Shopping Through Fashion Start-up Shoptiques

„Fashion Start-up Plans to Disrupt the World of Fashion“

 Today we have opportunity to shop everywhere in the world. Either we choose to take a trip to Paris, Vienna, New York or we use online platforms like Gilt Group (discount shopping of high fashion labels), Rent the Runway (members of site can rent expensive designer clothes at fraction of their cost and have them delivered to home). Few days ago was launched new fashion start-up Shoptiques.com. Based upon Inc.com, she thinks that her start-up can disrupt the $20 billion boutique shopping industry.

Shoptiques brings online shopping through exclusive boutiques. You have chance to visit online the best local boutiques which give you look inside of the most unique fashion apparels. It means for you that you don’t have to travel over the world to find your favorite piece of clothing. According to Boutique this is easier way how to discover your favorite local boutique and shop unique apparels in one place.

Where did come from idea for Shoptiques? Vidisheva (founder 26 year old ) says that she discovered this niche on her trip in Paris. She discovered unique boutique where she purchased a high heels. After she got back from Paris she was looking for small boutique online but she couldn’t find it. As she says, “I knew name of the boutique and kept searching online”. “I thought if I can buy tulips from Amsterdam online and have them shipped the next day, why cannot I shop at this particular boutique online?” And idea was born.

Who is Olga Vidisheva? She is graduated of Harvard Biz School where she was Co-President of the Retail & Luxury Goods Club. She has worked at CHANNEL in marketing division. She was working for Goldman, Sachs & Co. in Technology, Media and Telecom Investment Banking in New York.

The idea brings the best individual boutique inventory online offer you to shop through many different boutiques over the country. So far there are just American boutiques but I think you can expect something similar in Europe soon too. 

Kava Not Coffee, Drink That Make You Feel Relaxed

 "The Effects Of Kava Is Compared To Alcohol"

Today first time in my life I have tried drink named Kava.  Do you think that it has something common with coffee? That was I thinking as well. But when I was asking a bartender about if it contains caffeine, he said no. My following question was what kind of drink is that. So let me share with you what I had drunk.

It was served really nice. It was poured in coconut nut and it came with pieces of pineapple separately. When I looked inside of bowl I was little bit surprised. The drink looked like dirty mud water of grey color. I was thinking that maybe this is just color, I said myself “taste will be definitely better”. We asked the way how we should drink it. Bartender explained. You should drink it like shot and and after eat pineapple. I was a little bit skeptics so I decided just take a sip after sip. 

Imagine, I felt that I am drinking water from soil. It was bitter unsweet taste which reminded me taste of water which would come from ground. So my feeling about that that it wasn’t so tasty.

But now let s look what is this drink about. I was doing a little bit research and found following. Kava is a plant. The name kava is from Tongan and Marquesan. The roots of the plant are used to produce a drink with sedative and anesthetic properties. Kava is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia, including Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia. Drink is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity. It treats short term social anxiety.

Bartender told us, the most unique kava is from Fiji. Why? Listen carefully. Traditionally, it is prepared by virgin girls from island who chew plants and after they spit it back. I read that kava produces mild euphoria and relaxation. Some reports say that longer term effects up to two days after ingestion, including a feeling of mental clarity, patience and and ease of acceptance. The effects of kava are most often compared to alcohol or diazepam.

It sounds like really interesting drink. I definitely must try it again. I am curious if effects will be the same like I had read. 

What Does It Take To Become An Entrepreneur

Every day I try to work, read, self develop and only because of one goal. I want to become an entrepreneur. What does it mean? When I was browsing through web I found many definitions which we could use...

However I stumble upon one great article from Simon Sinek where he gave a great explanation what does it take to become an entrepreneur? So I will share his story with you:

„It was one Sunday morning and Simon and his friend were running a 4 mile race together in New York. His friend works for a large bank down on Wall Street and on more than one occasion he has mentioned to Simon a desire to start his own biz one day. Based upon how disciplined he was, Simon assumed that he could be a great entrepreneur. That was...until they got to the end of the race. At end of the race they give away free stuff to runners. They were giving bagels. There was a table where were boxes of bagels. On one side of the table were volunteers giving out the bagels. On the other side was a long line of runners waiting to get a free bagel. So after running, Simon said let´s get free bagels, his friend turned to him, looked at line and said „nahh, forget it, line is too long. “ Simon said again: „C´ mon let´ s get free bagel. “and again he repeated:  „yeah but I don’t want to wait. “  .That was the point where Simone realized that his friend he could be never an entrepreneur “

WHY?

