Frequently Asked Questions: What Additional Costs are Involved?
Q: From Fresno, California –
”I want to go into business for my self as an image consultant or to work for Global Image Group. I have 2 years experience in the corporate world and network often. I am an FIDM graduate and a former model who competed in beauty pageants. I don’t have former Image Consulting Training, but I have alot of experience with helping people change their look or get ready for an event….
Upon taking the courses will we get to keep materials such as books and certain supplies… assuming that the fess for these things are included in the overall price. If not, what types of supplies are needed and what are the additional cost? Also do you offer help with those wanting to start a business after completing the program? Such as information on how to start up, outside connections, etc.”
A: Thank you for your interest in Sterling Style Academy.
Based on your experience, we believe you would be a successful professional working in the fields on Image Consulting, Personal Styling, Personal Shopping, and Executive Presence. Approximately 15% of our IN-CLASS graduates are offered the invitation-only opportunity to enroll in the Apprentice Program which specifically trains consultants to become apart of the Global Image Group team.
Our courses equip students with the knowledge and hands-on training not only to ensure their clients are wardrobed for success, but to also educate their clients on why these styles do or do not serve their best interests, thus making the Image Consultant an invaluable asset to their lives.
Graduates of our courses become Sterling Style Academy Certified Image Consultants and are licensed to keep and use our course training materials, wardrobe guides, work books, and even the Sterling Style Academy Certified Image Consultant logo to benefit each consultant’s business marketing efforts. Upon enrollment into one of our courses, each student is provided with a course syllabus including a very detailed glossary of terms and suggested books for further success in the industry.
Three of these books are considered required reading and are necessary for completion of certain training modules. The costs for these books are not included in the course tuition and will cost approximately $200. Other required items are typically those that each student already possesses, including a laptop and basic school supplies such as notebooks, pens, etc. Furthermore, if you choose to enroll in one of our IN-CLASS training courses, such as our 2.5 Week Course in San Francisco, October 5 – 21, 2009, each student is responsible for securing his/her individual room and board accommodations. The Sterling Style Academy is happy to offer preferred suggestions.
Sterling Style Academy Certified Image Consultants become members of our vast network of international image consultants and are encouraged to network through the Annual Alumni Open Forum and our Alumni Online Network. Best business practices including marketing and public relations are also taught as a part of each training course.
We hope this information answers your questions. Upon reviewing our Course Prospectus, please do not hesitate to email with further questions. We look forward to setting you up for success when launching your career as an Image Consultant, Personal Stylist, Personal Shopper, and Executive Presence Expert.
Best regards,
Karri Ann Frerichs
Admissions Director
Frequently Asked Questions-How successful are New Fashion Consultants?
Q. From Raleigh, North Carolina – I Have a natural talent I would like to refine and make my dream of becoming a Fashion Consultant a reality. I would like to know how successful are Fashion Consultants that begin their own business? Do they normally succeed?
A. The answer truly depends upon the individual’s drive for success. This industry is just 20 years old and is growing rapidly. The demand for achieving the right image, professionally and personally, in this economy is more important than ever and the emphasis placed on image in today’s society is even further accentuated through magazines, TV, celebrities and other media outlets.
An Image Consultant with a sense of style but with no former training must work his/her way up through gaining client experience. However a consultant who is certified by an internationally recognized program not only knows THAT it looks good but can professionally describe 
exactly WHY it looks good and what practices may be implemented to create a diversified and sophisticated wardrobe specifically tailored to each client’s lifestyle, body type, budget and career choices. A consultant who is new to the industry but who is certified may immediately charge a minimum of $50-$75 per hour depending upon his/her location.
We recommend enrollment in our online training program or to our 4 Week Certification Program taking place in New York, August 3 – 28.
A Prospective Image Consultant Certification Student
Ms. Reynolds,
Thank you for your interest in Sterling Style Academy. We are an internationally recognized institute offering professional training in the fields of Image Consulting, Personal Shopping, Personal Styling and Corporate Consulting. I have attached our Course Prospectus outlining all of our Academy’s benefits, learning tools and accreditations.
