The road to the Women's expo!

After almost a year of preparation, we are now officially on the countdown to what is shaping up to be three absolutely fabulous shows!  At this year's 10th Annual Hawaii Women's Expo, Bliss Online Boutique will be featured in fashion shows on Friday, September 7 at 7:45pm, Saturday, September 8 at 3:00pm, and Sunday, September 9 at 2:00pm at the Neal Blaisdell Center's Exhibition hall.

I have always LOVED fashion shows!  I love the music, the excitement, and of course the fashion! I've been in the audience and on the runway, but where I love being the most is backstage! If you enjoy fashion shows like I do, here's a little glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes to put on a 15 minute show!

The day after last year's fashion shows were over, I knew I wanted to do it again...only I knew we could do it even bigger and better!  In order to do this, however, I had to enlist help.  After compiling a fantastic core production team consisting of Stage Manager Angela Choy, Casting Director and Head Make Up Artist Nathalie Kim, Photographer Keoki Kim, and Stylist Leah Fukuyama, it was time to get to work!  I asked fashionista Leah Fukuyama to go "shopping" for me!  She pored through hundreds of tops, dresses, and bottoms to select the perfect pieces to be on the stage.  After getting feedback from a small focus group, we finalized our selections and are bringing in over 200 pieces of brand new and simply beautiful pieces including beautiful tops, dresses, cardigans, jeans, leggings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, scarves, and even a few pieces from local designer, ccdoodle! 

Next, we needed talent for our show!  We needed models, make up artists, hair stylists, dressers, and assistants!  I am so fortunate to have Nathalie Kim in charge of all of the talent casting for this show!  She has tirelessly worked to secure an amazing team of make up artists and hair stylists to make our models look even more beautiful than they already are. Nathalie then met with Dawn Larson-Lord of Larson Talent to hand select talented and beautiful models from Larson Talent and Wilhemina Models to come to a casting call. During our casting call, the models all exuded such beauty and poise, even though we had them walking on an uneven concrete sidewalk in front of many curious fans and admirers. Thank you to Dawn Larson for sending us such an unbelievable array of talent...and for making our job SOO hard! :) 

After a production meeting with our Stage Director, Angela Choy, we realized that in order for this show to run smoothly and efficiently, we needed more help!  We decided to create a fashion show internship team of enthusiastic and fun young women who were interested in learning more about fashion and/or modeling.  I selected 6 beautiful interns; Tiffane Cheng, Meshelle Hirashima, Joyce Furuya, Sharon Ramos, Leslie Anne Nilo, and Jessica Cheng; who have a variety of interests and experiences including fashion design, event coordination, merchandising and buying, fashion blogging, and modeling. Some have already assisted with our purchasing decisions and Joyce is already starting a bliss blog entry.  Meshelle will accompany us to our KHON on air live promo taping and most of the interns will be there to assist at the runway rehearsal and fittings.  All of them will help backstage during the fashion shows and will have the opportunity to meet with and learn from professionals in the business.  They will also have an individual and group photo session with our professional photographer, Keoki Kim.

The upcoming weeks will be hectic, but stay tuned!  I hope to keep this blog updated on our very busy, often crazy, but always ALWAYS FUN journey to the Women's expo! 

- It's sometimes fun to do the impossible...Walt Disney
 

A sneak peek at some of the pieces picked for this year's
fashion show!  Color blocking is huge for Fall!

Going through model's composite cards.

An inspiring morning

I wish every morning could start like this!  After rushing to drop my two boys off at school and sitting through rush hour downtown traffic, I finally arrive at this oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown.  The brand new Cafe Julia (opened May 1) in the Richards Street YWCA is an absolutely charmingly beautiful restaurant that serves a very delicious breakfast and lunch.  I had the Local Style breakfast with scrambled eggs, mini ham steaks (delish!), and tater tots and thoroughly enjoyed each bite (I cleaned my plate). 

It was such a treat to be able to sit, relax, and enjoy a delicious breakfast!  But, the best part of my morning was having the opportunity to sit and talk with two inspiring and amazing women. This morning, I met with Kimberly Miyazawa Frank, the new CEO for the YWCA Hawaii, and I was impressed and inspired to learn so much about the YWCA and all of the amazing work they do for women.  The YWCA, through its' Homebase housing project, provides transitional housing opportunities to economically disadvantaged women transitioning from challenging life circumstances to permanent housing. Up to 84 residents are able to be accomodated at one time and are provided breakfast and dinner (made by Cafe Julia staff) 7 days a week.  Women also have access to a variety of self sufficiency resources to help them to find a job and  permanent home.   

