We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristy Nickol a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kristy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

This is possibly the most simple and intuitive way to show a customer you appreciate them, but it almost feels too simple that people might underestimate its impact. I send a hand-written thank you letter to every single bride after her wedding! I will often get replies from brides saying how thoughtful it was that I sent the card, and that it mentally brought them back to the feelings of the best day of their life- which is an unexpected but very welcome outcome of sending the cards! Automated communication is a great resource in the toolbox of business owners, but the positive impression from a personal interaction is irreplaceable.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a freelance hairstylist, specializing in bridal and special events with experience in film & media. I travel on-site to beautify women for one of the most important days of their lives! It’s my distinct honor to be a part of their day in such a large capacity. What sets me apart from others in my position is that I love people first and hair second. I prioritize relationships and customer experience while maintaining a reputation for my elevated styling skills. I started my career freelancing for agencies in Chicago, and when we moved to the Twin Cities three years ago, I took a leap of faith and decided to stop lending my talent to agencies and fully book out on my own. Happy to report that that risk has paid off in droves! I have connected with some truly special brides and have also been able to build a fabulous network of industry professionals to work alongside and collaborate with.

How did you build your audience on social media?

While I may not have the engagement yet that I’d hope for, I am actively on a journey of building my social media network, as that is my primary means of customer acquisition. My social media feeds allow me to reinforce my brand- that I love people first and hair second. So along that vein, my advice would be to make sure your messaging is always supporting your mission. Remind people over and over again who you are and what you stand for. You may feel like you’re saying the same thing over and over, but it’s because you see all the pieces of the puzzle put together. Be consistent with your posting! And ignore the urge to respond to haters- block and move on :)

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

As I’ve stated in just about every answer so far, people are my main priority! I make it a point to treat not only every client, but every vendor I work alongside with kindness and respect. The wedding industry is an intricate web of people who love to share stories and drop names! So I make sure that everyone I work with has something positive to associate with my name whenever they do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.suiteseatstyle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesuiteseat_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553064914402

Image Credits

Photo credits in order:
1. Tessa June Photography
2. Taryn Collins Photography
4. Wild Trail Studio
6. Danielle Schury Photography
7. Tessa June Photography
8. Under the Willow Photo