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LIZ: A lot of the products that Balisi stocks are from Europe, they have“euro flair”, does Balisi carry local Canadian brands, and how important do you think it is to stock local products as well as international ones?

DALE: The owners are Canadian themselves and they definitely offer Canadian brands. We carry hats from Ophelia out of Montreal, Phillip Sparks based out of Toronto. We try and bring in Canadian merchandise to really showcase the talents here in Canada.

LIZ: What is the process of buying for the stores, do the buyers follow trends, do they stock what they like, or a bit of both?

DALE: The buyers are Cory and Rehlee; they are the masters behind the brand. They are very up on the trends; most recently we had the current collection as an inspiration of the Gossip Girl scene, so that New York, Manhattan socialite, brought to Canadian fashion. Our clientele are looking for something that allows them to feel in touch with their younger side. Everything we offer has great shape, structure and clean lines for the customer, but also allows them to have that individuality to go along with it. We typically bring in one of each size of everything we have. So once an item is gone, it’s gone. Because we only have three stores in Toronto the odds of running into someone with the same outfit are slim so in essence we are a creating an original, unique one of a kind experience.

LIZ: Who is the ideal Balisi client?

DALE: I don’t think there is an ideal client for Balisi because we get any and everyone, we cater to everyone. I would say it’s the fashion hungry people that really want to feel special.

LIZ: Balisi was first conceptualized as a footwear store, when did the accessories i.e.: handbags and jewellery become apart of the store’s vision?
DALE: The handbags started on College Street and a lot of the clothing and accessories themselves started when we opened the Queen Street location. It’s been an ever evolving process of different things coming in. I think that people want to shop at one store get their entire outfit from head to toe and create their own unique style.

Just before the Holidays I got to sit down with  store manager and in house stylist Dale Hodder of Balisi. Here is part 1 of the interview.


LIZ: Why decide to work for Balisi, since you are an already established stylist for 15 years?

DALE: There are a lot of opportunities out there, but Balisi being a growing company, I saw great opportunities. I met up with owner Rehlee during fashion week and as we talked I felt the connection and the vision of his company and the opportunities that came with it. This company has allowed me opportunities to grow consistently since I started.


LIZ: What was the owners (Rehlee Balisi and Cory Kierstead) inspiration to open a footwear store in Toronto, and what sets Balisi apart from other shoe and accessories stores?

DALE: They have seen a lot of retail stores that currently supply shoes, but there weren’t a lot of them with fashionable shoes, something that’s artistic, and something that is expressive. They saw an opportunity to feed into an energy that didn’t already exist outside of Balisi.


LIZ: Balisi has 2 other already established locations one on College, one on Queen
Street and now this new Danforth location, why was it important to open a new store on the Danforth?

DALE: The major reason was that they already pinpointed the College crowd, the Queen Street crowd. Passing by the Danforth area they noticed that although there were a variety of things, there still wasn’t anywhere that was catering to the younger fresher clientele that was looking for a little bit more.


LIZ: do you feel that the Danforth is a new emerging multi cultural location?

DALE: Danforth definitely was a very traditionally Greek neighbourhood in the past but over the last few years that tradition has grown on a bigger avenue. There are all types of stores and restaurants now, I think the Danforth area was looking for a way to expand itself, and of course we saw the opportunity to become apart of something that is ever expanding.

I just added some more great Valentine`s  inspired gift tags to my Etsy shop! Given the recent devastation in Haiti I wanted to help in some small way, so for every item sold a $1 will be donated to the Haiti relief effort.

Here are just a few of my favourites:

I was very inspired by these monogrammed pillows in the dwelling of Bryan Boone, that I decided to have a go at it... so here they are my initials where I sleep. I like how they turned out, and this little project just gave me so many more ideas! hmmmm....I hope I don't go crazy and go and do something like monogram my undies! If you want an in depth tutorial just email me, although trust me when I say it wasn't that hard, iron on transfer my friends...iron on transfers.

My sister's room is really coming along. Just a few more finishing touches and she will finally have her eclectic vibe room. Here it is so far:


Stay tuned for the full reveal...

I love "love", I love being in love, I think there is nothing that can beat it! So I hope you can all head over to my Etsy shop and have a look at some of the new greeting cards I just put up. Love is in the air.

First I want to thank everyone who entered...I got a lot of great recommendations about some great books! I am currently reading Conversations with God, (my sister told me I had to read it!) so far I am enjoying it a lot, but enough about moi, Without further adieu...the winner is:

Stay tuned everyone I have a great NEW giveaway just around the corner for you all!

I just added some new bookmarks to my Etsy shop, I hope you can head over and check them out. If you still haven't entered my bookmarks giveaway do so here, contest closes on January 9th 2010.

LIZ: Given that today the general public is a lot more environmentally aware, how important do you think it is to stock eco friendly products?



JOANNA: Well everything, I started working for her when I was 13. Here in Toronto it was how to make a bed, that whole Au lit look was all my mom, selling, product knowledge, the buying. The only thing I would say that is mine and I’ve have to do on my own is the clothing. I think with buying its safe to say you have an instinct for it or not, and my mom definitely does and I think it’s fair to say that I do as well. So I think I get it from her. I admire her vision, she’s never been afraid to try anything. She’s so fearless.

JOANNA: For spring we are turning the entire back half of the store into a huge loungewear department, with a the pj vibe but some sexier. Expanding on loungewear and the basics in a range of prices and styles. The styles coming for spring, I am calling it sexy and sloppy, because everything is loose, off the shoulder, we have the jegging, and it’s denim but is as comfortable as a legging. Brand new bedding line, love seats that are slip covered in the fabrics that match the bedding. Everything in bedding is natural linen washed look, it’s tying in sexy sloppy. Casual luxury, everything is high end and quality, but washed and a little ruffled.

JOANNA: Don’t forget my neighbourhood is North Toronto, I’m sure on Queen Street they are probably more like a Montréal shopper, but I think in Montréal they are a little more adventurous, a little more individual. In Toronto the trends are gangbusters, a lot of that is because of the designer and they have set styles, what’s amazing about that is that if you connect with Toronto consumers, you can really have amazing collections, it can be amazing we never had that in Montréal where people would go crazy for one particular style and it would be a blazing hit. Whereas in Toronto you have that potential they are very discerning. Montréal-ers are a little more quirky, but this is just my experience in North Toronto. Montréal-ers are much more willing to put their money in social activities, they love to go out, eat out. Torontonians are nesters, they love their homes, and they love putting their heart into their homes.