Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisa Ellis.
Hi Elisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I left a twenty-plus year career in corporate, started as a rep for a jewelry company, and then evolved into a wardrobe stylist and started my company Turnkey Style. Over the course of a few years, I went from helping clients style outfits to helping friends, going through divorce, put together outfits that were business casual and business professional. After several years of doing it for free a friend encouraged me to start a business, and Turnkey Style was born.
For close to a decade now, I have been working with clients to transform their closets and lives in the US and abroad. Whether you are a business owner, executive, in corporate, management, or an entrepreneur, I believe how you show up matters, and I am passionate about sharing how to ‘Up Your Style Game’ so you are more productive, are memorable, confident, and attract more success. Personal styling is more than a wardrobe haul; it’s a total transformation that introduces you to your inner awesomeness. The one that’s confident, is effortlessly stylish and takes more risks for her dreams.
I passionate about helping my clients look and feel their very best, and work with them to go from frustrated to fabulous by replacing outdated outfits with timeless pieces that can be easily coordinated to wear for any occasion.
I also work with businesses to help them guide and educate their teams about the power of professional presence, how an authentic personal image is linked to their success, and gives tips on how to present themselves in ways that helps them reach their highest potential.
I am now a wardrobe stylist, speaker, online course creator, and author.
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?
Has it been a smooth road? No, but I am grateful for all the ups and downs and for the opportunity to learn from the challenges. I started with closet edits since I believe you have let go of what’s not working for you in order for you to move forward. What I found was that my clients felt as though they had a closet full of stuff, but when I looked closer, nothing fit or went together, which makes getting dressed a dreadful experience.
There was definitely a learning curve when I started my business, and there were lots of challenges. Some of the simple things like finding a CRM, creating a budget, figuring out a marketing plan, finding people to partner with, exploring networking groups, and finding new clients were time-consuming and included a lot of trial and error. Those were just a few of the hurdles I encountered.
As time went on, I added several packages, like outfit coordination and an update your look package, to serve my clients, but it was trial and error. My clients want to look pulled together, but they struggle to find clothes that look stylish, feel amazing, and reflect their personal style. I quickly added a personal shopping package because I found most of my clients felt shopping for clothes was not fun. In fact, it is super stressful for most, and I found that clients before we worked together were stuck and wore the same items on repeat because they were comfortable and safe. In reality, they also felt overlooked and invisible, so adding the personal shopping and a membership program was an aha moment.
When the pandemic hit, and people could no longer meet in person or shop, I had to re-think my business model, and I went virtual, created an online course, and learned to shop online using various shopping platforms.
Along the way, I also had to learn which business model worked best for me, which fees to charge, how to charge, which programs were best and easiest to use for clients, and how to create an amazing experience for a service that can be challenging for the client.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the founder of Turnkey Style, as well as a wardrobe stylist, speaker, best-selling author, and online course creator. I believe that what you wear matters because it reflects how you feel about yourself. You have less than fifteen seconds to convey authenticity, trust, intelligence, and more. I guide my clients to up-level their style so they are unforgettable without saying a word and are more likely to attract more clients, be more memorable, and have more confidence.
I am not interested in trends, but I am passionate about helping my clients look and feel their very best, and I work with them via closet edits, branding sessions, updating their look, outfit coordination, personals shopping, and memberships. I help my clients find what makes them show up authentically so they can stand out among the crowd.
Elevating your personal brand is all about developing your persona, making an impact, and standing out, which can then be used to attract more clients, create greater awareness, and have more influence. Your style can help set you apart from others and impact how you communicate, from your personality to your core values and principles. What you wear matters because it reflects how you feel about yourself. My goal is to help clients find clothes that feel great, fit within their budget, and are flattering.
I also work with businesses to help them guide and educate their teams about the power of professional presence, how an authentic personal image is linked to their success, and gives tips on how to present themselves in ways that helps them reach their highest potential. I say what HR can’t and give presentations that share how to explore a variety of styles and dress in a way that encourages productivity, higher sales, collaboration, better confidence, and connection, as well as overall brand awareness that aligns with company goals.
What sets me apart from others is I have been everything from a size 10 to an 18+, and I can understand, from personal experience, how challenging it can be to let go of what’s not working and then find clothes that fit. Style is not a size or a number on a scale. Style has everything to do with self-expression and confidence. Everyone can uncover and define their unique style because personal style is your way of expressing who you are.
With Turnkey Style, you have a styling expert who you can depend on to be honest supportive, and find just the right pieces that fit your budget and lifestyle.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have so many mentors, supporters, and cheerleaders. My husband, Jack Ellis, who has supported me from the beginning and helped me walk through a variety of challenges. Maribel Tubbs, a lifelong friend who encouraged me to start my business. She saw what I could not and believed in me. Way back in the beginning, I met Toni Caruso when I started my first business as a jewelry rep, and she has supported me, introduced me to new people, and helped me grow my business. Through the years of networking, I have met so many amazing men and women, and one of them was Natalie Barron, who later became my business coach. She helped me grow my business exponentially, and I am forever grateful to her. Most of all, I am grateful for all of my clients who believed in me, supported me, referred me, and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.turnkeystyle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylishcurvygirl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylishcurvygirl/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisaellis/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TurnkeyStyle
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/vondak.photographer
https://www.vondak.com
