Canadian Blogs

Fashion Friday with Samantha Stylish - December 7th

Category / Catégorie: Shopping guides

Yoga Jean Heaven

Yoga Jeans by Second Denim Co. are quickly taking over the fashion world! Proudly - Made in Canada - this Montreal-based company provides the best quality and fit when it comes to denim. This week, we saw even more of their capabilities with the miraculous corduroy pants that are perfect for the season. Second Denim Co. takes time and care to produce the most comfortable prototype. These pants do not feature the traditional discomfort that comes along with a close-fitting pant.

Manufactured in Montreal, this company creates practical pieces in great colors and takes pride in quality fabrics. Besides being available in fashionable styles, colors and silhouettes these pants are so easy to take care of, affordable and created for the highest wear-ability. They are versatile in your wardrobe as they will look perfect with your favourite flats or sparkly high heels. My favourite pair this week is the cinnamon mid-rise skinny! They fit comfortably on my long waist, give a great shape and to top it off I love the unique colour! Another great option was the plum and navy, both colours that can be your reliable neutral when it comes to getting dressed.

Second Denim Co. is a great company with a strong product which is why they are sold at hundreds of stores around the world. Responsible manufacturing is key to their success from a company built in Canada. Head to a retailer near you to try them on for your next pair of pants! Once you have gone Yoga Jeans, you won't go back, I promise!

To read more on my review please visit Samantha Stylish and to dive deeper into the wonderful world of Second Denim Co. – Yoga Jeans please visit Second Clothing .

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Consumers, Fashion, Made in Canada

Save $$$ On Your Heating Bills With Solar Blinds Made in Canada

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: What's hot

The very best part of my job is discovering awesome products made all across this beautiful land of ours. This week, I was blown away by Krumpers Solar Blinds, based in Ottawa and run by dynamo Diana Livshits.

Diana is passionate about her products, with good reasons. Krumpers Solar Blinds are the only 2-sided reversible blinds on the market: one side for the summer and one side for the winter. They help regulate the temperature inside your home all through the year; saving you money on heating and cooling by up to 40%. See how they work in this demo:

That demo says it all, doesn't it?!

Krumpers Solar Blinds act like sunglasses for your windows:

1) They reduce glare by 70-80%;

2) They stop more than 92% of UV rays;

3) They protect your furnishings and décor from fade.

Krumpers Solar Blinds act like insulation for your windows:

1) In the summer: they keep the heat outside, reducing heat transfer by up to 76%;

2) In the winter: they keep the heat inside, reducing heat loss by up to 45%.

Krumpers Solar Blinds are completely transparent:

1) They do not obstruct the outside view;

2) They do not add colour or texture to a room, so you can decorate as you wish;

3) They offer full privacy during the day: you cannot see through them into the house.

Krumpers Solar Blinds are made-to-measure and come in 3 different styles:

1) Roller blinds;

2) Vertical blinds;

3) Fix panels.

They are strong, durable and easy to clean with a damp wet cloth. And best of all, they will pay for themselves within a few years and will continue to save you money for years to come. Now that’s a true investment!

Check out their handy price calculator and read some awesome consumer reviews.

We are so excited to bring you a great offer from Krumpers Solar Blinds, exclusive to Buy Canadian First readers, followers and fans:

Get 10% off any blinds, from now until December 31st 2012!

Just mention "Buy Canadian First" when placing your order. Then sit back and watch your heating bills melt away!

Images courtesy of Krumpers Solar Blinds.

Tags / Balises: Awards, Bills, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Carbon Footprint, Consumers, Economy, Environment, Fall, Good news, Green, Healthy living, Home, Innovation, Made in Canada, Manufacturer

Fashion Friday with Samantha Stylish - November 16th

By / Par: Samantha Stylish

Category / Catégorie: Shopping guides

Shopgirls & Ferhn Holiday Collab

Collaboration collections are always exciting, especially when two creative individuals put together their brilliance and bring forth something unique.

