Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakia Anderson.
Nakia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a girl from silver spring, MD that has always loved clothes since I was born… I have always been the friend out of my crew of friends that everyone calls on for styling advice or what to wear when it comes to going out to a function. I worked in the federal government for 16 years being an assistant and budget analyst. In 2015 I lost my dad and when that happened I realized life is to short not to live out your dreams, so in 2016 I decided I would move to LA and live out my dreams of being a stylist. My cousin lived in LA and she is definitely one that persuaded me to move on faith because she believed in me that much. In January 2017, I decided that I would quit my good government job and take a leap of faith. On February 22, 2017 I moved to L.A., CA. Once I moved, I had assisted a few celebrity stylist and then I got my first client by that summer and from there I slowly started picking up clients through word of mouth.
Since I do love a steady steam of income and always want different streams of income my friend referred me to virtual personal stylist job that I could do from home. (thought this was perfect since it is in my field and I could create my own hours and still pursue my dreams) I work with that company for about a year which helps me to be flexible with time to build my brand as well as teach me more customer service skills and how to handle certain situations. (I learn from every job I have had no matter what field it was in) In the summer of 2018, I open up an online boutique since I love clothes so much I figured this will be another great way to earn another income as well. Then from there, I started putting out style videos on my Instagram to show women a few ways you can style one item and that helped with getting me more clientele. I realized from doing the videos and showing multiples ways on how to wear/style an item I wanted to help the every day women/man to get dressed and make them feel and look great. So now I Have male and female clients I style just for their everyday lives and its such a reward to shop for them and style them it really brings me joy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wish! Not smooth at all you have self-doubt at times and you start questioning yourself and thinking is this it, I came this far for this!!! Money and jobs not coming as fast as you want them too. But you then you realize that patiences is a virtue and God is real!! Once you continue to put in the work God will put everything in place for you it may take a few years maybe a few months but you have to continuously believe in yourself, talk nice to yourself and know you can make it just keep doing the work. The moment you don’t believe and stop having faith in GOD is the moment things won’t be so smooth. So fighting impostor syndrome can be a battle but we all have a weak moment but then we get right up and put that one foot in front of the other to keep working towards that dream.
Shop Naks Closet & Styles By Nak – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
So I am a personal stylist/shopper and I organize closets and show you how to remix items in your closet to create new ones. SO for personal shopping and styling I take the hard part and make it easy for you. A lot of folks don’t like shopping so I create these shoppable lookbooks that are styled with 3-4 looks that you can just click on the items and it takes you straight to the website to purchase. So I basically shop for you and you can either purchase the entire look that I styled or you can just purchase the items you like in the lookbook. Some items in the lookbook may be similar to a few items you have in your closet so you can just reference the lookbook on how to style those items as well. The lookbook to me is the gift that keeps on giving since it is also kind of like a style guide for you since it is something you can always have to look back at.
I am known for styling one item a few ways. I realized we as women will have something in our closet with tags on it and haven’t worn it because not sure on how to style it, so we go buy more items and not wear what we have already in our closets hence the name “Shop Naks Closet” I want to help women use what they have in their closets more and don’t be afraid to repeat an item just as long as you change up how you wore it the first time.
What sets me apart from the others is that I am helping you to sustain what you have and to just add on a few essential pieces you need, its not always about shopping store but shopping your closet. I want women to learn to use what they have and not think oh let me go buy something new instead. I want them to try something new within their closet, recreating with what you already have. And it is OK to repeat your clothes.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, LA is a great city for a business like mine there are always people that want to be styled form celebrates to just the everyday women. Plus its the city of Dreams 🙂
I would recommend someone to start out here just know no matter where you start out at it isn’t an easy road. I started with zero clients before I moved to LA and now I have a good solid ten that are regulars now and still waiting for more clients.
I think this is a great platform you all have started with highlighting hidden gems this show the people that don’t know about us about us and its not just showing people that are known and I think that is a big deal for entrepreneurs like me. So Thank You.
Pricing:
- Look Books are $300
- Closet Organizing $150 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopnakscloset.com
- Phone: 2403758043
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @stylesbynak
Image Credit:
Kaye McCoy IG: Cookayemonster, Website: www.kayemccoy.com
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