Friday, June 28, 2013

Heidi Wilk talks about a change of plans

In the Globe this morning, a touching essay by Heidi Wilk in the Facts & Arguments section.

When her husband, in his early thirties, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, she had to change her priorities to enjoy what was left of a ride she thought would be much longer.


Some pearls of wisdom she wrote:
"My relationships are now my prized possessions."
"Happiness is going for a walk with a friend, chatting over coffee, having a shoulder to cry on. No amount of material possession can provide that kind of comfort."




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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Arbonne: A girlfriend's experience with entrepreneurship

As a student, I sold my beachwear creations on consignment in several stores in Montreal. At university, I day-dreamed of a collection of room separators. As a young mother, I considered launching the production of a series of cool diaper bags I designed for myself. Finally, I quit my day job to start the small company Word-of-Mouth Production in order to publish my own books.

In my own experience, it seemed that the main appeal of entrepreneurship was the freedom (and pleasure) of marketing one's own creations. I was wrong...

As Daniel Pink, one of my favourite marketing authors, explains in his inspiring book Drive: Nowadays, the three main reasons driving people into action are autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Autonomy = Flexibility
No need to invent a product to get all these benefits, would argue Jeanne-Marie Robillard, who became an independent consultant for Arbonne in her spare times. No need for a business background neither. And you don't have to go at it alone!  

“As women, are always selling something. We tell our friends about the products we bought, the movies we saw, the books we read. We're selling to our kids the concept of homework, of going to bed at a specific time. I thought to myself, why not make some profit out of this!"

Jeanne-Marie didn't have ideas for a new product or service. But she knew she wanted to have more control over her future (even if she currently has a successful career within a big firm). When she had the opportunity to attend an Arbonne presentation hosted in a friend's home, she was hooked.

If you're not selling your own products, the most important thing is to find a company offering a line of products in which you believe unconditionally, with great marketing support and flexibility. She found it all with Arbonne, thrilled by the fact that she could give as much or as little time as she wanted to this new venture


Arbonne isn't the only company using this kind of direct marketing concept (greatly facilitated by the Internet). We all remember the Avon lady of our childhood, and Tupperware's home demonstrations. (Let's not get into Amway, who has helped give a bad name to direct marketing. And if your job hunting teenager announces that he's got a job interview with Vector Marketing, take a minute to google them to see what pops up! I was about to go and buy casual business attire for my 19 year-old's interview when I had the good idea to do a little research.) 


It's in the air
Lately, it seems that more and more commercial scenes are moving into the private homes. (I recently heard about Rent frock Repeat, an original company organizing fancy dress fitting parties for girlfriends in the intimacy of their home.) Maybe it has to do with the fact that, thanks to Internet, our life is a bit more isolated and we feel the need to create new way to socialize? 

I had been to a private session of jewelry selling before, where I felt obliged to buy something from a collection that did not appeal to me. (I'm stupid like that...)


When Jeanne-Marie invited me to an afternoon spa session she was organizing in her pretty house in Little Portugal, I wasn't too keen to go. I had not factored in the talent for this generous host to melt the ice at any social event with her genuine warmth.

A good match
Jeanne-Marie adored the Arbonne personal care products and knew many girlfriends who would like them as well. 

She had considered representing Pampered Chef, a company whose line of kitchenware she really enjoyed, but considering her girlfriends' and her own consumer behavior, she remembered  that when it comes to a skin care regime (or a hairdresser who understands you, or a pair of jeans that fit your body type) once we find one we like, it's a life commitment.

She figured it made more commercial sense to spend her free time selling beauty & wellness products with potential for repeat sales than a cooking pan with a life time warranty!

Jeanne-Marie quickly became the leader of a small team of her friends who also wanted to become independent consultants, and, being the party girl that she is, she felt an inclination for private girlfriends spa sessions where she'd invite her team and their potential customers. 

Thanks to this concept, when I visited, I entered a party where everyone knew at least one person. Wine helping (supplied by our host), the ambiance quickly took a very relaxed turn and our spa session in Jeanne-Marie's lovely bathroom had all the telltale signs of a fun girlfriends' party.



Arbonne's products are of great quality and man! do they smell good. Jeanne-Marie won't make a fortune out of me but I'll definitely join the ranks of regular customers reordering every year. 

About residual revenue
The potential for residual and passive revenue was a great motivator for Jeanne-Marie Robillard. When one has a fixed salary, the only way to increase her revenue is with a bonus or a job promotion. (Read the following article to learn more about residual and passive/leveraged revenue.) 

“I see it as a sort of pension plan. The time I currently devote to the building of a loyal clientele and a bigger team is generating profits in sales but mostly, it's generating residual revenue (my customers will reorder with very little prompting on my part) as well as passive revenue. Each time my team is selling, I get a commission without incurring additional work. I feel like I have more control over my financial life."

Passion in the making?
The best advice I could give to women  interested in this business model is to meet with someone already involved with the company, who they feel they can trust. If your gut feeling is sending red flags, simply move on to another reference person. 

