One Year of Colors by Karine: 134 Clients, 1,500 Miles and A Whole Lot of Color
One year.
It's hard to believe I'm actually writing those words.
A year ago, Colors by Karine was an idea I was excited — and a little nervous — to turn into a real business. I knew I loved color analysis. I knew I loved helping people discover colors that made them feel amazing.
But I had no idea what the first year of running my own color analysis business would actually look like.
Now, one year later, I have 134 clients, 1,500+ miles on my car, and a whole lot of memories that I'm incredibly grateful for.
A year in numbers
Let's start with the fun stuff.
134 clients.
Of those, 132 were women and two brave men decided to find out what their best colors were, too. 😉
I've driven approximately 1,500 miles traveling to clients throughout the Twin Cities area and beyond.
I've done color analysis in:
Nowthen
Cottage Grove
Maple Grove
Burnsville
Mound
Woodbury
Eagan
Minneapolis
St. Paul
One of the unexpected joys of having a mobile color analysis business has been getting to see parts of the area I might not otherwise visit.
Every appointment has taken me somewhere new — and usually into someone's home, where I've been welcomed as a stranger and often left feeling like I had just spent time with a friend.
And the most popular colors were...
Apparently, my clients had some favorite seasons!
The three most common color seasons I saw during Year #1 were:
Warm Autumn
Soft Summer
Warm Spring
Of course, one of my favorite things about color analysis is that there isn't a "good" or "bad" season.
There are simply colors that work particularly well with your natural coloring, and discovering those colors can be such a fun experience.
Color analysis isn't just about color
One of the things I've loved most about this first year is seeing how often color analysis becomes about something bigger than clothing.
I've been invited into homes for 40th birthday surprises, Mother's Day celebrations, girls' nights, sisters' appointments and gatherings of college friends.
I've watched friends encourage each other. I've seen women get genuinely excited when they discover a color they never thought they could wear. I've watched someone look in the mirror and suddenly understand why a particular color makes her eyes look brighter or her skin look healthier. And I've seen women leave with a little more confidence than they came in with.
That's the part of this business that means the most to me.
Women supporting women
If there's one theme I would use to describe Year #1, it would be women supporting women.
So many of my clients came because someone else recommended me.
A friend.
A sister.
A mom.
A coworker.
Someone said, You have to try this.
That means so much to a small business owner. Every referral, Instagram follow, social media share, gift certificate purchase and enthusiastic "you have to book with Karine!" has helped me build this business. And every time someone welcomes me into their home, I'm reminded that this business isn't really about color swatches.
It's about people.
Thank you for Year #1
To my 134 clients: thank you.
Thank you for having an open mind, trying on colors, asking questions, laughing with me and trusting my recommendations. Thank you for letting me be part of your birthdays, Mother's Day celebrations, girls' nights and friend gatherings. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. Thank you for recommending me to the women in your lives.
And thank you for letting me do something I genuinely love.
When I started Colors by Karine, I hoped I'd be able to help people feel more confident in the colors they wear.
I didn't realize how much I'd also gain from the people I met along the way.
Here's to Year #2
Year #1 has given me 134 clients, 1,500+ miles of driving, countless color drapes, many new friendships and a business that I'm incredibly proud of.
And I'm just getting started.
More color discoveries.
More confidence.
More women supporting women.
More adventures on the road.
And hopefully, a whole lot more color. 🎨
Thank you for being part of the Colors by Karine story.
