007 September Issue. That issue was 840 pages and weighed over 5 pounds (over 2 kilos). That's a whole lot of pretty pictures!

The September Issue cover is also the most coveted cover. Every celebrity and model worth their cosmetics contract wants to be on the cover. The covers are then dissected and reported on by bloggers around the world (see http://www.lifestyled.com.au/?s=september+issue)

What is clear though is that magazine editors have done their research. They know that they are not just in the business of creating magazines but they are also in the business of sales and advertising. They know that advertisers want to advertise in September and so they have created a special issue that is looked forward to by fashionistas everywhere.

You might say they know their product as well as the product within the product. They also know their customer. So well that they can turn what is essentially a massive advertisement into a celebrated special issue. Complete with celebrities and models clamouring to be on the cover. They've created demand and exclusivity.

Who said fashion folks were dumb!?

Do you know your market that well? Are you aware of the key players within your marketplace and how they can be leveraged to create a special and unique experience for your customers?

Take a leaf from the Fashion Bible (US Vogue's September Issue) and see if you can create extraordinary products and experiences in your marketplace.

The Little Black Dress Group

2011-07-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

If my dad was writing this he would feel the need to segue into the fact that the last blog was about the little black dress and cashflow in a business and how while researching that I found a great site - but - I don't need to because I know that those who read my blog are savvy and can keep up ...... (Yes I appreciate the irony of what I just did. I am my father's daughter...)

So in my researching, I discovered there is a business group called the Little Black Dress Group. Love it!

To quote their website, it is a global community of like-minded, results-focussed business women and entrepreneurs that can meet online and in-person at events and swap ideas. Members include Natarsha Belling (journalist), Layne Beachley (surfing champ) and many female business owners.

At any rate it's a novel approach and a great name! Intrigued? Check them out at http://www.littleblackdressgroup.com.au/.

2011-07-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Every woman should have an LBD (little black dress). A go-to dress that you can rely on in case you need to get ready in a hurry, you're having a bad hair day, a frumpy/fat day or you simply can't be bothered to be creative with your outfit!

The classic LBD isn't necessarily a show-stopper, sexy or glamorous (although it certainly can be). It's kind of like your best girlfirend. It's safe, trustworthy and wont' let you down. A uniform that you can put on without thinking that you know will look OK in. Sometimes a girl needs that!

For me, an LBD is like money in the bank. It's not a 'wow' outfit, but it's a staple that you simply can't live without.

In your business, the LBD is money in the bank - literally! Cashflow is the little black dress in a business. Profits and revenue can be stars but until the money starts rolling in your business can still fail. Sometimes the most successful busineses and the fastest growing businesses fail because of one very simple problem. There is no cash!

Suddenly the LBD is looking very sexy! Because without cash you can't trade. So how do you make sure you have good cashflow in your business?

Through strong terms of trade with your customers
creating systems (see our earlier blog on 'white shirts' in your busienss)
creating efficiencies so sales (or jobs) are completed faster
having and using cashflow budgets so you can plan for problems
good debtor collection systems
great relationships with your customers
great relationships with your bank

I'm not a big fan of uniforms or a prolific wearer of the LBD. But sometimes you just need a back-up. In your business you might not be a fan of systems, efficiencies or budgets but I bet you're a big fan of money in the bank!

So become a fan of the LBD and cash in your business. If you're not a fan of one already I'm sure it won't be too hard to embrace the other...

2011-06-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Life.Styled

I feel like I have scared people off denim after the last two blogs. Terrible! So here is a link to a blog I received last week about a store in Sydney that you can go to where you book an appointment, let them know what you’re after, sizing, coffee preference and then simply turn up.

What a great idea!

I have avoided shopping for jeans for months simply to avoid the minefield that is the modern jean department so to me this is pure genius.

Now, to the obvious next question. How can you apply this to your business? Maybe it’s a niche market that has been neglected. Maybe it’s a point of difference that you can promote. Or maybe like jean shopping it’s providing an easy way to solve what can be an anxious time for the consumer. It’s not rocket science but I think that the companies that get this can really win the hearts and minds of consumers.

Enjoy!

Why we can't afford Choos: My opinion on the 2011 Federal Budget

2011-05-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

Like many women I have a serious shoe problem. I love them. The higher and more impractical the better. I have a large shoe rack in my wardrobe that covers most of one wall and I am doing my utmost to fill it. Such a terrible problem to have.

Thankfully I only have one credit card with a limit that I can handle. Otherwise I know that I would be in serious trouble because of a terrible lack of willpower. If I had multiple cards I would have a field day online, in store and my ¾ full shoe rack would be bulging.