If Arbonne interests you, I recommend you contact Jeanne-Marie (426-786-7697 ou jmrobillard@gmail.com) to find out when she hosts her next girlfriends' spa session at home. Bring a friend with you and have some fun while exploring the idea at your own pace. 




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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Time with girlfriends can lower stress levels

Are you stressed? I am!

We each have our reasons. Mine is that I'm waiting for a confirmation of Costco's order for my walking guides Toronto Urban Strolls... for girlfriends. They gave a verbal order to my sales reps, there was a little glitch at the distribution level and now I'm waiting for it to get resolved. AGHR!!!! What's yours?

Time to see our girlfriends! 

And so would argue Dr. Laura Berman. Check her article on how time with girlfriends can lower our stress levels. And, as a bonus if you're in a relationship, it turns out that allowing yourself to see your girlfriends allows your partner to see his/her own friends. It means two less stressed people in the household. Imagine that! 


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Friday, June 21, 2013

Too many letters in my guide (and in my spelling of Fairmont Royal York Hotel)

It's Fairmont, not Fairmount Royal York Hotel!

You remember this story about the emperor who, after a Mozart performance, told him that it was great, apart from the fact that there were too many notes? (See the clip of this scene here.) 

Well, apparently, there are too many letters in my two new guides Toronto Urban Strolls! And I found out in a funny (though a bit mortifying) way.

My mistake
In my last post about the making of a walking guide, I was waiting for the two guides from the printer and wondering which mistake I would find! (There's always something, regardless of how many times a book is proofread.)


I found out when I went to drop the books the Fairmont Store at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel had ordered. 

As I was showing Stella, the enthusiastic manager (so enthusiastic actually that I thought she was the owner), the map for the PATH Underground Stroll in which the hotel is mentioned, I saw that I had spelt the hotel's name Fairmount, not Fairmont! 

This is what happens when you try to write a book and cook meals for your kids!


Mea Culpa, and free card offer!
I had to tell her on the spot, totally aware that Fairmont's marketing people could be very sensitive about things like this! And I was right, this would normally be a deal breaker. (To my defence, I noticed that Tripadvisor and reservationcounter.com also post links with the wrong spelling, which tells me I'm not the only one misspelling that name.)


The Fairmont Store manager had such a good opinion of Toronto Urban Strolls that she decided to carry it anyway. (And the first 12 copies she bought sold like cupcakes!)

To thank her, I'm giving a $6 card (from a collection of cards featuring photos from the guides) to anyone who will mention this blog to her or her assistant Nicole when buying a copy of Toronto Urban Strolls 1 or 2 at her store.


This is not your average hotel gift store. In addition to a few quality souvenirs, they carry a wide collection of clothes and accessories, along with luxury bed sheets.

While you're there
Note that the hotel is just a couple of blocks west of Brookfield Place with its elegant arches and Le Marché restaurant featuring an interesting concept of food stations.


(To my defence! As seen on Internet when Googling "Fairmount" Royal York!)






Thursday, June 20, 2013

Toronto Urban Close-ups (Front & Bay Street)


What could this be?







































These shots were taken in the Allen Lambert Galleria (inside Brookfield Place) at Bay and Front. The 6-storey high arches are by Spanish architect  Santiago Calatravas.


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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A-B-C of strolling (on Danforth)

Letter "O" in front of The Only Café (June 2013)
Last summer, I followed the trail of letters painted by artist Victor Fraser along Danforth's sidewalk, wondering how long they would last. Last week, I noticed Victor had returned to touch up his work. Staff at The Only Café confirmed to me it was Victor.

His new letters are a bit less colourful but you have to know that Victor was not even supposed to paint again, suffering from a very painful kind of arthritis. Kudos to the artist for treating us this way despite it all.


Letter "O" in front of The Only Café (August 2013)



Toronto by night around Yonge-Dundas Square









Toronto by night
Last summer, after a visit downtown Toronto, two of my girlfriends and I decided to walk back home (east of Don Valley). It was such a lovely walk to feel the urban vibes!


We strolled north Yonge-Dundas Square on Victoria and reached Ryerson's reflecting pool (Devonian Square). I had never seen the adjacent Ryerson Image Centre illuminated at night. It is quite a sight as it glows into the dark and is reflected on the water. And the colours are ever changing. Bring a coffee, sit at one of the tables set around the square and enjoy! Pure free urban pleasure.

Note that Balzac's Café opened last year at 122 Bond Street, just around Ryerson Image Centre. Open at least from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.





Nice play on words for Balzac's Café near Ryerson Image Centre!



Visiting the AGO on the free admission Wednesdays at 6 pm

I did it. I visited the AGO on the free evening from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  (and I saw tons of girlfriends enjoying the privilege). 

The big line-up at the entrance? It was for people who wanted to see the special exhibition. Those of us who simply wanted to see the rest of the exhibits could enter right away.

What a treat! You don't need to visit it all until you're exhausted. You can just come back another Wednesday.

Bad news: the breathtaking tree sculptures of Giuseppe Penone we could enjoy in the Galleria Italia are gone...
Good news: they've created a new café space in the Galleria Italia, which, I must admit, is a great way to admire the gorgeous Galleria Italia.

