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CRAVE CRUSH the urban girl's blog to all that you CRAVE
Vancouver’s Number One Green & Eco-Friendly Salon!
We recently had a chance to visit the wonderful Erin Shum from She to Shic, Vancouver’s number one green & eco-friendly salon! From pedis to blow-outs, this is a one-stop destination to fulfill all your needs! It’s fresh and clean atmosphere mixed in with its friendly customer services, makes She to Shic’s Kerrisdale’s hottest destination.
She to Shic was created by a mother and daughter duo. Describe how that experience has been.
Fun and full of crazy new discoveries about each other! Mixing new trends with traditional values. Definitely learning about each other strengths and weaknesses and how we can utilize it to build awareness to our unique concept of a beauty lounge.
What makes She to Shic unique from other beauty salons? (Please discuss your eco-friendly aspect here)
From interior design to the products we use are all organic, eco friendly, and/or natural. Design aspect with my dear friend and architect Wai Lui we really focused on the low volatile organic compound paint on the walls, treatment of our custom millwork, recycled glass countertops, low energy efficient lighting, and use of our natural skylight. As for our products, we are carrying an exclusive organic line of lotion from Hawaii, vegan nail polish collection bottled in recycled glass, bamboo towels to pamper our clients because of the sustainability of bamboo, hair blow out using organic hair products that is so natural that the bottle itself is post consumer resin and designed by a cancer patient. We also pride ourselves in that we sterilize all our tools with the autoclave which is rare for any salons/spa to have. Even our business cards are printed on recycled paper and cornstarch ink!
What do you love most about having your own business?
This is a fun question, when I first started I thought I would have unlimited access to the services or be the first to try the new and latest products but surprisingly that is not what I love most. What I absolutely love most is meeting new people and getting to know each one of our clients and building a lasting friendship. I especially love meeting their children; I have a soft spot for all children.
Who is your biggest cheerleader?
I don’t have one in particular but more like every person that I meet has been my cheerleader. From the electrician that installed my chandelier, to my product distributor, to the Kerrisdale Business Association, to my dearest friends and family they have cheered me on through so much whether it be their knowledge, suggestions, feedback, and ideas. I am so thankful to have such a broad range of cheerleaders giving me tips on things that no one person or group can give. I love how every person that I have met so far has inspired me.
What’s your indulgence?
Getting cozy on the couch with a fabulous glass of wine and dessert while watching movies with my mom! We love food and laughing!
Where to Find:
www.shetoshic.com
2315 West 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6M 2A3, Canada
(604) 269-3003
Twitter -Â @ShetoShic
Best of Vancouver Pet Stores
Before you start down your usual holiday shopping list, take some time to spoil your favorite furry companion! These are not your typical pet stores- think of them as pet boutiques with everything you could ever dream up and all the things you never knew your animal needed (until now)!
- Barking Babies (www.barkingbabies.com) – This super cute boutique which can be found “on the corner of chic and canine” is perfect for those who cannot resist the urge to play dress up with their pooch. Â They have apparel for every doggie occasion you could ever dream up. Fancy dinner party? Dress to impress with a doggie tux. Lounge day at home? Perhaps a doggie hoodie. And of course, all your favorite NHL jerseys for game day!
- True Carnivores (www.truecarnivores.com) – We all want our pets to be as healthy and happy as possible. This raw food pet store believes in the healing power of feeding your pet their true “evolutionary raw prey diet”- yep, raw meat. True Carnivores believes that feeding your pet their natural diet can dramatically improve their health including less problems with fleas, cleaner teeth, fresher breath and even less poop! If even half of those benefits are true, it sounds like it’s worth a try.
- Fetch (www.fetchstore.ca) – Spoil your pup with gourmet treats while both of you socialize at one of Fetch’s Yappy Hours. Fetch offers high quality dog food, accessories, expert advice, as well as grooming at Fetch Spaw. They have recently added training services as well. Funky and adorable airline approved pet carriers will allow you and your dog to travel in style.
- Woofles and Meowz (www.wooflesandmeowz.com) – You have to love a pet bakery where you can buy a “dogotti”. Some of these homemade dog cookies look good enough to eat yourself, but with flavors like turkey & pea and lamb they are best left to your companion. Woofles and Meowz offers way more than just treats, they are a one stop pet shop with collars, leads, apparel, toys, equipment and grooming products. You can shop online- but it would be much more fun to go to the store where you can bring your pet and visit Broedy, the boxer who keeps a friendly watch on the store.
Friday Feature: Benita Soni from Pure Smile Studio
As everyone knows, the CRAVE Vancouver team tends to hit up Yaletown on a regular basis! Benita Soni, the owner of a savvy teeth-whitening lounge called Pure Smile Studio, is one of the women we must visit! Benita invited us to get our teeth whitened and how could we resist? The experience includes a one-on-one consultation with the Tooth Fairy (as we like to call them) & it only takes 30 minutes! We were CRAVING some down time and that is exactly what we got!Â
What was your inspiration behind starting the business?
