Nikki Venus is a Business Style Coach and a self-proclaimed superwoman chasing her passion of mentoring other women in the pursuit of their styling business development. Getting her start in the fashion industry as a boutique owner, Nikki expanded her powerful presence into the fields of fashion styling and coaching. She is a self-made, on-demand fashion entrepreneur that left the corporate world to immerse herself in the fashion industry.
Tell us about who you are and what you do.
Years into navigating the fashion industry, I developed a unique coaching program to teach stylists and style coach the business aspects of running their styling business. My program Style Coach Academy™ has grown to become the go-to source of all things styling business development. I had the hardest time finding mentors in the fashion industry because there was no one teaching the business development side of running a styling business.
Style Coach Academy™ is the ground-breaking practical solution to an educational gap in the personal styling industry. It’s where stylists both new and seasoned can go to learn how to organize and solidify the business end of their businesses. It’s not all about ‘’which blazer goes with which belt’’. Just like any other business in any other industry, there are systems that can and should be implemented to create a long-term successful styling business. Style Coach Academy™ is the culmination of my decade-long career and it is actively nurturing the next generation of leading Style Experts. I wanted to blow open the doors of this field and welcome aspiring stylists to gain the skills and learn the tricks of the trade necessary to stand out in this industry.
Tell us how you created this brand and what was the sole idea behind it.
After climbing the corporate ladder for many years before diving into fashion, I realized I had dedicated my life to a line of work that wasn’t fulfilling. I knew my calling was to build a heart-based business to empower other women to further develop their skills, refine their styling business model and gain clarity on how to scale their businesses. I also knew fashion was an integral part of my life and a long-time passion of mine, so I put the two together and have never looked back.
My journey with Style Coach Academy™ has brought me many incredible opportunities like appearing in discussion panels, magazine features, podcasts, and my ever-growing Social Media platforms. My team and I are focused on expanding Style Coach Academy™ to provide more innovative solutions for Personal Stylists and Style Coaches but I also strive to be a voice that inspires and encourages aspiring fashion entrepreneurs from all walks of life to fearlessly embark on the pursuit of their dreams.
Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works. You may keep this from the audience’s perspective.
As a member of Style Coach Academy™, you not only transform your business and elevate your styling services, you also get to nurture the improved version of yourself through on-going personal coaching, mindset development, and disciplinary practices to support your professional growth.
I wanted to launch this unique program to provide mentorship to personal stylists and style coaches with defined DO’s and DON’Ts that I learned the hard way. Unless you pursue a four-year degree at a prestigious university, it’s very difficult for stylists to find guidance, support, and training which is what Style Coach Academy™ provides. Stylists can expect to learn about pricing their services, defining their ideal client, reaching out to those clients, developing their unique services, implementing a marketing strategy, networking to drive leads and so much more. They will also have on-going mentorship and coaching from me directly to help them gain clarity on every aspect of building and maintaining their styling business.
I wanted to ensure no stylist was left behind. Style Coach Academy™ is meant to extend the educational umbrella to those ambitious dreamers that have an interest in the field of personal styling but have not yet taken the steps towards making that a reality. This program breaks down exactly what you should be doing as a brand new beginner in the fashion industry and how to establish yourself as a stand-out service provider in a saturated industry.
What is your giveaway idea through this interview? Highlight something that may interest the readers on a one-to-one basis.
I am proof that anything is possible if you are determined to find the answers to your questions. If you find yourself navigating an industry you know little about but dare to speak to anyone and believe you have something unique to bring to the table, you will find your footing. Most importantly, if you don’t find the opportunity that is right for you, then you must create it. If you find a gap in any industry, you have the capacity to be a pioneer that brings a brand new concept to the table and changes the industry for the better.
I want to help personal stylists out there that are committed and serious about pursuing this career so much that I offer a FREE Business Strategy call as part of the Style Coach Academy™’ on-boarding process. So, if you’re reading this and you feel ready to learn everything you need to learn in order to become a successful personal stylist or style coach running her own business and brand, send in your application to Style Coach Academy™ which is completely free as well and I will be reviewing it personally to determine if you are qualified for this program. The next step is a Free Business Strategy Call with me to discuss your qualifications and the next steps in the process for you.
Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?
I knew coming into the creation of Style Coach Academy™ that there was a demand and there was a community of personal stylists and style coaches in search of this kind of on-going training but the growth that has come since the launch of this program has been exponential.
My greatest challenge is managing the growth of my business and finding a balance between overseeing this blossoming community and making time for myself, my family, and my personal goals. Being a business owner, in general, is a demanding position and I am very particular about how I want my business to be run and the quality of the work I put out there. I put so much heart and soul into every choice I make, it can be difficult to disconnect.
I also recognize that I’ve built something very unique and it requires that I am constantly keeping up with the ways in which the fashion industry is evolving so that I can best guide those that I have taken under my coaching wing into the next phase of their careers in this fast-paced industry.
Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?
The vision for Style Coach Academy™ and the Nikki Venus brand is greater than I can verbalize at this time because I am in the middle of so many transitions to improve both of these projects and I’m deeply immersed in the goals for the near future but on a general note, I aim to continue expanding this educational umbrella to help more and more aspiring stylists and collaborate with other brands that can help deliver the messages of motivation and encouragement that are integral to my work.
What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?
Without a doubt, I would say no time is ever really wasted if you’re pursuing your heart’s deepest desires. The time I spent learning and making mistakes while pursuing this fashion dream of mine has informed so much of what I’ve built today. The smaller jobs, the setbacks, and moments of self-doubt are part of the growth process and I now understand they are indicators that I was on the right path.
If you’re working in an industry that doesn’t inspire you, believe in your capacity to land on your own two feet and take the leap of faith into the industry you do wish to be a part of. You’d rather spend your time contributing to something that moves you as opposed to climbing the ladder of an industry that will never bring you true joy.
The answers to all of your questions are out there and can be found if you remain focused on turning a passion into a profitable business. Present yourself with authenticity, embrace your curiosity and be fearless when challenges are presented to you. Nothing is stopping you from making your innermost vision a reality. Stand in your DOPENESS!
Get in touch with Nikki on
Instagram: iamnikkivenus