Image consultancy is a profession where you can lead a luxury life by helping the elite lead luxurious lives of their choice. It gives a sense of satisfaction when your client is appreciated for his selection which in reality is made by you and your team, says Monica Garg
A booming economy in India has given rise to a new profession that of ‘packaging people’. In today’s scenario, every other person wants to be in the limelight specially the elite class. They need to be presented in a way that reflects not only their style and worth but also the overall personality.
Image consultants are hired to present people’s personality in its totality and help them brand himself/herself in the desired manner to get maximum mileage or satisfaction from the exercise. A course in Image Consultancy helps you not only in moulding the personalities of the people but also help them dress for events in a way that reflects every bit of their personality and professional achievements. The visual image that you project reflects upon your personality, work ethic and lifestyle.
The courses are designed to help students explore and learn about the luxury industry and its management strategies. Fundamentals such as marketing, branding, pricing, business strategies and consumer behaviour are imbibed in the course to make students stand out in the growing sector and emerge as leaders when it comes to handling the market — growing at over 20 per cent every year and is estimated to reach US $ 14.72 billion soon — that requires well-trained professionals.
The course also prepares the students to have a complete knowledge of the luxury brands available around in India and abroad. Sometimes, the client requires the consultant to accompany him to shop for brands. The skills that need to be imbibed in this scenario are the qualities of getting the best deals for the client so that he can get the best value for every penny spent on products. It also requires the sense to understand which brand will represent a client best and if that brand is not fitting the client’s bill then what are the other options that can replace that brand.
What makes the market tough for luxury Image Consultants is that their prospective clients don’t have much time and take quick decisions on whether to hire a particular consultants’ service or not. So, here the training they have got and their own presence and capabilities to make quick impression on the client comes in handy. The tough part is here when the consultant has to portray himself/herself as worthy enough to transform the image of the client.
They should be well versed with the nitty-gritty of the brand as well as with the minutest details of the clients personality as he is dependent on you to take decisions on clothing, fashion, glamour, accessories, grooming, body language and etiquette. It is a complete science and art as all individual elements — personality development, grooming and fashion — come together to have the desired effect.
Personal grooming of students also plays an important part because in this field first impression sometimes tend to become the last impression. A well presented consultant means half the work done as he exudes confidence that gives client satisfaction that he is being handled by a confident person capable of handling himself which in turn means that he/she can handle the client’s needs with perfection.
During the course people are guided on how to go about marketing themselves. Although it is also important to understand that this is a profession and just like any other professionals you need to have long term goals. Socialising skills come in handy as prospective clients for this type of course generally go by the word of mouth. It is important for the professionals to be heard and seen at the right places and should be able to hammer the prospect with right force at the right time.
One of the most important skills in this profession is communication and the accent. Candidates should be able to communicate confidently in a way that reflects luxury at its best. Work does bring a lot of references but couple it with communication skills to expedite the process of getting quality work with the choicest of clients.
In a nutshell, it is profession where you can lead a luxury life by helping the elite lead luxurious lives of their choice. It is the chance where you can travel and shop at privileged locations. It gives a sense of satisfaction when the elite is appreciated for his/her choices which in reality are made by you and your team.
Eligibility
Anyone with a desire to help people change their lives can become a luxury Image Consultant. Minimum criteria for enrolling in the course is Class XII pass.
Job prospect
Brands dealing with premium customers need people. Also one can start his/her own venture. Immediate potential clients include: High net worth individuals, celebrities and their spouses, socialites, high earning professionals such as doctors, lawyers, financial advisory and more, people in the public eye like politicians, corporate communications professionals, and corporations looking towards creating a corporate identity etc.
(The writer is founder and director, International luxury Academy)