Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurel Kinney.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ten years ago, I was working as a hospice social worker in the Austin area, feeling really burnt out by the grind, and wishing I could be more creative while still helping people. I learned about personal styling and dove right in once I learned the ropes from a local stylist who mentored me on the ins and outs of the process and I started my business in 2010. I slowly built up my client list using my style-meets-psychology process, and have taken LKPS full time since 2013. Now, I travel the world working with clients in person and have created a virtual course to help people discover their style and sort, shop, and style themselves accordingly called the Style Shift Workshop.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not. I struggled a great deal at the beginning of my career as a stylist because I had no idea what it took to be a business owner and entrepreneur. I could barely spell entrepreneur! There were many people who told me I was crazy for switching paths so drastically or told me they could never imagine anyone paying someone to help them with their wardrobes, or who hadn’t even heard of a personal stylist before. I used this as fuel and became determined to do the best I possibly could, and I never gave up. Once I realized I have a really unique perspective on how to help people align their style with their personality and goals, and a process that actually WORKS, I knew it was just a matter of time before the haters got on board.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
As a stylist, I seek to understand my clients on a personal level so that I can help them get aligned with the clothes they wear. When we go deep in the beginning to get clear on what we want to express, we can make easier decisions about what to let go of in our existing closets, plan our shopping list with intention, and create outfits that showcase more of our personality. I want my clients to be able to show up as their most authentic selves, and use clothes to act as a signal to attract like-minded people to them, or to support their message. I love finding the subtle wardrobe details that help my clients feel more embodied, so they can more easily see themselves achieving their goals because they’re dressed the part. My social work background enables me to make my clients feel comfortable right away, and I try to make the process as fun, efficient, and painless as possible, and I always bring a snack. I’m told that I am the “funny & nice” stylist, that I put my clients at ease, and other shoppers get jealous of how much laughter is coming to my fitting room.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure about luck, but faith has played a huge role for me personally in my business. Once I realized that I had a choice to either freak out about money coming in or just relax and trust that the universe would come through for me, I think I hit a new level of comfort as a business owner. You can never be sure anything will last, but you can decide how to react or feel about it all.
Pricing:
- In-person styling sessions start at $395 (+travel outside the Austin area)
- The Style Shift Workshop (my virtual course) is $295 and will kick off in March 2019
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurelkinney.com
- Phone: 5039841765
- Email: hello@laurelkinney.com
Image Credit:
Paige Newton & Paula Wolf
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