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You are here: Home / Archives for Be Inspired / Real Women.Real Life

Be Inspired, Featured Posts, Gift Ideas, Interviews, Lifestyle, Real Women.Real Life, Websites

Heart and Home Online Gift Shop

Mar 22, 2012

Heart and Home Real Women Real Life

This week my Real Women – Real Life feature focuses on Kathryn and Vanessa Rheeder, from Heart and Home. Vanessa gives us a bit of insight into the lives, of two local Cape Town mom’s running an online business.

Tell Us A Bit About Heart and Home?

Heart and Home is an online gift shop that was launched on the 9th of February this year. I (Vanessa) was working as a finance manager in the corporate field and wanted to do something a little more creative and flexible as I am a mother of 2 boys, Josh and James. Kathryn is going to be a mom in September and our online gift shop provides us with the flexibility, of having a business while still allowing us to spend time with our children.

We both share the love of products that are unique, charming and reasonably priced. Our goal was to source products that aren’t readily available in South Africa, to ensure that we offer something different to our customers. We also want to support local suppliers so we have included some local products, which fit our signature brand and style.

 

Tell Me About The People Behind Heart and Home?

Kathryn and I both live in Melkbosstrand, Cape Town and are sisters-in-law, business partners and long-time school friends. As mentioned above, I am a mom of 2 boys and Kathryn is expecting her little boy in September.  Kathryn is consulting full-time at the moment and I used to work as a financial manager for a listed company.

We found a great deal of inspiration from overseas websites when we were designing and developing our brand and website. We love products from the UK, Scandinavia and South Africa of course. We also love visiting food and craft markets in South Africa.

What Are Your Favourite Products & Why?

We stock both local and imported products. We especially love the local, handmade babushka dolls, owls and tepee tents which you can find in our handmade section.

We have only been trading for a month so our bestsellers change all the time but at the moment, the jumbo shoppers are our bestsellers. They come in 4 designs and are made from recycled plastic bottles so they are eco-friendly too, which makes them a practical and unique gift.

What Would You Say Your Personal Décor Style Is?

My personal style is more contemporary with a touch of classic, while Kathryn’s is more classic with a touch of vintage chic.

 

 

What Advice Can You Give to Women Starting Their Own Business?

My advice to women, especially mom’s, starting up their own business is to ensure they have a proper support system in place and a separate office to work in. My eldest son gets dropped at crèche in the mornings and my nanny looks after James. I work upstairs in my office and I’m available to spend the afternoons with the boys.

[quote style=”1″]Ask God for a creative idea – He knows you the best and always gives you something original and helps you along the way![/quote]

Make sure you spend time on research, draw up a formal business plan with financial forecasts. It’s important to know where you are going.  Ensure that you implement the proper systems for your business. Use reputable service providers for website design, development and hosting. Use good quality images and descriptions for your products as your customer relies heavily on this.

 

 

What Was The Biggest Challenge Setting Up Your Business?

The biggest challenges I faced was not earning a salary for the last 12 months and learning to have patience as it takes time to set up the website and to make it profitable. Kathryn is still working full-time so she has had to juggle the business and her full-time job!

 

Where Do You See Heart & Home in 5 Years?

We would like to increase our product base in the near future. We have to manage our cash flow so we will only introduce new products as and when we can. We have a 3 year financial forecast which we hope to meet. Our vision is to be one of the leading online gift shops in South Africa.

 

Thank you to Vanessa from Heart and Home for sharing a few of your business and life insights with us. I wish you every success with your business and hope you achieve your goal of becoming one of SA’s leading online gift shops!

 

Heart and Home are offering a 15% discount off your initial purchase when you sign up for their newsletter, check their website here for more details. If you like their Facebook page before the 31st of March 2012 and you could win a R350 Heart and Home gift voucher.

Images: Photography by Leigh-Ann Cooke of Love Life Photography

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Be Inspired, Cape Town Lifestyle, FAR Photography, Featured Posts, Gift Ideas, Gift Stores, Interviews, Lifestyle, Real Women.Real Life

Coco li – Exquisite Boutique Gift Store

Mar 15, 2012

Coco Li Real Women Real Life

I never need an excuse to shop and I absolutely adore the Cape Quarter Centre in Green Point, Cape Town.  It feels as if you have crossed the Rubicon when you step into the centre; it has a wonderful cosmopolitan air about it and I was certainly not disappointed when I popped in to the centre on Monday, it was a hive of activity. The main purpose of my visit was to interview the lovely Leigh Tzouvanni, co-owner of  the beautiful boutique gift store Coco li.

 Tell Us A Bit About Coco li?

Coco li is a joint venture started by myself and my sister Lana Goslett. We opened our first store, in 2004, in The Paddocks Centre in Milnerton.  We both have a background in Interior Design and architecture and the business was born out of our shared love of all things beautiful. Having a united vision and passion made establishing Coco li an easy venture; what better way to spend your day than surround by all the creative flare and beauty that feeds your passion. Five years later, in 2009, we opened our second store in Greenpoint’s Cape Quarter extension.

