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Once you’ve made the decision to improve your image or the images of your employees, you should contact several image consultants and interview them in order to decide which one best suits your needs.
Define the Results You Want
First, determine who needs assistance from an image consultant: you, your family members, or your employees. Then, decide upon the appropriate setting for an effective consultation. Will it be a one-on-one meeting, a small group presentation, a larger seminar, or a combination of these settings?
Next, identify the areas in which you want to improve. Would you like to spruce up your appearance, and therefore need help with your wardrobe, hair and makeup, and personal grooming? Do your employees need to understand the cultural sensitivities of your company’s new international clients, and therefore need lessons in etiquette and protocol? Does a member of your executive team have great ideas, but needs assistance in learning how to effectively communicate them? For a complete list of areas where a consultant can help, review the AICI Core Curriculum.
Determine Your Investment
Imagine that you’ve faced and overcome your challenge. For example, imagine that you’re fully confident in every business or social situation, or that your employees are treating prospects and customers with the utmost in professionalism. What would that be worth to you? How would that positively affect your business and your profitability? Keep that value in mind as you determine how much you’re willing to invest in image consulting.
Typically, the results you want to achieve determine the resources that you’ll spend.
- When you simply want to try out image services, engage a consultant who offers an introductory package that allows you to test your working relationship. If you’re pleased with the results, you can arrange for additional services.
- When you’re looking for specialized image expertise, expect to pay your consultant by the hour plus expenses.
- When your enterprise demands accountability and requires documentation of participants’ feedback, behavioral changes, and measured results, expect rates in the range of thousands of dollars per day.
You’ll discover that the fees charged by image consultants vary widely, based on the scope of your project, the consultant’s experience and track record, and market demand.
- For an individual consultation, fees might range from $75 to $350 per hour.
- For a presentation or workshop, fees might range from $300 to $600 per hour.
- For a half to full day seminar, fees might range from $3,500 to $10,000.
The key to success is to first determine what you can invest, and then find a consultant who can confidently deliver the results you want within your budget.
Locate Candidates in the AICI Membership Directory
Visit our Membership Directory to contact any member of the Association of Image Consultants International.
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