What bliss. What tragedy.

Imagine that instead of only having one card I had many credit cards which were all at their limit. So I took out store cards and GE finance loans and accepted every offer of a higher limit, then went to hock shops and loan sharks and the debt went up and up but I kept spending and spending because the money was being given to me so what was the problem...? Beside it’s not really my fault because the store owners loved me because I was helping the economy right? Meanwhile politicians and the media were telling me that I deserved the shoes and that I was a working-woman so I was entitled to those shoes and they started offering me handouts so that I would keep buying them. So really now it was unpatriotic NOT to buy shoes wasn’t it?! So I went out and bought more shoes and racked up more debt and more shoes and more debt...

Yikes!

This might sound like a shopper in trouble (and deep denial) but essentially it’s a description of what we as a nation (and most of the western world) have been doing for the past decade. As credit became easier to come by and our standard of living has risen we have consumed more and more stuff. Now we are at the point that we actually believe the lie that we have been sold that we’re all little Aussie battlers unless we have the latest X-box, flat screen TV, designer jeans and i-phone.

Maybe the problem is that there is simply not enough of my grandparents' generation around to shake their heads and tell us about ‘in their day...’

What I do know is that our country has too many shoes and too much debt. By that I mean we have created a middle-class welfare system that seems to have lost the dignity that our grandparents had of going and doing something for themselves.

If I want the latest Jimmy Choos then I need to pay my mortgage, my staff and my bills. Work bloody hard. Then go and buy them. Sure I might forgo something to buy them but that’s all about choices and priorities. Sometimes I simply can’t have it all – no matter how many times I’ve been told by newspapers, magazines and TV shows that I can.

As a country we can’t afford Choos at the moment because we need to pay the mortgage, the hospital bills, our kids’ education and maybe build a few houses. That means that belts might need to be tightened a little. If that means that an elderly person receives an operation sooner, a mental health patient is cared for or more money goes to infrastructure then I for one will continue wearing my Tony Biancos for a little while longer.

I don’t agree with everything (OK a lot) that the government has done in this budget. Some of the measures in my opinion are just plain dumb and lazy. (What was the point of the Henry Review if we are simply going to ignore it people!!) However what I do know is that we need to tighten our belts and that is what this budget has started to do.

A courageous budget? I don’t think so. A responsible budget. To some extent. The government certainly has a long way to go and I think owes a big responsibility to small and medium business (SME’s) for holding the economy together so far...
Yes I think the budget has major flaws. But it's a start...

2011-04-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

Business Basics: Denim Part 2

If you've read previous blogs, you'll know I have squat legs. Or 'stumpies' as my loving husband likes to call them. (I shouldn't complain though- without my stumpies I might never have developed my heel fetish!)

To really sell myself up the river I'll also admit to having fairly muscular legs. God didn't give me an hourglass figure but he did give me shapley legs. Which is good and bad. Good in a dress. Bad if you're trying on a pair of skinny leg jeans. (Actually if I'm trying on any pair of jeans I'm a bit of an advocate for a glass of wine beforehand. It's necessary).

What I have figured out is that super skinny jeans look ridiculous on me. They grab my thigh and ankle muscles and try to strangle them. Not to mention rendering me incapable of walking. Or sitting. Straight leg or boot cut jeans however are great.

Now to the minefield for me:

Dark and medium denim = good.
A light coloured wash down the front of the thigh = bad.
Light coloured denim = very bad.
Don't even mention stonewash, etc.
Flares = generally bad as they stangle my thighs
Boyfriend jeans = love them but feel ridiculous

How do I know all this? From a lifetime of trying jeans on, trying to convince myself they are fashionable (and on sale) and I can squeeze into them so they are obviously OK. And then never wearing them!

What on earth does this denim tirade mean for you? Just as it is important to know your denim age so you are not a 60 year old man wearing skinny jeans and a cardigan or god forbid looking like a 40-20 (see my last blog if you don't know what this delightful equation means), you need to know the 'style' of your business so that you can brand it and market appropriately.

Sure you may have figured out that your business age (or demographic) is 25-35 years old. So you run out and brand it like a Paris Hilton super skinny jean wearing, g-string showing business. That's good, right? Well at first glance that might seem to appeal to that demographic but if you drill down you may discover your target audience is actually females who are into sports and a healthy lifestyle. So you are branding in the entirely wrong direction. Instead you should be branding your business more like boot cut, skinny leg medium denim perhaps.

