5 Questions with a Vendor – Karen McIntosh owner of Glamorous Spa

5 Questions with a Vendor – Karen McIntosh owner of Glamorous Spa

Today we are chatting with Karen McIntosh, the owner/operator of “Glamorous”, an all-service beauty boutique serving clients in Durham Region at her location in Ajax, or yours!  She also works out of Oshawa’s Tranquil Garden.  Karen is passionate about making women everywhere feel like the princess they are, using her exclusive, private brand of products. 1. Good morning!  Tell us what got you started in your business? When my daughter was born I got a new insight into what my time is worth.  I had been working in spas for more than 10 years, and I saw that there was a need for flexibility for my clients, as well as for my family. I’ve always had passion for enhancing natural beauty; as a little girl I was already making over my dolls!  So this was a perfect fit for me. 2. That’s awesome that you are living your calling!  What inspired you to develop your own makeup line? It was the realization of a dream to create a line of cosmetics that help and benefit all women.  I found that I wanted a more natural product that would benefit my skin instead of just sitting on it. I found that whatever brand I tried, my skin was irritated and I’d break out.  I designed my makeup line to work for your skin, giving you many benefits including beauty. The foundation has natural SPF in it, the lip glosses have Shea butter in them and the eyeshadows are very pigmented so you need less, which makes them last longer. 3. Wow – talk about passion!  I love that.  So what...
5 Questions with a Vendor – Manuella Tollis, Florist

5 Questions with a Vendor – Manuella Tollis, Florist

We are chatting with Manuella Tollis, a Toronto-based freelance floral designer, currently working at King West Flowers, a trendy flower shop at King and Bathurst. Manuella creates unique designs for every occasion and budget. Today she is sharing with us her passion for her craft, and how it has enabled her to find her bliss. 1. Good morning! Tell us what got you started in your business. I used to be a wedding planner and while that started off to be a fulfilling job, over time I realize that it lacked a creative outlet and I found myself slipping into misery because of it. I made the decision to find something that would make me smile every single day. I took a course in floral design, loved it, and decided to try it as a profession. I feel more fulfilled and more thankful than I ever thought possible in a career and I will do this until it doesn’t fit anymore, which I hope is never. 2. I hope so too, because your work is amazing! As a florist surrounded by beauty every day, you must have the best job; there must be no stress! Flowers are used to convey a million emotions, and as a florist I have to channel each of those emotions as they’re being felt. No matter the occasion, I have to choose appropriate combinations of colours and textures to impart the right feeling, but there is so much more to it than that. For example, with sympathy flowers, it’s about honouring and thanking the person for the life that was lived and all the...
5 Questions with a Vendor – Fran Steyn of “Frantastic Treats & Events

5 Questions with a Vendor – Fran Steyn of “Frantastic Treats & Events

Today we are chatting with Fran Steyn, who is a local Chef and Entrepreneur owner of Frantastic Treats & Events in Whitby. Offering a boutique style experience in all things sweet and savoury. She is sharing with us today her passion for creating beautiful, delicious treats and eats – which she offers throughout the Durham Region and GTA. 1. Good morning, and Welcome, Fran! Tell us what got you started in your business. Frantastic Treats began one holiday season7 years ago when I was going on a trip back to South Africa and wanted to make some extra spending money. I sent out an email to friends and family offering Christmas & Chanukah cookies – I made 1200 cookies that year….. it grew from there. 2. It’s amazing when you hit on a good idea how it just takes off, isn’t it? When and how did the addition of “& Events” add on to Frantastic Treats? Once I decided to open my kitchen, I immediately began developing my catering menu. Often people say, “either you can bake, or you can cook” …well, I can and do BOTH! I just love making things beautiful – whether it is the intricate design on a cookie or cake to a yummy sandwich or perfectly placed fruit platter – “As pleasing to the palette as it is to the eye” is my mantra. Other “Events” include our onsite and offsite birthday parties and workshops. I speak on panels at schools and… Stay tuned for the FRANTASTIC TREAT SHACK…. Details to follow… 3. Oooohh! I love a teaser! What you do is very creative....
5 Questions with a Vendor – ‘Gift Baskets For Every Reason’

5 Questions with a Vendor – ‘Gift Baskets For Every Reason’

Today we are chatting with Alesse Antonik, owner and creative designer at Gifts forEvery Reason.  They specialize in Gourmet Gift Baskets that they design,taste-test and assemble themselves. They have been in business for over 10years and have received numerous awards and recognitions. Their clientele is world-wide and delivery is across Canada. 1. Good morning, Alesse, and Welcome to Transcendent Ceremonies!  Why don’t you start off by telling us what got you started in your business? While at the funeral home for my beloved Grandmother, who passed away in 2003, I sadly looked around the room and said, “I wish someone would send something other than flowers.” That same year, we opened Gifts forEvery Reason – “Your alternative to sending flowers.” Affordable,Elegant and Unique. 2. Oh, that’s so special.  I bet your Grandmother would love what you’re doing!  What do you like most about your business? The ability to bring a smile to someone’s face when they’ve received one of our gifts, and the satisfaction that we get when we’re able to create something worth delivering for the sender. 3. What you do is very creative.  What are some of your favourite out-of-the-box ideas you’ve been able to share with your clients? The most memorable basket we did was for a retired CEO who likes to hunt.  The sender wanted it funny and big.  So we gathered some fun hunting gifts like: beef jerky snacks, duck calls, camouflage duct tape,hunting cap and of course hot doe urine! It was a big hit. 4. Well that is certainly unique!  Do you carry any specialty items? Yes, among our normal every day unique gourmet designs we also...
5 Questions With A Vendor ~ Event Planner

5 Questions With A Vendor ~ Event Planner

  Today we are talking to Andrea Ashley, a popular event planner in the GTA who incorporates holistic health, wellness and eco-friendly aspects to create truly unique and original events. She loves creating the “ultimate happy” for her clients and has a passion for encouraging a healthy and respectful lifestyle for both event planning and day to day living. 1. Hello, and welcome Andrea! Thanks for chatting with us today.  Why don’t we start with you telling us what got you started in your business? I actually started out in the holistic health field as a practitioner and skin care therapist, and absolutely loved learning and soaking up all I could in this industry and helping others live a healthy, happier lifestyle. It came to a point though where I did not feel at my own personal optimal happiness, and it was because something was missing: my creative outlet.  Through managing spas I gained experience in creating promotional events, opening launches, customer appreciation events and found my little glow of happiness always came back when I was planning. It was at that point I decided to return to school and specialize in Special Event Planning. 2. That’s awesome.  🙂  Can you tell us how you incorporate your past experience in holistic health into event planning? Absolutely. I will give the client as much or as little on the topic as they wish, but most love to find out there are little ways to add in some health and wellness to every event. Some clients are health and fitness fanatics so it’s great that I can really share both my passions throughout the entire...