A model for business

We celebrate birthdays here with Sprinkles cupcakes. It was just recently that I had been to my first Sprinkles store. I was very impressed with the merchandising and of course with the product, the cupcake themselves. It got me wondering about the origins of the business idea and founder. After searching online, I came across a small article on Candace Nelson. It's a pretty amazing story, so I thought I'd share a few points with you. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, take Candace's strategies to heart.
Idea: Candace had a product that was unique and since the cupcakes were based on recipes she developed, she had full creative control.
Location: the first Sprinkles store is located in Beverly Hills, CA (premium desserts in a premium neighborhood).
Presentation: Anyone can identify a Sprinkles cupcake by the ubiquitous concentric circle logo. Being consistent with your branding helps to create a lasting memory of your product. Also, each Sprinkles store has a very similar in look-and-feel, and above that, they are immaculate. The retail spaces are small and efficiently designed. Once again, the design of the retail space ties back in with the cupcakes.
We encourage you to keep thinking about your business ideas and hope you succeed. Cupcakes are a very relevant subject for Valentine's Day, so have a great one!

Valentine's celebration: what to wear

Have you picked your outfit for your Valentine's Day celebration yet? The cold weather is going to limit your choices, unless you can brave the freezing cold air and rain. We'd like to offer up some suggestions on how to stay warm during your night out with your loved one.

1. Wear jeans with a fancy top. If your plans allow, wear dressy jeans to dinner instead of a dress. We like the dark rinse Found Symone skinny jeans. Be sure to stay festive by wearing a killer pair of heels. We have these in mind. As for your top, choose something with embellishments. Maybe with a little beading or how about lace!
2. Cover your head. It's a well-known fact that a significant percentage of our body heat is lost through our head. We here really like those chunky knit berets and think that clipping your bangs to the side and then showing a little bit of the clip looks pretty cute with them. Try it!
3. Ladies, please wear a coat or jacket. Don't be a hero. Wear a coat. Lined leather jackets are surprisingly warm because they keep the wind out. 3/4 length wool coats are fantastic for this kind of weather. Cashmere blends are a no-brainer. If the thought of a coat bums you out because you'll be covering up your special top, add a colorful scarf or a pin.
4. Add more pizazz to your outfit with your bag. Choose vibrant colored clutch or a big statement bag. Perhaps one with chain handles or a patent leather body in an unusual color.

We hope this helps you! Stay warm and a very Happy Valentine's Day to you!

60, 60 posts old

We know, Sally was 50, but our 50th post snuck up on us too quickly. So we've been waiting for the 60th post to say something to commemorate the milestone. Here were are - 60 posts today! It seem like a long while ago since we opened, but we're just about to hit our 3 month anniversary. Thank you readers for coming back to read our blog and thank you shoppers for supporting our business! We hope we've made it a fun and eye-opening experience for you.

LOL, we just realized Sally's (Molly Shannon) blouse looks a lot like our 70's glam top by Yoana Baraschi, but in a good way of course!

Twinkle ariel tank: wear it now, then later

We love this cute little tank that just came in from Twinkle by Wenlan. Doesn't it look great with Dorothy Lee's ruffle panel cardigan? So we figure you can wear it now in winter with the cardigan and your cool girl jeans with flat knee boots, and then in the summertime with light ankle length skinnies and booties. What we love about this blouse is the mix of patterns from the navy, pink, yellow and green floral print to the black and white gingham print on the buttons. It also has a flirty little train in the back center. This blouse is absolutely perfect to wear on your upcoming Valentine's Day celebration as well!

Keeping order in your unruly closet

As a boutique owner one might think I have an enormous wardrobe and very large closet. The opposite is true, in fact. In reality I share a 16 square foot closet with my husband. I have 5 pairs of jeans and only 1 pair of black pants, which lately I've been thinking of donating. Living simply with less has become a way of life for me, and has allowed me to edit my wardrobe into a perfect little collection of quality and unique pieces. When I buy something for myself, I gravitate to the unusual yet beautiful items. If you've visited my boutique, then this should all make sense to you. Try following these guidelines when you shop, and soon you will have built an amazing wardrobe.

1. The secret to a well edited and svelte wardrobe is keeping things simple. I like to follow the one-in-one-out rule. This means for every new item, take out 1 old piece. Following this rule, especially for jeans, helps me feel like I'm keeping my wardrobe current.
2. Quality really does last a long time. Ladies, it's true - cheap looks cheap. Opt for high quality fabrics and cuts. If you take care of your clothes, they can be with you for up to 10+ years. One great example from my closet is my Gaultier wool peacoat. I've had that beauty since 1999. It's made in italy and the cut is so elegant that it's lasted the test of time. Don't get sticker-shocked when you fall in love with a designer piece. Think about the money as price per wear. As I sit here writing this post, I've calculated the price per wear on my Gaultier coat to be 30 cents!
3. Buy 1 special piece each season. For winter, the special piece could be a fantastic sweater or a one of a kind looking coat. Spring's special piece could be a sundress or flirty blouse. Summer's special piece could be a wow bag. My sister and I like to refer to them as a big guns bag. By acquiring a special piece each season, you're slowly but surely building an enviable wardrobe.
   

I truly believe that these guidelines will help you get the wardrobe you've always dreamed of, and it doesn't entail buying an entirely new wardrobe each season! As I've done to my own closet, I've manage to fill my boutique with unique and special pieces. Just the other day, I had a road visit from a lovely woman who represents one of my designers. When she walked into the shop, she immediately recognized that I carry special pieces. So if you want color or prints that are out of the ordinary, Josef is the perfect place for you to start!

Josef behind the scenes

Happy Monday everyone. Over the weekend we had another photo shoot for our Anna Sui and Twinkle by Wenlan Spring Collections and now they are up on our site! We added 4 new Twinkle pieces and 6 new Anna Sui Pieces. If you're a prints girl, you'll love them all as we do. Or, if you're looking for 1 special piece for the season, we're sure you'll find something from our new offering. They all are made of fun and flowy fabric, and the tops look great with dark or faded jeans. We can't wait for the weather to heat up, these pieces are the perfect addition to a warm weather wardrobe!