Based on your location in Texas, we would like to recommend several course options to best suit your professional needs. We offer a 4 week comprehensive training course in New York, August 3 – 28. This may fit perfectly into your teaching schedule. This course offers our most in-depth training as you will receive one-on-one time with your instructor and will also develop a core group of international peers seeking to launch their consulting careers, just like you. Not only will you receive the in-class training on the theories and practices of style, but you will head out into the shopping districts in Manhattan to practice hand-on personal shopping with your class mates.
Our 2.5 Week Certification Program offers the same in-class and on-location experience with your instructor and fellow classmates but at a more accelerated pace. We offer these courses in Miami, New York and San Francisco.
Online students train with the same curriculum as our on-location students and also become Sterling Style Academy Certified Image Consultants. You may enroll in one module at a time through our Pay-As-You-Go program. Please note that once you enroll in our entire program up front for your investment of $3247, you save $1150 over the Pay-As-You-Go Program.
The only disadvantages to this training platform are the absence of one-on-one time with your instructor and the relationships you develop with your peers. You also are unable to participate in hands-on training in the field with your class mates through personal shopping exercises. Online students are not eligible for the Apprentice Program, as this is the invitation only course to become a Global Image Group Consultant.
I hope this helps you decide which course best suits your professional training needs. Please read through the attached document to answer your questions and do not hesitate to call or email me with further questions.
-Karri Ann Frerichs-
Sterling Style Academy Admissions Director
About the Sterling Style Academy
The Sterling Style Academy trains and certifies prospective and aspiring image consultants, personal stylists, and personal shoppers to pursue the career of their dreams. With 10 annual training courses held throughout the year in New York, London, Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Miami, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, as well as Online Training, Teleclasses, and Short eCourses, the Sterling Style Academy prepares you to become a top notch pioneer in the image consulting, personal shopping, and personal styling industry. Master the art of image, fashion and style to become a fashion styling expert. Contact the Sterling Style Academy today to learn how we can help you start a career you are passionate about – shopping and styling! Like us or become our BFF on Facebook.
FAQ #3 – If I Graduate from the Online Program, Am I Eligible for the 5.1 Apprentice Program?
Only the graduates of the Sterling Style Academy’s on-location courses are invited to enroll in The Apprentice Program. These students interact directly with instructors and fellow students, and it is through the development of these interpersonal relationships that determines which students will be the best fit to join the Global Image Group team of international image consultants.
The Sterling Style Academy has certified over 50 professional image consultants from more than 15 countries through our on-location and online courses. These professionals have moved forward to launch successful image consulting firms or have taken the knowledge gained from our courses to improve their positions in their current careers. And most enroll to also learn the styling skills necessary to improve their own self image along the way.
If you are interested in becoming a Global Image Group consultant, then enrolling in one of our on-location courses is required. However, if you lead a busy schedule and aren’t able to get away, then enroll in our online certification course today!
-Karri Ann Frerichs-
Sterling Style Academy Admissions Director
Sterling Style Academy’s Frequently Asked Questions #2 – Can I enroll online and take part of the course on-location?
We have honed our curriculum to offer the best hands-on training on-location and have developed this program into the best individual, at-home training online. As online graduates and on-location graduates both become Sterling Style Academy Certified Image Consultants, attending multiple training platforms is not necessary.
The answer of which course should I enroll in comes down to:
a) Do you learn best through interactions, hands-on and visual training?
b) Or do you learn best through training at your own pace and on your own terms in the comforts of your own home or office?
We look forward to helping your launch your career! Contact Sterling Style Academy today.
Frequently Asked Questions…Do You Provide Job Placement?
We at Sterling Style Academy are always looking to better inform our prospective students, so we are excited to launch a series of answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Q: “Does the Sterling Style Academy offer job placement?”
A: Graduates of each of our training programs are equipped with the personal styling and business protocol skills to launch successful consulting companies or to better position themselves within their current professions. Sterling Style Academy Certified Image Consultants develop professional bios, press releases, introductory sales pitches, and gain an understanding of how to complete a business plan. When your greatest asset is you, there is no better job placement than the position of CEO and Founder of your own company!
