Sarah enjoys helping fashion-phobic men create a confidence-boosting personal style. “When something fits a man, it’s just night and day better. When they love how they feel in their clothes, they actually start to care about how they dress. And the wives love me for it.” In fact, women were Sarah’s original clienteles, back when she was the number one seller for a high-end women’s fashion designer.
After a track record of success, she experienced challenges starting in the fall of 2008. Following an amazing personal sales month, she dialed into a conference call with enthusiasm only to learn the company had just declared bankruptcy. Always industrious, Sarah continued working part time as a fashion writer and did trunk shows for an up-and-coming designer. When both of those opportunities ultimately collapsed because of the economy, she was out of work, out of money, and out of ideas.
Never one to stay down for long, Sarah recalled hearing about the J.Hilburn business from a former colleague. At the time J.Hilburn was a start-up with no local resources in Minneapolis to onboard new Stylists. So she borrowed money for an airplane ticket to Dallas. "I showed up on the doorstep of J.Hilburn and said, ‘Ok, train me. I have to start selling tomorrow.’"
One of J.Hilburn's top Stylists, Sarah has been breaking records since her second month with the company. Her favorite achievement happened when she recently broke yet another sales record, selling $70,000 in one month. She is proud to lead her team by example. "People who keep the end goal in mind are the ones who rise to the top" Sarah says
"I had been running my own brand consulting business for nearly a decade when a former colleague and close friend shared J.Hilburn. I was her second client when she started in 2009. Over time I became more curious about the brand story and direct retail. I attended my first Conference six weeks after joining and was like, ‘Wow, this has legs!’"
"I figured I'd work part time with J.Hilburn for six months." By the fourth month in he knew that J.Hilburn could become his passion. "When I finally admitted to myself that I love this – that fashion is fun – that's when my J.Hilburn business really took off."
Now a Managing Partner at J.Hilburn, Chris is back in men’s tailored clothing—but this time around, he’s the boss. "Last year I was surprised to be the number nine seller in the company. I was surprised, and I’m really proud of it. I’m not wired to win; I focus on my personal goals and on helping others."
Chris strengthens his team by sharing product knowledge and sales tips. He continually offers encouragement—sometimes with a quick text message but always with an old fashioned, hand-written thank you note when they acquire a new client.
"When I first meet with a client I say, ‘This is not about what you buy. Our relationship is not about the J.Hilburn in your closet, it’s about your closet and your style.’ I saw three of my clients comparing their J.Hilburn clothes at an event, and they all said they aspire to dress better than me. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping clients feel proud about what they wear."
Before becoming a J.Hilburn Personal Stylist in 2008, Amy was more likely to fade into the background than to capture the attention of the entire room. She was a stay-at-home mom of three children and rarely had time to herself. She wasn’t that confident, and she left lots of major money decisions up to her husband. Almost immediately, J.Hilburn changed all of that. "Two seconds into the training, I knew it was the right choice for me," says Amy, now a Senior Executive Partner who opened the company’s Boston market and helped expand their Denver market. "I was cold and shaking, but I was so excited, the company founders were dreaming big for me, and I realized how big my dreams could be." Six years later, Amy says she’s blossomed into someone she never thought she could be. "I am a totally different person now," she says. "I am a leader. I am a businesswoman."
Recently divorced, Amy also has learned how to use her position as a Stylist to provide for her family. "It has shown my children that nobody gave mommy a job, she created her own business." Amy says.
Ruben was no stranger to the fashion industry when he learned about J.Hilburn in 2012. With two decades of design and merchandising under his belt, he examined the opportunity closely and immediately knew he wanted to become a Personal Stylist. "I liked the idea of a delivering an exceptional quality product at an amazing price," Ruben says. "Our fabrics are fantastic. I will go toe-to-toe with anyone regarding the quality of our line."
It took only a month for Ruben to realize he had made a smart choice. "When my first suits and shirts for clients came in, they all wanted more right away. They have a real emotional reaction to feeling and looking great in their J.Hilburn choices," he says. "I provide a service that goes deeper than a shirt and suit. I deliver confidence and self-assurance to my clients, and that is an amazing feeling." Ruben is a walking billboard of the J.Hilburn brand. “Being a male Stylist has, thankfully, worked to my benefit," he says. "I get to wear the product and speak to the quality, style and personal benefits." It’s more than Ruben’s clothes that get noticed. It’s the freedom he has to live his life by design. No longer does he answer to a supervisor or work according to someone else’s schedule. He calls the shots. "I get to work with the clients and Stylists I want to work with," he says. "No one is dictating that for me. I work when I want. That’s huge for me."
Ruben finds it easy to share the J.Hilburn experience because it’s become one of his passions in life. "I light up when I talk about it," he says. "I’m excited about the future, now more than ever for my team and my family."
Susan has worn many professional hats. She’s worked in banking, money management, consulting, event planning and project management. She has an undergraduate degree in liberal arts and a master’s degree in business administration. She never dreamed that she’d find her perfect job as a Stylist for J.Hilburn. But she has.
For Susan, the busy mother of three children, a key benefit of J.Hilburn is the flexibility that allows her to spend time with her children. "wanted to see them growing up and I wanted to continue working—just not full time." she says. "I can do J.Hilburn on my own time." With J.Hilburn, she has all of the benefits of self-employment without the disadvantages. "I didn’t want to work by myself," she says. She loves helping her team members grow their businesses and finds that to be one of the most satisfying components of being a Stylist. "I like selling but I really love working with my team," she says.
Just as satisfying is the way her J.Hilburn business allows her to build her days around her children and their activities. “With two in high school and one in middle school, I appreciate the time and flexibility J.Hilburn gives me to spend quality time with them no matter what the circumstance,” she says. “If I’m at a game at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, or spending a week in Canada with my son at a rowing event, I can still run my business wherever I am.”