Sliding Scale for DC Style Factory Services
Sliding scale is a tool for economic justice. It provides a service or product with multiple price points. These price points are set to make the service or product accessible to people with different levels of class, privilege, and income. Community members can select the price point that best reflects their ability to pay for a product or service, based on their individual circumstances.
For a sliding scale to work it relies on the principles of truthfulness, respect for complexity, and accountability. Community thrives when accountability is a central value, because that is where trust grows and depth work can be done. We do not ask for income verification. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. It also respects the work of our team and gives us the resources to offer lower-cost and free options to those who need them.
What is your DC Style Factory rate?
This is an invitation to take inventory of our financial resources and look deeper at our levels of privilege. Guidelines on selecting your rate are below. Our individual services are between one and three hours. The complete DC Style Factory remote wardrobe styling package is a total 7 hours divided into three services/appointments (Closet Audit, Shopping, Outfit Creation). One easy way to decide on your rate is by starting at the highest one and asking if paying that rate for a service would cause financial hardship (financial hardship is not being able to pay rent, bills, etc.). If it would, move to the next rate.
The $489 annual membership rate for The Closet Collaborative community and courses is to give access to our services to those who have less income due to systemic social injustice and privileges. This rate is for you if:
- you are able to meet basic needs but have limited expendable income.
- paying for styling services may qualify as a sacrifice, but it would not create hardship ( i.e. you have to forgo some evenings out to pay for styling services).
- you have dependents or are supporting family members
- you have significant institutional debt (student loans, tax debt, etc.)
- you have significant health medical bills
If paying this rate in full for our services is out of reach, please read on to our Monthly Payment Plan.
Monthly Payment Plan
This plan is for you if paying for services at the Self Care You Deserve Rate listed above would cause significant hardship. Our payment plan is $40.75 and will be set up on a case-by-case basis.
This payment plan is for you if you:
- make $35K or less in annual salary
- have medical expenses not covered by insurance
- have dependents or are supporting family members
- have significant institutional debt (student loans, etc.)
- have significant health medical bills
The $789 annual membership rate ($65.75 per month). for The Closet Collaborative community and courses enables us to pay our staff their salaries, maintain software and resources to conduct our services, and produce top-notch materials for clients. This rate is for you if you:
- own the home you live in
- you are in a financial position to own a home, but may not by choice
- have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
- travel recreationally
- work part-time by choice
- may have dependents or are supporting family members
- may have significant institutional debt (student loans, tax debt, etc.)
- have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education. Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, this is a question of privilege tied to earning potential.
- total amount is due at sign up
When you pay this rate ($74.91 per month), you are enabling us to offer the Self Care You Deserve Rate. Essentially it’s an opportunity to not only receive top-notch styling services, but also to support fellow community members receive the self care we all deserve. This rate is for you if you:
- own the home you live in
- you are in a financial position to own a home, but may not by choice
- possibly own a second home
- have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
- travel recreationally
- in times of need, your family has money and resources to help you
- work part-time by choice
- have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education. Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, this is a question of privilege tied to earning potential.
The Self Care You Deserve: $175/hour
The $175 rate is to give access to our services to those who have less income due to systemic social injustice and privileges. This rate is for you if:
- you are able to meet basic needs but have limited expendable income.
- paying for styling services may qualify as a sacrifice, but it would not create hardship ( i.e. you have to forgo some evenings out to pay for styling services).
- you have dependents or are supporting family members
- you have significant institutional debt (student loans, tax debt, etc.)
- you have significant health medical bills
If paying this rate in full for our services is out of reach, please read on to our Monthly Payment Plan.
Monthly Payment Plan
This plan is for you if paying for services at the Self Care You Deserve Rate listed above would cause significant hardship. Our payment plan is $35-$99 per month month for services ranging from 1 to 7 hours. The payments would be made over the course of 5 to 12 months depending on the value of the service(s) selected. Here are some examples of payment plans:
Style Define: This is our one-hour remote introductory service, totaling $175. You would pay $35/month over 5 months.
Remote Closet Audit: Our Remote Closet Audit service totals $350 at this rate. You would pay $35 over 12 months.
Remote Wardrobe Makeover: If you selected the full 7 hours, you would pay $99/month over 12 months.
This payment plan is for you if you:
- make $35K or less in annual salary
- have medical expenses not covered by insurance
- have dependents or are supporting family members
- have significant institutional debt (student loans, etc.)
- have significant health medical bills
The Keep The Lights On Rate: $250/hour
The $250/hour is the true value of our services. This rate enables us to pay our staff their salaries, maintain software and resources to conduct our services, and produce materials for clients. This rate is for you if you:
- own the home you live in
- have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
- travel recreationally
- work part-time by choice
- may have dependents or are supporting family members
- may have significant institutional debt (student loans, tax debt, etc.)
- have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education. Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, this is a question of privilege tied to earning potential.
The Pay It Forward Rate: $325/hour
When you pay this rate, you are supporting a clothing fund as well as future free and low-cost services. Essentially it’s an opportunity to not only receive top-notch styling services, but also to support fellow community members receive the self care we all deserve. This rate is for you if you:
- own the home you live in
- possibly own a second home
- have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
- travel recreationally
- have access to family money and resources in times of need
- work part-time by choice
- have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education. (Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power.)
The scale is a way to challenge the classist and capitalist society we live in and work towards economic justice on a local level. While I ask you to take these factors into consideration, please don’t stress about it. Pay what feels right.
Language courtesy of Worts + Cunning Apothecary.