We recently connected with Karen Sigal and have shared our conversation below.
Karen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I began my ventures into modeling in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. which dates back from a personal interest in an industry that I discovered by chance, the fashion industry.
At a young age I was very shy and insecure with my height, being 5’10” as a teenager I was taller than most of my friends and I felt awkward, I didn’t like it. However, I always liked fashion, and was inspired by my Mother & Grandmother. After going to a local fashion show in town with them, I noticed that the models were tall & thin, I could relate, and that was my defining moment for getting started in the business. At the age of 16, I enrolled in a modeling school downtown called John Robert Powers. It was the start that I needed not only for the modeling training, but also for etiquette, poise and gaining self confidence. I felt a purpose and excitement to pursue further. I made connections with several industry professionals and worked as a freelance model over the years, and found myself working towards a path in my life that would be a career that I never anticipated. This venture would span over the next few decades. It was indeed a worthwhile endeavor. You could say that I’ve made a lifetime career out of this passion.
After getting married, moving to Columbus, Ohio, we started a family. I got back in the biz and started pursuing new modeling connections in the Columbus market. I discovered that I had another passion which was coaching, training model candidates. It was a great way to help others starting out, who wanted to learn about the industry that gave me my start. I made a connection with a good friend and local professional model. In 1996, we became business partners and started our own modeling agency, called Active Image Management. We both felt that there was a need for the local models to learn the professional polish and gain an added edge, that we could provide them from our combined years of experience in the business. It soon caught on with our clients that we had acquired over the years and they liked how we were providing them with trained professionals!
We were actually helping the local clients gain qualified models, coupled with our services as expert booking agents. We had an eye for scouting the right model types for our clients specific requests. We could relate to what the new models needed to know, and we provided them with all the right knowledge and resources to set them up for success. It was a “win-win” situation. This was our driving force, our passion and as it was a way to put our talents and passion into our work. This was how we gained notoriety and a solid reputation in the industry for the years to come.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As previously mentioned, it was in 1996 when we started Active Image Management. Kitty, my business partner, retired from the agency in 2006, and I took over the business. Then in 2011, we had a name change, from Active Image Management to Sigal Models & Talent. The Agency gets a make-over on a TV reality series called “Remodeled.” Super agent Paul Fisher comes to town, transforming this small town agency into an international Mother agency, now representing top models in major markets and agencies in NY, Milan, Paris, London, Asia and others. We represented the top Abercrombie model at the time, and one of our top models made it on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine! We signed our first male model with IMG International, working directly with the owner of the agency! Over the years, we developed, managed and placed models worldwide. We survived the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the Covid pandemic of 2020.
Sigal Models & Talent is based in Columbus, Ohio, owned and managed by Karen & Monica Sigal. This “Mother-Daughter duo” is determined to positively impact the fashion world using love and devotion as a means of bringing out the true beauty of their models. With 40+ years in the fashion and commercial industry, the matriarch Karen Sigal pours wisdom and fashion etiquette into her models and instills the importance of giving back to communities. Sigal Models continues to offer career development, management and placement expertise including exclusive worldwide representation. Their models have been featured in major ad campaigns, billboards, catalogs, e-commerce, editorial, runway, fit and TV commercial modeling.
Karen Sigal is the CEO and Director of Operations for Sigal Models & Talent. She works directly with the clients in providing qualified models and talent for their specific requests. Monica Sigal is a former Lifestyle, and Fit Model in Columbus, Ohio and New York City. She currently serves as New Faces & Model Development Director at Sigal Models & Talent. She knows what goes on behind the scenes in the modeling industry and uses her expertise to help candidates accelerate their professional progress while avoiding serious mistakes. In addition, Monica is a certified Yoga instructor and Personal Life Coach. She supports model candidates in strengthening their physical appearance as well as self-confidence. Yoga discipline and practices also help models more easily achieve their personal and professional goals.
Sigal Model Academy was created in 2021. Due to the growing demand for their coaching services, which they provide on a local and national level.
Karen and Monica continue to build their extended business with creating on-line training videos, modeling guidebooks and in-person workshops for women, men and tween models. It is their mission and passion to provide potential model candidates with the skills to take them from amateurs to professionals through their personalized coaching services. (www.sigalmodelacademy.com) This is what makes them different from other modeling agencies. They are proud of their proven blueprint over the years for training models in an industry that is highly competitive and requires constant development and skills.
Sigal Models stands apart as leaders who present polished, poised and professional model candidates prepared for paid work opportunities in fashion and commercial fields. Behind this level of success, is an agency with a stellar reputation, and a dedication to their industry.
Karen and Monica believe in making positive “role” models who use notoriety as a means of helping the greater cause.
www.sigalmodels.com, @sigalmodels, [email protected]
We would love to hear from you!
Karen & Monica
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
We funded our business with a fax machine! We didn’t take out any loans or had credit card debt. We had little to no upfront costs for starting our business, which is a rare thing, especially compared to todays economy! We started our business back in 1996 working out of our home offices, using our landline phones, Quickbooks for bookkeeping, and our fax machine.
We acquired a lot of new clients through networking functions, setting up in person meetings, and joining local organizations like NAWBO, Columbus Convention and visitors Bureau, and others.
What’s changed from the 1990’s to the current time, is technology. Starting out, we didn’t have a website or cell phones, and the internet was just starting with dial up, so we had to rely on our connections through phone calls and meeting in person with clients and open model castings. I can say that I do miss the “face to face” interactions with clients. I like to put a face with a name, and the difference today is that we work with some clients that we never even meet in person.
Most recently, we have experienced several changes with the 2020 pandemic, post Covid. Zoom meetings became the norm for connecting with clients, new prospective models and even castings and model interviews. It was a difficult time for us small business owners, especially losing several of our best clients due to bankruptcy, and not being able to withstand the difficulties of the financial struggle.
We had to learn how to “pivot” in the business and rework some of our strategies on how models & actors audition for casting opportunities.
Self casting videos, using their smart phones is how we cast for TV commercials, movies and modeling interviews. We’ve had to retrain our staff and models to become proficient in this new technology. I’m sure we’ll look back years from now and compare what we did back in the day to the new normal in business.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Word of mouth is the best source of new clients. Outside of social media platforms, we acquire a lot of new clients and new model candidates through our resources and network of people we’re associated with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sigalmodels.com/ https://www.sigalmodelacademy.com/
- Instagram: @sigalmodels
- Facebook: sigalmodels
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karensigal/
Image Credits
Photographer Monty Soungpradith, openimagestudio.com
Karen’s headshots – Photographer Robert Porto
Monica’s headshot – Nannette Patridge