Jennifer's Letters

shopify!

2013-01-23T12:03:00.002-08:00

Being in the creative world and coming from a big tech company like Microsoft, means that I get asked, A LOT of questions about creating an online retail site. It doesn't hurt that I was one of the first at trade and consumer shows (like the One of a Kind), to have my iPhone all set up to process payment. Made it so easy for me to wander around my booth, helping customers and being able to ring up sales while chatting.

It's amazing to me how many creative types do not have an interactive online presence. Quite often you will just see a static web page with an email address and phone number. Friends, I'm looking at you! If it is an interactive site, sales are definitely not included. Why is that?

Well, I guess there is a misconception about cost and difficulty. We've come a long way, baby and no longer is having a retail site the domain of a hostile nerd in a darkened room. We don't have to sacrifice good looks for a working retail site or pay double for a graphic designer and a great web guy to get both.

There are sites out there that will help you get gorgeous online and sell your stuff!
I like shopify. Why?

It's Canadian.
It looks good. Really good, with a Trinity Bellwoods kind of vibe to it. And there are templates to make your site look really good, too.
It won't break the bank. $29/month for 100 products online + 2% per transaction. No more messing around with pricing out merchant terms.
It's clear, easy and concise and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to set up or keep up.

Case in point, I know an underwear importer (seriously), who does a cool few mill a year in sales. Paid lots of money to set up a site to a web guy, but guess what? They can't figure out how to upload new product and don't want to pay a permanent IT person every time new knickers come in. On shopify, the shipping person (aka you) can do it.

It will grow with you. Small now but big plans for the future? They can handle it.
They include cool tips on their blog, like using the word's "you" and "new" and "guaranteed" to increase your sales. So go ahead, and guarantee shipping within 24 hours. It will make that customer click on "buy now".

Here's the link. Don't walk, run!

http://www.shopify.com/

One of my fave's

2012-10-24T07:12:00.001-07:00

I feel like I am seeing this a lot right now. Wish I had a better picture. Leather bodice, flared wool skirt and wool bands at arm, zip up the back. It's not on the House of Groves site as it wasn't ready for the look book shoot.
I did this two years ago. Check out this one featured in Interview. Really similar, right? I loved my F/W 2010 collection. I think other people did, too. I still get inquiries from local and overseas and have created one offs.

Flare article "The Power of You"

2011-01-22T06:51:00.000-08:00

Hello again!

It's been a while! Had a great One of a Kind show this year, and then spent the rest of December packing and moving. We are coming into the home stretch of a very, very long reno.
It's all about finishes right now and horribly repetitive trips to Ikea - ugh!

Deborah Fulsang connected with me a couple of month's ago and my interview with her is in this month's Flare magazine. The article is entitled "The Power of You" and is all about boosting your self confidence. It is a great article, lots of good advice from some pretty influential women (Bonnie Brooks, Linda Babcock...)

Happy February, everyone!

Tomorrow

2010-11-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

One of a Kind starts tomorrow!

go go mama is in booth Z-15. Stop by and check out our new canvas clutches!!

TorontoShopoholic.com Features go go mama

2010-11-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Jane Martin at TorontoShopoholic.com for the lovely write up on her new go go mama dress!

http://www.torontoshopoholic-blog.com/?p=106

One of a Kind Show - A little friendly competition!

2010-11-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

I'm gearing up for the One of a Kind Show in Toronto. It starts in two weeks!! Still so much to do.
I feature go go mama at the OOAK. Knit dresses (bamboo and this year a super, loosely woven linen) for women and girls.
I have a new product this year as well - more to come on that....

But - in the mean time, I have 5 complimentary passes to give away.

First five responses I receive, with "OOAK Ticket" in the subject line will receive a complimentary pass!
Please send your email to jennifer@gogomamadesign.com. Good luck!

Anastasia ready for the Gemini's

2010-11-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Anastasia sent me these pictures - just before leaving for the Gemini's. A pre-taping before the big night.
I LOVE this dress on her. It fit like a glove.

Ivy Lam did Anastasia's makeup and hair and as always, it is perfection.
www.ivylammakeup.com

Anastasia Philips at the Gemini's

2010-11-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

I had a call last week from someone related to Anastasia Philips (Murdoch Mysteries), an up and coming Canadian actor.

She is presenting at the Gemini's and is also nominated.

