Here's a sneak peek at what's to come!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
Thursday, March 29, 2012
A Beautiful Shoot in the Neighbourhood
Last week, I Heart Accessories had the pleasure of collaborating with two of our friendly and stylish neighbours; Phi and Me, and FÊTE Boutique on an upcoming promo that will be advertising our spring goodies. Photographed by Lavish & Light Photography, the photos were based a gorgeous vignette of clothing, flowers and accessories. What more could a girl ask for?
Here's a sneak peek at what's to come!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
Here's a sneak peek at what's to come!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
Thursday, March 15, 2012
You Make My Week
Here's something that is the best ever. People buy our accessories, wear them, love them and it makes them happy. Really, that's why we do what we do. When I'm in the shop and a customer comes in saying "I LOVE your store! This is so ME!" there is an instant sense of "this is all so very right".
Even better? When those customers send us their pictures of them wearing pieces they've bought from us. I kid you not when I say that this is THE BEST thing to ever happen in my week when it does. Look how many fabulous weeks I have had lately thanks to our amazing customers.
If you're part of this group of I Heart Accessories enthusiasts, we would love to see you sporting our wares. There's nothing more delightful than knowing what you do, is loved by others too!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
Even better? When those customers send us their pictures of them wearing pieces they've bought from us. I kid you not when I say that this is THE BEST thing to ever happen in my week when it does. Look how many fabulous weeks I have had lately thanks to our amazing customers.
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| Good customer and friend Lori, at her bridal shower. Lori is wearing a gold cuff and earrings from us. |
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| Our customer Colleen purchased this Headmistress fascinator from us, and we were able to also find her a matching birdcage visor veil for her wedding. Gorgeous! |
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| Our amazing customer Lisa was swooning over this watch and we were so happy when she finally chose to take it. Layered with some cute bracelets, this is the perfect look for Spring. |
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| Last but certainly not least, the beautiful little Victoria wearing a Headmistress Headband, which was gifted to her recently. She was happy to pose for a pic wearing her new favourite accessory. |
If you're part of this group of I Heart Accessories enthusiasts, we would love to see you sporting our wares. There's nothing more delightful than knowing what you do, is loved by others too!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
Saturday, March 10, 2012
How To Tie a Headscarf
Hair accessories are huge again this Spring, with an emphasis on colourful fabrics and bohemian styles. If you have a closet full of scarves but only one neck to tie them around, wearing them on your head gives them a whole new duty. Oh So Cosmo came by a little while ago to capture Natalie, owner of I Heart Accessories show us how to tie headscarves. Which one will you try?
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Who do YOU love?
Well, it's official. February is upon us. The month some people love, and some people love to hate. With hearts, flowers and cupids all around, it either makes you gush with love, or want to poke the next person who says "awww" in the eye.
We hear ya...and although we are all about the love and mushy stuff, we think it's equally important, if not more, to show love where it matters most. To yourself.
As Buddha put it:
So, whatever the case may be for you this February, we hope you indulge in a little "self-love" and give your heart the attention (or bling) it deserves.
XOXO
With Heart,
Natalie
We hear ya...and although we are all about the love and mushy stuff, we think it's equally important, if not more, to show love where it matters most. To yourself.
As Buddha put it:
You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.
Self-love is my thing this year. As much as I have an abundance of love and affection from my Mr., I know that in order to truly be happy, that love must come from within. In an effort to stop being so hard on myself, take pride in the things I have done, and pat myself on the back every once in a while, I've realized it's not selfish to sometimes be selfish. It's essential.
So - If you're feeling the same, I encourage you to take all the Love Day hoopla and run with it. Be inspired to love YOU. Indulge in a spa day, get a new hair style, or buy yourself something pretty. We've got that last one covered - which hasn't been a challenge with all the amazing, meaningful pieces that have been spotted on our shelves lately. Here are some of our favourites that add just the right amount of jewel, with a little pinch of self-love.
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| These wrap-around leather bracelets from Foxy Originals, serve as delicate reminders to live your best life and love YOU. |
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| Our new line of bracelets entitled "Life Charm Bangles", each come carded with a different quote/meaning. Growth, happiness, and love are the common themes. |
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| The Wearable Words Collection (necklaces and bracelets) by Foxy Originals, is great for adults as well as little ones. Our favourite in this line is "Dreams Come True". |
XOXO
With Heart,
Natalie
Friday, January 20, 2012
HI!
Hello Friends!
I know what you're thinking. FINALLY! A POST! If you follow us on facebook (click the sidebar to join the party), you know we are still alive and well and hearting accessories more than ever. We've just been a lil busy getting the beginning of this blissful year organized...we promise to pay more attention to our blog and keep you up to date on all the happenings from here on in.
