Egreis Gjergjani - How to Launch An Online Boutique

You can read the full post on my official page and blog: www.stilettomeup.xyz

But here is a preview:

In the first few days of 2015 I decided I wanted to launch an online boutique for children, ages newborn – 8 years old. Well, originally I thought I was only going to go up to 3 years old, but the more I search for brands, the higher up in age I’m going! I’m sticking to 8 years old for now! I posted a blog describing the background behind me wanting to do this and why now. If interested read Egreis Gjergjani – Reflecting on 2014 and Goals for 2015 blog post. It may seem like such a sudden decision, but the truth is I’ve been wanting to do something ever since I left Los Angeles and became a stay at home mom.I didn’t really know what. I knew it had to be involved with motherhood or kids somehow.

Before Gio I had wanted to do shoes; a shoe line, a collaboration with a current shoe company, etc. But after having my son, my focus has shifted completely and as much as I like shoes, i just do not care enough for them to want to start a career related to shoes. Maybe down the line, but not now. I played around with the idea of a baby spa. When Gio was 4 months old, we went to London and I took him to a baby spa there. I loved it so much that I spoke with the owners for the possibility of franchising in United States. It’s still something I would like to explore but it requires a lot more work and time than I can possibly give right now. So that idea will have to wait. Then I thought about doing mommy and baby get togethers; I explained a bit of that on my other blog post as well (listed above). I would like to do that too, just not now. I am 6 months pregnant and as much as I want to attack all these things and do them all, I just physically and emotionally cannot. So I have to be smart about what I am capable of doing.I’m the type to put my ALL into something. I either do it all the way right, or do not do it at all. It’s why I’ve let go of some of the projects I started when I was in Los Angeles. But after getting pregnant I knew I just couldn’t focus on them like I had wanted to, so I decided to check out.

Back in September of last year, I was playing around with the idea of a baby boutique. I have a beautiful baby boy that I love dressing up and shopping for. I used to be addicted to shopping for myself back in the day, and now I can’t remember the last time I bought something for me. It’s always for either my hubby, or the kiddos. I tend to shop for Gio often since he’s always outgrowing his clothes. I realize that to find cute baby boy clothing you have to really look. Sure there is the usual Babies R Us, H&M, Zara etc. And I shop there all the time. But so does every other mom. So if you want something unique for your child, you’ve got to search up and down on either Etsy, or Instagram shops. I used to do that whenever I nursed him and had spare time. So I thought about the possibility of opening an online store for children of both sexes, that would include unique clothing you don’t normally see in stores today.

My goal is to carry limited numbers of each piece to maintain the exclusive aspect of it. I’d rather a ton of models and designs in small quantities so that when parents shop for their kids, they won’t see everyone else wearing the same things. So this was back in September. I even thought of the name. I registered a domain and got a hold of all social media pages. I did a bit of research, although not much. This was right before I found out I was pregnant again. Then BAM! Pregnancy test confirmed I was indeed pregnant. So this took me by surprise. I stopped thinking of the boutique and started wondering about life with another baby around. I traveled with my husband to London and Albania. I spent time with family. And then in January, after I settled into this “I’m having another baby” mentality I got on the boutique idea once again. But this time I was definitely serious about it.

Ok enough blabbing…now let’s get to what you really want to read about! Where to begin if you want to start an online store? Like you, I searched online to see if someone had blogged about it. People have, but the information they provide is very general. I was looking for more detailed information. So then I went into books. I read a few and while some of them were useful, most were not really what I was looking for. So I’ll just give you the short version of everything I found and what I did for my own store.

1. BRAINSTORM!

First you have to just sit or lay around and think! Think about what you want to do. Think about your online business and which direction you want to go. Here are some questions to think about:

- Are you planning on doing this full time or in addition to another job you currently have?
- Are you going to hire help or is it going to be just you managing it all?
- What is your starting budget?
- What is your product? What do you want to sell?
- Do you have good networking skills? Are you involved socially with people can help you market and spread the word? Or do you need to start from scratch and learn about paid advertising?
- What is the age group of people you are going to sell to?
- Do you plan on creating an easy and fast setup kind of store or do you want to do a higher end, fully branded boutique?

Once you answer these questions, you will have an idea at least of where you are headed. In my case I picked children clothing because I am passionate about it. I am involved daily with it when it comes to my son’s wardrobe and I have an eye for style and fashion so that’s what drove me. I recommend finding a niche that isn’t so available or “common”. There are plenty of children boutiques, esp on Etsy and Instagram. So I understand that I have quite a bit of competition. But I also believe in providing something that is different from the rest. In my case, I plan on bringing designers from Europe that are not so easy to find in other parts of the world. Based on my research, a lot of the children clothing stores out there carry mainly Chinese products, which by the way are GREAT and very affordable. But my goal is to bring some of the other ones. Yes they will not be as affordable as the rest, but they will be unique; they will be different, and of amazing quality. So my choice is to cater to moms that value that. That’s it. I don’t plan on clothing every child out there. I just plan on making happy those few parents that do decide to dress their children the way I would dress mine.