Better yet, the value of your investment in an image consulting, personal shopping and personal styling education from Sterling Style Academy extends well beyond your graduation date. Our graduates are amply prepared to register for and to pass the AICI First Level Certification exam, which enables an image consultant to place the AICI letters after their name for further credibility. We offer post-graduate mentorship and the license to use the Sterling Style Academy certified image consultant logo on your business promotional materials.
And to specifically answer this question, the Sterling Style Academy does offer job placement by invitation only to approximately 15% of our graduates, through The Apprentice Program. The Apprentice Program is the advanced level course that specifically trains graduates to become Global Image Group consultants.
Stay tuned each week for more answers to your Sterling Style Academy FAQs…
-Karri Ann Frerichs-
Sterling Style Academy Admissions Director
“Styling Tips and Tricks in a New Economy”
The Fashion Group International, FGI, hosted a panel discussion which featured the top Image Consultants and Stylists in San Francisco Bay Area including Sterling Style Academy founder, Michelle T. Sterling. Audience members asked questions regarding career opportunities in this relatively new industry which, as Ms. Sterling stated, is no more than 20 years old.
“What are the actual job titles a student can expect once they receive the right styling training?” asked one audience member. Jill Siefert, styling instructor at the Art Institute of San Francisco, discussed corporate opportunities including prop stylist, food stylist, location stylist and creative director for major fashion houses. Ms. Sterling further expanded the upon the subject by discussing the many consulting positions available as personal shopper, executive stylist, image consultant and personal stylist. “San Francisco has one of the highest concentrations of stylists in the U.S,” she explained. Ms. Siefert added by stating, “We welcome the competition! There is a client for everyone.”
Each panelist discussed their successes and lessons learned in their careers, which further informed the audience on what to expect in a styling career and how to position yourself according to the clients you want to work with.
Teresa Morisco, owner of Wardrobe 911, described her first “Aha!” moment when working with the wife of a man who called for wardrobe help. She learned that even though some clients express they want change, many aren’t actually ready to adopt needed changes into their wardrobes and, in turn, their lives. “It is so important to express to each client WHY something works or doesn’t work on them in order for them to move beyond their old habits.”
Ms. Siefert shared an experience of setting boundaries when she explained how she was able to develop a needy, time-consuming client who would contact her at all hours of the day into one of her best repeat business clients who has learned to respect the stylist’s terms. “This is someone who was once the joke of the office and is now one of the most respected people in her firm when it comes to style.”
Ms. Sterling discussed the client she consulted with earlier the same day. “He is from Southern California and the CEO of a major swimwear company, and because his background is in corporate finance, he sought out my services because I come from the financial industry as well.” She further explained his interest in locating a nation wide consultant who could offer follow up services in additional cities including Miami, Los Angeles and New York.
Each stylist also explained what they would be doing if they weren’t an image consultant or a stylist. Most agreed with Ms. Sterling when she explained that, “For me, there is no plan B. Failure is not an option. It’s all about making plan A work. If you are passionate about your career then it is within your power to harness your talents and create a profitable business that best suits you.”
For more information on training to become a successful image consultant, contact Sterling Style Academy, info@sterlingstyleacademy.com.
-Karri Ann Frerichs-
Admissions Director, Sterling Style Academy
Are You Indispensable?
We all know unemployment is on the rise. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the December 2008 rate to be 7.2 percent. Many college graduates can’t find a job and many long-term employers of large corporations are being let go as quickly as those with less tenure. So how do you position yourself to survive the doom and gloom?
One strategy is to set yourself apart from the competition through displaying a poised and professional self image. So many levels of business professional and business casual wardrobe exist, so which style is right for your office environment? What is the best way to store and carry all of those personal belongings that you reach for everyday? Presenting an image of organized confidence could be the key to keeping your job.
Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of people looking for work right now? As image represents 55% of the first impression, you may have already answered that opening statement - “Tell me about yourself,” before even opening your mouth. Did you put as much planning into your image as you did preparing your answers?