Note that a visit to the AGO is a nice complement to Stroll 4 (QUEEN Street Smart Stroll) in my guide Toronto Urban Strolls... for girlfriends 1.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Toronto Urban Close-ups (Accolade West)

What could this be?



































These shots were taken by the amphitheatre inside the Accolade West building at York University (where my son studies in the Music Department). 


The 12-foot tall installation is a bit dusty and we could not find any sign on who created it but it still gives a whimsical feeling to the place. 




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Friendship quote: Elbert Hubbard

A little friendship goes a long way!


"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same."

I dedicated my girlfriends' guides to my mothers' group with this quote from Elbert Hubbard.

We started meeting 20 years ago when the City called us to attend information sessions for new mothers and have met regularly ever since.

Over time, we've discovered that it was useless for us to plan a cultural outing (museum, show, movie) if we hadn't had time to chat and catch up before. (Seriously! We once quit an opera show at intermission to have a beer in a nearby patio.) 

Walking and talking, now that works for us!

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Sunday, June 16, 2013

The self-publishing adventure

Illustration done by my illustrator Johanne Pepin
to show the state of my office just prior 
to the publication of a guide.
The making of a walking guide 

From November  2012 to April 2013, I did a series of posts about the making of my new walking guide Toronto Urban Strolls... for girlfriends  2

At the time, I hadn't set up the Toronto Urban Strolls blog yet. (A lot happened since I got the books from the printer on April 16!) 

I'm now moving the series to this blog, in which I'll continue describing the adventure of making, promoting, selling and distributing my self-published guide in this blog. 

Here's the link to the "making of" series, still posted on my blog Toronto Fun Places: The making of a Toronto walking guide.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Lovely Yorkville under the sun




Yorkville Park along Cumberland gets prettier every year.
Everything seemed so effortless today in gorgeous Yorkville, with latino jazz in the background as a bonus.

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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Cool bookstores: Chapters in Runnymede

This way to a gorgeous Toronto vintage theatre 

I enjoy every step of doing research for a walking guide (no pun intended): strolling, admiring urban sights, coffee drinking, notes taking, treats tasting... Most of all, I love exploring, on the lookout for hidden gems. Well, I found a good one in Runnymede! Behind the closed doors of Chapters along Bloor Street West.
(Update as of March 25, 2014: "Chapters is supposed to vacate the building by March 31. Shoppers Drug Mart hopes to open in the location in the summer and has publicly committed to retaining all of the existing historical features, interior and exterior, including the stage and interior walls." excerpt from an article published in The Star in February 2014.)

A Chapters is a Chapters, right? That’s what I thought the first time I explored the Runnymede area to find the best circuit for the Runnymede Casual Stroll I would include in Toronto Urban Strolls 2. I did not bother entering the store, figuring I already knew what it was all about.

Later, as I was writing the guide, I could not remember if the bookstore on Bloor West was a Chapters or an Indigo. Googling it, I learned from a Wiki blurb that the building currently hosting Chapters was initially the Runnymede Theatre, a playhouse built in 1927 as an “atmospheric theatre” (with blue sky, clouds and stars).

In a Heritage Toronto article, I read that the playhouse was turned into a movie theatre in the 30’s, a bingo hall in the 70’s, back to a movie theatre in the 80’s, before closing down in 1999. The locals obviously appealed to save the vintage theatre and resented the chain moving into the historic building.


Little did they know that Chapters would do such a good job at restoring it to its 1920’s glory! The old theatre is a book lovers‘ dream, now that it stages books instead of vaudevilles. 



The relatively plain facade at 2225 Bloor West doesn’t do justice to what awaits inside. Expect a domed ceiling (which used to be over the box office), impressive entablature, multiple adorned pilasters, shell-shape niches and all kinds of other architectural detail. They’ve even kept an old projector and a few of the movie theatre seats for good measure in the mezzanine.


Before or after a visit to this store, I recommend you stop for a smooth cappuccino and a bite at the slick Baka Gallery Café at Bloor West and Beresford (one block west of Chapters, on the north side). Ask for a leaf design!













Sunday, June 2, 2013

Great pairing: Dark Horse cafés and artist Matt Durant

Hot coffee and cool art combo

Matt Durant' mixed media work can be admired in all the Dark Horse espresso bars throughout Toronto. I never tire of contemplating his artwork while sipping my americano. 
Dark Horse on 684 Queen West is part of TRINITY-BELLWOODS Artsy Stroll
in walking guide Toronto Urban Strolls 1 by Nathalie Prezeau  

Riverdale Art Walk
Today, June 2, we can still meet Matt Durant at his booth at the Riverdale Art Walk (Jimmie Simpson Park in Leslieville, along Queen Street East). The closest Dark Horse is a 5-min. walk west of the park at 682 Queen East. 

Visit his website to get an idea of his original mix of reclaimed wood and whimsical patterns. Matt Durant is a grad from OCAD where he focused on woodworking, video and audio sculpture. I don't know what "audio sculpture" is but you can definitely picture sound waves in some of his work.  

His large pieces look great on a wall but he sometimes turn them into tables, which would become the instant focal point in any room. (All his artwork has a glossy durable finish.)

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