Here are the 10 important questions that you can ask your clothing supplier:-

1. Where do I see a full list of your inventory and wholesale pricing?
2. Do you have a minimum order quantity, and what is it?
3. What is the typical retail mark-up on your products?
4. What are inventory levels like throughout the year?
5. How often do you update your stock level data? Where can I find this?
6. What is the processing time like on an order?
7. How much will it cost to get my order shipped to me?
8. Do you allow pickups? (The supplier might be around your neighborhood which could be your selection criteria)
9. What are your returns/warranties policies?
10. Can you make recommendations on what products in your range will be hot sellers?

It does take little effort and perseverance to find THE suppliers you want for your boutique.

All the best from,
Everlin

I Am Grateful For The Tiny Details…..

Tears in my eyes – for all the blessings and “Thank You” notes from my readers on this blessed Christmas season has touched my heart …very deeply.  I am glad to know that my works have inspired you and most importantly helped you in one way or another.

I am thankful for each one of my lessons that are bringing me closer to my dream and teaching me to be true to myself. I am also grateful for those lessons that I still resist or take longer for me to understand their purpose.

I just want to take a moment on this special day to sincerely THANK YOU for being my subscribers and reading my blog and my emails.  May all blessings be upon you.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the best year to come. Happy New Year!

Warmest regards,
Everlin WONG @ OpeningBoutique.com

Dear Boutique Owners,
What have you added on to your stocks for this Christmas season? Do you have so called the right choices for your customers? Your boutique shop needs to display attractive new clothes especially Year-end is a season where people would spend more to make themselves looks extra-ordinary beautiful to attend party after party.

During Christmas season, we know that customers would often look for gowns, cocktail dresses, evening dresses… Okay, I promise to write more about dresses but for now, I want to let you know that “Animal Instincts” prints are taking center stage this season, so take your pick from the wild kingdom and get on-trend.

Today, I had just added some of those PRINTS into my own collection.

Here are the photos taken …

Christmas season is also about being colorful because it is a happy and cheerful occasion that people are looking forward to celebrate (and wanted to looks extraordinary!). Hope you have what others are searching for as it turns into sales!

Picture from FEMALE

Fashion Tip: Don’t go overboard by wearing many types of animal motifs at one go.  Pick one or two, and keep everything else subtle.

~Luv, Everlin

Indulge in a love affair in Paris, a city full of charming sidewalk cafes, endless romantic avenues and home to luxe French fashion brand, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, Channel, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Cacharel… and many more.

It has always been in my impression that France is a destination for FASHION.  Till recently, I have been enlightened that many people go to Paris in hopes of finding love.  But where exactly would you discover the essence of romance?  With so many romantic places to choose from, let me share where you can start finding true love as I read from “Female” Magazine plus a little bit of my personal observation from my trip to Paris in April this year.  Also sharing with you some of the photos taken (hope you’ll like it!).

Fine dining at the Eiffel Tower
Nothing says romantic more than a visit to the Eiffel Tower.  Luxe it up in sexy black sling backs, a fun cocktail dress and for him, a sharp peacoat suit for dinner at Paris’s finest.

A walk in the Luxemburg gardens
A lush green terrain with impeccable charm, this is the most romantic garden in all of Paris.  It is attached to a breathtaking, 17^th century palace and fountain at the heart of the park.

French Kissing Overlooking the Scene
In the city of romance, the Seine River is its heart.  Flowing gracefully through Paris, the river’s inspiring bridges and quays make up the most romantic landscape of the city.  This dreamy sentiment is intensified when the Seine twinkles with the water reflections of the illuminated city at night.

A stroll down Champs Elysees
Take it easy by going on a casual date, strolling down Champ Elysees.  Known as the most beautiful avenue in the world, it is full of exquisite, lively places to see.  Carry your elegant oversize bag and spend a day wandering in and out of stores.  The magnificent boulevard ends with the Arc de Triomphe, a stunning architectural monument in the city.

~Everlin @ OpeningBoutique.com

Awesome!  One of the best fashion show I ever watched.

Feeling relaxed — Carefree — Radiant — Sexy — Beautiful Angels

Enjoy watching!

Every year from September Fashion Week up to December Christmas, I tend to receive more invitation for events, dinners and celebrations.  At my recent social networking dinners, I observed people were elegantly dressed up with the up-to-date fashion and trend.  However, there was a “missing” element which I’d probably say it didn’t bring out the personality of a person.  Then, I asked myself what does a Fashion means if nothing more than just clothing?

Fashion in clothing sense refers to the habit of people continually changing the style of clothing worn.  Over the centuries, the word has acquired a specific association with the design, making and wearing of clothing.   The term “fashion” is frequently used in a positive sense, as a synonym for glamour, beauty and style.  To me, “Fashion is an attitude.” 

I remember a Malaysian Designer, Sayfol said that “No fashion designer can change you or make you into something you are not, because fashion comes from within, from inside.  You cannot wear something that is not you, because fashion expresses who and what you are.”  So with that in mind, as Boutique Owner it is very important to know what apparels to recommend to your clientele on top of what they like but what’s best for them.

Photo taken @ Fashion Show

I was in Sydney early this month.  On my way to Bondi Beach and Double Bay, I was amazed by row after row of shops of clothing’s boutique along the street.  Only 4km from Sydney, Double Bay will transport you and showcase more relaxed way of living in one of Sydney’s most elegant suburbs.

Picture taken along the suburb to Bondi Beach

Intimate boutiques everywhere enchanted me into a world a lot different to the heart of the Sydney city. 

The beach not only draws the visitor, captivates them and forges memories of sun, surf and sand but I’d say its major fashion spots are fantastic.  Often times we think that how to open a boutique at a place or city which already has many boutique shops.  Location is important in deciding where to open a boutique.  Click here to read my published article  about choosing the right location for your boutique.

Feel free to write to me via www.OpeningBoutique.com should you have any queries.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Everlin

Picture taken:  One of the many boutique shops

I know I am writing something not so related to boutique for today but yes, I just can’t resist to share what I learned with you.   Today I learn more about SHOES.  I’d thought that you can become an instance “expert” by reading this tiny yet very interesting fact about SHOES, yes that’s the title!

“SHOES” is a visual extravaganza, a celebration of women’s footwear with over 1,000 photographs of shoes in glorious color.  It includes footnotes (fascinating facts about shoes), profiles of master shoemakers, and the shoe that left imprint.

Thanks to this special friend who get SHOES for me as this year’s birthday present.   Love it.

“There is so much space between a woman’s heel and the floor that one can use” –Bernard Figueroa

In September Louis Vuitton opened a unique maison in Singapore that is the first store in the brand’s history to be dedicated to travel.  This really makes me feel like travel to Singapore over the weekend to visit the newly opened Louis Vuitton (not that I have anything to buy but just amazed by how beautiful the unique architecture of the store).

Read it in various magazine write-ups about the maison.  This unique maison opening on 18^th September 2011 isn’t a regular mall-type designer flagship store but one that takes the form of an island, sitting dignified on the waterfront of the Marina Bay promenade.

This is the fifth Singapore Louis Vuitton store!  Isn’t this so inspiring to you, Boutique Owners to be able to open boutique at various locations over a period of (reasonable) time.

Can I still be stylish in an ordinary tee or simple top?  How do I dress it up?

Everlin: It’s totally possible to look good in a simple tee or top.  I love it!  (Opps..especially when I’m feeling ‘lazy’ to spend too much time dressing up).  Just look at this A-list celeb’s effortless styles.  A printed T-shirt can be dressed up by pairing with a really nice jacket.  Or, dress up a solid-coloured tee by wearing a chunky necklace.