If you are watching, she will be wearing House of Groves.
Best of luck, Anastasia!

To see more of Anastasia's work, click here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2107127/

Post Show Press

2010-10-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you David Livingstone ("Mr. Livingstone, I presume" - always wanted to say that and missed my chance!), Erin O'Brien, Kate Kennedy, Rebecca Zamon, Tiffany Merritt, Samantha Speisman, Septembre Anderson, Lauren at frontrowmag,

www.thestar.com/living/fashion/article/878773--house-of-groves-impresses-with-both-ruffles-and-restraint

lifewise.canoe.ca/FashionWeek/2010/10/20/15763636.html

www.sweetspot.ca/SweetLife/sweetlife_at/25149/house_of_groves/

www.flare.com/blog/post/30695--house-of-groves-chloecommeparris-marthe-aime

www.ellecanada.com/blog/?p=2403

www.fashionmagazine.com/blogs/fashion/at-the-shows/2010/10/19/fashion-week-first-timers-jennifer-waters-of-house-of-groves/

www.frontrowmag.com/

The National Post and The Toronto Star

2010-10-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

One would never guess that in a former life I had a TON of media training.
Ah well! Life on display....

From the National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/life/Fashion+Week+Jennifer+Waters+goes+from+Microsoft+Mama/3696004/story.html

From the Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/article/878103--if-annie-hall-was-a-girly-girl

Press from Fashion mag

2010-10-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Septembre at Fashion Magazine!

http://www.fashionmagazine.com/blogs/fashion/at-the-shows/2010/10/19/fashion-week-first-timers-jennifer-waters-of-house-of-groves/

The Latest Press

2010-10-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

Eye Weekly:
www.eyeweekly.com/style/Object%20of%20Desire/fashionweek/citystyle/article/103856

The Sun:
www.torontosun.com/life/tofashionweek/2010/10/14/15692456.html

Now Magazine:
www.nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/story.cfm?content=177097

She Does the City:
www.shedoesthecity.com/house_of_groves

Soon to come.... The National Post, Fashion Magazine, Preston Catalogue and Flare Magazine

A little peek...

2010-10-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Spring Summer 2011

The inspiration was a lady-like Annie Hall.

The feel of the installation is Annie Hall crossed with a Hampton's garden party.

Moving leaves will be projected on the wall.

Model Casting, The National Post and the Bell Celebrity Gala or Thursday

2010-10-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

Chris and I on the carousel!

Thursday was a ridiculously busy day and a completely surreal one.

One of the those days when you are scheduled down to the minute and you can't afford for anything to go wrong. Thanks to two helpful friends who came to my rescue I made it through the day!

Button run, blow out appointment, model casting with Melissa Leong from the National Post who met up with me for a piece that is coming out on show day, pick up passes from the FDCC, makeup done by Ivy Lam, pose for snaps for the Post story and then off to the Bell Celebrity Gala.

In between, the usual things that you just have to accomplish during the day when you have a family. Anyway, madness could easily have ensued. Thankfully, I was saved by my lovely friend Liz who gave up her appointment at Blo so that I could have clean and kempt hair and also to my other quick thinking friend Joy, who realized I had left my keys behind and tucked them into the flower pot (I guess that hiding spot is gone)

I felt a bit like I was watching the day from outside myself. Especially as I sat in my dining room, with Ivy doing makeup, chatting with Melissa and watching Chris and the photographer setting up for the shoot, it was all very, very surreal.

Anyway, model casting was successful, Melissa was so easy going (thank you!) and the Bell Gala in support of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health was great - there was even a carousel! Had a brief conversation with Coco Rocha and tried to be cool with Jeanne Becker. (ha!)

The Sponsors

2010-10-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

All those accessories you see on the runway... they are usually sponsored.

I am working with incredible sponsors for this show: Nine West, Brunswick + Co, and of course The Fashion Collective!

Thank you!!!

Two great new articles

2010-10-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Not sure if I mentioned that I was sponsored for LG Fashion Week by an incredible trio called the Fashion Collective?
Dwayne Kennedy, Brian Richards and Kate Mullin.

Here is a blurb from an article in Eye Weekly:

"Sometimes, the names to know during LG Fashion Week aren’t always on the official schedule. Case in point: The Fashion Collective is a group of style enthusiasts (publicist Kate Mullin, stylists and partners Dwayne Kennedy and Brian A. Richards) who have joined forces with the goal of repping Toronto’s coolest, newest talents, and providing all the creative support and services the ruling Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) currently doesn’t"

House of Groves was also in Eye Weekly as one of Fashion Week's "Fresh Faces".

