Sector: Colour and style coaching
After realising the impact of having her colours matched had on her confidence, Sarah Heron set up her own colour matching business – True Colours. She loves the feeling of improving people’s confidence and their own ideas of themselves.
Where do you call home?
The North East – I was born in Scarborough and lived in Darlington for most of my life. I now live in Middlesbrough
Tell us about your role?
I am a personal colour & style coach.
I’m a non-stereotypical personal colour and style coach, on a mission to bust the myths of personal styling. As a plus size woman I struggled for years with low self-esteem and lack of confidence. I left my beloved teaching career aged 55 after experiencing a nasty health scare and toxicity in both my personal and professional life. I wanted to fulfil a dream of self-employment. I was blown away by the HUGE impact that having my colours done and learning about what suited me made to my own self confidence. I therefore retrained and now work with women who have never previously considered working with a style coach under the misguided belief that they aren’t skinny/rich/famous/amazing enough. My approach is more dog walk style than catwalk and seeks to empower women. It doesn’t matter what age, size or shape they are, I help rebuild their confidence which has been lost as a result of putting themselves last for too long, becoming a mum, menopause or being surrounded by negativity.
How did you get to where you are today?
I was a primary school teacher for years, which fit in well with family life, especially as a single mum. My house was always full of other people’s kids during the holidays – I LOVED it!
I struggled for years with my own self confidence and hid away in anything that was big, baggy and black. I was completely blown away by having a colour consultation, which identified the colours that I am naturally predisposed to wear. When I started wearing these colours, the compliments flooded in and fuelled my confidence. As a result of the huge uplift in my own self confidence I knew than I wanted to offer this service to other women and retrained.
What struggles or obstacles did you face along the way?
I launched my business during the first week of the first lockdown which was challenging. Thankfully as an online business I was able to overcome this, but networking and marketing became more difficult initially.
Describe the moment you first got a feel for success?
Each time I receive feedback from my clients about how much better they feel about themselves, how their confidence has skyrocketed and what a difference my service has made to their life. I get a feeling that I’m in the right place doing the right thing.
Do you have any advice for aspiring young females?
Follow your dreams, keep in your own lane and avoid the false and farce world of social media to avoid comparisonitis. You ARE enough.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be true to yourself. Follow your dreams and believe in yourself. You are enough. Stop people pleasing – you have one life, it’s yours. Live it how you want, keeping aligned to your own values not other people’s.
What three words inspire you and encourage a positive path?
I am enough.