UpTown Image Consulting would like to give a huge thank you to all of the families, people and businesses that have helped us along the way and are continuing to recommend our services. We simply could not exist without the backing and support of people and organizations like you. We are so grateful. Again, on behalf of UpTown Image Consulting, we would like to thank you. Sincerely, Sarah Eslick, Rachael Schleicher | March 5, 2011
Know Your Image, Know Yourself By Public Relations Specialist Emily Hackett Most evenings take place on stage, in sparkling outfits attempting to wow the crowd as much as her vocals do. Her closet is an ever-changing wardrobe, always in accordance with the fashion that season. Her favorite show, which she watches like a study, is TLC’s “What Not To Wear,” and her pick-me-up? You guessed it -- shopping. Rachael Schleicher is everything a styling consultant should be. It was only recently, that she realized it herself. In the music industry, image is everything. Pretty faces paired with pretty voices are a dime a dozen in Nashville, Tenn., but a girl who knows her image is 10 steps ahead of the crowd. Schleicher, a commercial voice major at Belmont University, realized that before she arrived to the starry-eyed city. Cultivating a look of her own that was fit to represent her sexuality and accentuate her full figure, she acquired an image for herself that was eye-catching. She achieved her goal of being noticed, and not in a cringe-worthy way. More often than not, singers and entertainers can get noticed for all the wrong reasons. That’s where Schleicher’s cringes of her own caused motivation within her to give guidance to those fashionably lost souls. After several coffee meetings with good friend, fellow Belmont University student and Nashville songstress Sarah Eslick, Schleicher decided on the launch of her own fashion image consulting business. Beginning on a student-oriented level, UpTown Image Consulting was created in Spring of 2011 to provide styling service to music artists and individuals looking for a unique and appealing image in their personal and professional lives. Although their thoughts center around the upcoming crowd of Belmont Music Business students in which they hope to offer their assistance to, the foundation of the business was placed firstly on image from a more collective standpoint. “Our mission with UpTown is to help clients develop a personal style throughour services while accommodating for all the varying body shapes and sizes, personal goals and career paths, as well as individual budgets,” said Schleicher, UpTown’s Head of Executive Operations and co-founder. An image for an individual, the same as an image for a company, can be looked at as a unified brand. It is meant to be characteristic and most importantly to be distinguishable from other brands. Industry execs at major record labels see millions of celebrity-wannabe’s who already look too similar to their famous counterparts. Finding an image, a way to be seen by others, should coincide with the individual’s personality, the same way a company image should recognize all the company represents. “The reality of human nature is that people make their first impression within the first three minutes of meeting you,” said Schleicher. “ We are dedicated to helping you find your own personal brand, so that you can be the best advertisement for yourself.” UpTown customers can expect to revise most of their wardrobe to represent their personal “brand” and will receive access to pre-shopping and personal shopping services tailored to their time, needs and budget limitations. Customers can expect to save money with competitively low priced services along with budget-smart shopping expertise. Schliecher’s budding firm, rooted in Belmont University’s Entrepreneurship Program, has already had success with regular customers. Recent customer, Heather Germain, speaks positively of her investment in the company’s resources. “I learned how to pair so many of the pieces I already owned, got rid of what I didn’t need, and filled my closet back up again with pieces I love, that are right for me,” said Germain. “UpTown promises that their customers will attain a new level of confidence knowing that they are showing the best representation of themselves,” said Schleicher. With artist/musician image development, Schleicher’s goals centered on creating a brand that is unique and representative of the artist while staying true to the genre they represent. This included everyday attire as well as outfits for photo-shoots, music videos, award shows and other events. For music videos, or album shoots, image themes could also be developed for the artist as well as actors and extras involved. After recognizing market conditions, Shleicher’s original purpose, eventually working as a freelance firm to replace steadily decreasing A&R departments in the music industry, expanded. With the large corporate environment in the greater Nashville area and the growing population of middle and upper class persons, the business plan for user base was extended to meet a greater clientele. “For corporations and businesses, UpTown services offer seminars addressing the importance of appropriate attire in the workplace, and how an employee’s daily attire and body language represent the company,” said Schleicher. Personal consultations with employees are also offered, discussing how image can affect their personal success within the company, and how this image directly relates to the success of their company. Schleicher and Eslick focus on providing their assistance in an educational way. They hope to reach the individual client base by offering an array of “How-To’s” -- from arranging closets and accessorizing, to instructing clients on how to dress accordingly for specific events, and how to budget-shop on their own. “We want our clients to walk away with more confidence in themselves and their shopping ventures and know it was because of their time spent with us,” said Schleicher. “Working with clients, making sure the client is comfortable and happy, is our main job. That creates a word of mouth reputation, which, in this industry, we thrive on.” The other important feature that helps drive customers to their door is the affordability of their services, which are aimed at taking advantage of the market conditions by offering a “differentiable” value to customers that compliments their lifestyle and needs at lower cost. Schleicher and Eslick have worked hard to create a business environment that is efficient, personable and most of all energizing and exciting to be involved with. “We want our clients not only to feel like they are getting something out of their experience fashionably and educationally, but also to really have fun doing it,” said Schleicher. UpTown invites students, artists and business people alike to join them for a trial run, to find your brand and see if working with them is right for you. “Knowing your image, is knowing yourself,” said Schleicher. “Knowing yourself means having confidence in all that you do.”
UpTown Image Consulting was formed in 2011, driven by the desire to improve the quality of life for people, specifically musicians, employees of corporations, and individuals seeking a personal style. The UpTown Image Consulting founders are motivated by the opportunities that professional image consultant certification can provide to people of all ages, sizes, and professions, living in the greater Nashville area. UpTown Image Consulting aims to fulfill the needs of this target market by integrating low cost, mature techniques, with a widely utilized infrastructure. For more information call (615) 852-7407.
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