15 – Gorgeous Image Consultant: Tom interviews Rayne Parvis

Episode 015 - Rayne Parvis
[00:00:08] Welcome to Screw the Commute. The entrepreneurial podcast dedicated to getting you out of the car and into the money, with your host, lifelong entrepreneur and multimillionaire, Tom Antion.

[00:00:27] Hey EVERYBODY. It's the Screw the commute podcast. this is episode number 15 with superstar Rayne Parvis I'm thrilled that she's on she's one of my favorite people in the world and get to that in a little bit. Also you got to check out our last episode with super hero Barbara Cookson. She's a speaker that dresses up like a superhero and has just a great lifestyle business you want to hear about. And that's Episode 14. Episode 13 you definitely want to take my training session on copywriting. It's the number one skill in my entire business career that's made me tons of money. So check that out in episode 13. Now our sponsor today is the WordPress ecourse. You can learn to make world class websites for twenty bucks or less. Save yourself thousands of dollars in web creation and maintenance fees plus you get to talk to my tech staff if you need help getting started. Check it out at greatInternetMarketing.com/WordPressecourse. We'll have that in the show notes over at Screwthecommute.com.

[00:01:40] All right let me tell you about Rayne Parvis. She is a Los Angeles based Certified Personal Stylist style coach and media personality. And when I say personality she's got it. An author of The Ultimate Guide to Style from drab to fab. She entered the fashion industry as a fit model, over 15 years ago, after which she began consulting for established bathing suit and lingerie brands as a personal stylist she works with all types innovative branding agencies top headshot photographers matchmaking company singles who are ready to mingle and busy parents. All these people busy professionals who desire a more polished image or just the everyday soul who yearns for image confidence. She's been featured as a style expert on all kinds of media including L.A. fashion magazine. Hey that's she's in the heart of image and fashion and she's becoming a really well-known name there. She's been on national radio shows online and in print. When she's not auditing a closet or helping homeless pets find homes, she's hanging with her family and connecting with her other girl bosses. And I'm not sure exactly what that means. However I got a question Rayne are you ready to screw. The commute. I don't want to get into trouble.

[00:03:09] My answer is yes.

[00:03:13] So tell everybody all about what you do.

[00:03:17] Sure. Well basically I coach people on how to dress for the life they want with closet audits color consultations and fashion styling all the while making them feel very comfortable and laughing at the same time.

[00:03:29] Well tell me what a closet audit is. What exactly is that.

[00:03:32] A closet is when I come into your closet. And I take a look at what's happening. Right where you're faltering. Where your feeling. Why you chose certain things that maybe you don't wear anymore. And then I basically pull out anything that you really shouldn't be wearing that can't be saved. So you're left with only clothes that fit and flatter you.

[00:03:55] Now did you ever throw up when you got into one of those closets? You would mine, I'll tell ya that.

[00:04:03] Throw up? No but I have giggled before with the stuff that I find in there.

[00:04:06] Are they watching you when you're doing this?

[00:04:09] Sometimes they're watching me and sometimes they're off doing their own thing. So if I ever run into something that maybe I know that they would want me to see I just kind of bypass it real quick and move on. But I do giggle.

[00:04:22] Do you run into people that are like oh I can't throw that away. Oh no I can't. I've had that you run into that where they just can't part with certain things that are just hideous.

[00:04:33] Absolutely. And how I kind of get over that hump as I always say OK you're the boss. And then we kind of go back to it. But usually when I show them why something doesn't work or I point out hey look the armpit stains are yellow or when you get in this why does it remind you of your ex husband and you're trying to move on from that chapter of your life. So I usually do a little bit of style coaching in there and then most likely they're more likely to kind of discard it.

[00:05:01] You win them over over time.

[00:05:03] Absolutely.

[00:05:04] So I know the answer to this but tell people about your past in the working world in the hideous j o b world.

[00:05:14] I recently did another podcast yesterday and the woman said when I Googled you I saw how many jobs you have and had. Oh that's interesting. Yes. So I've had many many jobs. Everything from receptionist to filer to most recently working with other branding companies which I think they were going to get into later working for them and getting clients and referrals through them. So I'm also listed on their Web sites and all that kind of stuff. So yes I've had many jobs over the day. I mean sometimes three four companies at a time.

[00:05:52] Now one of the things you mentioned was the fit model what exactly is that are you one of those perfect sizes that everybody wants to fit their clothes on.

[00:06:02] Absolutely not. Most fit models are well there are your small medium and large like basic fit models. But then there's the ones that you really need to have like certain measurements like for example I was... I can't believe I'm going to start off talking about this but I was a natural Double D which is very rare. And then I had a smaller waist and then so I fit the double D lingerie bathing suit community which is a rare size so if anyone out there who has a rare size there is a place for you and you can make a decent money doing that. I mean I've been doing that for over 15 years.