You may not have considered your business 'style' but your customer certainly has. From you logo, to your website, promotional material, how you dress and even how your phone is answered. They all scream volumes about who your business is.

So make sure that it all screams fabulous and not tragedy. Unless, of course, your target audience IS Paris Hilton. Then make them as tight and as low as you like...

When double denim goes very very wrong...

2011-03-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

What is your Denim Age?

Denim is an outrageously fantastic invention. Not only does it deserve second place on the list of what we need in our wardrobe - it needs two blogs to deal with it.

Which leads me to the first question. What is your denim age?

I am 40 next year. I can't quite believe that I am committing that to paper but there you have it. This new age brings new concerns - like becoming a 40-20. Never heard of it? Apparently it's where you look 20 from the back and 40 from the front. Nice huh.

Now throw in denim and you enter a minefield. What might have looked great on my 20 year old self (yes, you know I am dying to mention my tight, bright green cropped jeans with zippers down the side again) might not quite work in my late 30's. That's not to say they don't fit! Proudly they still did. But from the look of pain on my soon-to-be-husband's face as he tried not to laugh, they didn't have quite the desired affect that maybe they once had.

Now, that's not to say that those vibrant green jeans wouldn't look amazing on an 18 year old today. They would! Or that I need to resort to elastic-waisted shapless denim. Please! But I am going to look much better (and age appropriate) in a pair of very fabulous dark, high waisted skinny jeans - or another style that will work for me.

Now what does 40-20 and age appropriate denim have to do with business? The business 'look' or 'branding' and how it is acting in the market place is like the denim in your business.

Almost everyone has denim in their wardrobe. In the same way, almost all businesses have some type of brand or look. The difference is whether it is appropriate for the audience that you are hoping to connect with.

If you are targeting a youth market but your brand it old and tired you're a 40-20 in reverse. You're a 16 year old wearing elastic waist, shapeless denim!

Or worse, you may not know who your target market is so you're trying on multiple styles hoping that one will work - but none feels or looks right for you. Sure you might get it right occasionally, but you're also going to really miss sometimes. Not a good look.

What you need to do is identify who your target market is. How old they are, what they like to do, where they go... and then make your brand work for them. If you are targeting 18-25 year olds and a 45 year old doesn't think your branding works - who cares? The most important this is what your target audience thinks.

(Hopefully) a 50 year old man wouldn't feel comfortable in tight, skinny jeans and a cardigan. That's a young guy's look. (Actually I'd like to debate that too, but maybe not here). The point is that one of the issues in denim is not whether to wear it or not - but the age appropriateness of it! And how do you know what to wear if you don't know how old you are? (I wish!)

You need to know who your customers are so that you can style your business to make it attractive to them. So go, research, get to know your customer. Then ask their opinion about how your business looks. You might be perfect! But almost everyone needs tweaking every now and then...

2011-03-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

Who are we to argue with Mr Mandela?

I read an amazing quote again last week and I just had to share it. Australians are great at cutting down tall poppies. I think we're actually pretty good at cutting ourselves down too. We're particularly adept at not giving ourselves pats on the back, telling ourselves we did a good job, that we're alright or that we believe in ourselves. No I'm not about to break into a rendition of Whitney's "The Greatest Love of All"- you get the message.

Maybe it's a reaction against over-the-top American-type bravado but I think we've gone too far in the other direction.

Anyway, when we last spoke I asked you to get naked with me. It occurred to me this week that it's tough to get naked with ourselves- both physically and emotionally.

So I wanted to share this quote with you. I've heard he's a pretty samrt bloke.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?" Nelson Mandela

Read it again. Really. I think you need to give it a couple of goes before it sinks in.

So, let's make the decision as business owners to start embracing our inner brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous selves. Imagine the ripple effect across our businesses, our customers, our team, our friends, our family if as business owners and people, we started to choose to live like that?

After all, who are you to argue with Mr Mandela.

2011-02-28T15:45:00.000-08:00

'Getting Naked' with our Strengths and Weaknesses

Have you looked in the mirror lately? I know it sounds like an odd question at this point but it occured to me today that it's a question I need to ask you. And definitely before we go any further with building our Business Basics list together. Let me explain why.

One of the first things my now-husband commented on when we first started dating was my 'squat legs'. Charming I know. Now I'm 5'10 and the comments usually made about my legs are that they are 'long' - never 'squat'! But the truth is he was right. You see, I've always known that I have a long torso and shorter legs for my height. So I compensate this with how I dress (which no doubt explains my heel festish). The problem is my husband is a physiotherapist and when he stood next to me he immediately noticed it. Drats!