“Coco li is the perfect little boutique where you will not only be inspired to spoil someone else but you will also have free rein to spoil yourself. Come and get lost in our treasure chest…” You can expect gifts to be adorned with exquisite wraps that are then tied with vintage lace ribbons and perhaps even finished off with a rose – something uniquely Coco li and a real treat for the recipient of your gift.”

What Type of Products Do You Stock?

We stock a vast array of gorgeous upmarket goodies which range from unique homeware pieces, jewellery and stunning designer clothing, including some vintage pieces. I have even managed to source a few vintage clutches!

When asked what her favourite products are, Leigh’s response was fitting – I love it all!!

Where Do You Source Most of  Your Products?

We maintain that 90% of our products are local and we import a few items to fill the gaps. We are lucky to live in the country we do and have access to such talented designers and such well-made local products, which include unique clothing collections from a selection of SA designers.

What Would You Say Your Personal Décor Style Is?

My personal style is definitely quirky with vintage inspiration, a great deal of what you see in store will be mirrored in my own home.

 Do You Travel for Business?

I do not do much in the way of business travel at present but as the business grows I would love to travel to source more unique items of interest to add to our growing range.

You Have Developed Your Own Body Products – Tell Us More About Them

We have developed a range of local bath and body products, with the help of a friend of mine Tanya, who has her own range of natural body products, called Naturals! We worked on fragrances and bottling together and our labels were designed by Bridget from loveletterstationery!  The Coco li Body Range includes Himalayan Bath Salts, Salt & Sugar Body Scrub, Body Butter and Hand and Body Lotion. These products come in soothing fragrances such as “Chamomile & Rose” and “Vanilla” and for something more invigorating, a vibrant “Ruby Grapefruit”. I am very excited to announce that we are currently in the process of developing a range of diffusers and massage oils.

Thank you so much to Leigh for giving me the opportunity to interview you and learn a bit more about Coco li, it is a beautiful shop filled with exquisite products! I wish you every success with the further development of your Coco li Body Range and we will definitely keep readers up to date with any new products that are added.

Images: ©FAR Photography

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Be Inspired, Featured Posts, Food, Interviews, Real Women.Real Life, Recipe Books

Real Women Real Life…

Mar 8, 2012

Real Women Real Life Sarah Graham

Today on Real Women Real Life, we get to look inside the life of Sarah Graham. Sarah is the foodie behind the blog afoodieliveshere and author of Bitten.

Sarah Graham – Bitten

Tell Us About Yourself:

As of October last year  Johannesburg is now our home. Having moved from Cape Town (Sarah used to live in the same area that I do), I approached the move with the usual disdain (for anywhere other than the mother city), that one would expect from Capetonians 😉 I have however been pleasantly surprised.

My goal in life is to raise content and considerate children, in a happy home with my amazing husband, to continue cooking with abandon for as long as I love it.

Where Do You Find Your Inspiration?

I am motivated and inspired by my family, friends and my love of food.

Indian-style Coconut Fish Curry Recipe from “afoodieliveshere”

 

What Are Your Strengths & Weaknesses?

I am not afraid of a challenge or hard work! I also like to think of myself as considerate and objective. On the flip side I can be impatient and feel that sometimes I am not spontaneous enough.

What Are Your Fears?

My biggest fear is rushing through life, getting to the other end and not having savoured all the special moments along the way.

What Keeps You Busy?

(Besides for being a mom, writing a blog and publishing a cook book!)

I am one of the founders and now marketing director for an award-winning responsible tourism company, www.africanimpact.com.

What Do You Do To Let Your Hair Down?

I love to socialize and cook. I spend my free time going to the movies, reading, doing Pilates and I love spending time in the bush.

What Is Your Favourite Foodie Website?

One of my best SA food websites for everything from recipes, to shopping and restaurant reviews is Eat In, who recently featured my book and my very precious 6 Minute Chocolate Cake Recipe.

What Do You Feel Your Biggest Success In Life Is?

Having a baby and so far being a reasonable Mum 🙂 Writing and publishing my cook book, entitled Bitten, which is currently available for purchase, in stores in South Africa and online.

What Has Been Your Greatest Challenge In Life?

Without a doubt – having a baby and being a parent has been my biggest challenge, it teaches you amazing selflessness, commitment, hard work and an overwhelming sense of unconditional love.

Thanks Sarah for sharing a bit about your life with us, we definitely share a passion for food and I look forward to trying more of your recipes! We wish you every success with your cook book and your life as a Mum.

Also in this interview series Real Women Real Life, meet Chicara from Lipgloss Kisses

 

Image Source: Sarah Graham, afoodieliveshere & Food 24

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Be Inspired, Fashion, Featured Posts, Interviews, Real Women.Real Life

Real Women Real Life

Mar 1, 2012

Today I am featuring the lovely Chicara, in our Real Women Real Life series. Chicara is the creator of the blog Lipgloss Kisses. [Read more…]

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About

Hi, I am Fiona Rossiter, from Cape Town, the writer and photographer behind Inspired Living SA Blog. If you love good Food and Wine, reading amazing Travel Adventures, keeping Fit and Healthy, as well following Decor Trends – then Inspired Living SA is just the place for you! Read More…

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