That being said, there's a LOT to catch up on since December - so, I just wanted to shine a little light on our media attention as of late. We kinda get overly excited when people call and want to feature us in their spots/mags/newspapers....and we do LOVE the attention!
Take a little lookie-loo at our recent exposure. I'm a very proud mama!
Below: A recent interview done by the lovely Wyndham for The Grid. That's me there.
Tue Jan 17, 2012
Age: 30
Job: Owner of I Heart Accessories (2646 Yonge)
In 30 seconds or less, tell me what you do all day at work.
I’m the store’s sole owner, so each day I check email, order new stuff for the store, merchandise, serve customers, update the website and manage social media—everything, really.
How did you first become interested in starting your own business?
When I was in university, my parents—who have been in the home-décor retail business for 20 years—helped me start up a little side business. It kind of stayed with me; whatever I was doing, I sold jewellery and accessories on the side as a hobby. My parents had an in with a lot of suppliers, and they would take me on their buying trips, so that really helped. I became familiar with where to go and what to get. And then one day I just decided that I needed to be my own boss, and I had always pictured myself owning my own shop. I work in the store five or six days a week, and I have a part-time employee who helps me one or two days a week.
What is it about accessories in particular that inspired you to go into retail?
I’ve always been really interested in accessorizing outfits I have rather than shopping for new clothes. I’ve always shopped simple in terms of clothing, and then used accessories to make my outfit exciting. I find it really fun. Here, we offer a wide range of accessories rather than just jewellery, as a lot of other stores do. My customers know that they can bring an outfit or a picture of an outfit into the store, or they can describe an outfit to me, and we can accessorize them from head-to-toe.
Once you decided what kind of business you wanted, how did you go about finding a location and establishing the store?
I took a year to write a business plan, and then it came down to deciding what size of space I was looking for and what kind of neighbourhood I wanted to be in. I really wanted the store to be a bit more high-end than your average cheap-accessories store, but not so high-end that people couldn’t afford it. I was looking for something much larger, but then I found this space (on Yonge, north of Eglinton) and I realized that it was actually the perfect size for what I want to do. Now, it’s actually worked in my favour; a lot of people call the store a “hidden gem,” or say to their friends that they have to check it out because it’s so small but has the greatest things.
When you first opened for business, how did you build a customer base?
It took a little while to get busy; even now, people are still finding out about us. I still get people saying, “Oh, I didn’t even know you were here,” and we’re in our third year. But the good thing is that customers keep coming back. In our first year, it was all about people finding us, and now our focus is on our really great base of return customers.
What’s something people should know before they open their own business?
It’s really important to have a plan, and to set goals that are attainable. It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s a life-long commitment. I always say that it’s equally as challenging as starting a family, because it takes up all of your time. I don’t have kids, but, as with a family, you have to be a 100 per cent committed to make a real go of it.
What are you favourite and least favourite parts of your job?
My favourite part is that I get to wake up every day and work for me; my least favourite part is that I have to wake up every day and work for me! It’s a challenge when you’re the only owner, because you don’t have partners or people to bounce ideas off of, so I try to seek out mentors in order to do that. But actually, the challenges have become my favourite parts of the job.
More news and posts coming soon! In the meantime, check out our online shop - new gorgeous pieces added daily!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
I know what you're thinking. FINALLY! A POST! If you follow us on facebook (click the sidebar to join the party), you know we are still alive and well and hearting accessories more than ever. We've just been a lil busy getting the beginning of this blissful year organized...we promise to pay more attention to our blog and keep you up to date on all the happenings from here on in.
That being said, there's a LOT to catch up on since December - so, I just wanted to shine a little light on our media attention as of late. We kinda get overly excited when people call and want to feature us in their spots/mags/newspapers....and we do LOVE the attention!
Take a little lookie-loo at our recent exposure. I'm a very proud mama!
Below: A recent interview done by the lovely Wyndham for The Grid. That's me there.
Tue Jan 17, 2012
Advice
My Job Could Be Your Life: Natalie Colalillo of I Heart Accessories
In this week's edition of our career-advice column, we learn the pros and cons of going into business for yourself.
Name: Natalie ColalilloAge: 30
Job: Owner of I Heart Accessories (2646 Yonge)
In 30 seconds or less, tell me what you do all day at work.
I’m the store’s sole owner, so each day I check email, order new stuff for the store, merchandise, serve customers, update the website and manage social media—everything, really.
How did you first become interested in starting your own business?
When I was in university, my parents—who have been in the home-décor retail business for 20 years—helped me start up a little side business. It kind of stayed with me; whatever I was doing, I sold jewellery and accessories on the side as a hobby. My parents had an in with a lot of suppliers, and they would take me on their buying trips, so that really helped. I became familiar with where to go and what to get. And then one day I just decided that I needed to be my own boss, and I had always pictured myself owning my own shop. I work in the store five or six days a week, and I have a part-time employee who helps me one or two days a week.