Because entrepreneurs see things they want or need and they figure out a way how to get it. They don’t give up on things that they would like to have because of external factors. Regular people see a long line, they see standard process they need to go through and they sacrifice what they want just because of first objections.

What Happened Next?

Simon still wanted bagels so he was pushing his friend, however he was still saying that he doesn’t want to wait for. Simon walked up to tables, leaned through the line, put his hand in one of boxes, pulled out two bagels and walked back to his friend. By the way, no single person in the line said anything to him.  I will quote Simon: „Some people may think if everybody would do it, we would have anarchy. And that is true: „If everyone had what it took to be an entrepreneur, but everyone doesn’t. “ That is a reason why most people don’t start their own biz and why the most of people stand in the line.

Oscar 2012 InStyle

I am sure that you already know who won or did not win Oscar this year, so let check some pictures of actors and actress who deserve Oscar for style...

George Cloney in black Armani suit with Stacy Keibler in gold grecian style Marchesa creation
Cameron Diaz in summer white Gucci gown
Michelle Williams in red Luis Vuitton dress
Gwyneth Paltrow in white minimal robe from Tom Ford
Milla Jovovich in one shouldered elegant gown by Ellie Saab

Let me know who do you like the most?

Buffet is good but not unique...You do not want to be just good, do you?

Let me ask you question at beginning. If there would be an option for you to select between 2 options what would you take? 

A) Eat in place like buffet where is selection of meats, sides and desserts

B) Eat 3 course meal in place with soul, energy and unique atmosphere

I am wondering about your opinion and try to explain why. With my friends we decided today go to have food outside because during week we do not have time for that. We were searching for some place and finally we chose one buffet. Why? Because in buffet you find a variety of meals and price is not expensive. Unfortunately we forgot take in mind other factors. By the way what was your selection, buffet or restaurant? Why did you select like that?
 

So let me share my feelings. I think place was nice, there were a good selection of meals and kind staff. We came, had food and left. Those are my emotions from place.

 There was nothing breath taking. Place and meals did not leave any emotions to share. Place like buffet miss culture, I realized that it is just about to have food (a lot of food :) ) but it place completely miss its own culture, passion, vision, back story, something that would characterize place like unique. Every place should say its own story, something that make place irresistible and you would share story with others and make you come back. And I am aware that same principle can be used on people. People who know where they go, with purpose, passion, dreams and vision are unique and followed. Do I want to be just part of mass without passion, back story, purpose, vision, dream that is question that you have to answer yourself?

Anyway there are 2 ways you can choose to go. You can be part of buffet, place which is good, it fulfills own goal however spot like that miss passion, purpose, vision. Or become part of place with soul. Be aware of your purpose, vision, dream, uniqueness, have back story, your own culture. Leave emotional experience and people will share your story because of strong emotion that will keep their mind and hearts long interested in. Same like place to eat. Choose buffet and you will not share anything about it, select spot with soul and energy and you let others to try it as well. So where would you like to go eat?

Desire, starting point of everything

Let me ask you, have you ever played back situation in your mind and wished that you handled differently? I guess, we all did. Can you remind what that was? What was feeling you had? Anxiety, procrastination, hesitation.  It meant you were out of balance with your desire or you have set yourself apart from what you really wanted. In either case you get this ugly feeling. That sense of knowing that your choice was not aligned with what you desired. Learning to make choices from your feelings, desires takes practice and patience. A good place to start is to take ownership of your choice. No matter of results, you are in charge of. Knowing that you are willing to stand behind your choices empowers you to make a choice from your desire and not from outcome.

What do you want the most from life? I think all answers will aim to future. So far, you have it in your own mind. If these thoughts are mixed with definite purpose, persistence and burning desire you can translate into reality. I do not think about what I do not have, better way is that you establish strong desire for that. Desire is one of the strongest positive emotions that lead to action every time.  I try to do things with desire that you do succeed, help or bring better feelings.

How you can build burning desire? At first, fix in mind whatever you want to achieve, it has to be definitive. Determine what are you intend to give in return for that. Establish time frame you want reach it. Create definite plan for carrying out your desire and put plan into action. Write it down like statement and read it morning, evening and what is important feel it when you read, use your imagination. (This is taken from philosophy created by Napoleon Hill where he were searching for common clues behind succeeds of the greatest people.)

So as you can see the issue is not what we want, it is about how you can build strong desire for that and how you can accomplish your goal. I had set up mine approximately 1 and half year ago and I still did not reach it. Remember you will not get it in several months, it takes longer but if you put energy, power and effort everything backed with goal, you will reach it. What is your desire?