The reason that the world is fooled into thinking I have long legs is that I know my body shape. And dress accordingly. If I didn't, then I wouldnt know what to hide and what to emphasise. You see, while I may have shorter legs, they are shapely and toned. So throw on a pair of heels and viola - for all intents and purposes - great assets!

That's why as business owners we need to spend a bit of time getting naked!

Now I'm not going to ask you to strip down in front of the mirror. Unless you're like many of the men I know with oodles of self confidence or Jen Hawkins, it's just plain mean. But I do want you to take a good look at yourself.

Why bother torturing ourselves? Well so far we've looked at all the 'stuff'' (and probably too much time was spent reminiscing about certain pair of brightly coloured green cropped skinny jeans with zipper down the side that was culled. Sigh. )What we haven't looked at is who is inside the stuff. We've written lists about what we do and don't do as business owners and what we would like our business to look like but we've ignored our own strengths and weaknesses.

By getting naked (either literally or metaphorically) and truly looking at ourselves we know what to focus on and what to develop. As business owners we need to know our natural gifts and strengths and start developing and using them. If my strength is client relationships and being able to talk their language then I need to stragtegise about ways to get in front of my clients. When you focus on something that is already a positive you can strengthen that and turn that into one of your greatest assets. (I can almost hear Whitney playing in the background...!)

You also need to be aware of your weaknesses. In the same way that I know how to minimise my squat legs you need to know how to manage your weaknesses. Maybe you're not great at confronting people or managing book-work or developing systems. You can only manage or work on these weaknesses if you acknowledge them.

So take a seat in front of a mirror. Pour a glass of wine if necessary and start getting naked with yourself. Write down up to five strengths and five weaknesses. If you're struggling grab a good friend to help. Then just look at the list again over the next few days and make sure it still feels OK.

Getting naked is tough. But there's no point creating our basics list if we don't know what we're dressing. So deep breath, grab the glass and start writing!

2010-11-24T16:12:00.000-08:00

Business Basics - The White Shirt

I have a confession to make - I have more than one white shirt. This shouldn't surprise anyone who has seen my wardrobe. I also have multiple white t-shirts and white singlets. Sometimes I think these are breeding in my closet (either that or I'm stealing my girlfriend's that lives with us. Sorry Danni!)

Now I know that the white shirt or t-shirt is not the most glamorous item in your wardrobe. I don't think I've ever received a compliment on my 'gorgeous white shirt'. It's not a wow item. A classic often isn't. But imagine a man-style white shirt paired with black pants (Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction), a long skirt (Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday), a gown (Sharon Stone on the red carpet) or covering up a bad outfit (Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman). Then it becomes a showstopper.

When you think of those women in those outfits in those moments in those movies - anything else is just wrong. It would simply detract. Instead, the classic, boring white shirt - shines. It becomes the bones of the outfit, of the look, of the moment. The simplicity of which the moment is built around.

So what is the bones of your business? What is the classic that your business is built around?

It is your systems and procedures. Not boring and mudane - classic. On their own they seem ordinary and decidedly unsexy - but teamed with great staff, vision, budgets, marketing and so on they become the backbone of your business. They make your staff shine and your business hum along seamlessly (most days anyway).

I'm loathe to use McDonalds as an example - but could a store be a better example of systems in action? They are the perfect case of the white shirt in action (albeit a large, cheap one that I'm fairly sure would be polyester!). Think of any franchise for that matter - the only difference between a franchise and the business down the road is generally the systems and procedures that come with it.

Why should your business be any different? No matter what your business looks like - whether you're the Uma, Audrey, Sharon or Julia of your industry - documented systems and procedures should always be a basic, can't live without them item. Don't leave the running of your business to chance - make it a true classic by investing in the basics.

Of course the style of you white shirt, like your systems and procedures, is entirely up to you.

2010-11-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Extraordinary vs Ordinary

It was my wedding anniversary on the weekend and as we are on the 'evens' year it was my turn to organise. (Not only do I love a list but I love a system!) So I organised a romantic weekend in the city at the Observatory Hotel with dinner at Galileo restaurant. All very swish.

Now if you've been keeping up (or viewed the photo with my first blog) you'll know I love an excuse to get dressed up. So of course it was a fantastic excuse to buy a red, corseted Alex Perry number. Very glamorous. Also a little bit over the top - but that has never really bothered me before, so why start now!