This week, Samantha Stylish witnessed this through the showcasing of five party dresses. Perfect for the holidays; Toronto boutique Shopgirls Gallery partnered with clothing label Ferhn to create holiday dresses appropriate for all women by focusing on the six different body types.

This fall, Shopgirls launched their Shape Campaign, educating women on personal shape and providing tools to embrace and style each figure. Store owner Michelle Germain holds this topic near and dear to her heart, and wanted to work with Ferhn label because they are a designer "who gets it". Fehrn gets that women come in different shapes, sizes and styles and together they created a masterpiece collection that is proudly - Made in Canada!

Ferhn designer Carrie Hayes has a unique talent for creating streamline silhouettes that are unique, innovative and more importantly: flattering. Not to mention her impeccable quality; these garments make you look and feel like a million dollars! It was so difficult to pick a favourite, the red ruffle, the black fringe, sequins, the lace... The list goes on and the details were so eye catching I already miss wearing these dresses!

These cocktail dresses are all priced under $200. An amazing feat when you think about similarly priced mass-produced options which are made outside of Canada!

The red tie-dyed sequin dress has got to be my favourite, because of the chic and fun mood the dress transcended upon me. I love the mechanics of the sequins, also available in blue, which are brilliantly created for ease and comfort. The paneling down the side creates a very comfortable fit providing a snug shape that will keep you ready for dinner and dancing, all night long.

To read more on my review please visit Samantha Stylish and to dive deeper into the world of this collaboration please visit Shopgirls

Images courtesy of Samantha Stylish.

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Consumers, Fashion, Made in Canada

Does Your Marketing Message Have ROI Potential?

By / Par: Guest bloggers

Category / Catégorie: Tips and tricks

Can you capture a prospect's attention in under 10 seconds?

By Karen Hope,

Marketing Expert

When you were a kid and ran your first lemonade stand you knew that a sign saying “Lemonade” would attract the interest of your customer. What you did not know is that the sign was not working alone: it had your cute little face supporting it. Your sign told people what you were selling, but it was your young face that motivated them to buy the lemonade. Your sign combined with your face produced an ROI – Return on Investment.

The market place is cluttered with words on signs telling people what is for sale. However, often what’s missing is an impactful visual that works with words to attract interest. By definition, marketing is "the process by which companies create customer interest in products or services”. It makes sense that in order for marketing to work you need to CREATE A MESSAGE THAT ATTRACTS INTEREST.

Marketing messages can be delivered in many ways. Typically, a message is displayed in print or digital form combining words with visuals. However, if the chosen words have no meaning, the message is easily ignored and never received. If there is a visual supporting the message, the visual needs to work together with the words in order to have an impact. If a message does not have a “marketing punch”, there will be little to no motivation for anyone to take note or respond to what it says.

In the marketing world, a poorly crafted marketing piece will not produce a “ROI”. An ROI is important to any business that wants to build awareness and generate sales. That being said, there are many business owners who continue to spend good money after bad on marketing strategies that fail to bring an ROI. Often the messenger is blamed. They attribute their lack of ROI to the wrong media. But most often, the media is not to blame, but rather the message portrayed. I believe the reason many companies fail to get an ROI from their marketing spendfing is due to the fact that they do not hire professionals to craft their marketing messages.

To create a compelling marketing message, one must research the customer to understand their situation in this world. What is it they need most from your business? How can you make their world easier, nicer, faster, tastier, happier etc. Motivating a sale is all about how well you can get your message received, understood and accepted by a potential customer.

In a world with little time to dwell on any one thing, a marketing message must be clear, concise, creative and compelling - all in about 10 seconds. Whether you are posting on a website or handing out a brochure, your marketing message must pull together what it is you do and why you do it better than anyone else. Your message must be direct and state why you are the business to choose.

