Well things have been very unstable lately, talk about feeling like a yo-yo! Were should I start, ah yes, last week.
It all started last week, I hit some financial trouble with regards to BellaFlo Boutique. It was pretty horrid, there were a few days where I thought I would have had to close my shop. As you can imagine, I was in a bit of a pickle, not having enough money to run a fashion boutique whilst you're in the middle of making your boutique successful, is a bit of a sticky situation. I had people telling me all different things and giving me advice on what to do. I had never thought about having to close my shop, especially when it's only 7 months old. I didn't know what to do. Yes, it would be easy to close the shop, then me and Louie could live quite a comfortable life without having a shop to pay for. But seriously, I have never done anything by half, and this is no exception.
I've never really had to worry about money, not because my family are rich or anything (they're not), but because my life has never revolved around money. For me it's always been you have it or you don't kind of attitude, I am not one for lavish gifts, fancy cars or big gestures at birthdays or from Louie. I am not saying I don't like presents, but I like thoughtful things, not expensive things. ( This may be a little contradictory to the idea I have of me living in a 1940's ballroom, but hey!). So last week was worrying but also a little weird for me, I obviously understand money and how the world revolves around money, but I felt vulnerable knowing I depended on money to keep my shop open. The worse thing for me during this time was the fact that there is NO funding available to me at all. And do you know why? I cannot get any money from the government at all because I have set up a FASHION business!! If it was anything else, then yes fine they'd give me some money, but apparently fashion haven't been as hard hit as other industries. Pfft, can see that the government hire incompotent staff who clearly cannot research properly. It is common knowledge to everyone involved in fashion, that the fashion industry has taken a massive hit from the recession. Yes everyone still needs clothes, but with cheap throw away fashion at peoples finger tips, they do not spend so much on clothing, why would they when they can go to Primark and get a top for £3 that's been made by a child in Eastern Europe.
Needless to say, the government have made me furious! Not knowing which way for me to turn or which road to chose, I emailed Mary Portas asking for help! A desperate act I know, but I think she does amazing things for independents, I am still waiting for a reply, so if anyone knows Mary Portas, get her to give me a holla! So far it seems that I have resolved my financial problem, but that is only for the time being, and if my projections are accurate, so it's going to be a nail biting couple of months.
So, a week later I still have my shop and I'm determined to make it work. I am even experimenting with bright colours for my new collections, which I do not usually do ( I prefer more neutral nude colours), not that I am opposed to colour, I am not at all. It's just that working with a beautiful cream chiffon and adding beautiful beading work to it gives the sense of, well, beauty! I have a few plans to help turn the shop around. I am changing the inside of the shop, quite dramatically, but this will not eat up a lot of money. I am wanting to change the hsop around to make it look like a 'proper' fashion boutique. I have frriends and Louie helping my vision become reality. I am also taking on the mamoth task of filling 80% of the shop with my clothing (worried face!). But fingers crossed all will work out (double worried face).
I have also still managed to buy some jewellery pieces from a new jewellery line, called DaintyDamsel Delectable Jewels. Their stuff is pretty amazing, and I now have it instore, the pieces sit so beautifully in my shop glittering away under the spot lights. This means I can attend their jewellery launch party too, which I am very excited for. I am having a stall there and 2 models meeting and greeting everyone. It's going to be a great opportunity for BellaFlo.
Obviously there are still money worries but the key is to carry on as if BellaFlo is going to be around for years, and if all goes how I want it to, then it will be.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Progress
Well whilst I'm sat in my empty house waiting for my cheese stuffed crust pizza to arrive and sipping a glass of rose wine, I thought I may as well unload the gossip of the last few days.
I have my first intern!! A delightful young woman, who I could talk to for hours- which probably is not the best thing when trying to do work, but she is just what I was looking for! Her name is Katie, she has no fashion experience but for me, that works in my favour. It means I can teach her and show her easier ways of doing things, rather then getting some girl fresh out of college who is moulded and sticks strictly to how they were taught. I am very excited to say the least, though it has been weird. I haven't worked with anyone in my shop before, apart from when been helped by my good friend Mima. So what I'm trying to say is that I've developed a few habbits. I have been used to doing what I want and not worrying about anyone been around me- except for when customers are in obviously! And yes I am the boss, but so far in the shop I actually haven't had to act 'boss like', sure I own a business and I'm fine with that responsibilty, as well as making over half of the stock in the shop too. It's just I have a relaxed routine during the day, so although I'm so happy I've got an intern, it means there's going to be a few changes. Which I am looking forward to in a way, it will just be weird having to tell someone what to do and what not.
