We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taye Rashad. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taye below.

Taye, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

My first client that was not a family member or friend would be when I assisted with styling, Ms. Evelyn Braxton. This opportunity came about from my friend Xay, he know that styling was a passion of mind and decided to bring me aboard. Honestly, I was feeling amazing, grateful, and star-struck! I mean this is Ms. Braxton and I’m getting to help style her. However, I did not want to seem like a rookie even though technically I was, furthermore I took the more professional approach by gathering all the necessary information so that I begin shopping and pulling items that would fit with the vibe and aesthetic that she wanted to achieve. Upon the completion of shopping, the next step was to proceed with fittings to ensure the clothes looked good, she felt comfortable in them, and ultimately the client loved and approved of them. Fast forward to the actual shoot day and I was extremely nervous. I mean this is a huge deal, it could be the make-or-break moment and could open the doors for so many more opportunities to come. I vividly remember her saying, “baby do you” and hearing others present saying ” Oh ya’ll did that” which provided me the confirmation that this was going to as planned. After hearing this, I instantly got into action, it was like a different side of me came out. We immediately began laying out the looks for the shoots, getting her dressed, assisting with poses, and making a few last-minute changes, while also running back to ensure everything was in place so that she can change quickly to be back on set for the next look.

Taye, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Fashion has always been a passion of mine. I can vividly remember drawing sketches in grade school however, I knew that I did not want to be a designer. As I grew older and began to look more into the fashion industry, I learned about stylists and how they are ultimately responsible for the looks of some of our favorite celebrities. I instantly knew this is what I wanted to do. Of course, we went through a few changes before becoming StyledByTayeRashad to make our business run more efficiently and ensure we can address all of the needs and concerns of all of our clients. For our services, we provide a few general consultations, closet revamps and organization, personal shopping, styling for various events and occasions, as well as sourcing.
As a stylist, there are many problems we are responsible for solving. If I had to point some out, I would say ensuring our clients do not end up on the worst dressed list, assisting with locating a specific item, addressing fit concerns, and ultimately removing the stress of them not knowing what to wear.
The thing that sets StyledByTayeRashad apart from others is that we work with all budgets, no budget is too big or too small for us. I am most proud of curating a vibe known as the #StyledByTayeRashadExperience. Within this experience, each client is given the full celebrity experience. We have partnered with some Make-up artists (MUAs), and photographers, and we are currently working to add hairstylists to our roster. Doing this aids in making us the full one-stop for all of our clients.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Currently, our best source of clients has been from social media, specifically Instagram, word of mouth, and using proper hashtags to ensure if a client searches for something specific our profile will pop up. Recently earlier this year, we joined a styling platform for stylists known as Glamhive and it has been tremendous for helping us reach clients and having them booked for specific services.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I would say the best strategy for growth for us would be continuing to remain active and showing a presence. While yes I understand it is hard when you do the work and the post may not receive as many likes or shares as you thought, that should not stop you. Instead, continue to push through, all it takes is for that one post to hit, and the next thing you know a viral sensation is born. Sometimes we see brands and businesses but it’s a while before we see anything from them again which will lead to people forgetting about them. You should not want your business to be known as the one trick or one hit pony. An additional strategy that aids in growing would be using all forms of social media. We are currently in a world where social media is very important and it aids in your success or downfall depending on how you use it. But, above all the most effective and important strategy for growth would be truly being your brand and representing it. As a stylist, each time I step out of the house it is a must for me that I have on a nice outfit. The reason behind this is my brand is all about being well put together and fashionable. If I am not on point, then how can I trust clients will come to me for their fashion needs?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Tayerashad
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StyledByTayeRashad/

Image Credits
RyMedia Company, RobMaddenShotYa, Hedley Wilson Photography