A marketing message with ROI potential should: “Catch the ATTENTION of a potential customer with a marketing message (strong text with visual) that will MOTIVATE them to take a desired ACTION (phone, email, store visit) that could translate into future SALES (ROI).”

Think about Canadian-made Royale Tissue and the fluffy white kittens in the magazine and TV ads. Royale is promoting the message that their tissue paper is the softest. What better way to communicate “soft” than with Persian kittens? Text supported with a visual can work wonders to get a key message across in 10 seconds.

Think about how you could create a marketing message that works, blending words together with a powerful visual. It’s not an easy task. If it was, everyone would be doing it. But when you get it right, you can sit back and watch the return on your investment come rolling in.

Does YOUR marketing message have ROI potential?

Karen Hope is the President of the Marketing Edge and a Food Marketing Expert located in Calgary, Alberta. To find out more about The Marketing Edge and its services please visit The Marketing Edge.

Tags / Balises: Canadian Blogs, Innovation, Small Business Series, Technology

Top 5 Ways To "Sell Canadian" for Retailers

By / Par: Guest bloggers

Category / Catégorie: Tips and tricks

How to increase your retail sales of Canadian-made items

by Stephen Krakower,

Student at Law

Aside from being a full-time law student in school and part-time law student in a law firm, I also work as a part-time sales person at one of Canada’s largest sporting goods chains. As with many stores, the vast majority of our products come from oversees; China, India, Japan, etc. There are however some exceptions; some of our best products and easiest ones to sell come from, you guessed it, Canada. Below is a list of the top 5 ways to sell Canadian-made products from the point of view of a sales person:

1. Know your products: Sales people are expected to know the features and benefits of sometimes hundreds, if not thousands, of products. In retail jargon, this is referred to as product knowledge or PK for short. In order to "sell Canadian", you have to take your product knowledge one step further, beyond the performance advantages, and do a little research and ask the question: "where is this product made?". The first step to selling Canadian is knowing what products in your store are Canadian-made.

2. Be proud to sell Canadian: Once you have identified which products in your store or section are Canadian-made, you then have to sell them to your customers. The most important thing in my opinion when selling a product is to have confidence in the product, and to be proud of what you’re selling. To me, there is nothing that can make a sales person prouder than selling something made in his or her homeland, a product made from Canadian resources by Canadian hands. Be proud of your country and its products, and most of all, be proud to sell them.

3. Know your clients: Every day hundreds of people walk into your store, some will buy and others will just “look around”. It is important to know who these potential customers are: what are they looking for? what are they willing to spend? and most of all what products do they prefer? Not every customer who comes into your store will want to buy products made in Canada. Some will be happy with the cheapest product available, while others will only want locally-made products. By knowing your customers, and specifically those who prefer to buy Canadian, you will be able to tailor your sales pitch and as a result increase your chances of selling more Canadian-made products.

4. Focus on the advantages: I think it is fair to admit that selling Canadian is not always easy. In the sporting field where I work, there are brands that are very well known produced by some very large companies. However, those other products don’t always have some of the advantages Canadian products have. For example, for the most part Canadian-made products are of better quality, as they tend to be made with better materials and built by more qualified workers. Most often, this is reflected in a higher price tag, but not always. And of course, when we think about value, then the Canadian-made products will most often last longer and give you better value in the long run. These are just a couple of the many advantages of buying Canadian. As a salesperson, it’s your job to sell the advantages, and Canadian products are blessed with many.

5. Adopt a product: My final suggestion on how to sell Canadian or how to increase “made in Canada” sales is to adopt a Canadian-made product from within your current inventory. This step combines the first four suggestions: learn everything about your adopted product, be proud to sell it, learn which consumers its best suited for and lastly sell ALL of its advantages. If every salesperson in a store adopts a Canadian-made product, you will be astounded at how many can be sold.

I think we can all agree that selling a few Canadian-made products, amongst hundreds of products that come from all corners of the world, is not the easiest task. But with these five tips, I think every store in every sector can increase their “made in Canada” sales. The onus is on the sales people; the product is ready and waiting to be sold.