[00:06:40] Wow. Just for double Ds. But it has to be natural?

[00:06:43] Yes. Most companies don't want "fakeys".

[00:06:55] I'm just trying not to offend anybody but yes most companies want you to be all natural. No but implants no boob implants no ribs removed. Nothing like that. They want real bodies.

[00:07:07] Well I guess then that's you and I know you're very busy working doing that. But tell them where you were when I met you.

[00:07:16] When I met you I was just getting out of the stand up comedian world. And I was looking for something else to do. And I won you at a seminar and here I am 8 years later.

[00:07:33] So but things weren't going that well for you at the time right.

[00:07:38] I was living in my parents garage. Fifteen thousand dollars in debt and literally teaching myself how to juggle and do resumes. But I didn't know if I was gonna go back to being an assistant for somebody or receptionist. And it was just I had nothing nothing going for me.

[00:07:55] So I tried to kick your perfectly sized butt a little bit and I remember being in a hotel lobby and telling you you have to write a book and you are sitting there I can write a book I can't and I'm like well you just shut up and sit down there and make the chapter headings right now don't talk to me.

[00:08:19] I remember that. And for those of you who do follow me on social media you probably see a lot of my spelling mistakes. I can barely put together a sentence even though I did graduate college. And yes I got through it. We wrote the book. It was the best thing that literally makes me stand out in a saturated business in Los Angeles.

[00:08:41] Yeah it's a wonderful book. She put all kinds effort into it. It's gorgeous. You did a crowdfunding thing to finance it because you kept saying I don't have the money to print a book. We found a way right?

[00:08:55] Yes and you also made me do that and it was very successful. And it's so funny how you could really accomplish big things when you don't want to let other people down. I didn't want to let you down being your student. So I just said ok whatever Tom says I'll just do it and if I fail I'll blame him.

[00:09:17] That's fair. That's totally fair. I remember I don't know Forty five hundred or five thousand dollars came in or something and kicked off the printing of the book right.

[00:09:27] Absolutely and you taught us also how to do the steps in that as well everything from mentioning people on social media to having a prize after everybody donates. And you just really were a great help with that as well, which I would have never ever ever done by myself because it would have been too embarrassing but it was fun.

[00:09:45] Well yeah. But You now have a beautiful social media. I see it all the time and you really have. So maybe I kicked your butt a little bit but then you took off and ran with it and the postings that you make on social media are just gorgeous and things that I would never in a million years have an eye for. You make beauty out of it. So you're really really great at that.

[00:10:08] So if somebody was out there in a cubicle thinking about leaving their job and starting their own business what kind of advice would you give them.

[00:10:19] I would say use, and I mean this in a very kind way. Use your 9 to 5 for the job that you have to parlay your career and pay for stuff that you're going to need in the future. So for example even though I was starting from nothing. If I had a job that was 9 to 5 I would stay there save money to pay for programs whether it's getting certified taking Tom's program. You know getting all your ducks in a row and saving maybe six months worth of your rent of income and extra for those extra things that are going to come up along the way.

[00:10:55] Like for example I'm getting my color certification class right now I think that was a thousand I took personal styling mastery class that was 2000. So I'm just always educating myself. And so to start off with quitting with no nest egg I would definitely not recommend it. So use your 9 to 5 job to pay to get you started with your new business.

[00:11:19] Perfect advice because you know we never recommend anything that's ridiculous and risky especially if they have a family they've got to keep the bills paid. This is a lifestyle business. This is just so nice to make your own schedule and everything. However one of the reasons I was excited about having you on I heard of a collaboration you're doing with a national brand. That was exciting to me that's because most of the people I deal with just do their own business and that's it. But you made a really smart move here. Tell them about that. You don't have to tell them who yet because we don't want to jinx anything.

[00:11:55] Sure. Well as you go into your business and the way that you like to run things you're definitely going to find what you're amazing at when you're not so great at. So one of the things that I'm not really great at like Tom is great at is collecting e-mail addresses producing online programs where you can really catch a lot of people I just haven't mastered that yet which I plan on doing. So what I am great at is developing loyalty and relationships with other people brands influencers that are bigger and better and more successful than me. Everything from head shop photographers matchmaking agencies talk show people and then with this big brand that no I have not announced it yet. This is they have 50 plus years in the fashion business. I'll be able to get leads from them. I'll be able to show up personal style people all day long be there on camera host all these things that I feel like it's going to be a great opportunity. So even with the other brands that I worked for I would wake up just like you time you wake up with orders right here from all your products. I wake up with referrals from people that I haven't even talked to because they sold and pitch the service to me.

[00:13:10] I do it and I collect my checks. So as you go along everybody's story is going to be a little bit unique and different so I'm always reached out to companies knowing that I didn't have that huge email database to refer people to me because I'm not there yet.

