We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kara Batey Bertin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kara, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
In late 2020 I took a new job as in-house counsel at a local real estate company. Prior to that, I worked at the same law firm for 13 years. I was a partner, board certified in my legal specialty and had developed client relationships. Because of my tenure at the law firm, I gave considerable thought to making a career change. I ultimately accepted the new job because it aligned with my long-term career goals at the time.
Three months into the new position, in January 2021, I was let go. Since I maintained my last job for such a long time, it felt traumatic to lose my job after such a short time. The risk I took with the expectation it would further my legal career was a failure. The experience caused me to reevaluate the career path I put myself on.
With the benefit of hindsight, losing the job I barely started was the catalyst for me starting my personal styling business. I knew for many years I was interested in pursuing this avenue, but a side-hustle wasn’t an option for me as a full-time attorney. I couldn’t have foreseen the series of events that transpired, but that’s the thing about taking a risk, you never know what the outcome will be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Kara Batey Bertin, the founder and creator at Blocks of Style, a personal styling service that specializes in helping busy women over 40 cultivate their unique personal style. When I found myself at a career crossroads after more than a decade of practicing law, I let go. I became a wardrobe stylist, leveraging a childhood spent learning about fabrics, drape and proportion, a lifelong love of fashion, real-life experience gained while working in women’s retail, and my more recent experience as a trusted advisor.
After observing the personal styling industry through the lens of a long-time legal service provider, I developed the Blocks of Style Method as an easy-to-follow, practical approach to fashion. I provide services in the greater Austin area and virtually. I offer a flexible, limited menu for new clients with each service addressing a common wardrobe challenge. After an initial consultation, clients select the service(s) best suited to their individual needs, wants, budgets, and time constraints. I work with continuing clients on either a flat fee or hourly basis, depending on our arrangement.
At the heart of each Blocks of Style session is a mission to empower women to feel confident and rooted in their authentic self, “because the only box your style needs to fit into is the one you create.” During any service, our conversations and analysis focus on the colors, shapes, and aesthetics that feel authentic to the client. I refer to these attributes as Style Cornerstones™ since they are the foundation of a cohesive wardrobe.
My approach is unique in that it offers both structure and room for self-expression. Colors and shapes are objective style attributes. Aesthetics and authenticity are subjective. I believe balancing these concepts is central to women seeking to identify, develop, and maintain their personal style throughout different life stages.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
There was a point in my third year of business where I deeply questioned whether I chose the right path. I love my work and having a full schedule makes me happy, but my client base wasn’t growing in the way I wanted. After talking with a fellow-stylist friend and doing some research, I figured out that my website was showing up on approximately page 70 of Google. No one was ever going to find me! With this knowledge, I made a substantial investment of time and money in order to be more visible online. It sounds simple, but as a former lawyer I knew nothing about how internet searches worked or how they’re ever changing. Now I understand this is another aspect of my business that requires maintenance.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I have a multi-pronged strategy for growing my clientele. First, I rely on word-of-mouth referrals from existing clients. Women chatting with their friends is highly effective because if I hit it off with a client, there’s a good chance her friend and I will be a good fit as well. Second, maintaining my online presence, including my website and social media. Third, and this is new for me, I work at a local boutique serving my typical client demographic on my less popular days for client appointments. I love getting to work with women and meet potential new clients in this organic way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blocksofstyle.com
- Instagram: @blocksofstyle
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blocksofstyle