Do you apply any of these tips in your store? Do you have other suggestions?

Stephen Krakower

Student-at-Law

WILRC INC.

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Consumers, Economy, Good news, Made in Canada, Retailers, Small Business Series

Fashion Friday with Samantha Stylish - November 9th

By / Par: Samantha Stylish

Category / Catégorie: Shopping guides

Marvelous Meemoza

The Meemoza fashion label is a word play on “mimosa”, the flower, the cocktail and the colour. The mimosa yellow colour rhymes with hope, the key element to this sustainable fashion line. Each season the collection is filled with practical separates and adorable but age-appropriate dresses. With an eye for sustainable fabrics, designer Emilie Rioux bases all her designs on using fabrics like organic cotton, modal and tencel. While exploring the styles of Meemoza this week I also learned about the label’s ethical and eco-practices. Did you know that the biological base of modal fabric is actually beech and eucalyptus? It is amazing to discover the different plants that can be used to create fabric, and with this knowledge I know that fashions like these will have a positive impact on the environment.

While balancing the responsible focus on sustainability, fashion and style are the priorities to the Meemoza label. This week’s five outfits were sophisticated and stylish. Each piece is a statement when worn on its own, or it can easily transition into your diverse wardrobe. Some of my favourite outfits were the separates. I love to mix prints and as you can tell from this week, stripes too --why not top it off with hot pink tights? The Meemoza Message in A Bottle top retails for $49 and the Tulip skirt for $59. This is comparable to the price range at your favourite mall, but shopping for items produced locally is way more fun! The softness of these garments is unbelievable and it all comes from the natural fabrics: 94% Modal and 6% spandex seems to be the magical equation for clothing that forms comfortably to your body, maintains bold colors and helps the environment!

Meemoza is proud to support and encourage the Canadian Fashion industry. They carefully manufacture their clothing each season in Montreal, QC. To head designer Emilie Rioux this is important because Meemoza prioritizes the local economy and has the ultimate respect for its workers. Secondly, producing within its market limits the carbon dioxide emissions related to the transportation of goods. Through this and the sustainable choices in fabric, this label truly designs and creates in a responsible matter.

To read more on my review please visit Samantha Stylish and to dive deeper into the world of Meemoza please visit Meemoza.

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Consumers, Fashion, Made in Canada, Manufacturer

Fashion Friday with Samantha Stylish - November 2nd

By / Par: Samantha Stylish

Category / Catégorie: Shopping guides

Studio Fresh

This week showed us local fashion talent and its perks with five days of Studio Fresh outfits. Studio Fresh is a Toronto-based label that creates collections with an edge, which remains incredibly feminine. As it is being featured on my made in Canada fashion blog, Studio Fresh produces all their clothing in Toronto using high quality materials, ensuring its longevity in your closet.

Designer Connie Meyer creates collections each season that are comfortable and innovative. The pieces easily blend with the current trends but are not necessarily made to be a trend, as each season collections are based on Connie's personal vision for her brand. Her designs are able to transform your mood and will bring forth your personal style! The quality of a Studio Fresh piece is impeccable; you can truly feel the special care given to each garment in the detailed seaming and structure.

The five outfits we saw this week displayed Connie’s unique talent of adding understated details to each piece to make it stand out with a one-of-a-kind look. When in fact, this beautiful collection is sold to a dedicated following of hundreds of eager women across the city, who head to her shops each season to find the latest and greatest that she has to offer.

I have followed this collection closely for two seasons, and worn my favorite Studio Fresh piece everywhere. It is evident that Connie mixes a hint of "punk" into her designs with edgy seaming, patch work and glitzy prints. You are really able to take a Studio Fresh garment and make it your own and incorporate it into your life as you see fit. Whether a young creative professional or a big wig heading to the boardroom, women love to support this label and incorporate these pieces into their daily style.

