Community Highlights: Meet Ginger Burr of Total Image Consultants

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginger Burr.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Even as a young girl, learning about fashion and style was something that always intrigued me. But I grew up at a time when there was no internet or makeover TV shows and it wasn’t fashionable to hang out at the mall. As a result, learning about fashion was not as easy as it is now and I struggled with how to create a wardrobe that I loved and felt fabulous wearing.

To try to discover my personal style, I spent time studying what friends were wearing. I often recreated their looks for myself but too often with less than stellar results. Somehow their style did not translate to mine either because of our body shapes, coloring or personalities or all of the above.

Finally, I met a woman, Nevena Christie, who was offering a 3-day workshop called ‘Fashion, Color & Image’ and I immediately signed up. This woman changed my life. She had the answers I was seeking and she was open to sharing her knowledge. I learned about fit, how to choose flattering colors and makeup application. Being a very pale redhead, she was the first person who truly understood how to apply my makeup so I looked natural and not like a clown.

After those 3 days I realized that I could not possibly be the only woman struggling with how to put myself together and I felt drawn to help empower other women. Nevena agreed to train me and that was the beginning of many years of supporting women to look good and feel good about how they look.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an introvert and never having thought I’d own my own business, there were plenty of struggles especially at the beginning. They revolved less around the services I offered and my own degree of growing expertise and more around marketing and getting the word out. The last thing I had any intention of doing was cold calling and since online marketing really wasn’t a thing yet, I had to find other ways to let women know what I do.

After trying advertising in newspapers and magazines (terrible idea and too expensive), I was introduced to networking. I promptly joined a women’s networking group called New England Women Business Owners and became very active eventually joining their board as the membership director. Of course, being an introvert, this was not necessarily a comfortable choice, but I’m nothing if not determined and decided I’d make it an adventure. The results were amazing.

Years later, although I still networked, I discovered the power of the internet and websites and took full advantage to use these as marketing tools. For many years now, women find me through primarily organic searches and by referral. I see this as the magical combination of networking connections and having a vibrant online presence.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Total Image Consultants?
While we all want to believe that how we look shouldn’t matter the truth is that it does although not always in the way we expect. Sure, how others perceive us can make a difference when it comes to connection or making a positive first impression, but how we feel about ourselves is what truly transforms us. So many times I’ve seen women’s self-confidence blossom when they feel good about how they look and they project that sense of confidence so others feel it as well.

It’s not a matter of looking a certain way, it’s about authentically expressing who you are. I refer to it as discovering one’s inner beauty — what is it that makes someone special? I’ve helped hundreds and hundreds of women identify who they are in their heart and soul and no two women have ever had exactly the same inner beauty words. That’s how unique each of us is and that’s why it’s important to fully express one’s uniqueness in their clothing and style choices. For instance, someone who is ‘gracefully uplifting’ will have a very different look from someone who is ‘passionately powerful’ even if their body shape, coloring and lifestyles are similar. Not only does this process help them feel authentic in their wardrobe choices, but I find it thrilling to help them tap into who they are on the inside and express it on the outside.

Overall, my job is to make my clients’ experience of getting dressed feel less stressful. Whether they don’t like to shop and find themselves settling for things that don’t make them happy just to get out of the store or they don’t know what colors make them shine or they are overwhelmed by too many clothes in their closet and they struggle to make outfits, I make it all easier for them and this helps boost their confidence and self esteem.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking is the way I initially built my business and I believe it’s still the most important marketing tool available to us. We all know that we prefer to do business with someone we like and trust and that’s where making significant connection comes in. Networking is not something you do once in a while, it’s a commitment. I encourage people to get fully involved in a networking group. Show up regularly to everything, get on the board, make a point of meeting new people each time rather than just staying in your comfort zone with people you already know.

As I mentioned, being an introvert, networking was not always a comfortable experience for me. But I immediately understood its importance. I committed to being active and even became the person in charge of memberships when I joined the board. This ensured not only that it would get me out of my comfort zone, but also that I would have to meet more people. Of course, a secondary goal was that I knew there would be other women joining the group who felt uncomfortable surrounded by people they didn’t know. I could help to put them at ease and welcome them as I would want someone to do for me.

The bottom line is that the more visible you are, the more likely people will feel comfortable connecting with you and want to know more about you and what you do. And be sure to return the favor. I still give my business to women I met networking over the years while networking. The beauty of networking is not only has it helped build my business, but I have also made lifelong friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://totalimageconsultants.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerburr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TotalImageConsultants/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerburr/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/gingerburrtic