Your Personal Image, Dressing for Success and to Impress on a Budget - Mia Milton

Ms. Milton’s expertise on how to dress professionally while on a budget has been refined during her many years managing retail stores. Not only did the experience provide her with an opportunity to work with a multitude of women, it also allowed her to learn about their budget restrictions. As business owners, it is vital to make a good first impression, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” When starting a new business, however, finances are a major concern-- there is not always a lot left over to spend on clothes; yet appearance IS important.

Buying clothing should be a strategic endeavor. First, we need to know the difference between “fashion vs. style.” Fashion is constantly changing. On the other hand, style is unique to the individual. We should all know what type of clothing suits us. The fit of our clothes should just “skim” the body and everything should lay flat. It is especially wise to build a relationship with a good tailor.

Other thoughts on appearance:

1. Wear patterns suitable to our size. For instance, a petite woman would be best suited wearing small patterns.
2. Wear color tonal patterns; darker background patterns are very slimming.
3. Be aware that excessive details date your clothes
4. Look at proportion of the clothes to your body.
5. Stockings (aka, hose) should always match the shoe color, unless they are nude toned.
6. Get to know the salespeople in your favorite stores. They can alert you to sales or when items that match your taste have arrived.

• Buy the classics. Every closet needs to contain the basic wardrobe staples—a white shirt, a black dress, a trench coat, a turtleneck, twin set, blazer, a pencil skirt. These are our building blocks, they will allow us to create and recreate an outfit by changing only minor pieces.
• Buy with the strategy of mix and match. For instance, think about our classic pieces and how we can change the look, this stretches our dollars further.
• Buy at consignment and resale shops. We viewed several elegant designer outfits all were exceptionally reasonably priced.
• Buy during sales. If we do shop at mass retails, specialty stores and boutiques, do so during sales, specifically at end of season. Two of the biggest sales occur at end of summer and end of fall.

Thanks to Sandy Stapish and Klothes Kloset, which was a great resource for the fashions shown as examples for this talk.

Story by Deb Gorney, Designs by DG

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, July 11, 2006
This is a fun evening of networking; a great opportunity to invite new members. We'll have a round of golf, beginning at 1:00 (cost $35 to be paid to Lake Forest) followed by casual networking and food provided by Simply Scrumptious. Feel free to attend all or part of the meeting.

1st WBO Annual Golf Outing, Tuesday, July 11 at Lake Forest, 1:00. Cost: $35 to Lake Forest. BE SURE TO CALL LAKE FOREST TO REGISTER

Annual Dinner Meeting and Expo, October 24, 2006

Interested in a second or third career? At a Bed and Breakfast? Learn much of what you need to open or run a bed and breakfast with Chris Mason. Dates vary- both Weekends and Weekdays- includes a room for 2 nights, breakfast and lunch each day, one dinner, and course materials and instructions. Contact Chris at 734-480-4800 for dates and costs.

The Michigan Brewers’ Guild Summer Festival, July 21-22, Riverside Park in Ypsilanti, is seeking non-profit partners to provide volunteer services in exchange for a financial contribution. If you represent a non-profit organization, this is for you!
    The Guild has not yet finalized appropriate donation amounts for the various services but will work with interested organizations on a one-on-one basis to come up with a mutually beneficial compensation arrangement.
    Services/volunteers needed for: Festival Set-up and Tear-Down, Daily Clean-up, Table Stewards, Beer Pourers. Training will be provided where necessary. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please contact Rene Greff at rene@arborbrewing.com or at 480-2739.

Think Local First is looking for businesses and individuals to be listed in their new directory which includes information, articles, and business listings to help residents make the decision to support locally owned businesses. Ads are available for $125-$250 For membership and ad information, contact Lynn Liston, 734-761-8431 or lynn@townandcountry-errands.com or go online at www.ThinkLocalFirst.net. There is a June 30th deadline.

BUSINESSES FOR SALE:

The Klothes Kloset, a "turnkey" Ladies upscale consignment shop is being offered for sale by Sandra Stapish. The Store is located at 2410 E. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Call 734-971-6211, visit www.klothes-kloset.com, or email sandrastapish@comcast.net

The Parish House Bed & Breakfast is being offered by Chris Mason. The Parish House is located at 103 S. Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI. Chris can be reached at 734-480-4800 or email inkeeper@parishhouseinn.com.

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The Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan is a member of the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Chambers of Commerce. Our agreement with them allows our members to participate in meetings and events at member prices.
    In forming the strategic alliances with the Chambers, WBO's intent is to offer an opportunity to our members to attend Chamber events to determine the value and benefit of the Chamber to them, and to provide the opportunity for them to promote their business's products and/or services without incurring the higer expense of a full Chamber membership. We provide an affordable method for our members to do their due dilligence about the value of Chamber membership with minimal cost.
    Individual WBO members do not become members of the Chamber, the organization is. Our members do not participate in discount programs or member owner/employee plans offered by the Chambers.

One small plane, one pilot, one ground crew/dispatcher/mother (Jennifer Rice, a WBO member), and two small children make up the international field team of Great Commission Air (GCA), this Ann Arbor-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Jennifer had a key role in saving the life of Yofani, the young girl on her lap, whom lost her arm after being bitten by a poisonous snake in her sleep.

The result of our work is the saving of human lives and elimination of needless suffering - and it is one of the most visible accomplishments of GCA. When God called our family to this ministry several years ago, we took a big step out in faith by answering that call, not really knowing what was in store. What we discovered was that the Lord blessed us with the privilege of being able to serve some of the poorest people in the world and the responsibility of stewardship of an incredibly valuable ministry.

GCA serves the poorest in the most remote parts of Guatemala: tiny Mayan villages on the very margins of civilization where life is hard and nothing is guaranteed - including survival. GCA provides medical and free emergency transport service to these poor subsistence farmers.

Monthly and annual supporters (individuals, churches, Rotary Clubs, and businesses that participate in our annual auction) provide the funding. By taking time to share with others information about GCA, you help to provide the answer to the prayers of the desperate, poor and dying - you are a part of saving lives through the support of this project.

Contact Jennifer at 734-846-4092 to ask for GCA’s 10 minute video and make plans to share the vision of love for the poor with others – friends in your home, your church or civic group.

Check out GCA online at www.GreatCommissionAir.org and view photos at www.GreatCommissionAir.org/gallery.

Sandra Hilton, Healing In Motion, provided this month's business challange

The balance wheel is a circle divided in 8, with a hub in the middle. Seven of the sections are named: Physical, Mental, Spiritural, Emotional, Career, Relationships, Financial, and the 8th is for you to name. Score each section on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being an arc placed at the outer rim of the wheel. A '1' is an arc drawn in by the center. Now look at what you've drawn. The wheel, if its not round, is not going anywhere fast.

For each section list 3 parts of your life or business or job that support this section, things that help you to achieve this quality. Then list 3 parts that get in the way of higher success. In the center or hub, list 2 or 3 things that support you at the most fundamental level and are not dependent on anyone else.

Robin Okun, Nia Technique

TLCI, Website Design, Development, Consulting, SEO, Marketing, 12% off, 662-0154
Healing in Motion, JB Myofascial Release, 25% off, 913-4816
Helping Hands Computer Solutions, Computer and Business Support, 10% off, 995-6875
Contours Express, Women's Fitness, $100 off, 761-8663
Cafe Marie of Ann Arbor, Breakfast/Lunch Cafe, 20% off, 662-2272
Ann Arbor Diet Center, Personalized Weight Loss Services, 10% off, 327-2800
University Bank, Banking/Insurance, 1 year free membership, 741-5858