While I couldn’t separate myself from the polka dot cardigan, my favourite outfit is the maxi-flared skirt with its hip-hugging and intricate paneling, retailing for $179. With this outfit the skirt and black mesh top are structured and designed like a work of art, similar to all pieces we saw this week! The Morgan Kitty vest is uber chic and a great piece to have in your wardrobe as you can incorporate it into several outfits. This stylish vest is available in a variety of prints, which is great because you really need one in every color.

Check out these designs to see all of the work that goes into these beautiful masterpieces made right here in Canada!

To read more on my Studio Fresh review please visit SamanthaStylish and to dive deeper into the world of Studio Fresh please visit Studio Fresh.

Images courtesy of Samantha Stylish

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Fashion, Made in Canada, Manufacturer

Fashion Friday with Samantha Stylish - October 26th

By / Par: Samantha Stylish

Category / Catégorie: Shopping guides

Gorgeous Girl Friday

Girl Friday is a Toronto boutique that hosts the most stylish and sophisticated fashions available. Women flock to this store each season to find the best fashions that are on trend and most importantly timeless! Along with carrying a variety of Canadian and international labels, the boutique hosts their own in-house clothing line that is manufactured in Canada. Shop owner and head designer of the brand is Rebecca Nixon; a style extraordinaire who considerately balances curating her store and designing the Girl Friday Collection each season.

Girl Friday also offers the most adorable and classy bridesmaid dresses that will remain wearable in your wardrobe because the styles are anything but "bridesmaidsy". It is very important to Rebecca and her team that production is produced ethically and locally ensuring impeccable quality. Girl Friday has a strong sense of corporate responsibility and community involvement as they participate in different local charity events each season.

This week we explored five gorgeous dresses that will carry you through all dress-wearing events happening this Fall/Winter. The versatility of each garment is incredible ensuring these cute dresses can actually transition into your Spring style. This is the store that I recommend as a definite stop on your shop for the upcoming holiday dress in Toronto! Fans rely on Girl Friday's label because of the impeccably fitting dresses that are perfect to wear again and again for all occasions. All of the dresses I reviewed this week are feminine, but not fussy, and they flatter a variety of figure types. Rebecca uses brilliant techniques to bring attention to your body in a fashionable way! After wearing this collection now for two seasons it is evident that Girl Friday is all about clean lines and timeless silhouettes. The Girl Friday look will never goes out of style.

My favourite dress of the week has got to be the emerald Rachel maxi dress. It has such a warmth and vintage vibe to it while remaining incredibly comfy and almost feeling like PJs. This style is anything but your PJs, because it showcases an incredibly elegant and figure flattering style that is perfection for Canadian women.

To read more on my review this week of Girl Friday, please visit Samantha Stylish and to dive deeper into the world of Girl Friday please visit Girl Friday Clothing.

Images courtesy of Samantha Stylish

Tags / Balises: Apparel industry, Behind the Brand, Buy Canadian, Canadian Blogs, Consumers, Fashion, Made in Canada, Manufacturer

7 Key Elements to Creating a Website that Sells!

By / Par: Guest bloggers

Category / Catégorie: Tips and tricks

Does your website's homepage sell or scare customers?

By Karen Hope,

Marketing Expert

The key to online success depends on a website’s ability to convert visitors into potential customers. To convert a visitor into a customer, one must explore a website long enough to understand what is being sold and why they should buy it. The problem is that most people are impatient: if they don’t get the message within 10 seconds, they lose interest.

If people need to get the message quickly, there is a lot riding on a website's homepage. If a visitor is to become a customer, the entry point to a website needs be able to sell and not scare off the visitor.

Common sense dictates that if a visitor lands on an unsightly homepage, they are likely to vanish into cyberspace, never to be heard from again. That type of response does not bode well for the business owner who may have spent thousands of dollars producing and marketing their website.