[00:13:25] Perfect because basically joint venturing in my world where you go to somebody that's already blazed the trail and bring something to the table that's of interest to them and they promote you. I put a lot of people on the map like that and it's a perfect idea especially in that cutthroat city you live in. Right. You know having the big power behind you is really something.

[00:13:50] Absolutely yes. So always go for the bigger better people and then just be you know don't be shady don't try to nickel and dime someone that is giving you free publicity and free referrals that you didn't have to work for.

[00:14:06] Now I'm going to put you on the spot here and have you give us some three general style tips for people in business. What what things should they pay attention to nowadays.

[00:14:18] For people in business I would definitely say colors. I feel a lot of you know your color palette that's color analysis. I feel a lot of people wear black a lot or they wear colors that just kind of bring them down and make them look tired and drab and when we're looking to somebody to invest in and buy from. We're looking for. Do they look like they're great at their business. So they look like they're have a life together. So for example I'm a personal stylist. No one's going to hire me to style them if I show up just looking disheveled and a hot mess. So one would be color two would be fit. And another thing would be dress one step above your clientele market.

[00:14:58] Again if you take for example my clientele is everyday people who are entrepreneurs. You know moms and business people that are investing and maybe like a business photo shoot. So I'm not going to show up in like 8 inch high heels and stuff that just came off the Paris runway as I would maybe for a celebrity styling job. Does that make sense. Just something quite above where they are versus going up like for example if you're a real estate agent and your clientele's in Malibu you're probably not going to show up in a suit. Head to toe with all the stuff and you're going to be a little bit more relaxed and dress to fit that community.

[00:15:44] Right. Yeah. You have to you know your clientele basically right.

[00:15:48] Yes absolutely. Those are my three tips.

[00:15:50] Awesome. So what do you like best about working for yourself and what's worse.

[00:15:56] What I like best for working about myself is all the different types of people that I meet and being able to say no if you work for somebody and you don't want to do something you have to do it or you get fired. Right. When you work for yourself. If you run across someone that maybe you don't want to work with or there's a task that you don't want to do you can definitely do it and then you could do it or you can not do it. And then what was the other question.

[00:16:24] Well what was best and what's worst. Yeah. So the best part is you can blow people off if you don't want and what's the worst part.

[00:16:32] The worst part is I guess it would have to be having nobody to answer to.

[00:16:39] Yeah. Because as you just said the little while ago you didn't want to let somebody down. That's why. Yeah. And when times got tough you came through.

[00:16:48] Yes. It's a catch 22. Right. Because obviously no one's going to yell at you if you make mistakes and all that kind of thing which is also the best. I can't stand being yelled at or talk down to or 9:00 to 5:00 looking at the clock. I'm very like if oh if I don't want to do this I'll move on to something else and you can't do that at a job right. Right. So yeah the worst definitely would be you having to be by yourself a lot. And to really hit those certain goals by yourself and pushing yourself versus being you know that's why I do like being part of your community Tom, and having kind of someone having mentors or a little bit above me to kind of keep me going.

[00:17:25] Okay great. So anything funny happened when you're going through people's closets or you know in your line of work.

[00:17:33] Well that's fun stuff all the time. More about just making people laugh. I think the biggest and this is a moral story too is I shot head shots about oh my gosh like 10 years ago from a certain photographer and I'll mention her because she's awesome, Vanie Poyey, and I got the photos back and I hated them. And she is the best number one head shot photographer in Los Angeles. But I just went through a breakup so I had dyed my hair and got a haircut that day like few days before and I was wearing clothes that were not mine to like be businessey. Ok?

[00:18:09] So here I was five years six years 10 years later. Writing an article on what not to do for a photo shoot for business people which is or for anyone which is changing your hair a week before that haircut color wearing other people's clothes like hiring your personal stylist or shopping for yourself and stuff that you wouldn't be in normally so you're going to not look like yourself. And I was like oh my gosh I Did everything you're not supposed to do And it was not Vanie's fault. It was my fault. So I sent in an apology email because obviously today I would not write an awful e-mail like that.

[00:18:49] But I wrote her an e-mail saying your photos are horrible. I asked you not to shoot me this way. Whatever it was awful. And I wrote her an apology letter and she goes Rayne, I always love you I accept your apology. I'm actually looking for a stylist in town would you like to be my stylist. So I thought that was awesome because 10 years later I apologize. And then she ended up sending me referrals and now I'm her go to stylist.

[00:19:14] There you go. So it's good to mea culpa sometimes.

[00:19:18] Yes exactly.