Now in my case, I have dedicated a good amount of resources to be able to do this. To provide great quality means you have to spend the money for it. Not to mention all the costs included with traveling to find these brands, importing them, paying the duties and taxes on each, shipping etc. So before I chose to do this, I knew it was going to take a pretty penny. However, you do not need a big budget to get an online store started. You can start with pretty much anything, just know that it will limit some of the things you want to do. But that’s ok. It can be done! You may not be able to start with a large inventory for example, but maybe a smaller one. That’s ok! What’s important is that you are starting it! It will grow. Slowly but surely!

Continue to read here: http://stilettomeup.xyz/how-to-start-an-online-store-part-i-egreis-gjergjani/

Egreis Gjergjani

Egreis Gjergjani Skin Routine - TheStilettoMeUp - StilettoMeUp

Tonight I’d like to share with you my daily skin routine and all the products I use.

I’ve been pretty lucky with my skin, I must admit. I never really went through the adolescent phase of breaking out everywhere. I had minimal breakouts on my forehead when I was in High School but nothing too bad. I never used any products then. It just went away on its own.

In college I had pretty good skin I’d say. My number one secret then was always washing my make off before going to bed. I know that’s so cliche but it truly works. I know what it’s like to come home late, after a long night out, and wanting to literally just throw your clothes on the floor and pass out. Been there, done that too. Trust! But just think about a healthy, radiant and glowy looking skin next time you want to hit the pillows with a face full of make up.

Now, don’t get me wrong, to this day I have some of those lazy nights. So I’m guilty too. But overall, I am pretty good about it. Plus, the feeling of waking up and feeling your face clean and soft, is amazingggg! I love it! So give it a try and see if your skin doesn’t get smoother just from that.

It is worth 2 minutes of your time. And if you are THAT lazy that you just can’t get yourself to do it, invest in some wipes that you can use to remove your make up. They don’t clean that thoroughly but it’s still much better than keeping it all on there. I use Laura Mercier “flawless skin” makeup remover. It is water based, oil free and it takes my make up off like magic, esp the eyes since I like using mascara and waterproof eyeliner. It’s seriously magic! It is a bit pricey, so as an alternative choice I’d recommend finding anything that is water based. It’s much easier on your skin, and overall better for you. Also, it doesn’t leave that greasy, oily feeling on your skin.

A few years ago I stopped using the nuva ring (birth control). I had used it for a few months I think and I didn’t like the way it was making me feel. So I got off it. Within a month my face broke out in tinyyyy little bumps on my forehead and my jaw line. WTH?! It was soooo bad I didn’t know what to do. My hormones eventually leveled out and my body got used to not taking the birth control as a daily intake. Thankfully, they went away and no scars were left behind. Well, a few did but they are very tiny and you  can’t see them. Stilesson of the day is be careful and consult your doctor before you use any kind of birth control.

Ok now on to the good stuff….how I take care of my skin day to day!

In the morning, I like to take a small face towel and soak it in hot water. Then I wipe my face with the towel and just leave it on a bit. The heat from the towel helps my pores open up. It also helps me wake up nicely, without having to splash my face with a lot of water first thing in the morning.

Next step, I wash my face with Laura Mercier “flawless skin” One Step Cleanser- Oil free foaming. It’s amazing! It feels like soft bubbles on your fingertips and it goes on your skin so smoothly. It is a great cleanser and it foams up well without being too harsh on your skin. I only need to use it once, two pumps, and that’s all I need for my entire face. As an alternative I also use Dove soap or any beauty soap. Some say it’s too harsh for your skin and don’t recommend it but honestly I haven’t had any damage or negative side effects from it. I like a good, deep cleanse and it gives me just that.

After I rinse, I then use two drops of Laura Mercier “flawless skin” One Step Cleanser, which is similar to the foaming one, but this one doesn’t lather. It is silky smooth and I use it as a last step to make sure I clean all the dirt, oil, black heads, white heads, whatever the heck is on there. Because it doesn’t bubble up it’s very easy on the eyes and it doesn’t burn. That’s my pet peeve. I hate foam in my eyes and how red they look after. So this is perfect to prevent that.