If a company wants their website homepage to SELL versus SCARE, they need to incorporate 7 key elements into their homepage:

1. HEADLINE AND VISUAL SUPPORT: A homepage should begin with a compelling headline that sets the stage for the key selling points. The impact of this headline will be even stronger if it’s supported with strong visuals like photos or graphics. Think about how newspaper headlines and photos catch your eye. Websites need to capture the eye with information that resonates with the reader.

2. PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN COPY: Your introduction copy should support the headline and explain in brief what makes your company worth exploring beyond 10 seconds. Website copy should be written by professionals who understand how to write clear, creative copy. To be impactful, a homepage message must communicate a company’s message clearly, quickly and creatively.

3. SERVICE LINKS: A home page should offer a menu of links that actually tell you what the company does. The links might summarize a company’s key services and/or products so that a visitor can quickly see that you offer what they are looking for. Links make it faster for the visitor to find what they are looking for without having to read too much copy.

4. PROFESSIONAL DESIGN & BRANDING: A home page is usually the first thing a potential customer will see. If customers are making a buying decision based on competitive websites, the look and feel of a website will have an impact on their decision about who to patronize. Ensure your website design is part of a professionally designed branding strategy that is unique and consistent with all of your marketing efforts.

5. CONTACT INFORMATION: In this global marketplace, people want to know where you reside and how to get a hold of you. If the majority of your business is local, the mention of your city and country on the homepage will help people decide if they should stay on your page. It will also help the search engines direct local inquiries to you. Your phone number should be easy to find on every page.

6. CALL TO ACTION/OFFER: Many websites forget to ask for action. State what you would like the visitor to do. It might be as simple as saying “Call for a free consultation” or “Join our database and receive our monthly newsletter.”

7. CONNECT WITH YOUR VISITORS: Many people will visit your website and never connect by email or phone. Don’t let them leave you forever! Make sure your website offers connection options like a blog, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn features. Social media will also help spread your message to the masses.

After all, there’s no point in sending people to a website that is only going to scare them off!

Karen Hope is the President of the Marketing Edge and a Food Marketing Expert located in Calgary, Alberta. To find out more about The Marketing Edge and its services please visit The Marketing Edge.

Tags / Balises: Canadian Blogs, Innovation, Technology

Fashion Friday with Samantha Stylish - October 19th

By / Par: Samantha Stylish

Category / Catégorie: Shopping guides

Ziliotto is a Toronto based clothing line that each season wows us with their classic shapes complimented by a soft Parisian essence. Head designer and founder of the brand Jennifer Ziliotto, developed her skills while working for Mr. Karl Lagerfeld in Paris at Chanel. Working for this iconic house definitely gives you the edge and couture precision – and it isn’t something most designers can say! Upon, returning to Toronto she decided to found her label and start her own fashion house that today has three of their own franchise stores. All production is done in Canada, as they meet the demand to supply each of their three boutique locations. Inspired by her time in Paris, we see hints of her love for the city in all of her collections.

This fall we fall in love with bold gem tones, while keeping it casual with corduroy and making it fancy with trusty tunic dresses. Teal and mustard stand out this season, and Jennifer has a great eye for fabulous colour combos while infusing them with her elegant shapes. She is able to take something casual like corduroy and bring sophistication to it by creating a "work appropriate" cigarette pant. There is something to be said about Ziliotto fit, when you wear their garments it has a certain comfort and ease with the way it hangs complementing your natural curves.

Their three retail locations are scattered around the city of Toronto, and each location has its own beautiful Ziliotto ambiance! They are all filled with unique art work and original hand drawings by designer Jennifer. These adorable hand drawings are sometimes featured and printed onto her collections in her casual t shirts or figure flattering tunics. My favourite piece all week has got to be their tunic dress in the cheetah print. The fabric is so soft yet it holds so much structure. Their fit is perfection and it is a great canvas for funky fall fashion whether you dress it up for an evening out or pair it with your favourite clunky boots.