Until the week before the anniversary that is when I tried on the dress to make sure it all worked. We girls have a lot to organise- the dress, the shoes, the bag, the jewellery, the hair. As you'd expect I rarely wing it and love a try-on before the big day.

That's when I realised my dress was extraordinary.

Now I knew this prior to trying it on - I mean it is a red, satin, corseted Alex Perry number with three layers on the skirt (did I miss that bit out before?) Not the kind of thing you'd pop down to the shops in. But standing in my wardrobe, in my dress I knew it would be extraordinary. I'm talking about the dress, not me - trust me, this dress was that good.

So what did I do? I grabbed a safe little black dress and tried that on instead, styled it up and figured I would take it with me as a back-up. Just in case I couldn't face the 'extraordinary' dress.

Ridiculous isn't it? Firstly I'm sure most men are exhausted at this point but what is ridiculous is to buy the most fabulous dress and then not want to wear it because it's too fabulous. Did I miss something here?

What occurred to me that night though is that my stuggle is one that many business owners go through. Not to choose between dresses but to choose between being safe or being extraordinary. You might think that's a crazy thing to say - of course business owners would want to be extraordinary... but do they really? As Australians I think we're taught to cut tall poppies down. To stay just below the stellar line and fit in. Being extraordinary means putting yourself out there, taking a risk, having the spotlight shine on you and what you're doing. It might mean having to look at areas of your business that you're not comortable with like budgets or business plans, branding or systems. Or telling people what you want to do and being held accountable.

In the end I wore my ridiculously fantastic dress. My husband was pleasantly surprised (but also a little shocked) when he saw me. But trust me, he'll remember that dress.

What about you and your business? Are you being safe or are you ready to try being extraordinary?

2010-09-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

You have got to love being a business owner sometimes. Especially when you get the flu, which turns into bronchitis and you start laughing (perhaps a little too hysterically) when the doctor says maybe you should take some time off. Going to Fiji in the interim for a girlfriend's wedding was the perfect remedy.

Taking time off (especially in the middle of August for an accountant) might be impossible but laying down some less important tasks can be. That's why there has been no blog for a month!

The blog will be back in a fortnight full of bright and shiny ideas designed to inspire and motivate you. I'll be kicking off with the Business Basic List (no I didn't forget - I have a list remember!). First instalment - The white shirt and why every business needs it's equivalent in their business.

2010-08-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Where to next? - Business Basics

Does anyone else love 'Best of' lists?I know I've made no secret of my love of lists. I've described in earlier blogs how lists are like porn to me - the chance to organise, tally and plan.... Love it.

It must come as no surprise then that I devour 'best of' (and 'worst of') lists. Every year many fashion magazine editors produce a list of the staples that they believe all women should own. A list of ten items that all women should have in their wardrobes. Now I'm not suggesting that every women needs every item on those lists but as a general rule they do work. They create a wardrobe capsule of basics that you can build around.

Once you have the staples the fun begins. You can then add that animal print bag, studded stilettos or military style jumpsuit knowing that it will work with the basic items that you already have (of course I still maintain that jumpsuits belong in the staples list, however unpopular that view may be!).

I think that business owners also need a 'best of' list (they also need a 'worst of' list to warn them off damaging behaviours, but that's another blog entry entirely!). Often a business owner will start a business with an 'entrepreneurial seizure' but with no real business skills. They're like a sixteen year old with their first paycheque. Lots of excitment but often little sense or savvy, business sense that is. I'm sure they're great at what they do in their business, but often don't have the first clue as to what it takes to run a great business. After all, who wants to run an ordinary business? Or one that won't survive past the twelve month mark?

What business owners need is a list of skills and procedures/things that no business or business owners should be without.

So that's what we're going to do.

So far in this blog we've had our wardrobe cull, we've taken stock, we've dreamed, we've thought about our personal style and we've donned our spanx! Now it's time to build.

Over the coming months we're going to build our Business Basics List. Our business capsule. The business staples that no business or business owner should be without. We'll work through them one by one and then its' up to you to action them. A stylist's 'best of' list is no good lining the bottom of the budgie cage. It needs to be inside the door of your wardrobe so you're constantly referring to it. And acting upon it. In the same way, this list will be a bit of fun, but will be so much more useful if acted upon. And preferably not by the budgie.

What will you end up with? Hopefully an incredible base on which to build your business. That's when the fun can really start. For a wardrobe it's adding studded stilettos, or maybe a jumpsuit (I know, I do love a jumpsuit). For business, maybe it's a brand extension or profit maximisation. All are incredibly exciting - when the basics are right.

