More Organics!

I can hardly believe it, two posts in two days? I really couldn't let this one go by with out mention.

I'm very happy to announce that Oleander is now stocking organic cotton towels. Made from 100% Skal, certified combed organic cotton, this luxurious towel is eco-friendly, plush and thirsty. The organic cotton is grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides, thus, making this towel the perfect Eco-friendly textile for a pure and healthy bathing experience. I'm currently carrying them in white, natural and the stone colours, but any of the others are available for custom order.

These towels are a little lighter in weight than some of my other collections, but they are buttery soft and feel a little spongy. They are also comparable in price to both my 100% cotton and bamboo/cotton blend towels. I'll be buying a set for myself today and I'll check back in a few days to let you know how absorbent they are and how they wash.

One of the big things that I look for when I buy "green" or organic products for the store is third party certification. As mentioned above the cotton of these towels is certified by Skal, a independent inspection company based in the Netherlands.

Happy eco-friendly towels!

What's been going on?

I am a terrible blogger. I know it. This is the 6th post and the second time I've had to apologize for being a neglectful blogger. I'm sorry. I really am.

It's been a busy summer at Oleander. I had great new products, lots of new faces in the door, not nearly as many American visitors as I would expect to see in the tourist season, but many many more visitors from Quebec than I would have thought. I really need to get my mediocre (o.k., o.k. very bad) French skills up to par. I went to the Toronto trade show this summer (it was a bust) and did a little research and fabric sourcing in London, UK. I've expanded into table linen and yikes there is a lot to know that I don't know about table linens. Now fall is here and I've been thinking about Christmas for a few months.

I think it might be time for some of the dirty details. Here goes.

As far as the look of the store goes I draw inspiration from everything around me. From the colours and shapes of clothes in tiny boutique shops and big chains, from design and decor mags, from the wacky street wear of the fashion students who study around the corner from my shop to the fashionista black of the many stylists that work in the Market and even from the fruit and veg, plants and flowers that pack the market from spring through fall. I mix it with my own aesthetic and flare and hope like mad that it sells.

The biggest problem with all this is that as a small shop I don't have the buying power or capital to dictate to my suppliers exactly what it is that I want. I can and do tell them what I'm looking for and I constantly seek out new manufacturers who are in line with my own vision, but ultimately my vision and my store are currently limited by what I can buy from the market. Thats where the trade shows come in.

All the conceptualization and planning in the world won't get me any where if I go to a trade show where all the manufacturers are showing product lines in black and white. Or beige. Or spring appropriate patterns for the fall season. Or boring play it safe and hopefully it will sell collections. And that is exactly what happened at the fall Toronto show this year.

Ordinarily I go to Toronto (the largest Canadian trade show and where all my regular suppliers show) twice a year to buy most of my stock. I can expect to take one or two bedding collections from each of my 5 or 6 "big gun" suppliers for a total of 5 - 8 new beds for my floor. This August I bought 2 collections at the show. Total. Panic attack much? I was very disappointed with this seasons offerings and pretty worried about how I was going to fill my floor with lovely sparkling new product for the fall and winter seasons. And by pretty worried I actually mean freaking out.

The story ends well though. Forced to go abroad or at least online, I was able to find 3 new collections which I'm sure will not only look fabulous but will also sell quite well. One of them I've already blogged about. The Amenity organic collection that I previously carried in 2 patterns has proved so popular that I've added 3 more patterns and a few more colours and will carry them on the floor through fall and winter.

The second is a line that came to me when a sales rep from the west coast came in to show me Bella Notte. This collection at first glance is not really in keeping with the overall style of my store. It is a little on the frilly overly feminine side but on closer inspection the real strengths in the collection are the dyed to order colours and textures of the fabrics. This makes it a perfect fit for Oleander, I can mix and match their pieces to get the clean modern classic look that I love and benefit from the richness and delicacy of their fabrication and construction. My first Bella Notte order has shipped from California yesterday and should be on the floor in about two weeks. Canada Customs and Revenue allowing.

The third collection is a fashion forward and more trend conscious line from Greece. It's a great group of printed fabrics in slightly trendier colours and patterns and I'm sure it will brighten my floor. What I'm not sure about is when it will get here. I'll let you know and get you more details when it arrives.

There is so much more to tell you, hypothetical reader, but as usual I have to get back to the floor. I really will try to check in more often.