Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginna Tassanelli.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ginna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After graduating from Florida State University, I took a job offer from one of the leading global media and entertainment companies in the world specializing in radio, outdoor, information and entertainment services. Going down that path is what led to my career in advertising and marketing.
Seven years after that, I gained enough experience in advertising and marketing to want to open my own advertising and marketing firm. After a lot of deliberation with my husband, we decided to go for it. However, I soon realized I needed to supplement my income while I was getting my firm off the ground.
A friend of mine happened to share with me about a company called, Premier Designs Jewelry, a high fashion jewelry direct sales company. The interesting thing is that I didn’t really wear jewelry or have experience in retail. However, listening to their purpose and philosophy to serve other women along with the generous pay and no quotas is what drew my attention. It seemed to be the most efficient way to bring in the income I needed without being away from my family too much more outside of my full-time job which I had yet to resign from.
My motto was just “Fake it until you Feel it”, a quote I learned from the book, Business Boutique. With that, I did it with fear and six months into my accessory styling business with Premier (my brand with Premier Designs has evolved to a.k.a. The Style Rebel Mama), I resigned from my almost 10-year corporate career and made the move to launch my own boutique advertising agency, HYPE Media. I took what I had learned as an advertising account executive, including cultivating business relationships with the objective to help local businesses successfully market their brands and products using radio and now social media marketing and advertising to a boutique agency level where I can use my passion and creativity to focus on a small and personal client base.
Simultaneously, the women I was sharing Premier Designs Jewelry with, such as moms-on-the-go (aren’t we all), “mompreneurs” and businesswomen inspired me to offer more than just the jewelry accessories from Premier Designs. As a wife, a Mom of two, and an entrepreneur owning these two businesses, what I’ve experienced on my own and with my clients throughout the years is that it’s not easy taking time for one’s self to go out and do life feeling confident and fabulous all the time. This is very true especially when it comes to making an impact in our business and personal brand with our personal style. Therefore, I knew there was a need for more which led me to create The Style Rebel Mama, expanding my services beyond offering jewelry accessories.
The Style Rebel Mama serves as a personal stylist to women in business where I help them curate their closet and inspire them to elevate their personal style both for business and casual settings in a way where they feel comfortable. Whether they have me over their home for a personal one-on-one style or closet consultation; at their home or office for a small group style workshop or fundraising event, I share money-saving wardrobe tips and style solutions that are specific to them. The end result is that they learn how to effortlessly combine key pieces in their wardrobe and add final accessory touches from Premier Designs Jewelry collection to pull it all together so that their style reflects their habits, tastes, hobbies, mode of life, daily activities, and career.
As I continue to expand my businesses, my goal is to provide exceptional service both on a marketing level and a personal fashion stylist level. I currently still work both of my businesses simultaneously. I’m excited to begin merging my businesses together so they work hand in hand to help women brand themselves effectively and authentically both on social media and through their personal style.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road but I don’t think great things come easily. I thrive on a challenge and am patient to get to where I want to be both professionally and personally.
In my experience, working two businesses from home simultaneously and juggling life as a wife and mom is not always smooth but I wouldn’t change it for the world!
There are usually really early mornings and sometimes really late nights of work but the pay off is that I’m able to be present with my kids and be there for their school activities, school volunteer work, field trips, watch their sports practices, and so on.
As a solopreneur, it can be somewhat challenging to have to be accountable for oneself. With HYPE Media, I have to consistently stay on top of marketing trends so that I can be the most effective and efficient for my clients. This is especially true with social media marketing which is changing daily.
At the same time, my obsession with helping women elevate and define their style so they make the greatest impact in their business confidently can also be overwhelming because of all the ideas I have spinning in my head to take The Style Rebel Mama to the next level. Being strategic while efficient so that I can be a guide to more women not just on a local level but virtually takes a lot of planning and organization.
Doing this on my own can be challenging and as someone that is a bit of a control freak I’ve learned to let go a bit and outsource. This has been one of the best things I’ve done for my businesses as I grow.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
As the creator of and a personal stylist through The Style Rebel Mama, I have a passion for being a guide to women in helping them define and elevate their personal style. I offer personal one-on-one style and closet consultations as well as small group style sessions.
Style consultations are done either in person or virtually and depending on the amount of time a client hires me, I work with them to curate a working wardrobe for them that fits their style and lifestyle. We first review and take an inventory of their current wardrobe followed by identifying where there are gaps. From there, we work on creating a unique color palette that fits their skin undertone so that when it’s time to go shopping either together or on their own they know exactly what to look for and shop with intention.
The end result is that my clients absolutely LOVE their wardrobe and feel fabulous and confident getting dressed no matter the occasion.
A small group style session both in person or virtually integrates the pieces of a style consultation but in more general terms with the opportunity to follow up as a one-on-one style consultation.
The style session is designed for a host and her friends to get together for a fun fashion experience. They learn style solutions that fit their personal style. We also identify the working parts of their wardrobe and share how to incorporate fashion pieces and accessories to pull it all together.
As a Hostess booking the style session, she has the opportunity to earn free and half priced Premier Designs Jewelry as my style partner and receive a complimentary one-on-one style consultation.
HYPE Media began as a media planning and media buying agency. However, over the last 6 years or so has transformed into a social media management company. I still have clients that I plan and buy traditional advertising for but 90% of my clients hire me for their social media marketing.
I specialize in building audiences on Facebook pages with content strategies that create organic audience engagement as well as paid social media advertising campaigns. I create Facebook pages from scratch and/or take them over to build an audience that not only engages but becomes a loyal customer for my clients.
We always love to ask about the support network – have there been people, perhaps mentors or advisors, who have played a big role in your success?
My biggest supporter is my husband! Without his confidence in me, encouragement, patience, and support it would be difficult to manage it all especially the times when I’m out of the house in the evenings to do a style session.
My father deserves credit for my persistence at entrepreneurship and my work ethic. As a Cuban immigrant who left Cuba at 13, he’s worked since his early teenage years and has made many sacrifices to get to where he is. He’s a former business owner himself and has taught me that it takes hard work to get what you want and to never give up.
Pricing:
- Style Rebel Mama – Style Consultations begin at $150/hour (minimum of 2 hours)
- Style Rebel Mama – Hosting a Style Sessions is FREE with guests purchase from the jewelry collection
- HYPE Media – Marketing Consulting per hour is $100/hr (minimum of 3 hours)
- HYPE Media – Marketing Services packages begin at $750/month and up from there depending on how many social platforms, integrations, and management
Contact Info:
- Address: 6574 N. State Road 7 #155
Coconut Creek, FL - Website: http://www.stylerebelmama.com/
- Phone: 561-386-0958
- Email: Ginna@StyleRebelMama.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/stylerebelmama
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/stylerebelmama
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnatassanelli/
Image Credit:
Naomi Phelps – Sweet Memories Photography
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