First up? The white shirt and why every women needs a version of it. To find out the business equivalent make sure you subscribe.

2010-08-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Celebrations

The war of the department stores is on at the moment. David Jones v's Myer. It's spring/summer fashion parades at ten paces! They are celebrating new season fashion shows and their own cache of designers. Spring is being celebrated by Miranda, Jen and a bevy of other gazelle-like models, each more long limbed than the one before.

We've seen all this before as this is at least a bi-annual event for David Jones and Myer - but they are both celebrating in style. The Veuve Clicquot was on ice at David Jones for the fashion faithful earlier this week and Myer's launch is bound to be just as glamorous.

In my own business, I also have been celebrating. We launched our Business Coaching division (also in style) at a corporate box at the races and I revelled in the opportunity to dress up and enjoy our client's company for the day. So much fun.

What struck me is that in my 8 years in business, how little I have celebrated. Particularly with my clients - who I like, so why not include them!? Sure in my personal life there have been fantastic celebrations. Sometimes annual, sometimes seasonal and sometimes simply because a new frock or a pair of heels needs to be worn! However, when it comes to celebrating business achievements I'm a little gun shy.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Maybe that's because as Aussies we are taught to fly under the radar and not be a tall poppy. Maybe it has something to do with my natural introvertness. Whatever the reason, surely there has to be more occasions to pop the champagne cork!

So this marks the start of more celebrating. More marketing achievements. David Jones and Myer have season driven reasons to launch and celebrate but surely we as business owners need to take a leaf from their book and start ringing our own bells (cue Collette music for those old enough to understand...).

I know this is a small diversion from the blog path but celebrating is an important diversion. We work hard as business owners. Celebrations don't need to be costly but they should be shared. Whether it is with colleagues, clients, friends and/or family, make a point of acknowledging your achievements. Maybe it's a launch of a new division like me, maybe it's 5 years in business, maybe it's landing a new client or maybe it's overcoming a would-be catastrophe to see another day.

Celebrate it.

Being in business can be tough so let's start celebrating our wins together. Of course if your celebrations can include glamour and the sound of a champagne cork I think it is always a much better thing!

2010-07-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

Spanx and why your business needs good lingerie

I ordered two pairs of Spanx from America the other week. For anyone that has never heard of Spanx they are like a longer higher version of Bridget Jones mummy undies. Think really thick stockings in the style of high waisted (I’m talking way up on your ribs high) bike shorts.

So very unattractive on their own.

They are however incredibly necessary undergarments. If you are wearing a silky dress that clings and shows every bump, bra and underwear line then spanx will smooth all this out so there is no lines and ridges. They are also genius for white dresses, white pants, white jumpsuits, white anything! A bonus for those of us over 30 is that they also lift anything that needs lifting. Love a handy side effect.

Now they’re not everyday underwear. Way too much work getting them on (and did I mention how unattractive they are?) Instead they’re the weekly or fortnightly or monthly, special outfit underwear.

So what does a pair of Spanx have to do with your business?

Foundational underwear may seem an unnecessary option but they are always going to make your special clothes fit and fall so much better. In the same way the foundational work in your business is also potentially boring and unappealing (unless you are an accountant). But also incredibly necessary to make your business achieve its full potential.

So what is the business version of Spanx? They are the foundational plans that you lay. The business plan and budget. These may seem seriously unsexy things but without them your business can never live up to its full potential. It will never look its best.

Maybe you created one of these documents when you first started out, when you were excited and inspired and have never referred to it since. That’s about as useful as me putting the Spanx in my underwear drawer and never wearing them. Or you thought about creating one of these plans but it seemed too hard. That’s like Kate Hudson walking the red carpet in a gorgeous gown with serious VPL (visible panty line for the uninitiated). Her stylist would never let her get out the car and her ridiculously expensive dress would suddenly seem very ordinary!

In the same way that I don’t don my Spanx everyday, you won’t revisit your foundational documents everyday. I suspect if you did it would be a big waste of time and resources. Weekly, fortnightly or monthly however is a must.

Don’t waste time getting your business looking amazing only to have it come undone by your lack of creating (and regularly referring to) your foundation documents. Too hard? Well just like there are stylists for clothes, there are professionals that can assist with creating business plans and budgets for you.

Be the good friend that grabs you before you walk out of the door with VPL for YOUR business. Spend time this fortnight creating the ‘live’ business plan and budget that will make your business look amazing and show it off to its full potential. You're worth it, right?!

