Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Moving Forward - Need Your Help!

INSPIRATION PHOTOS VIA FLICKR

As some you might know, I'm an interior designer and launched my own company last summer called belle home studio. My first year as a business owner has been relatively successful...it's also been a roller coaster of excitement, fear, disappointment, happiness and every emotion in between! I have grown and changed in many ways since embarking on this journey and I'm ready to take my design career to the next level. I have decided to give my company a complete new image, including a new name and a new logo/company brand. In addition to all of these exciting changes, I'm planning on launching my own online home decor retail boutique!
INSPIRATION PHOTO BY JEANNE BOTES FOUND HERE

The idea first started with opening an Etsy shop but there are so many things that I'd love to sell, some handmade, some not, that I decided a retail boutique would be a better route. My goal is to feature and carry unique and fabulous items for the home, starting with a custom pillow line, a selection of fun wallpaper and fabulous accessories (I'll be starting small and plan on expanding as business picks up). I want to provide people with great home decor at affordable prices. Now, the reason I'm rambling on about all of this to you is because I figure the best place to get feedback, ideas, suggestions, etc. is to ask all of you wonderful readers to give your input which will help guide me in the right direction! I'd like to ask some questions and if you have the time, please answer one or two questions or all of them -anything would be much appreciated! I would like to award a couple of you with a special little something for participating. Details to follow...

1) What are some online stores you prefer to shop for home decor and why?

2) What do you find frustrating when searching for specific items in an online store (difficulty finding specific color, style, etc.)

3) What would you like to see more of? (unique pillows, vintage-style accessories, etc.)
4) What keeps you coming back to a certain site? Sales? New items?...

5) What item(s) do you have a hard time finding online?

Have any other tips, suggestions, advice? Please share! Thank you for taking the time to help me out. I really do appreciate your comments! I hope to launch the boutique this July - I'll keep you updated on the details as I get closer.
Posted by Jules at Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Labels: , , , ,

18 comments:

  1. pillows are so difficult to find online! There are nice ones at Anthropologie etc, but soon enough you see them everywhere.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Good luck!!! You have wonderful taste and talent so I know you will do well.

    1) What are some online stores you prefer to shop for home decor and why?
    I've only shopped etsy and Target, online. I like the prices and variety.


    2) What do you find frustrating when searching for specific items in an online store (difficulty finding specific color, style, etc.)
    That an item is out of stock.

    3) What would you like to see more of? (unique pillows, vintage-style accessories, etc.)
    definitely items that are unique, but still affordable.


    4) What keeps you coming back to a certain site? Sales? New items?...
    Sales, fits my style

    5) What item(s) do you have a hard time finding online?
    current trends that are affordable
    ReplyDelete
  3. I definitely have to go with the affordable line. It is really difficult to find affordable wallpaper in particular, anywhere actually. I would love to see a mixture of vintage and new items, I think that kind of variety is always fun. Congratulations on your new venture, and thank you so much for commenting on my blog!
    xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)
    www.urbanfleadesign.com
    ReplyDelete
  4. hi julie! soooo excited for you! well, let me see...i truly think that the average person shops by style but also of course by price. i know i do and if you can create a shop or site where you can accomodate the look of trends matched with affordability then i know you'll hit a home run. make it unusual, not the typical that is out there and people will really feel like they are shopping somewhere unique. i think you're in a ripe market for a new design source like that and it will take off i know it! :)
    ReplyDelete
  5. A new adventure for you! How wonderful :)

    I love sites that are easy to navigate--where the sections are obvious, not cutesy, and the links are quick and large. I love being able to browse shops with large colorful images. I'm not a sale shopper, but love new things!
    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Jules,
    I actually have your site bookmarked because you update daily, you feature items that are refined, freshest and most original. You also attribute credit where due. I love the fact that you list the sites that inspire you and that we as viewers can go there and see for ourselves. You don't claim ownership for ideas so many bloggers do.
    My favorite sites for inspiration are apartmenttherapy.com and the usual suspects- Ikea, Z Gallerie, World Market and Target. All these sites have sale sections and are easy to navigate and bring true style to the masses due to low cost. For the more innovative designs I check out feelmorehuman.com and burkedecor.com. And then there's always eBay for the vintage. I also go to estate sales on the weekends and supplement my income giving facelifts to other's leftovers.
    The bottom line is you've already done the online research for the viewer. Your style is fresh and unpretentious. I believe you utilize this platform not only for the advancement of aesthetics but as a way to actually connect with the readers and create awareness regarding the causes that are close to your heart.
    Regarding pillows.....in my experience, one need only visit Pottery Barn at any point during the year and find a shell on clearance. Simply change out the covers for a new look whenever you desire.
    The downside of online shopping is the cost of shipping. I find 9 times out of 10 that an item I must have is being shipped from Asia and the shipping is twice the cost of the item! It's extremely frustrating. I know there's no easy remedy. Therefore I tend to purchase a sloppier version locally simply because it's convenient for me. I choose inexpensive imposters any day over opulent originals when it comes to vintage. However I WILL splurge on the smallest item if it is original and I feel I'll be one of very few(if not the only one) who will own it.
    ReplyDelete
  7. wow! thank you Ritzee for the very nice comment and compliments about my blog. i truly appreciate everything you said (and everyone else's comments) and will take it all in to consideration as i move forward with this new venture!
    ReplyDelete
  8. That sounds very exciting - good luck with it! I guess what I find the most frustrating, living in Australia, is that so many things I would buy, if I could, are not available to an overseas market. The internet gives us a sense that we are a global community, and the financial crisis that we are experiencing world wide shows us that we are a global economy, yet when it comes to shopping online, we are very limited to what we can buy. I would hope that you would offer overseas shipping - even if it is expensive for us sometimes I'd be willing to pay it for something I really want. Don't know if this helps or not but thought I'd share it. Jacqui
    ReplyDelete
  9. First of all I would like to wish you luck in your path! I'm sure you'll be successful :) I love your blog and am sure that will love your online store too! Can't wait for it!