Not only can the graduates of Sterling Style Academy ensure their clients are poised and ready for these situations, but they walk the walk and become indispensable contractors and consultants as their own image supports the services they offer.
For more information on becoming indispensable, please email Sterling Style Academy at info@sterlingstyleacademy.com.
Top Three Reasons to Pursue a New Career in Professional Image Consulting
Just because our world is in a current state of economic instability, doesn’t mean we should allow ourselves to succumb to the same emotional crises. Now is the time to prepare yourself for a career that you LOVE, that you will SUCCEED in and that allows you to explore your professional CREATIVITY.
As huge corporations suffer, small businesses and entrepreneurs flourish. Why? Because we are innovative and can adapt quickly to necessary changes.
Sterling Style Academy offers training to become a Professionally Certified Image Consultant, Wardrobe Stylist, Personal Shopper and more. Below are the top three reasons to invest in your new career-
1) Recessions and difficult economic times are the perfect opportunities to bring in a second income or to launch a new business doing something you love. This is time to plan and educate yourself so you can hit the ground running when the economy is ready to start shopping again.
2) The skills you learn to teach others are skills you will absorb yourself. 
Improve your own self image to increase your marketability to your employers and future clients. This increases your confidence, competence and credibility to make you more competitive for increasing your earning potential.
3) When you look good – you feel good! People are contagious to happiness and become attracted to you. Image and appearance equals 55% of the overall first impression and when you take control of your own self image enhancing relationships becomes natural.
What can Sterling Style Academy offer me to succeed in my country?
Style Academy students come from all countries and backgrounds, including the Middle East, South America, Central Europe, Asia, as well as Western Europe and America. Upon enrolling, Janeth Gomez, now a Certified Image Consultnat from Mexico City, had these questions concerning the industry in her country.
Q: -How do I manage to introduce into the Mexican population that Image consultants are required by all people not only for politicians, actresses, and public figures in general? In my country it is very difficult to offer image consulting services since they´re thought to be exclusively for television personalities or politicians, every time we´re hired by a house wife they call us once, and they forget about us foreve . I think this has to do something with self-esteem because they either think they now how to do it perfectly or just the opposite they believe it´s not for them and they don´t deserve it.
Q: -Is there a subtle way to offer our job without hurting peoples feelings? Once I was with my husband´s mother an I really thought she should change her image because she´s got a very attractive face so as her body but I could noticed that her make-up was not at all neat and her hair lights were putting down all her appearance, so I decided to offer her my services and I guess I didn´t do it the right way because she felt I was criticizing her.
Q: -Is it possible to learn your technique in order to look and feel better by respecting yourself and your style?
Goals for taking the course and what I hope to achieve.
-First of all I would like to learn everything related to wardrobe since I’m a make-up artist specially regarding eyebrows, I’m very much interested in developing my creativity in the way of combining trendy outfits.
-Secondly I expect to be taught the dress code for man, I don’t have any experience on that issue and I think it is important for an image consultant to know it.
-Manage to know what color hair and what type of cut is ideal for every person.
-Gain knowledge on the way to combine accessories with the clothes, specially: sunglasses, purses, bangles, rings, earrings, watches and collars.
-Become skilled at organizing a closet, or the dressing room. Including shoes because I really think they’re quite important.
In Mexico City I started a Major in Public Image but all I learned was good but not enough and I also felt it was not very updated and not topnotch, so I came here because I know I will learn excellent ideas to develop my job the best possible.
About the Sterling Style Academy
The Sterling Style Academy trains and certifies prospective and aspiring image consultants, personal stylists, and personal shoppers to pursue the career of their dreams. With 10 annual training courses held throughout the year in New York, London, Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Miami, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, as well as Online Training, Teleclasses, and Short eCourses, the Sterling Style Academy prepares you to become a top notch pioneer in the image consulting, personal shopping, and personal styling industry. Master the art of image, fashion and style to become a fashion styling expert. Contact the Sterling Style Academy today to learn how we can help you start a career you are passionate about – shopping and styling! Like us or become our BFF on Facebook.
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