2010-07-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Being True to Yourself

I adore fashion magazines. I consume Vogue on a monthly basis and whet my appetite in between with hits of Grazia. I also love movies full of fashion and glamour like the Devil Wears Prada, Breakfast at Tiffanys and the September Issue. It’s probably also why I fell in love with the Sex and the City Series.

I love getting glammed up and going out to dinner, or the races, or brunch. Like the stylist Rachel Zoe, I am an advocate for dressing up or wearing your favourite outfit whenever the mood takes you. So, four inch heels for brunch down at my local cafe on a Sunday morning – sure! A wristful of bangles and a jumpsuit to a function down the South Coast – why not! A faux fur shrug and skinny jeans to the movies or to pick tiles for a renovation – absolutely! Maybe it’s a reaction against wearing conservative business clothes on a daily basis but I love breaking out on the weekend.

I haven’t always been this way. Particularly in my 20’s it was easier to wear the ‘unofficial uniform’ of my friends and don ‘jeans and a pretty top’ when I went out. However with age (and hopefully wisdom) I began to feel comfortable in my own skin and experiment with what I wanted to wear. Sure sometimes I was overdressed and still at times my husband or a girlfriend will cock an eyebrow at what I’ve chosen. But if I’m confident and own my choice then does it really matter?

In business it is also important to be your authentic self. This means feeling comfortable in who you are and what you are doing. Not simply trying to follow the herd.

I am an accountant & business coach and if I tried to portray the stereotypical image of an accountant both personally and in the branding of my business it just wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t be me. Besides, with my accounting firm and my coaching business it is the differences that set me apart. Why would I want to try to emulate the myriad of other accountants and coaching businesses out there? Why not stamp my own style and personality on the business and really make it a great representation of who I am?!

This blog is about building (or rebuilding) your business. Like a wardrobe rebuild you need to start with a cull, make a list and then you can start to determine the bones of what you have and what you need. But you can’t start building your wardrobe if you don’t understand your own personal style - who you are and what you are all about.

If you hate glamour, heels and dressing up then you don’t need a wardrobe full of stilettos and party dresses! Similarly there is a reason why I still don’t own a tracksuit – I would simply never wear it.

The same applies to your business. It is important to understand your own style and personality and how that may influence what your business is and can be. There is a sea of ordinary businesses out there. As we start your business rebuild, make a decision to be extraordinary by embracing your uniqueness and starting to think about how you might apply your own personal style to your business.

2010-06-24T21:12:00.001-07:00

Organising, Planning and Lists

I have a confession to make. I love planning. I love lists. I love getting out my diary and working out what I have on over the next few weeks. It is probably no surprise then that I ended up as an accountant and business coach as I love things like structure and forecasting. Just writing about it makes me want to start a new list of things to do, plan and achieve.

I'm like this in my private life as well. Sometimes my husband will look at me and say ' want to do some planning?' He may as well start taking his clothes off. It's so sexy.

I'm also a list maker with my wardrobe. Twice a year I like to go through my wardrobe, take stock of what I have and what is damaged. I then make a list of what is missing and book a ticket to Melbourne (or an apartment in Sydney) and go shopping for the weekend. (And lunching.) I also take the damaged clothes to my local alteration store to be altered so there's no waste. That way I have a wardrobe full of things for work without stressing out that something has a hole in it or charging out to buy a pair of black high heels at the last moment. For more than I want to pay. I don't particularly like shopping for an event or for an item so doing it in block with a list suits me perfectly. After that, it's all bargain hunting online and planning to wear the new items!

So, why planning? Why lists? You need to know what you have to work with. You need to take stock. But you also want to know where you are going. You don't want to arrive at the party, look around and realise you still have your year 10 formal dress on five/ten years later when everyone else has moved on. I've done it. It's not a good look.

If you have been following this blog you may have just done a stocktake on yourself as a business owner as well as on your business. Tough stuff. Well done by the way. So you've identified what is missing, what is damaged and what you need to get rid of. Now I want you to cast vision and make a list as if you were sitting down in 3 years time. What do you want to look like as a business owner? What will your business look like? What will the size be, turnover, culture, clients? Now do the same for your personal life.

Not everyone loves lists like me. But it is important as a business owner to not just float along, picking things up along the way. You need to be strategic about where you are going and what you need to do to get there. So don't worry about the nitty gritty yet. Just take a deep breath, take out your pen and start to make your own list about where you really want to be.

