Love a pretty Christmas Display

Its that time of year again - already! Its like it sneaks up on us every year... 

One of my favourite things about this time of year, are the amazing Christmas displays! In shop windows and in stores, its already mid November, so they're popping up everywhere now. 

Unfortunately, Christmas displays are a little hard to do 'online', and just quietly, it is something that I will really miss this year - decorating the store for Christmas. 

I will do my best for something creative online... but in the mean time, here are some beautiful and really different displays that I have come across so far, and some cute ballet themed Christmas ideas too. 

Of course this first image comes from the amazing Repetto Paris.
This beautiful pink Christmas tree and ballet themed decorations
are typical of Repetto's class and style.
And, the feathered tutus below, just set the scene.
So amazing as always. 

Had we still had the shop front, this was my plan
for Christmas this year.
This is all made from tissue paper -
but ours would have been tule tutus!
It would have been so pretty! Oh well... one day. 

This is a cute idea for all the little girls
who's world is consumed by ballet and dance - as so many are!
It would be pretty easy to make too, with some felt and ribbon.
Time to get crafty dance mums! : ) 

This reminded me of a white window display we did once,
where we used paper doilies'. I say reminded me of,
but it was nothing compared this beautiful Chanel Window display. 

Another beautiful white Christmas display at a bank in Prague.
The window is interactive too and the angels swing. So pretty! 

Away from a 'White Christmas' in a big way
is the 'Fluro' Christmas display at 'Little Paper Lane' in Mona Vale.
Its so creative and fun! They have some really great Christmas
presents in store too! www.littlepaperlane.com.au

And last, but of course not least,
Plie's Christmas window from last year.
Complete with a Pettiskirt Tree.
It did look beautiful, if I do say so.
Now, how to do the same online... any suggestions? 

 

Tea Party

My baby girl turned 4 last week, and even though this so called 'Spring' weather was awful, we persisted with an outdoor tea party. I cant believe 4 years has gone by so quickly.

Amalia and I have shared many a 'cuppa'... with her Nonna, her Aunties, her Biz Nonna, and sometimes just her little Brother. We often have a pot of tea in the afternoon at home together, so it was pretty cute when she asked to have a 'teapot' for her cake.

We had so much fun doing her 'tea party' themed party, and she loved helping too - mostly with the lolly bags of course! Amalia had a ball, with all her cousins and all her gorgeous kindy friends. 

Here are some pics of the party and the great suppliers that we used to put it all together.

Table runner from The Party Parlour. Cute little frame from Typo. 

Spotty cups and Stripy straws from The Party Parlour 

Teapot cookies! Cutters from Alfresco Emporium in Collaroy or Online

My first attempt at using fondant! It looked ok, but tasted terrible!
Not because of the fondant, but because I over cooked it...
and forgot to put the sugar in! Whoops!
Fondant is from a great local supplier, Something For Cake. 

Glass jars from Kmart and only $5 - bargain!
Spotty plates, table runner and cupcake toppers all from The Party Parlour. 

How cute are tissue bombs! These blue ones are from my favourite,
stationery (and more) store Little Paper Lane, in Mona Vale.
They have heaps of other colours too.
The pink spotty lanterns are from Specklefarm. You might have seen
them before - in an Easter display? At a dance store in Mona Vale? : )

The all important lollybags! These boxes are from The Party Parlour,
and the gift tags are Specklefarm.  

Staying up late

Enjoying my time with my kids is a complete understatement! I cant believe what a positive change it has had on all of us. I do still miss the store, but to be honest, its starting to wear off. Just a little.

We've been away to the snow, no phone reception, no internet, no contact with the 'outside world' and I didn't have to think about what was going on in the shop?? did they open on time?? are the orders in?? Did they definitely put the alarm on when the left?? ha ha ha, it was completely relaxing. Now that its starting to get warmer, I'm so excited to spend some lazy days down the beach with the kids, without the mobile!

But, all this time with the kids means that I have been working at night, and staying up late! Working on the online store, uploading products, writing descriptions, searching through other sites to see what they do that I like, and getting side tracked by pinterest, amongst other online distractions. I have become quite the night owl.

My distraction of choice at the moment is kids birthday parties! Both my kids birthdays are in October, and having a girl and a boy, makes the choice even greater and even more fun!

