Ciao, Chu-La Couture

Hey Darlins, forgive me for posting later then I said I would.  Also, for not doing the video blog that I had wanted to do.  I really just had a hard time finding a quiet place in my house or office to record.  Yes, my world is that loud all day, all the time.  Hello, why do you think I'm always so forgetful? My brain rarely rest.

Anyways, so here's my big announcement....I'm closing my boutique!  Sound familiar? Why yes, I've mentioned this before.  I tried closing the store I think earlier this year but business was just to busy.  Business was good.  And today, business is still good.  What can I say, I started a business during a recession and now here I am, closing that business in it's prime.

Never the less, Chu-La Couture will go out with a bang, after FNO 2011, in which we (the store) will be a part of this year.  Now..."the whys"....here are a few of my "whys" to closing this chapter in my life.

• I've become much to busy to manage two separate companies
• Fulfilled my financial goal with Chu-La Couture.
• My dream was to be a designer, not a boutique owner.
• People coping my store ideas, concepts, marketing, name, etc.
• Other stores selling items, that I've once carried.
• Vendors not going in a good style direction.

And many other reasons...but most importantly, I wanted more time with my family.  So here I am now on a new chapter in my life. I am truly sadden to let go of what was such a big part of my life but honestly relieved from all it's business burdens.

Know that you will still be able to shop Chu-La Couture till September 15th, so please use all your coupons and discounts before then (for they will be void, after that).  Also, if you just can't let go of Chu-La Couture statement styles, know that at the beginning of each season all accessories and handbags from Melissa Velia's photo shoots will be on super sale on melissavelia.com

Thank you to all who have supported and loved Chu-La Couture.  xoxox.

The show must go on...

So last weekend I had to do something I never thought I had to do in business and that was, perform after the passing of a loved one.  Less then a day after losing my grandmother I had to proceed with a scheduled trunk show for my boutique in West L.A.  I had been planning this event with it's host for months and it was only right that I conducted business as usual.  Lessons in business;  Don't ever show your emotions on the job, unless it is to much that you must go home.  From experience, I've learned that most supervisors and co-workers will be sympathetic but the others will use that as a mark of your professionalism.  Business is business.

My favorite piece in the store.

Had so much sushi, I'm surprised I didn't turn into a fish!

The Cuff necklace, was a hit.

All around a good show, much thanks to these lovely people; Sa-Cara, Rosie Barreda, Christina Martinez and Windy Zamora.

Next week, I have something big to share and I'm going to do it on video.  Hope you guys check back and see what life changing decison I've made once again.

xoxo

Business Savvy

Hello Lovelies!

So I know I mentioned last week that the name of this blog post was going to be something else and I was really going to go in a different direction with it but I decided to stay on a positive note. Turning my bad business decision, into a life lesson. Plus, taking something great from it.

Without going into the ugly details, I was approached by a company to do a fashion show a week after I did Project Ethos. A company that had no real owner (so they/she claimed)! I really had a bad feeling about all the unanswerable questions, yet I still committed and paid for this event.  Needless to say, it was one of the worst and unprofessional events I've ever been apart of since I started in this industry.  I was not only in embarrassed but mad at myself for not going with my gut....my business gut.  I just knew something wasn't right with this company but I was really conned into believing it would all turn out great, in which it didn't.

In the end, after a week of disputing with this company I was given a refund and all pictures from this event would not be posted. I am happy to say that, I not only learned an important business lesson from this but I became just a bit more business savvy. PLUS, I not only made new friends through the chaos of it all but I recruited my very first intern!

I leave you with a couple of pictures from our first business meeting. Yes, at Corner Bakery Cafe!

Darlins, please welcome my new business savvy intern, Windy!

Plus, please check-out these other lovely business savvy people that I met along this journey; NATIVE HONEY, MARIALIA, REDHAWK BRIGADE, ALEXANDRA CIPRIANI and LA FASHION WEEK ONLINE.