2010-06-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Business Clean Up

Moving in together is bliss right? When my husband and I first moved in together we cramped all of our belongings into a little rented house. I looked at his things and he looked at my things and we both wondered how we would politely tell the other that they had a lot of crap that they needed to throw out. Being an accountant, I thought I was incredibly savvy not to throw out any of my clothes as I was the same size still that I was when I left school (please don’t hate me – the down side is that I still haven’t grown boobs). My husband felt a little differently. Especially when he figured out that I had kept such gems as my year 10 and year 12 formal dresses. What transpired over the following weeks was a grand fashion parade of all my bags of clothing including my brightly coloured green cropped skinny jeans with zipper down the side straight from the 90’s...

When the dust cleared I had three large garbage bags filled with clothes I hadn’t worn in years, a list of things I needed to purchase and a wardrobe of items that I was fairly convinced I would wear over the next 12-18 months. As well as a big headache! I have to admit that I dreaded the ‘cull’ but at the end of the long and agonising process I was feeling a lot better about what was left behind. Plus I had an excuse to go shopping (!) armed with a list of what I needed to really make my wardrobe work for me.

As business owners we need to do the same inventory/sort/cull both on ourselves and on our businesses. Having been through this process myself again recently I found it to be an incredibly emotional and occasionally traumatic experience. Not unlike my wardrobe cull! You need to be honest about what skill sets you possess as a business owner as well as the skill sets that you lack. You also need to look at your business and what is working for it and what isn’t . For me it involved systems, procedures and people and as a business owner I was suffering from a lack of accountability and some poor people skills. Tough things to own up to but if I didn’t then my business would have suffered.

My advice - do as I did with my wardrobe cleanup. Pour yourself a glass of wine (keep the bottle close by) and get really honest about what is working for you and what isn’t both as a business owner and within your business. This may be confronting if you have never done it before so maybe ask a valued staff member and/or a close friend for their opinion too. Or if you can’t see the wood for the trees then you may need to hire someone to help with this one. Don’t think you need to? Everybody needs a seasonal spring clean so sit down and have a go anyway. Then start dreaming of what you and your business might look like if you were to do something about those issues. Now that’s exciting.

A cleanup can be tough. It was difficult for me to acknowledge that I was never going to wear my tight, bright green cropped jeans with zippers down the side again. Really. It meant that I was leaving my 20’s behind. But I replaced them with a pair of very fabulous dark, high waisted skinny jeans that my 30’s self adores.

You don’t know what you have to work with until you take stock. So make some time, open a bottle of wine, grab a notebook and pen and take the first brave steps to developing your own business chic. Of course, if you have the time, tackle your wardrobe too!

Melissa in her very 'chic' formal dress.

All good things must come to an end - Clean out time!

2010-05-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Business Chic

Let me start my very first blog by writing about something very close to my heart – my wardrobe.

I have the most incredible wardrobe. I am fortunate that it is the size of a roomy bedroom, has a ton of drawers including custom jewellery drawers, space for a hundred pairs of shoes (my husband wishes I was kidding about that part), long hanging rails, medium hanging rails and on and on. It also comes complete with a full length mirror and a chandelier. Yes, you read right, a chandelier. Very chic.

(Note: Now I know many blokes will have tuned out at this point (or have gone to hug their wives who don’t quite fill a much smaller wardrobe). But if you’re a bloke, swap my wardrobe with your dream garage with gadgets, powertools, everything in its place and perhaps even a bar in the corner. You’re with me again now aren’t you.)

Prior to this my wardrobe was in multiple bags scattered throughout the house, in different cupboards, spread over floors and in complete disarray. I had no idea what I had and probably only wore about 20% of my wardrobe because I forgot what I had! Not to mention the duplicates that I bought because I forgot about it or simply couldn’t find it.

So why am I writing about my wardrobe in a blog about finance and owning a business? It’s because I think that business owners are only using 20% of the resources available to them in an effective manner. Like my wardrobe they have everything at their disposal but it is not used. Perhaps they read something once that seemed like a good idea so they filed it or made up a business plan when they first started out and have never looked at it since or they’re not utilising their staff effectively or their systems and processes are slack or they know their accountant could probably help them but one day they’ll ask etc etc…. This business disarray is like the old state of my wardrobe and you’re missing out on the business gems that are hidden around! Not to mention the money you’ll save by working as effectively as you can with what you already have.

So in this blog I’m endeavouring to start building that wardrobe (or garage) with you. We’re going to organise, throw out, build, create and eventually you might even become inspired, metaphorically or physically, to hang your own chandelier (or disco ball, whatever takes your fancy). Through this process your business will go through its very own makeover and we’ll create some serious business chic of your own.