What is it about accessories in particular that inspired you to go into retail?
I’ve always been really interested in accessorizing outfits I have rather than shopping for new clothes. I’ve always shopped simple in terms of clothing, and then used accessories to make my outfit exciting. I find it really fun. Here, we offer a wide range of accessories rather than just jewellery, as a lot of other stores do. My customers know that they can bring an outfit or a picture of an outfit into the store, or they can describe an outfit to me, and we can accessorize them from head-to-toe.
Once you decided what kind of business you wanted, how did you go about finding a location and establishing the store?
I took a year to write a business plan, and then it came down to deciding what size of space I was looking for and what kind of neighbourhood I wanted to be in. I really wanted the store to be a bit more high-end than your average cheap-accessories store, but not so high-end that people couldn’t afford it. I was looking for something much larger, but then I found this space (on Yonge, north of Eglinton) and I realized that it was actually the perfect size for what I want to do. Now, it’s actually worked in my favour; a lot of people call the store a “hidden gem,” or say to their friends that they have to check it out because it’s so small but has the greatest things.
When you first opened for business, how did you build a customer base?
It took a little while to get busy; even now, people are still finding out about us. I still get people saying, “Oh, I didn’t even know you were here,” and we’re in our third year. But the good thing is that customers keep coming back. In our first year, it was all about people finding us, and now our focus is on our really great base of return customers.
What’s something people should know before they open their own business?
It’s really important to have a plan, and to set goals that are attainable. It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s a life-long commitment. I always say that it’s equally as challenging as starting a family, because it takes up all of your time. I don’t have kids, but, as with a family, you have to be a 100 per cent committed to make a real go of it.
What are you favourite and least favourite parts of your job?
My favourite part is that I get to wake up every day and work for me; my least favourite part is that I have to wake up every day and work for me! It’s a challenge when you’re the only owner, because you don’t have partners or people to bounce ideas off of, so I try to seek out mentors in order to do that. But actually, the challenges have become my favourite parts of the job.
More news and posts coming soon! In the meantime, check out our online shop - new gorgeous pieces added daily!
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Laura's Top Three Wish List
Christmas is creeping up on us quickly and is just around the corner! Coincidentally, the month of December is when I start noticing more and more things that I suddenly decide I absolutely need. Normally, I would try to convince myself I don’t need to get that sparkly necklace even though it would look perfect with that outfit in my closet. But with Christmas, I don’t resist temptations. I just take detailed notes about the item, and with my fingers crossed, casually slide the page across the table to a loved one. The new arrivals at I Heart Accessories have definitely caused me to start making mental lists of things I want for myself, and for others. After all, it is the season of giving, it's not ALL about me. However, this post is. Here is my "Top Three Wish List" from I Heart Accessories.
1. Scarves
I love scarves. Soft, silky, patterned or plain, I love them all. Many times the perfecting detail of an outfit is a scarf in a matching or contrasting colour. Every time I Heart Accessories gets new scarves I get a little excited and look them all over. This is why I definitely have to include a scarf on my wish list.
Our new infinity scarves are so soft and plush that I immediately knew they would be perfect for filling this gaping hole in my accessories. You really can’t help but want to cozy up with one and I know they would not only look amazing, but also help keep me nice and warm.
2. Pom Pom Hats
Now why ask for just a scarf when you can get a hat too? It's Christmas, remember? When I first saw our pom pom hats I just couldn’t figure out how I have survived this long without one. They come in a variety of styles and colours. With one of these and a matching scarf, I can relax knowing that not only are my ears warm, but I look pretty great too. Was that vain?
3. Feather Headbands
This is the last thing on my list (at the moment). They have a sleek black band with a feather detail on top in a variety of colours and patterns. With all the style options, it has been impossible for me to narrow it down to just one. When I am at school working in the studio, I always have to wear my hair in a ponytail for safety reasons and because it is easier to concentrate. One of these hair bands will take my ponytail to the next level and make it less a matter of safety, and more a style choice. Who says you can’t look good while following the rules and being safe? I'm taking a stand.
I usually never know what to ask for at Christmas, but being a part of I Heart Accessories definitely helps with that. So, if any of my family and friends are reading this, consider this my subtle hint at what I would like under the tree this year.
xoxo
With Heart
Laura
Monday, November 14, 2011
Winter Snapshots
AHHH! IT'S WINTER! Almost. Good thing we have some stylish cozies to ease us into the the frigid temps. We snapped some pics of our new arrivals, as well as one of yours truly. I tend to do this once in a while...but only with winter wear...?! Not sure why. Anyway, stay cool. And by stay cool I mean, stay warm.
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie
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