Katie will be my assistant whilst on the internship, I don't need someone to just sew for me, or pattern cut, it's things like helping to organise events BellaFlo is involved in, having a creative input on the presentation of the shop and in the clothing lines. I want to get Katie as involved in the shop as I can, it's about giving valuable experience to someone, making it worth while. Instead of doing an internship looking good on a C.V, which could be spent making cups of tea and doing the lunch run, no I want to give someone proper experience. So Katie will meet most the people I meet and attend the events I attend.
Speaking of events, we are at a launch party for DaintyDamsel jewellery on 28th June. They are a small business which stocks to a good few boutiques in Hull and the surrounding area. Their pieces are amazing, which are designed by themselves and other pieces are hand picked.I was making a mental note about most of the pieces, you know, the one you say in your head whilst giving out chocoltaes; one for you and two for me! As we are buying their jewellery, they have invited BellaFlo to have a stall at the launch party, as well as having two models of mine meeting and greeting guests at the door, and then do a raffle. This is all good news, but I thought it would be easy to pick 2 models, considering there are atleast 10 models who would model for me and all of which I would use. But this isn't just modelling, this is meeting and greeting, it's all about personality, but more than that, they have to be passionate about BellaFlo. It's no good to me having two models wearing BellaFlo couture dresses if they do nothing but talk about themselves, but which two would fit this, which models would compliment each other? After much deliberation, I had made my choices, but as it turns out the chosen models are unavailable. So now I have models to finalise, as well as their outfits and styling, also the hair and make up needs sorting. But I have a friend who coincidently a make up artist, who I have used previously, and is an amazing woman.
There is a lot to be done!
I have my first intern!! A delightful young woman, who I could talk to for hours- which probably is not the best thing when trying to do work, but she is just what I was looking for! Her name is Katie, she has no fashion experience but for me, that works in my favour. It means I can teach her and show her easier ways of doing things, rather then getting some girl fresh out of college who is moulded and sticks strictly to how they were taught. I am very excited to say the least, though it has been weird. I haven't worked with anyone in my shop before, apart from when been helped by my good friend Mima. So what I'm trying to say is that I've developed a few habbits. I have been used to doing what I want and not worrying about anyone been around me- except for when customers are in obviously! And yes I am the boss, but so far in the shop I actually haven't had to act 'boss like', sure I own a business and I'm fine with that responsibilty, as well as making over half of the stock in the shop too. It's just I have a relaxed routine during the day, so although I'm so happy I've got an intern, it means there's going to be a few changes. Which I am looking forward to in a way, it will just be weird having to tell someone what to do and what not.
Katie will be my assistant whilst on the internship, I don't need someone to just sew for me, or pattern cut, it's things like helping to organise events BellaFlo is involved in, having a creative input on the presentation of the shop and in the clothing lines. I want to get Katie as involved in the shop as I can, it's about giving valuable experience to someone, making it worth while. Instead of doing an internship looking good on a C.V, which could be spent making cups of tea and doing the lunch run, no I want to give someone proper experience. So Katie will meet most the people I meet and attend the events I attend.
Speaking of events, we are at a launch party for DaintyDamsel jewellery on 28th June. They are a small business which stocks to a good few boutiques in Hull and the surrounding area. Their pieces are amazing, which are designed by themselves and other pieces are hand picked.I was making a mental note about most of the pieces, you know, the one you say in your head whilst giving out chocoltaes; one for you and two for me! As we are buying their jewellery, they have invited BellaFlo to have a stall at the launch party, as well as having two models of mine meeting and greeting guests at the door, and then do a raffle. This is all good news, but I thought it would be easy to pick 2 models, considering there are atleast 10 models who would model for me and all of which I would use. But this isn't just modelling, this is meeting and greeting, it's all about personality, but more than that, they have to be passionate about BellaFlo. It's no good to me having two models wearing BellaFlo couture dresses if they do nothing but talk about themselves, but which two would fit this, which models would compliment each other? After much deliberation, I had made my choices, but as it turns out the chosen models are unavailable. So now I have models to finalise, as well as their outfits and styling, also the hair and make up needs sorting. But I have a friend who coincidently a make up artist, who I have used previously, and is an amazing woman.
There is a lot to be done!
Thursday, 26 May 2011
More babbles from a crazy lady
I'm still not used to the 'up and down' moments of running a fashion boutique, and to be quite honest I don't think I ever will adapt to it fully.
You see, the past few weeks have been absolutely hectic, I've had made to measure dresses to finish- one been quite a big couture dress (but I do love my beads). I was also involved in a fashion show for charity, which usually would be ok. But I have this annoying habbit that when someone or an organisation asks me to get involved in something I tend to go overboard with my plans. For example, in this case were an organisation ask me to put some clothes together and put them in a fashion show, I ended up saying I'll get the models, make up artist sorted, as well as that I'll make a full new 10 piece collection of couture dresses. After this meeting, I ended up standing there mouth open thinking why the hell did I say that!! Yes I was excited, but looking in my diary at all the work I had on ,even before my mouth decided it wanted me to climb a mountain, made me rather dizzy. Don't think I'm afraid of hard work, but this was all said 4 weeks before the show!! Now you understand the dilemma, the fact that there just aren't enough hours in the day.