Here are a few of my favourite ballet themed parties and a few other great references that you might also like to use for your little lady - oh to be a party planner! SO much fun! Enjoy xx

You can find a range of printable items to 'Do it yourself' from Fairydust Sylish Stationery.
They have a great range of themes.
You can contact them at https://www.facebook.com/Fairydust.Stylish.Stationery

Nothing more sweet that a ballet themed party!
This is a pinterest find from  blog.amyatlas.com

How amazing are these! And perfect for our little Plie Ballerinas!
I found this on Pinterest, but I'm sure that the lovely Karen from 'Sweet n Pretty'
could help you out with some of these. You can contact Sweet n' Pretty here

Some people are just SO clever! This cake is amazing, but I  am in love with these cookies!  

Dont forget to theme the invitations! Another clever idea that little girls would just love!
This I found on Pinterest, from blog.amyatlas.com 

If you don't like to get crafty www.thepartyparlour.com.au
has a great range of themed birthday parties,
you just order by theme and its done!
I've ordered lots of things from them before and they're great! 

I am a sook!

Lovely 'last day' blooms from Picturesque Hair xx

It’s been a funny time since we closed our little store in Mona Vale… I never realized how much I would miss it. But, it has been a part of me, part of our family really, for such a long time, it was never going to be a simple transition.

I thought, on the last day, that we would be fairly quiet. Most of our regulars had already been in throughout the month, and I had my two wonderful staff members Aerlie and Vivienne in to help with the ‘packing up’. I also thought that there would definitely be some tears.

In fact though, it was the opposite! 

We had one of the busiest days ever! 

So many regular customers, friends and locals visited us. It was quite overwhelming. Such a great way to end an era of Plie in Mona Vale, we closed on such a high! And I didn’t shed a single tear... I was too busy for that.

Last day celebrations!

The next morning felt a little different though. Heading back to our mostly empty store to pack it all up and take away what little ‘Plie-ness’ was left.

I sat on the floor packing shoes and thought about all the memories created in that one little space. It sounds so soppy and nostalgic, but it’s really true. Creating the store, waiting for the first lot of customers, our first and slightly clueless ‘back to dance’, dealing with morning sickness through unpacking boxes upon boxes of stock. Our kids playing in the store room, renovations, late nights, and lots and lots of laughs.

It was then I shed quite a few tears.

We made plenty of mistakes along the way… ordered too much, didn’t order enough etc etc But, then we got into the swing of things and enjoyed the rewards from creating such a great little store.

I am grateful for all our relationships we have formed with customers, with dance teachers, with stockists, and other local business. All of which will hopefully continue in the future with our online store.

Relaxing with the kids after a massive closing weekend

But, what I am most grateful for is the whole experience, starting something from nothing, ending up with something great, something I am so proud of, and doing it all (well most of it) with my two beautiful Sisters. 

For now, I am enjoying my break and some extra time with my kids. But, stay tuned. You cant get rid of me that easily… Our online store will be opening next month. And I am really excited about it, its looking GREAT! 

And, just so you know. It's been a few weeks now, but I still cant drive past the empty store, without a little lump forming in my throat. What a sook! xx

Looking Forward

It’s here, our last week in Mona Vale. It conjures up all sorts of emotions. Happy, sad, nostalgic, excited, anxious. I guess all the normal emotions one feels when there is a big change in their life. 

I have felt extremely proud these past few weeks, and very grateful, for the amount of customers who have been in to see us to tell us they are 'shocked that we're leaving', 'disappointed', 'sad', 'where will we go now?'. (and grabbed some amazing bargains too of course). But, I imagined how it would've felt for me to have decided to close and for no one to care! I do feel very lucky. 

Work on our new online store has commenced, and we are thrilled at the amount of support we have had from our Mona Vale customers. It’s tempting to just ride the wave of support and get the online store up and running straight away. But, hopefully our customers will wait for us. The whole point of closing Mona Vale was to give myself a break, so our online store will launch in September/October, complete with a new Summer range.

Sneak Peek of work on our online store

Some customers have come in very concerned that we have had to close because of some funny reasons 'didn't you get enough customers?', 'is it because of the carbon tax?', 'rents are so high these days', 'is it because of online stores? There will be no shops left soon'. Thankfully for Plie, it is none of the above. 