For the article on The Fashion Collective: http://www.eyeweekly.com/style/fashionweek/article/103891

For the article on House of Groves: http://www.eyeweekly.com/article/103856

Dean Davidson and Tricia Campbell-Hall

2010-10-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Video Editorial 2010 from Dean Davidson on Vimeo.

The incredible Tricia Campbell-Hall of stylist fame worked with a few of my pieces for a video she was styling for Dean Davidson Jewellery.

Check it out - gorgeous stuff.

The Week in Pictures

2010-10-06T07:20:00.000-07:00

Montreal Fashion Week. The outside of Le Showroom.

A scout from Paris approached me to participate in the Pret a Porter show!!

From the TFI Press and Buyer's Breakfast. Great event this year! Met with Elle, Flare, Cosmo TV, the National Post....

Lots of colour in the House of Groves Spring Summer 2011 collection. Here is a preview of the black. Linen, Waxed Cotton (love!), Cotton, Silk

Pop up Shop Tonight

2010-10-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

House of Groves and go go mama items to be had!

A Press Page. Finally!

2010-10-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

I had a spare hour before I left for Montreal last week and sent press links to my web editor.

A new press page is now up on the House of Groves site.

Looking forward to the Preston Catalogue editorial when it comes out!

Out of the frying pan and into the fire - Montreal to Toronto

2010-10-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Still getting caught up from Montreal Fashion Week and now head first into Toronto Fashion Week.
House of Groves was asked to participate in LG Fashion Week as part of a group of emerging designers. I chose to do an installation versus a runway show.

So excited! And soooo much to do!

As I am now on the schedule I guess it makes it official.

October 20th at 3 pm - Will you be there?

House of Groves on LG Fashion Week Schedule

Montreal Fashion Week! Countdown...

2010-09-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Montreal Fashion Week - Le Showroom

Last minute prep for Montreal Fashion Week!
Clothes look gorgeous! Will post more pictures soon but here is a peak of what's to come.

Now I just need to book that hotel room....

Eight and a Half.org

2010-09-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up I watched alot of black and white films. Some of my favourites were The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie and the original Great Expectations. They were either introduced to me by my parents or stumbled upon.

I just discovered Tilda Swinton's organization that provides world cinema access to children aged 8 and a half. Eightandahalf.org. "Its aim is to create a new birthday: a film birthday, at the age of 8½, that celebrates the power of cinema to expand children’s horizons and welcomes children into the wider world of movies, beyond what is normally available to them at the multiplex or on their TV screens."

Of course I am a fan of Tilda Swinton. How can you not? And, after going through this site I am really excited to see a great list of films, many of which I didn't know of.

Three cheers for Tilda Swinton and Eight and a Half.

Preston Catalogue

2010-08-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

Lent out a TON of pieces to Preston Catalogue for their September issue. Preston is a "luxury lifestyle publication" that features design, architecture, fashion and art.

I received my things back today (box above). Can't wait to see what they do with the pieces. The styling and photography are amazing in this mag.

Browse here for an online issue from Preston.
http://www.prestoncatalogue.com/PC10/pages.html

I Hate Perfume

2010-08-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

I went for a run the other day and did not have a very good one. You know the days when not even "te-te-te-te-telephone" can get you moving and jogged into Ewanika (http://www.ewanika.ca/) on Bathurst for a retail energy boost. I always run with my debit card tucked into a pocket.

There are some great new canvas-treated leather handbags but what really caught my eye was the range of perfume from Christopher Brosius of Brooklyn, NY entitled CB I Hate Perfume (http://www.cbihateperfume.com/). Here is the thing, I really do hate perfume. I hate the falseness of it, the uniformity, the unnaturalness and the blanket coating of sameness that perfume lends, all in the pursuit of individuality.

When I smelled Christopher Brosius' water based scents I fell in love. He makes scents such as In the Library, that bring back memories of wandering around the best vintage book store on a cold and windy day or Black March that captures that damp, earthy smell of anticipation in early spring.

I am going back to Ewanika tomorrow to break my perfume ban. The next time I am in NYC I might just make an appointment with CB for a custom blend.

http://www.cbihateperfume.com/