I wipe it all off using my hot face towel again. Then I apply my day time moisturizer. Depends on which one I am feeling like using at the time. But it’s between Laura Mercier “flawless skin” day lotion SPF 15 or Estee Lauder “Nutritious” day creme. The first one is much lighter on, and it’s perfect to even mix with your foundation. The Estee Lauder however is a bit thicker, hence a creme, but it is very rich in vitamins and whenever I use it I can feel the difference a few hours later. I don’t like to wear it if I’m going to wear make up and run around for a while or all day. But if you are at home on the weekends, or just relaxing some days, it’s a great creme for your face.

At night is when I usually take my shower. I repeat same steps as above as far as the makeup remover and both cleansers go. Night time is when your skin replenishes and regenerates itself. It’s very important that you put a great creme on that your skin will soak the entire night. It’s repair time! You have at least 6 hours to let your skin not only breathe but improve. Use it as best as you can! I like to first apply Estee Lauder “Advanced Night Repair” which is a serum used right before your moisturizer. It prepares and repairs the skin before the creme goes on. You only need two drops of it, rub it all over, and then apply the creme.

For the creme, I use Estee Lauder “Nutritious” Night creme. Looks exactly like the day one, but it’s for night. You can tell when you use it that it’s a lot richer and thicker and it’s made to basically let it sink in your skin overnight.

And to finish it all off, I like to use Smith’s Strawberry lip balm before I head to bed. It makes my lips really soft and I love how they feel when I first wake up (I get chapped lips a lot).

So that’s my daily routine! If you do try it, please keep in mind that you need to keep the same routine for at least 4-6 weeks if you want to see a change and fully evaluate.

Remember, always wash your make up off!

Egreis Gjergjani

Recent pictures of Egreis Gjergjani

xo,

Egreis Gjergjani

Egreis Gjergjani - Closet Cleaning - Free Giveaway to Instagram fans

A few weeks ago I was in my closet and I realized I had entirely too much in there. A lot of the clothes I had not worn in ages; some of them no longer fit (either too small or too big); and honestly there was little room to add anything new.

After having Gio, I don’t get a chance to get dressed up as much as I used to when I lived in LA and went to work daily. I don’t go out at night much other than every now and then with my husband or our friends, and the only other chances I get to get dressed is when we travel, which I have to admit is quite often. So I started thinking…why am I holding on to all of this? I had dresses that were “hoochie” lol from my single days; some outfits that as lovely as they would look on a young, beautiful girl, they just wouldn’t really suit me right now. So I decided to give it away.

In the past, I have given away things I own to Goodwill. It was easy. I just put it all in a bag, drive to the spot and drop it off. No need to do any work. But this time, I knew that it would mean a lot more if I sent it to women that would not only love it, but it would be completely free and the size would fit perfectly.

So I posted something on my instagram page and got a huge response. I decided to pick 16 people at first, and then ended up sending an extra 5 packages to a few more people. (I normally don’t give shoes up because I’m a big collector, but this time I gave away 24 pairs, 2 of which were Christian Louboutin, some Sergio Rossi, Casadei and lower end designers as well).

I have to say that it feels AMAZING to be able to do this. You don’t have to have a lot to be able to make someone else’s day. The smallest thing can sometimes mean the world to someone else. So I recommend you try it. It will honestly make you feel amazing. Giving is for you, not for the ones on the receiving end.

Thank you to the amazing ladies who sent me pictures of wearing the items as well as the thank you notes I received. I truly appreciate it!

Egreis Gjergjani

Egreis Gjergjani - Gio's nursery - pictures and details

I posted pictures of Gio’s nursery a few months ago and I got great feedback on it. I am glad because I put so much effort into it so it’s nice to see others liking it as well. A few people felt it was a bit “boring” or not as “exciting or colorful” but in my opinion, and we are all different, a baby’s nursery should be calm and peaceful.

Yes, it’s important to stimulate their brain with different colors, objects, fabrics, etc, but that’s what toys are for; that’s why you read them books, and buy them all kinds of toys they end up not even using but going for your pots instead. A room on the other hand is a place for them to feel peaceful, calm, relaxed. So in my opinion, Gio’s room is exactly what I wanted for him and he seems to love it there.

Sure I have set up a section for him to play in there. I throw a bunch of colorful toys on the floor and he loves to grab them and play right before bed time. His bathroom is also a very colorful one, full of exciting toys and pictures on the wall.

So let me give you a run down of everything that is in his room and where I purchased it:

All of Gio’s furniture in his nursery is from Restoration Hardware. That includes the crib, the armoire, the gliding chair, the dresser with the changing table top, the bookcase, the floor lamp, the thin bookshelf up against the wall, the mirror, picture frames, curtains and rug. Basically every single thing I got is from that store. I even got his bedding from there as well.

His crib mattress is from BeautyRest which I purchased at Toys R Us. They are on sale now!