After a day of contemplating over the mess I had got myself into, I worked night and day, looking somewhat less glamorous then I would have liked. And you know what, I got it all done!! With the help of a very good friend, Louie and some good people around me, the fashion show looked fantastic (if I may say so myself, in a very modest way)! Now the fashion show has finished, most of the made to measure orders are finished too, it feels weird, and this is the part I hate, it's almost like a come down off a drug I suppose. All those late nights get replaced by having nothing to do really, yes I'm still busy during the day, but knowing that when it reaches 5pm I can go home and not have to sew or bead, it takes some getting used to. On the up side though, it does mean I have more sleep and can function properly in a morning now, so I have time to make myself look presentable, instead of looking like frankenstein's bride (not that I was wearing a torn wedding dress or anything).
The calmness only lasts a few days though, as in the first couple days of not working through the night I get bored. So instead of making the most of the peace and having the tea on the table for when Louie comes home, doing all the washing even stretching to doing a bit of ironing, (just so you know, I'm dreadful at been domesticated, I would love to be that way inclined but it's just not in me), I end up thinking of new things to do in the shop. Take for instance, I've not worked through the night since the fashion show which was Friday just gone, I am now organising a big shop party for the public, as well as changing the shop around! Point proven I think.
As much as I love fashion, when you're living on a few hours of sleep and when you sleep you dream of beads, you start to lose sense of style and swap it for comfort. Well this was how it worked for me anyways. This is the side of fashion that 'normal' people do not see. Do not be fooled into thinking that fashion is a life of parties, dressing up and been glamorous. And for those annoying people who think fashion is easy, this conclusion is very far from the truth. But if you have fashion running through your veins then you've got it! And if you do not know if you have 'fashion running through your veins', it will just be a moment at some point, were you're emoitons run off with you and you're eyes feel as big as saucers, your heart beats at a steady pace, it is were you are in awe but feel at peace. Forgive me, it's hard to explain, I know I sound like a crazy lady whose sat behind a laptop blabbering on about nonsense, and to be quite honest that probably isn't too far from the truth.
My 'moment' of knowing fashion was right for me, was when I saw juicy couture velor joggers and matching jacket in the V&A Museum....obviously not! I was rather confused to be honest as to why they was in there, I thought the clothing in the V&A where there to symbolise an era,a style, not realising that they had in actual fact visited the council estate in Hull and saw that the most popular clothing was velor joggers. But that's by the by, my realisation of how much I loved fashion was when I first saw an Elie Saab couture collection. It was the couture collection from Spring 2007, the whole collection amazed me, but when I saw 'look 25' I was in awe, I felt so overwhelmed just looking at the image, my eyes even got teary. Before you ask, no I am not an emotional wreck. It was just seeing something that shows beauty and creativity in such a beautifully crafted way for the first time, it gave me the most amazing feeling.
So since then, I have had a love for couture evening wear and always will.
You see, the past few weeks have been absolutely hectic, I've had made to measure dresses to finish- one been quite a big couture dress (but I do love my beads). I was also involved in a fashion show for charity, which usually would be ok. But I have this annoying habbit that when someone or an organisation asks me to get involved in something I tend to go overboard with my plans. For example, in this case were an organisation ask me to put some clothes together and put them in a fashion show, I ended up saying I'll get the models, make up artist sorted, as well as that I'll make a full new 10 piece collection of couture dresses. After this meeting, I ended up standing there mouth open thinking why the hell did I say that!! Yes I was excited, but looking in my diary at all the work I had on ,even before my mouth decided it wanted me to climb a mountain, made me rather dizzy. Don't think I'm afraid of hard work, but this was all said 4 weeks before the show!! Now you understand the dilemma, the fact that there just aren't enough hours in the day.
After a day of contemplating over the mess I had got myself into, I worked night and day, looking somewhat less glamorous then I would have liked. And you know what, I got it all done!! With the help of a very good friend, Louie and some good people around me, the fashion show looked fantastic (if I may say so myself, in a very modest way)! Now the fashion show has finished, most of the made to measure orders are finished too, it feels weird, and this is the part I hate, it's almost like a come down off a drug I suppose. All those late nights get replaced by having nothing to do really, yes I'm still busy during the day, but knowing that when it reaches 5pm I can go home and not have to sew or bead, it takes some getting used to. On the up side though, it does mean I have more sleep and can function properly in a morning now, so I have time to make myself look presentable, instead of looking like frankenstein's bride (not that I was wearing a torn wedding dress or anything).