But it got me thinking about small local businesses and how much we need to support them. Its a lot of hard work, and a big commitment. And I know not all of them are as fortunate as we have been. It doesn't take much, just a small purchase, once a week or month. We all like to have great little shops and cafes in our area, it makes our little villages what they are. But we need to support them. We are always sad when they close, and then we realise that we only went in there a couple of times, and it was easier to 'get it when we were at the mall' or 'it was $2 cheaper' somewhere else... we all need to stop doing that. Or there really will be no one left… especially now there is a carbon tax : ) he he he

Closing the shop has been a lot of work! Nearly as much as opening 8 years ago I think... maybe it just feels that way. But, the amount of hard work these past couple of weeks has really cemented my decision and made me really look forward to the next few months as a ‘stay at home Mum’. And with kids as cute as mine, who wouldn’t look forward to that! : ) 

Plie is taking a little break...

Yep, that’s right. After 8 wonderful years in Mona Vale. Plie will close its doors at the end of July for the last time. 

Of course its been a very emotional decision. And we know there will be a lot of speculation as to why, how, who, what. So, what better place to tell the real story than on our blog.

As the die hard Plie fans will know, the business was started over 8 years ago by my two sisters, Alanna and Courtney. Fresh out of school, they took a massive risk and created a business from scratch that has now become a well known and, we’d like to think, much loved business on the Peninsula.

I joined the business 7 years ago, and we created another Plie in Mosman.

Both Alanna and I became Parents during that time, and babies and two stores was just too much. Mona Vale was the most prosperous, and convenient to our Northern Beaches homes, so Mona Vale stayed and Mosman was sold.

Early days at Plie Mosman. We actually hate this photo, but in all these years its the only one of the three of us! 

I have been running the business for the last couple of years on my own. Using the time I had left, after having another baby, transformed Plie into what it is today. A gorgeous haven for all things girly, and pretty, and I have LOVED it. 

But, even though I have loved the challenge. Having the store on my own has literally consumed my life. Having a small business is definitely not your ordinary 9 – 5 affair and combining that with a young (and hopefully ‘growing’) family, something had to give.

My Mum always says “your kids are only little for such a short amount of time” and I want to spend that time with them. And hopefully add another one to the brood too : )

We would like to thank you all for your continued support over the past 8 years and more. We have some really loyal and lovely customers, and obviously Plie wouldn’t be what it is today without you. Please make sure you stay in touch with us via our facebook page, blog and instagram @plieboutique.

Also a BIG BIG Thank you to the wonderful staff at Plie – Aerlie, Sabrina and Vivienne. The best staff members that anyone could wish for. It would never have been possible without the three of you.

We have created a great brand with Plie that we are very, very proud of.  When you have created something from the beginning, it’s hard to see it go to someone else. We wanted the intellectual property to remain ours, and that is why we decided not to sell the business.

This wont be the end for Plie, of that we are certain. Perhaps an online store, or a new location in the future. So please stay tuned.

Lots of love, Holly x

Social Media Madness

As I am sure you're aware there are many facets to running a small business, some exciting, some interesting, and some challenging. And on a whole, mostly rewarding.


The last couple of weeks, my challenge has been 'Social Media'. 


Having worked in Advertising for years as an Account Manager, leaving only to run Plie, I thought I still had some idea how the media world kind of worked.... 8 years out of the picture and wow how things have changed! 


'Back in my advertising days, no one 'pinned' anything, there was no 'tweeting' or 'poking' no 'following', no 'liking', 'posting', or 'sharing', no 'walls' and no 'timelines'. I think I had a personal myspace page, and that was about it! Of course I have facebooked, instagrammed, and pinned etc etc but until now, I have not really used it on a business level.


I know, I know, It's about time Plie and I got up to date! 


What a great medium it is for small business!  Customers 'choosing' to interact with you, at their leisure, at a time that suits them. We can personally contact our customers, and create a much more personal relationship with our customers. Its definitely not all about sales. It's so much more about building relationships and contacts.

The average Facebook user spends 20 minutes on his or her account during each visit * - thats alot of time for a customer to interact with you - and even better, all their friends follow the interaction too. There is really no other medium like it. 


And it works both ways. I have found some great products and suppliers for the store, just by using social media. Learnt new ways of merchandising, found window display inspiration and even a few awesome cupcakes for my kids parties. 


And most of all, its FUN! And just slightly addictive... 

Our first 'Social Media' promotion. To get involved,  visit us on facebook.com/pliedancewear or follow us on Instagram @plieboutique or, you can even just good old fashioned email us - enquiries@pliedancewear.com


*Experian - 2011 Social Media Consumer Report