| “I needed someone talented and experienced enough who could understand my business, but there was no way I could afford a professional mentor to help me get through all this,” Rochelle says. “In Don, I found the perfect coach and sounding board. He helped revive my confidence and gave me the structure I needed to focus on my goals.”
During their weekly meetings, Don gave Rochelle “to-do” lists that helped her to reestablish a sound foundation for growing Godiva’s Secret. He also provided guidance for interviewing and hiring attorneys, accountants, designers and other specialists, and helped her craft an effective marketing strategy.
Rochelle also consulted with Don when she wanted to establish a new business, Godiva’s After Dark, which she calls a “boutique for romance.” She worked with oncology specialists on selecting apparel and products designed for men and women coping with serious illnesses.
“Don reviewed my game plan and talked through ideas with me,” she says. “Even though I saw a real need for Godiva’s After Dark, just having him there offering tips and suggestions was a big help.”
Rochelle’s businesses have enjoyed a 22 percent increase in annual sales over the past seven years and now operate from four locations. She has earned local and national media coverage for helping chemotherapy patients recapture and enhance their sense of self. Rochelle usually surprises audiences at her demonstrations by removing her own wig, which she says, “helps illustrate how wonderful wigs are when women really need them, and the role my businesses play in empowering women personally and professionally.”
Rochelle also considers herself empowered by the help she’s received from Don Donner and other SCORE counselors who have provided advice and encouragement.
“As I meet new SCORE counselors, my gratitude for their time and creativity humbles me,” she says. “With their help, I have a very strong team behind me.
Update: Godiva's Secret Wig Stores has grown substantially. There are now two locations in Southern California as well as wig consultants around the country. 2008 will mark the third year of being voted "Best Wigs" by the Daily News Readers of Southern California.
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