The calmness only lasts a few days though, as in the first couple days of not working through the night I get bored. So instead of making the most of the peace and having the tea on the table for when Louie comes home, doing all the washing even stretching to doing a bit of ironing, (just so you know, I'm dreadful at been domesticated, I would love to be that way inclined but it's just not in me), I end up thinking of new things to do in the shop. Take for instance, I've not worked through the night since the fashion show which was Friday just gone, I am now organising a big shop party for the public, as well as changing the shop around! Point proven I think.
As much as I love fashion, when you're living on a few hours of sleep and when you sleep you dream of beads, you start to lose sense of style and swap it for comfort. Well this was how it worked for me anyways. This is the side of fashion that 'normal' people do not see. Do not be fooled into thinking that fashion is a life of parties, dressing up and been glamorous. And for those annoying people who think fashion is easy, this conclusion is very far from the truth. But if you have fashion running through your veins then you've got it! And if you do not know if you have 'fashion running through your veins', it will just be a moment at some point, were you're emoitons run off with you and you're eyes feel as big as saucers, your heart beats at a steady pace, it is were you are in awe but feel at peace. Forgive me, it's hard to explain, I know I sound like a crazy lady whose sat behind a laptop blabbering on about nonsense, and to be quite honest that probably isn't too far from the truth.
My 'moment' of knowing fashion was right for me, was when I saw juicy couture velor joggers and matching jacket in the V&A Museum....obviously not! I was rather confused to be honest as to why they was in there, I thought the clothing in the V&A where there to symbolise an era,a style, not realising that they had in actual fact visited the council estate in Hull and saw that the most popular clothing was velor joggers. But that's by the by, my realisation of how much I loved fashion was when I first saw an Elie Saab couture collection. It was the couture collection from Spring 2007, the whole collection amazed me, but when I saw 'look 25' I was in awe, I felt so overwhelmed just looking at the image, my eyes even got teary. Before you ask, no I am not an emotional wreck. It was just seeing something that shows beauty and creativity in such a beautifully crafted way for the first time, it gave me the most amazing feeling.
So since then, I have had a love for couture evening wear and always will.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Introduction to BellaFlo
Hello
Well were do I start?! Introductions are usually first, so let me introduce myself, I go by the name of BellaFlo, a sassy, sexy lady living in the epitomy of domestic bliss...I wish! I'm a fashion geek in a happy relationship which revolves around fashion 22/7- 2 hours for sleep!! And yes before you ask, I'm in a relationship to an actual man, not a dress, not beads and not fashion.
I recently opened a fashion boutique in Hull, just over 5 months to be precise, and to be exact it's been 40 weeks and 4 days of pure madness. And I've loved every minute so far! For me and my partner- Luke aka Louie, it has been the equivelant of having triplets, but without the labour!
I'm not going to lie, I opened a fashion boutique because once I graduated University with a fashion degree trying to find a job successfully was a complete and utter nightmare, I ended up feeling defeated and lithergic lounging around waiting for emails from job employers- which would all say the same thing " Sorry but we are not looking to taking anyone on at this time, but we will keep your information on file." Believe me when I say, they must be the most commonly used words, and after you've recieved this for the god knows what time, it gets hurtful and very personal!
So with that emotional story out the way, I am now on a mission to give as many talented people as I can an opportunity. A massive mission, but not impossible. Yes I've a long way to go from my small boutique in Hull- which is hardly full of fashionistas to say the least, to the 'bright lights of New York', but I am an optimistic girl!
Now that's it for today...more tomorrow am sure.
Well were do I start?! Introductions are usually first, so let me introduce myself, I go by the name of BellaFlo, a sassy, sexy lady living in the epitomy of domestic bliss...I wish! I'm a fashion geek in a happy relationship which revolves around fashion 22/7- 2 hours for sleep!! And yes before you ask, I'm in a relationship to an actual man, not a dress, not beads and not fashion.
I recently opened a fashion boutique in Hull, just over 5 months to be precise, and to be exact it's been 40 weeks and 4 days of pure madness. And I've loved every minute so far! For me and my partner- Luke aka Louie, it has been the equivelant of having triplets, but without the labour!
I'm not going to lie, I opened a fashion boutique because once I graduated University with a fashion degree trying to find a job successfully was a complete and utter nightmare, I ended up feeling defeated and lithergic lounging around waiting for emails from job employers- which would all say the same thing " Sorry but we are not looking to taking anyone on at this time, but we will keep your information on file." Believe me when I say, they must be the most commonly used words, and after you've recieved this for the god knows what time, it gets hurtful and very personal!
So with that emotional story out the way, I am now on a mission to give as many talented people as I can an opportunity. A massive mission, but not impossible. Yes I've a long way to go from my small boutique in Hull- which is hardly full of fashionistas to say the least, to the 'bright lights of New York', but I am an optimistic girl!
Now that's it for today...more tomorrow am sure.
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