One of the resources women in the homebase program are offered is the Dress for Success program.  Dress for Success Honolulu provides professional attire to women who are referred from government agencies and non-profit organizations.  The women in the program, who are often homeless, domestic violence survivors, or recently incarcerated, receive one suit as well as job interview coaching and mentoring before her job interview.  Once she finds a job, she can return for a second suit.  The Dress for Success program is so much more than simply providing clothing for women in need, it's about helping women to become economically self sufficient and to feel good about themselves from the inside out.  It's about changing lives. 

Join Valerie Kubota and A Little bit of Everything as well as myself and Bliss boutique at "SOul Beautiful" on Thursday July 12 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm at the Venue in BambuTwo for an event benefitting the Dress for Success program and all of the wonderful, selfless work that they do.  The event will include an awesome summer fashion show featuring dance group Blank Canvas and some of Hawaii's top models.  DJ MassFunk will be there with amazing music and the Venue will have a full bar of decadent cocktails!  Shop til you drop and bid at the silent auction, both benefitting the Dress for Success program!  Tickets are $10 and include one cocktail (specialty martini or wine) and pupus.  VIP tickets available for the first group of 20 or more.  Click here to purchase tickets!  If you are interested in donating to the silent auction, please email customerservice@shopblissonline.com .

This event might be small in size, but with all of your help we can make a difference in someone's life through the Dress for Success program.  Sure, you'll be having the time of your life, but you can feel good knowing that while you're shopping for your own closet, you're changing a life by putting clothes into someone else's closet as well.  Hope to see you there!

Pinterest...my newest guilty pleasure!

I blame my girlfriends for introducing me to my new addiction.  I really didn't need anything else luring me to my already heavily used computer.  It all started innocently when a couple of friends starting talking about this new site called Pinterest.  It didn't appeal to me that much, but everyone raved about it so of course I had to try it.  I tried it once, but found it too overwhelming and didn't really like it.  But, a few days ago I decided to give it just one more try...and I was hooked.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.  OMG, how could I NOT love Pinterest?  It combines ALL my favorite things, organizing (I'm a little type A...just a little ;)), beautiful things, and the web!! This website, which hopes to "connect everyone in the world through the "things" they find interesting", launched in 2010.  In August 2011, was named to the "50 Best Websites of 2011", and now reportedly has over 13 million users despite being invitation only.

OK, so I'm not the only one who loves Pinterest!  So, why am I blogging about pinterest?  I think one of the great things about pinterest is that it can actually be helpful in discovering, creating, and refining your "style".  Simply scour pinterest or the internet and find pieces, color combinations, or outfits that you LOVE at first glance.  Don't stop to think about it, just like it or pin it.  Do it before you can say "But I don't look good in sleeveless!", "Yellow isn't my color.",  or "I can't wear stripes!"  Eventually when you look at your board, you will see a definite pattern...a definite style all your own.

Having a good sense of what your "style" is will help when you go shopping for clothes!  Ever bought something you thought you liked, just to have it sit in your closet?  Knowing what your style is will help you purchase the items that you really love, that fit your style, and that you'll wear over and over and sometimes OVER again! :)

And, guess what?  Bliss has just added "Pin It' buttons to each "New Arrival" (and all subsequent new arrivals).  So, if you love something on Bliss, don't forget to "pin it!"

I've also created a board called Follow Your Bliss in which I pinned blissful inspirations that I hand picked to share with all of you.  I'll try to update frequently with my favorite Bliss pieces, cool quotes, helpful fashion and beauty tips, upcoming trends, and more. Feel free to follow! :)  You can find it here.  http://pinterest.com/wnnchang/follow-your-bliss/

Happy Pinning everyone!!  :)

http://shopblissonline.com/category/new.htm
http://pinterest.com/

"Fashion fades, Style is eternal..." Yves St. Laurent

the business of Bliss...

Over the past year, I've been asked countless times about how Bliss was started and about any advice I could give about starting an online/traveling boutique.  So, I thought I'd start out the New year with a blog about my business, Bliss. :) 

Bliss is a part-time "hobby" for me.  I work full-time at the University of Hawaii Center on the Family's Learning to Grow project as a Project Specialist working in Early Childhood.  I am also a very busy mom to two amazing boys.  So, I need to constantly find the balance between all of my competing interests and need to know where my priorities must be on any given day.