    1. For buying online I only used Etsy before, but I adore this website too: http://www.uncommongoods.com Their prices are higher than Etsy, but the items are so unique and cute.

    2. I was looking for shower curtain once and I guess most of home decor websites didn't have it; it was so disappointing for me. I guess it's going to be a hot item if pretty designs of it be available.

    3. Well anything nice...pillows, towels, shower curtains ;)

    4. Style and pretty items, and of course new items

    5. Stuff related to bathroom
    ReplyDelete
  10. World Market..prices good and new items all the time. Anthropoligie markets well but pricier. Target!

    Pillows, vases, drapes, seat covers/cusions.
    ReplyDelete
  11. Julie, you rock! And I hope this info helps you on your new endeavor.

    1) I'm a big fan of blisslivinghome.com, bobsyouruncle.com, CB2.com, westelm.com, anthropologie.com, jonathanadler.com and zgallerie.com. They always have cute pieces that spark conversations when people walk into my home. Things I want to show off because of their originality! Very unique, urban and understated.

    2) Some places don't specify sizes and dimensions which makes it difficult when buying online.

    3) More unique pillows and artwork would be great! Vintage-style accessories, esp. tin signs and things of that sort. Candles, magnets and picture frames, too!

    4) Easy navigation, new items, sales and free shipping definitely brings me back.

    5) Artwork
    ReplyDelete
  12. 1) What are some online stores you prefer to shop for home decor and why?

    I love Etsy quite a bit, as well as Anthropologie, Target, Art.com, eBay, and miscellaneous quirky stores. Ease of use, great prices, fast shipping, and a big variety of things to buy are all very important to me.

    2) What do you find frustrating when searching for specific items in an online store (difficulty finding specific color, style, etc.)

    Probably finding it on the site to begin with, and then of course if it's in stock. A very important thing is to have excellent product photos and descriptions. I hate it when you try to enlarge a photo and it barely enlarges! Also when you are trying to figure out an item's dimensions or what else it needs to function and that info isn't available.

    3) What would you like to see more of? (unique pillows, vintage-style accessories, etc.)

    Unique everything! Stuff you can't find in the stores, lots of home goods and decorations and jewelry and linens, etc. etc.... Oh, and art/photography, of course!

    4) What keeps you coming back to a certain site? Sales? New items?...

    Sales are ALWAYS good! Coupons/discounts too. Also when there is lots to choose from, excellent shipping prices/times, new items, interesting items, and most of all, things are easy to order.

    5) What item(s) do you have a hard time finding online?

    I find that furniture is hard to shop for and I rarely buy it online. I also have trouble buying things I see in magazines, or uniquely sized items. Usually I can google stuff to death and find it SOMEWHERE, but once in a while I just give up :(

    Good luck to you!!!
    ReplyDelete
  13. 1) Pottery Barn/Crate and Barrel for regular sales and good pictures of items. Anthropologie for fun stuff.

    2) Hunting for a kitchen table has been frustrating because I find the right size and then it doesn't come in the right wood color, or vice versa. I wish more stores had the "these items would look great with what you're looking at" option too.

    3) More affordable fun mirrors?

    4) Sales and turn over of new stuff

    5) Dining room table for some reason (there are a million out there yet it is giving me heartburn).
    ReplyDelete
  14. oh this is so exciting!!! i am thrilled for you!!! i want it all -- fabulous design, beautiful materials, high quality craftsmanship. and my budget is small, so it is frustrating! it stinks having fabulous taste and little money. if you can help cater to my type in any way, it will be wonderful. :)
    ReplyDelete
  15. Jules, how exciting! I hope it will be a huge success! Your blog tells me that you've got great taste, so I'm confident that you'll do well.

    I don't shop much online because I've got most of what I need for my tiny apartment. When I do move to a bigger place someday, I'll be on the lookout for stuff that's beautiful, but also makes me feel good - i.e. eco friendly/fairtrade/made without child labour. I know I keep banging on about this, but I really believe that things in this category are a bit more beautiful because you can look at what you bought and know that it was made under conditions that are good for everybody!

    It's like you're buying a feeling as well. I'm thinking that "beauty comes from within" sort of sums it up for me. I don't know whether this makes sense?

    Best of luck - keep us posted!
    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm excited for you as you dive into the on-line retail world. I wish you lots of success. I think what I have a difficult time finding is European inspired decor on line. I'm so NOT a fan of the pottery barn look. Currently I'm looking for a home to buy and I'm blown away by the decor of all the houses - bright colored walls and pottery barn furniture - all inspired from the HGTV type "decorators". Sorry to be so harsh - but I get the best design inspiration from blogs like yours. And I believe I will probably find what I want only on-line because the local retailers are all pottery barnish. Perhaps you can get your creative friends to design/create items exclusively for your shop. You tell the artist what you want - be it pillows, frames, quilts, pottery or watercolor prints (hint, hint :)
    I'm excited to see what you do!!!!
    ReplyDelete
  17. I really like pillowsandthrows.com - it has a nice feel to it and there are always lots of images to get ideas from.
    ReplyDelete
  18. I really like those two wallpapers on the pictures in pink.
    Who are the manufacturer and where can I buy?
    ReplyDelete

thank you for sharing your comment! (if you experience and "error" message while leaving a comment, please try and hit enter again). have a fantastic day!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)