One of the questions I get asked the most is about the wallpaper. I picked it from Sherwin Williams. The code of the wallpaper is SW1AC8002. It has a pearl finish to it so when the light hits it, it has a shiny look. I LOVE it. I wish I could keep it forever but once he gets older i will have to redesign it all to fit his taste. But for now he will have to deal with mommy’s taste haha.

Both royal crowns are from Restoration Hardware as well. They look extremely heavy but they are not. Well, the one that goes over his crib is not heavy at all. The other one is. I placed the heavy one over his armoire. We do not live near earthquakes, although they can happen everywhere, and I had it professionally installed. Once he is active enough to move around his crib, I will most likely take the crib curtains off so he doesn’t pull on them.

The picture frames are all from Restoration Hardware as well. The antique looking white ones were a must for me. They just add character to the entire room. The smaller pewter ones that go on each side of the crib also add a lot of style to it however if I could do it again I would buy them elsewhere as they were way too pricey from Restoration Hardware. I don’t know why I did it. But if you are planning to design a nursery soon trust me and go somewhere else. You will save at least $300.

Same thing goes for the rug as well. I should have gotten it elsewhere. I wouldn’t have found the exact print as the one I got, but I would have saved a lot. I think I was in a rush to finish it all because I felt badly that at the other house we had, we didn’t build a nursery for him since we knew we were going to move shortly after he was born. Once we moved I wanted to hurry and finish the room for him. It was in fact the first room we finished. His brother’s was the second, then the kiddos. My hubby and I actually slept on a mattress on the floor for a while until our master bedroom furniture finally got delivered.

The elephant floor pillow as well as the lamb chair were both from Restoration Hardware too. Poshtots had some great ones as well but they just went out of business. But I would say to keep looking on amazon and other places because they have so many out now.

The pictures I’m posting here are from when I was putting the room together at first. So you will notice the bathroom looks empty and in some of the pictures, the photos are missing from the picture frames. I have since fixed that 

I ended up ordering a Tee Pee for Gio to use whenever it’s play time. I don’t think he has a clue how to use or what it’s for, but I just love the look of it. We ordered ours from Tiny Teepee on Instagram. Check her profile here. She custom made this one with Gio’s name on it. I even got to pick the material, pattern, color, size, etc. Courtney was AMAZING to work with so I highly recommend her. I loved ours so much I ordered a second one for my bonus son who’s 9 years old.

The theme for this room was a royal one. At least that’s what I was shooting for. I really like the way it turned out. For my next baby, hopefully I am blessed enough to have another one, I want to do something different but still try to incorporate the same furniture so I don’t waste these. It’s an investment in my opinion which is why we decided to go for really high quality furniture.

If you want to see what Gio’s bathroom looks like, check out Egreis Gjergjani Baby Bathroom Essentials.

Hope this helps,

Egreis Gjergjani

TheStilettoMeUp - Egreis Gjergjani - Stilettomeup.com

 Egreis Gjergjani – StilettoMeUp

Egreis Gjergjani is an Albanian immigrant who moved to United States in her high school years, with hopes and dreams of a better future. Egreis Gjergjani finished High School in the states and enrolled at University of Southern California (USC) where she took a plethora of classes, majority of them being business and entrepreneurship. 

Egreis Gjergjani is a diligent and motivated young woman who has accomplished a lot in her life. She is a self starter and an ambitious entrepreneur who has become successful in just a matter of years. Egreis has a background in online and affiliate marketing but has always had a passion for style and fashion. In 2010 she created her own brand, StilettoMeUp which in now socially recognized worldwide through her different social channels such as instagram, twitter, Facebook and youtube. 

StilettoMeUp.com is her website and blog. She launched it over a year ago, but last year Egreis Gjergjani and her husband Jeremy were expecting and had a beautiful baby boy, and Egreis Gjergjani decided to take a short break from her career. 

Egreis’ son Gio is now 6 months old and Egreis Gjergjani has started running her website back up. Stilettomeup.com is a popular site, with thousands of daily visitors who regularly check it as it is a source of news for fashion, style, pregnancy, motherhood, lifestyle and home related articles, advice and tips. Stilettomeup.com features Egreis Gjergjani’s daily experiences, and especially Egreis’ addiction to shoes and the fashion world. 

Egreis Gjergjani is quite satisfied with not only how many people her website, www.stilettomeup.com reaches daily, but also how important and relevant it has been for many of her followers and daily readers. Egreis named her company Stiletto Me Up from her love of stilettos, which she has a huge collection of. She has plans to launch her own shoe line in the next few years. For the moment, Egreis is focusing on her family and her newborn, Gio. She is now a dedicated mother who puts her family above all.