I still remember the day in 2009 when I purchased my domain name and web hosting service.  I felt nauseous the whole day!  The new challenge of diving into this business even with an already demanding schedule exhilirated me in the months (yes, only months) prior, but suddenly I was sick to my stomach with fear and doubt, and even a little guilt.  I couldn't believe that I was taking on this huge, kinda crazy venture.  :)

I am so grateful that I didn't turn back on that day.  Bliss has been one of the most amazing journeys of my life.  I've met and worked with some of the most talented and beautiful women on this island. I've experienced and overcome huge, seemingly insurmountable challenges and seen Bliss do things I never dreamt we would do.  I've seen what can happen when you chase your dreams.

The business of Bliss consists of a buying department, a sales and marketing department, and a receiving and shipping warehouse. ALL run out of a room in my home...more accurately from one hugely multi-tasking desk!  :) Ha ha.

The most time consuming process is the buying.  Everyone thinks this is the easiest and most fun part, but really it's the hardest.  In the beginning, I bought only things that I liked.  Thankfully, many of my customers and I do share very similar tastes (as this is still primarily what I do), but I have also learned about my customer throughout the years.  I've learned what type of styles and fabrics they like and what type of colors they DO NOT like.  Obviously, every boutique has a different customer so this will need to be learned only through experience.  But, the interesting thing is as much as Bliss has evolved, our "customer" has stayed fairly consistent. 

I also try to research the current season online and through countless fashion magazines.  I love looking through fashion magazines for inspiration.  Every season, I tear out inspiration pieces and tack it to my "inspiration board" (seen in the photo below.) But as you can see, I have no inspiration now.  lol!  (Actually, I just cleared out the board to ready it for the next expo collection.)

I am very lucky to have a volunteer fashion advisory board consisting of 5 fashionable women; Angela Choy, Lori Furoyama, Lana Nakamura, Tina Koike, and Leah Fukuyama.  They guide most of the purchase decisions for the seasonal collections that Bliss carries.

Here is about a third of my multi-tasking desk.  (Hey, I'm a huge multi-tasker, so my desk has to be too!)  When the clothing arrives to my doorstep, I unload, unwrap, and inspect the clothes before hanging and tagging.  Finally, I upload the items to my website, write descriptions, input inventory, and calculate a retail price. 

When an order is placed, pieces are pulled, folded, and packaged for delivery.  I try really hard to get every order out to the post office as soon as possible, most times it leaves the day after the order is placed (sometimes the same day) and because I only use priority mail, it usually arrives to my customer's doorstep the day after it is mailed.  It's not pretty, but here's my shipping department (under my desk). 

The remainder of my time is spent in developing sales and promotions, updating social media and sending out e-blasts, strategizing PR with my PR guru (and sister) Denise Park, working with photographers, models, and make up artists for an upcoming photo shoot or fashion show, and planning and prepping for the next expo. It's an exciting, fast paced, and always dynamic world and if you have dreamed about owning a boutique, having an online/traveling one is a great way to start.  If you are passionate about fashion and are willing to work really hard, take some scary risks, and be patient about the money making part (lol!), I encourge you to do it!  

Good luck to each of you as you chase your dreams this year! 

Happy Holidays from Bliss boutique!

Wow, what a year 2011 has been for Bliss!  I have been on an incredibly blissful journey this year and I know with much certainty that this year would not have happened without all of the amazing customers and friends that I have been blessed with. 

The year started out with our third shopping event and fashion show in February.  In March, Bliss ventured into the world of expos with the First Annual Hawaii Fashion and Beauty Expo at the Blaisdell.  It was a hugely successful event for Bliss and was the start of a barrage of smaller shopping events, photo shoots, and fashion shows that went through the summer. 

We ended the summer season with the First Annual Super Sale Expo also at the Blaisdell and was a featured vendor in the Midweek style section for the first time!  This was soooo exciting...but not nearly as exciting as meeting make up artist Nathalie Kim during the shoot. I am grateful that Nathalie has become such a huge part of my life! 

Probably the highlight of my year was the Hawaii Women's Expo and fashion shows in September.  I was so humbled by the over 50 volunteers that collaborated to make this event such a success!  Amazingly beautiful and talented models, exquisite make up by some of  Hawaii's top MUAs, professional photography by 4 awesome photographers, and an impressive array of help from our Stage Manager, Back stage helpers, booth workers, Music director, and more...I can't wait to do it all over again next year!  Plans will start again soon!

With the Women's expo also came an appearance on the KHON morning show with Trini Kaopuiki and our second feature in Midweek's Style section!

There are so many people that I owe so much to...I know that I can't name them all.  To all of you...customers, volunteers, models, photographers, make up artists, editors, bloggers, friends, and family...thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I am truly grateful for having you in my life and sincerely wish you much joy, love, and laughter this holiday season!

