We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Child and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
When building our services, we start by standing in the shoes of our clients – we envision their lives and forecast what it is that they’ll require to alleviate stress and meet the needs they don’t even know they have. Before being a fashion company we are a service and experience company, so we ask ourselves, what would shopping look like if it were easy? What kind of experience would make personal style rewarding, as opposed to overwhelming? We create audacious goals and then work backwards, trying to find ways to implement them. Putting ourselves in the world of our customers, seeing everything through their eyes rather than our own, is what has led to the success of MiKADO and allowed us to stand out amongst our competitors. A great example of this was when we made the decision to provide our clients with a personal department store-like experience in the comfort of their home. We realized that what people value about shopping from a store like Saks or Nordstrom is the idea of having all the variety under one roof, but what deters them from making purchases is the overwhelming experience of being distracted by so many things that either aren’t their size or don’t suit their aesthetic. They also feel extremely pressured in a store environment, knowing that sales associates work on commission, and don’t know where to turn to in order to receive trusted style advice. To satisfy these needs we determined it would require us to bring our clients 7-8 times the amount of options they’d ultimately keep, all in their size, style-preference and budget range, in order to help them make the best purchasing decisions and recreate that department store selection in their home. This could mean bringing upwards of 80K worth of clothing to a client to choose from, which is no small feat. To get that one amazing jacket that fits well and works with everything you own, you’ll need to try several styles and brands to know you found the perfect one. And we knew what it would take to replicate that level of choice for an entire wardrobe. Investors told us that this method wouldn’t work. That it would take far too much man power to pull it off and that the popular subscription-style service, where customers receive only 4-5 options, is what made the most sense. We knew otherwise and understood that what our clients want is the peace of mind of making sound purchasing decisions while also ensuring their wardrobe is made up of items they love and that perfectly suit their needs. Not to buy something simply because it was the best of only 4 options they were shown. We also realized that style requires getting to know our clients, understanding their lives and goals, both of which could never be achieved through a subscription model. We developed our own model in order to bring the best of the mall directly to our clients. We we transform their bedroom into their own personal boutique, show them endless options all chosen to suit their unique needs, and teach them how to pair new clothing with what they already own. They sip on champagne and invite their family members to join, so instead of being a daunting experience in the mall, shopping becomes a relaxing and enjoyable process at home. It takes a large team of Stylists to execute this type of service and it certainly doesn’t fit within the automated subscription-service model that start up investors favor. Standing on our clients’ shoes and truly doing the work to understand what they need, has allowed us to grown and succeed in way we couldn’t have dreamt were possible.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What I am most proud of about the work we do is the positive change we get to make in our clients’ lives and our dedication to building a service that really works for them. There is a primary rule that facilitates our entire methodology – it is that “no” is not an option and there is absolutely nothing off limits as it relates to service. I feel so grateful to be part of a company who has this belief at the very core of their foundation. We provide our clients with whatever they need, whenever they need it, often even before they know they need it. We operate from a one size fits one approach, because we know each client comes with a very unique set of needs, not a one size fits all. I think it’s a major lesson we’ve learned along the way. That being solution oriented, even in the face of challenges, is what maintains trust and lets clients know we’re truly on their side. We’ve definitely been faced with circumstances that have tested our abilities – whether it be trying to locate something that is no longer available, and having it shipped in from another country, to delivering a last minute item to a client at the airport before they catch a red eye flight to a major campaign rally. Shifting these types of challenges from “no’s” to yes’s”, finding solutions where it felt like there weren’t any, is how we’ve been able to reimagine hospitality in the world of fashion. We’re very fortunate to work with people who trust us to manage some of the most personal and intimate areas of their lives, and we don’t take that lightly. Working in personal style means teaching our clients how to craft their image and represent themselves in the best way they see fit. It’s exciting to be able to watch as someone gains a new found sense of confidence, not because they’re wearing nice clothing, but because of the way they see themselves after the transformation. Those qualities were always in there, we’ve just helped to bring them to the surface. We get so excited about the opportunity to create these magical moments for people, contend with one portion of the stress they have in an already very busy life, and ultimately help them to show the world exactly who they are on the inside.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Newport Beach so I would definitely have them spend the weekend in OC. My favorite shopping spots are South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island – both have some of the best store in all of Southern California and are beautiful properties to spend the day at. I’d take them to the beach for an afternoon by the water and then to Marche Moderne, my favorite French restaurant, for dinner. Orange County is such a wonderful, relaxed environment for people visiting outside of California.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
At MiKADO, our team is really focused on drawing inspiration from companies who have gone against the grain and elevated the service-standard within their industry. Our focus is always on enlightened experiences, so we typically look to businesses who have a similar set of guiding principals, often outside of the fashion industry, to help guide us as mentors from afar. We would not be where we are without constantly studying the works of leaders who have followed their vision and pushed the boundaries of impeccable service. Favorites at our office include Isadore Sharp, hotelier and founder of The Four Seasons, Danny Meyer, restauranteur and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, and Rick Caruso, real-estate developer and owner of some of the most preeminent retail properties in Los Angeles, including The Grove. Leaders like these have completely reimagined what service looks like in their respective fields, have committed their work to foreseeing the needs of their customers, and above all else, have transformed an ordinary occurrence, like dining, into an unforgettable, and even magical experience.

Website: https://mikadopersonalstyling.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikadopersonalstyling/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mikado-personal-styling/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikadopersonalstyling

Image Credits
Bernardo Mellado

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