We're off to the seaside today and I'm hoping for lots of sunshine but, true to my British nature, I've also packed my brolly.

Only two weeks to go to the last-ever Ladies' Style training course here in sunny Chesterfield. I'm re-writing my the current manual, modularising, improving, updating and then we're filming the whole two days to create a self-study DVD-based Ladies' Style in a Box.

Then, this morning I had yet another brainwave - my best ideas always come in the shower!

I'm going to finally put together a step-by-step program on how to run Style workshops. Back in the dim and distant past, I created my own Style workshop for small groups and I sold the resulting workbook to lots of image consultants in the mid Eighties. But as the years went on, I refined my own process and came up with much more fun and interesting workshops for my clients. The problem was that how I did it remained in my head and I never wrote it down so when other consultants asked to buy my workbooks, I had to tell them that they just wouldn't make sense on their own - they needed to tap somehow into my brain (not a pretty thought).

Anyway, to cut a long story short (because everyone is waiting for me in the car now), I'm finally going to write it all down, a consultant's guide to how to do it, step by step, accompanied by workbooks to give to your clients, and (most probably) a DVD to show you how.

If you come on the Ladies' Style course in two weeks' time, I'll include a copy of the whole Style workshop shebang with my compliments. Can't promise when it will be ready - after all, I've only just this morning decided to go for it - I'll let you know when I've had chance to look at the diary.

7 Facts - Plus-size market sees rapid growth

As a business owner in the world of image, you need to be aware of the latest statistics about your industry.  Here are 7 facts / statistics about the rapid growth of the plus-size clothing market.

Use them to impress your clients but, more importantly, to hone your marketing. Read the full article.

Interminable draping is just a pile of old balderdash

Before I got totally hooked on training and mentoring image consultants to build their own businesses, I used to run Colour Confidence workshops for the public. 

How my Colour Confidence workshops came about

I was never totally comfortable running one-to-one consultations but I really thought that's what image consultants had to do!  Talk about being daft!  Who on earth told me that one? Actually, no-one had ever said those words. I just 'assumed' that's what you had to do - and we all know what 'assume' means, don't we?

It only took me around 17 years to fathom that one out, so don't beat yourself up if you've just had that lightbulb moment for yourself.

I much prefer the dynamics of a group and so devised my own Colour Analysis workshop and workbook for up to 6 ladies.

I particularly remember the first Colour Confidence workshop of 2005 because it was so fabulous.

It still makes my day in a training course to see the light dawning as ladies start to see how and why certain shades just do nothing for them, and yet others make their eyes sparkle. I love what I do!

One of the ladies on that cold January day was a colour consultant who had recently trained with another company. Petronella arrived at our workshop a little confused about how to she was supposed to use the colour drapes with her own clients and had come along to see how I did it

Making a rod for your own back

I have to admit that at one time I used to have over 180 colour drapes in my collection. The problem with this is that when you've started going through 63 different shades of yellow on a particular lady, she wants to know why you're not going through the 74 different shades of green as well. You're just making a rod for your own back.

so I stopped doing it!

You don't have to use ruddy drapes!

These days, I wouldn't dream of spending so much time on using the drapes. I can easily demonstrate the right shades for you to wear using lots of other methods which appeal to all your senses. 

I might include some drapes and, then again, I might not. It all depends on the individual client.

This is so much more fun than just draping someone to within an inch of their life.  And your client then only takes away information about the colours that she looks absolutely fabulous in - and isn't that what she really wants to know?

Petronella went away from my workshop feeling very relieved that:

And I reaffirmed to myself all over again that interminable draping is just a pile of old balderdash and should have been slung out years ago!

If a loud bell has just started ringing for you, then you can learn all about my methods (plus lots more great content too) with my Advanced Colour Analysis for Image Professionals self-study DVD pack.

This is a viable business and can make a profit

Sari Nieminen from Finland emailed me: "Hi Kim, Must let you know about my progress. Went to see a man about starting up my business. We went through all the taxes, vats, loans, expenses, travel costs, compulsory pension payments.... everything that eats up your hard-earned money. And guess what conclusion he came to? This is a viable business plan and can make a profit! To pay all the compulsory costs and even pay back 5500 euro loan I need to do one analysis per day. This does not even include all the fabric fans and Kettlewell tops that I'm going to sell.

This was the thing that had held me back: all the stupid vats and tats (VAT in Finland is 23%, even from the services you provide).

I've been worried for nothing!

I am not an airhead and I know that first year is not going to be easy, even the second one, but I will get there with your brilliant advice and put myself on the Finnish colour map!

Build your Business with Style, Shape and Personality

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE £200 TODAY
3-pay finishes today too!

2 weeks to go before the last 'live' Ladies' Style course

To learn how to deliver life-changing, confidence-building Ladies' Style consultations and workshops for all your existing clients, register for my two-day Ladies' Style training course now. This is the last one I shall be running.

Thursday and Friday 16th / 17th September
Ringwood Hall Hotel in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
10 am - 5 pm each day

Read all about course content, fees, how to save GBP 200.00 until end of TODAY Thursday 2nd September only, our easy 3-month payment plan, dates, times, venue, and how to reserve your place.

STOP PRESS - only just decided to add this in today. Only for those attending the actual live course, a free copy of my soon-to-be-created 'How to Run Fun and Lucrative Ladies' Style Workshops' (or some such title).

Book now just one place left

Save £200 when you book by end of TODAY Thursday 2nd September
The 3-pay option ends TODAY too

PS. If you can't physically make the live event

Pre-order The Complete Ladies' Style Training Kit: DVD video recording of live 2-day Ladies' Style training event with training manual, full course notes, Q&A portfolio and some really exciting additional bonus materials. But hurry to save GBP 300. This offer can't last much longer as we've only got 25 kits at this price.