I love white teeth. Plain and simple. I found a easy way to feel good about yourself without suffering so I built a business around it.
What advice would you give to women who are planning on opening their own business?
You should have a business plan ready to go. You should also look at all avenues of your business and network with an organization such as CRAVE!Â
How do you spend your free time?
I love taking my dog on a walk! You’ll find me working a sweat at the gym or doing yoga and meditation. It’s important for me to spend time with myself as well!
Our Coffee Chat Review!
Last week, we hosted the lovely Fiona Walsh at Yaletown’s Fine Finds Boutique. We learnt how to ignite our sales as Fiona provided her tips & tricks with our attendees! The number one trait to selling is empathy: The ability to look at a product or service through the eyes of a consumer. Here are some highlights from the evening:
Some ways to Ignite your Sales:
- Stop assuming it takes one call to close a deal: The average to catch someone’s attention is seven to eight times. Don’t stalk someone but don’t be unrealistic. Build Visibility, Build Credibility and once those two are in place you will build profitability.Â
- Be clear on what you sell: Don’t justify the price. Understand why people buy your product and decide what part of the market to stake out.
- Features versus Benefits: Features are what the products look like and a benefit is what the product does for the consumer. Every buying decision comes down to “what’s in it for me?”. Define the need and match what you want to sell to what people want to buy.
- Ideas for Exposure: Get creative- Do cross promotion with other companies in your area & Create your number one sales pitch for your product.
Fiona spoke about how to get your business from A to B. She said that entrepreneurship is about courage, passion, and vision and its important that each of us be proud of our accomplishments. It was a pleasure having Fiona at our Coffee Chat this month!
“What’s Hot For the Holidays” Event Review!
One part champagne, two parts macaroons. Add a touch of fashion, sprinkle of female entrepreneurs, and dash of local business and you get the “What’s Hot for the Holidays” event put on by Crave Vancouver and Operation Style. Nestled inside Yaletown’s chic Boudoir boutique was a chandelier chad show room with all of the vital elements for a stunning evening. The interior was lined wall to wall of shimmering holiday dresses, sparkling jewelry & giggling ladies. Introductions were made by Twitter idioms and business brands alike.Â
Upon entering this accurately titled hot for the holiday’s event you would find mini manicures and makeovers on hand as well as on the spot stylista tips from the Operation Style ladies themselves. It became evident rather quickly that Vancouver is not only jam packed with some inspiring local businesses, but also a collection of eclectic females that show an outpouring of support for one another. An evening like this showcased these young ladies flawlessly.Â
It is only natural that the introduction for me to guest blog for this affair was via Twitter over bonding about cupcakes & getting one’s hair done (at Blo Dry Bar: another infamous female powered local business) with Crave Collaborator Arpen Thandi.Â
It seems that now more than ever young entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to unite and join forces to further each other’s achievements. The success of such an occasion cannot be pin pointed to one element. Perhaps it was a mixture of the full moon, bubbly, sweet nibbles and fabulous crowds. Regardless of the makeup it is apparent that occasions which bring together features such as strong networking, supportive brand building and most importantly indisputable fun, are vital to victory. They say it takes a village to raise a child; well it take a community to build a business. At least a successful one with grass roots sustenance and an authentic network of support. What may have from the outside looked like just another swanky party was in fact a power packed room of ladies doing what we do best, connecting, chatting, showing support & well… shopping, naturally!
Azita Ardakani is a social media enthusiast, relentless inspiration junkie and advocate of change. You can find her tweeting away and consulting on new media strategies for organizations, companies and entrepreneurs alike. www.twitter.com/lovesocial
Feel Beautiful. Feel Sexy with Ellen Ho!
A Boudoir photoshoot is one which allows a woman to feel sexy, confident, and beautiful! The fabulous Ellen Ho from Hong Photography is a talented photographer who has edge, creativity, and sass 
Ellen’s latest venture has been the addition of a “Doggie Boudoir Photo Session“. Go out and take some photo’s with your best friend! Ladies, this is a must-do photo shoot!Â
How long ago did you begin the Allure Boudoir Photography?
It’s been about 9 months since we started our Boudoir Photography. Boudoir Photography has been around for so long. Â However, no one had created something that I was looking for. I decided to team up a very talented makeup/hair artist and come up with our Allure Boudoir Photography. The experience I have had with my clients has been amazing! Â
What was your inspiration behind creating this type of photoshoot?
Since I was a kid I liked to dress up with my girl friends and have our photos taken. Â I think most girls like to look beautiful and look like models or beautiful celebrities on TV but they don’t think they will be able to. I wanted to create something for people like you and I. Â I think every women is beautiful in their own way but somehow they don’t realize it. Â
Describe the client experience:
We have all kinds of women booking sessions with us and they all have such great feedback. A lot of the ladies tell us that they had such a great experience with us even though they are so nervous at the beginning. They never thought they could look this good. Â Ali and I love bringing out the best in each woman and make them feel comfortable and be sexy in their own way. Â Not only are the photos beautiful, but most importantly, it is the experience that makes them feel good about themselves.