May 17, 2017

Meet Tara Hooper of The Style Signature and Signature Consulting in Carrollton and Plano

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Hooper.

Tara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been an entrepreneur since I was 19. I don’t know anything else. I love having an idea and growing it into something fun, amazing and profitable. I started as a behind the chair working hairstylist and makeup artist in my own salon. After 22 years and hundreds of clients I realized that many of the people had the same complaints about how to “show up.” What to wear when? How to dress for their body? How to network and promote themselves? How to communicate effectively? The list went on and on. I knew there was an opportunity to work deeper with clients. After a 3 year break and staying home with my kiddos I decided I wanted to reinvent myself, my business and service offerings. It was time to create again! I wanted to work deeper with clients so that they could really have the tools to shine. So in 2014 I attended the London Image Institute and The Style Signature was born.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
HA! Smooth? No way! There have been 3 significant times in my life when someone I looked up told me I can’t or won’t. One was my old boss at a salon I worked at. He said if I went out on my own I’d never make any money. By the height of my career as a hairstylist I had bought and owned 3 homes in San Diego, drove the car of my dreams and had individual sales over 100K. I’d say I made a few bucks, proved him wrong! Another was someone said I’d never win a state pageant title (yes I compete in pageants) I competed and WON Mrs. Alabama U.S. in 2013. And now I am Mrs. Texas Elite Woman of Achievement. Again proving “them” wrong. The latest came from someone in my industry who said I would never get corporate clients, maybe because I am a pageant girl? This year alone I have signed with 3 corporate companies, one of which being a global Fortune 500 company. Some things are a challenge but I don’t let that stop me. Every company has obstacles, mine have been that I started a new business, but I moved states- twice while doing it! I launched The Style Signature in a whole new market where I knew NO ONE other than my in-laws. Plus I was balancing being a wife and mother to 2 kids and starting not just a new career but a new business from scratch. The only thing that really came easy was my ability to network and meet people. I know my craft, I love it and love sharing it with others. There has been a lot hours away from my family building my business to where it is now and I have more to go, but I am proud of the work and amazing connections I have made so far.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Style Signature and Signature Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
In a nut shell I help people communicate effectively through profitable professional presence. I help develop their appearance, behavior and demeanor, their nonverbal and actual speaking skills so that they are seen and heard for the value that they bring to their businesses and companies. As an entrepreneur and business owner for over 25 years, I have the personal know-how, skill set, and training to help business owners and CEO’s alike make that powerful connection with their clients, become successful, influential and unforgettable leaders in their companies and communities and develop a clear and effective profitable brand.

I hope what sets me apart is my authenticity. It is also important that I help my clients stay authentic and connected to their values even while we are making changes. The best compliment I received recently was that I had “An authentic presence with a powerful message to share.” I find it very rewarding when my clients tell me that they love all the changes they have made but still feel “like themselves” just a new and improved version. I don’t want to change people -I want to bring out their best self.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I personally feel as a society we are lacking and craving real connections with people. We have so much amazing technology at our finger tips yet we are starting to lack true engagement. I think we are or will be going back to some of those old fashion values of developing in person relationships, nothing beats it! Yet, we are cultivating a society of people that only know how to communicate via technology. That is going to be a problem. My industry, which essentially teaches all those soft skills is going to be and is necessary. I see it already, as many of the requests I get in corporate is helping company teams understand how to show up appropriately for work or when meeting with a client. I am also seeing a trend in needing effective in person communication. Anywhere from simple tactics like shaking hands and eye contact to understanding that certain ways women communicate can hinder their progress in business. Those are the types of topics I am being asked to address. Deep down we are people, flesh and blood with emotions and feelings but if we continue to only communicate through text, screens and email we are going to lose something in the process. Over time we see those losses in relationships, growth and profit.

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