[00:19:19] All right so we got to take a brief break to hear from our sponsor and the sponsor is me. One thing I want you to do folks is Don't tell me you can't do this what I'm going to tell you about. I had an 82 year old create her own Web site. So save yourself the money save yourself unacceptable delays by putting your own site up anytime you want with a tiny investment. Don't get robbed by overpriced web firms. Plus you can try all kinds of ideas that would be too risky to try if you had to pay thousands for a Web site. I have eulogy books and wedding books that wouldn't even exist had I had to spend a couple of grand on the websites it would have been too risky. Plus you get my course you can get to talk to my tech guys to help you get started. Check it out at greatInternetMarketing.com/WordPressecourse and that will be in the show notes along with all Rayne stuff that we'll tell you about late.

[00:20:21] So back to Rayne. What's a typical day look like for you Rayne?

[00:20:27] Internet Computer answering e-mails social media.

[00:20:35] Yes of course I work out.

[00:20:36] And you take care of doggies. I just love that about you because we're both animal nuts.

[00:20:43] Oh my gosh my cats are everything.

[00:20:46] Oh is that the girls that's your new bosses. Is that what you're talking about.

[00:20:50] They're my new assistants.

[00:20:52] Because of your introduction it said your new bosses and I'm saying what are you talking about.

[00:20:56] Oh my gosh. Future girl bosses. So my other women entrepreneurs as friends that's what I meant.

[00:21:07] But I do love cats and animals and they are a big part of my day.

[00:21:12] Yeah. And tell them about your work with the L.A. homeless shelter.

[00:21:18] East Valley Animal Shelter. I volunteered for them Tons and tons of times at their adoption centers and I'm also also a big fan of when I'm driving in L.A. So if you live in L.A. you're driving a lot. I'm always looking for animals to rescue off the street. I got my last cat Goldie off the Golden State Freeway. It was crazy. So I named her after the freeway where I found her and I'm just always looking for animals to rescue on the street. That is also a big part of my day as well and I'm a big fan of taking furniture refurbishing it as well. Re-purposing everything.

[00:21:56] Are you pretty good at that?

[00:22:00] Yes and I'm embarrassed to say my mom my mommy still helps me. She's the one with the sander.

[00:22:08] All right. So what are you promoting nowadays. What are the things that people could buy off you.

[00:22:16] I'm really really really loving my Skype consultations with entrepreneurs in order to get them ready for meetings or a lot of them are doing lifestyle photos for their websites. I help them with their colors and help them with their fit what to wear. So definitely my virtual Skype consultations and of course my book on Amazon Ultimate Guide to Style from Drab to fab.

[00:22:38] Where would they find you. What's your social media and what's your Web sites that they should check out. We'll put them in the show notes.

[00:22:45] Awesome. Web site would be rayneparvis.com and then social media is rayneparvis and you can also find StylebyRayne on Facebook as well.

[00:22:55] And again you do I kind of remember you were doing work with matchmaking firms people getting ready for dates and going back out on the dating market right.

[00:23:05] Absolutely. That's kind of how it started in this business.

[00:23:08] Yeah because your friends were always bugging you for. Seems to me that's one of our first consultations was what do you really like and what do you do all the time. You are always helping your friends get dressed up for dates.

[00:23:20] Yes. Most my friends of the time were 30 year olds you know early 30 year olds still dressing like they were 21 in the short mini skirts with their lady parts hanging we can't really do that when we're 35 anymore. And that's how we started. You actually helped me craft my letter to reach out to all the matchmaking agencies in town which has really been just such a lucrative referral business for me for the past 10 years.

[00:23:46] You were emceeing something right or running parties for something.

[00:23:51] Yes. I started in addition to working for the matchmaking agencies, I started hosting speed dating and single parties as well which is a lot of fun so I go up there and give them free style tips promote my book and just make it a fun evening. I like people I like to party.

[00:24:10] You used to be a stand up comedian. You know so you can handle that stuff easily. So what kind of parting thoughts for our people out there. We call them the screwballs that are listening to this podcast on running their own business and they might be in a cubicle and just hoping that they can do it. What would you tell them.

[00:24:32] I would say no matter what you do. Just keep moving forward and keep your eye on the prize and goal setting and get into a great community. And if you fail it's really not a failure it just means it's pushing you in a different direction.

[00:24:49] Great advice. Now how should they reach through those links you gave us or any particular way you want to be reached which is the best to reach you?

[00:25:01] Probably through email. And that would be rayne@rayneparvis.com.

[00:25:15] Okay beautiful. Thank you so much Rayne for taking the time out of your day to reconnect and I know these people are going to love you we will have thousands of people listen to this and you're going to get buried with business from this. I guarantee you.

[00:25:32] Well thank you for having me and giving me the tools to get out of my parent's garage.

[00:25:37] You're welcome. So everybody that was episode 15 with Rayne Parvis. And again make sure you check out 14 with superhero Barbara Cookson and 13 with the copywriting which is the number one skill I've had. And we'll have all these links in the show notes for you and you definitely want to learn how to make a website yourself we'll be doing a whole training session on that in one of our future episodes. So see you Screwballs later.

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