Bliss would not be here, however, if not for...
Denise Park, PR
Angela Choy
Nathalie Kim, MUA
Lori Furoyama
Tina Koike
Lana Nakamura
Leah Fukuyama

What's in store for Bliss in 2012?  Lots!  Plans are brewing...stay tuned and find out! :)

Much love,

Wendy Chang
Bliss boutique

the Bliss FAB 5

Lori Furoyama, Lana Nakamura, Tina Koike, Angela Choy, and me! :)

After celebrating and reflecting back on 2 years of Bliss, I thought it a fitting time to reveal the secret weapon that I've had the priviledge of using over the past 2 years. 

I still remember 2 years ago, on November 1, turning to my bffs at work and telling them guess what?  I've decided to open an online boutique.  I remember the shocked look on their faces as they tried to figure out if I was joking or not.  Since that day, Angela Choy, Lori Furoyama, Lana Nakamura, and Tina Koike have been HUGE supporters of Bliss and more importantly of ME.  They have supported me physically at pretty much every single event I've had and they've supported me emotionally as I dealt with frustrations and set backs.  They have been my back bone.

And they have been my secret weapon. :)  Shortly after the day that I shocked them with my news, they started becoming my best customers.  One thing the five of us share is that we all love to shop (and we are all super cheap shoppers too!!!), but it was interesting that we all actually had fairly different tastes in colors and styles. 

After getting stuck while buying for an event, I got a great idea to create the FAB 4.  Bliss' Fashion Advisory Board (FAB) 4 was called upon often to give advice on potential new tops, dresses, handbags, envirosax bags, gift items....you name it.  They have helped me create facebook promos, helped me plan my shopping events, and given me their feedback on my web designs.  This year, I added a new member to our FAB 4 (now called the FAB 5...lol!).  Leah Fukuyama has come aboard to lend her fashion expertise.  Having these 5 fashionistas to bounce ideas off of has helped Bliss to bring in some of the cutest, hottest selling items we've ever had.  Sometimes I don't agree with what they pick, but order it anyway.  I am humbled as I watch their pieces sell out at a live event within an hour. 

I owe them so much, and they ask for so little. Bliss didn't make it to its' 2 year birthday on its own...it was because of the support of the FAB 5...and I am truly grateful to have Angela, Lori, Lana, Tina, and Leah next to me on this Bliss journey...and I'm so honored to also call them friends...  :)

Leah Fukuyama at Nonstop Kakaako

Sip and Shop...what a night it was!

On Friday November 4th, beautiful and fabulous fashionistas gathered at the Sip and Shop shopping event in the A Little bit of Everything store in the Imperial Plaza. 

Women happily shopped through racks of Bliss clothes, a beautiful table of Gem Parfait handmade jewelry, and adorable gift items from A Little Bit of Everything. With full shopping bags in hand and content smiles on their faces, the women could now relax and enjoy the spread of great food!

Friend and caterer Subir Kole (pictured at right) created a huge array of amazing dishes including tofu tandoori, mushroom tandoori, shrimp tandoori, chicken tandoori, home made naan, and a delicious salad.  Everyone raved about his masterpieces all night!

And in case that didn't fill our guests up, there were kalua pig rolls from Valerie of A Little bit of Everything, brownies and cookies from Allison of Gem Parfait, and mini red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting from Annie Yeung of Panya Bakery. 

A beautiful and tasy array of crackers, chips, dips, and sauces were also on hand from Leah Fukuyama of Pampered Chef.  Happy women washed all the food down with some yummy margaritas.

It was a fantastic night of shopping, eating, drinking, and most of all FUN.  I think everyone who came enjoyed themselves judging by the big smiles on everyone's faces, even the men in attendance looked like they had a great time! 

For me, I felt so thankful to see great friends and loyal customers showing their constant support of Bliss.  Thank you to Subir Kole, friend and new caterer, for slaving in the kitchen all day long to cook for us.  You never cease to impress us all!  Thank you Angela Choy for always being there.  Whatever I need, you are always there...thank you for picking up the food on Friday!!

It was such an honor to meet Allison Fujita, the owner of Gem Parfait.  She is stunningly beautiful on the outside, but is even more beautiful on the inside.  Such a sweet soul and so amazingly talented too!  Finally, it is always a pleasure putting on an event with Valerie Kubota of A Little bit of Everything.  She inspires me with her unending energy, enthusiasm, and sincerity in every single thing that she does. 

Until the next event!  :)