LET'S CELEBRATE!

Oh So Chic Boutique turns 1 this month! Yes - June marks one full year in business and we are so excited!

In honor of all of our fabulous customers and wonderful supporters - we have a special birthday gift just for you! Sign up for our Oh So Chic! Newsletter via our website by June 29th and you will be automatically entered into our $100 merchandise give away! There is no purchase required, nor do we spam! So head over to Oh So Chic Boutique and subscribe to our newsletter today!

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Chic Tips for Recession Spending

Depending on who you ask, our economy has either been in a recession for the last several months, or is headed into a recession by the next fiscal quarter. Discretionary consumer spending is down and those lovely checks from the government certainly haven’t “stimulated” the economy in the ways we thought it would.
So the question is, what does all of that mean to the fashionista? Those of us addicted to retail? Simply put, it means we have to be creative in our quest for flyness! I’ve compiled several tips that will certainly prove useful during this stormy economic season.


Chic Tips for Recession Spending:


1.Comparison shop: I’ll admit to being an extremely compulsive buyer. When I see something hot, I immediately move into “gotta have it NOW” mode. I completely disregard the the price and rarely check for cheaper options. However, to be a savvy chic shopper – we MUST compare prices. Ladies – repeat after me: I.WILL.COMPARISON.SHOP!

Lets take a quick peak at an example to illustrate this point! An Oh So Chic Savvy Shopper found this great savings!



BlueFly.com offers this Romeo&Juliet Couture bubble mini dress. They list the retail value of this coral mini dress at $150, their mark down price is $90 – and then their final sale price is $79.99

OhSoChicBoutique.com offered this SAME dress at one price, and one price only - $31.00!

Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself!

Oh So Chic's Affordable Price

Same dress at Blue Fly

2.Shipping Costs: Now at first thought, this would primarily apply when you’re shopping online, however – this can also be weighed into your purchase decisions when you tell yourself on Monday that you’re headed out to the mall on Saturday to pick up an item. With the average cost of gas in the United States coming in at a whopping $4 per gallon, and an expected rise of $5 per gallon before the end of the summer, the Chic Savvy Shopper must consider her shipping options. Search out Online Boutique sites that offer free or discounted shipping. But in doing this, be sure to read the fine print. Is there a minimum purchase amount? What are their return policies? How long will it take for you to receive your order? If necessary, contact the merchant directly to have these questions answered. This tip, combined with Tip #1 can save you a TON of money after it’s all said and done.

3.Shop the Sales!: This tip could really go hand in hand with tip #1. As Online-Boutiques (webtiques) along with brick&mortar storefronts look to entice shoppers despite the economic downturn, there will be a rise in special sales and savings. Look for sites that offer special discounts over and above their already budget-friendly pricing and discounted shipping!

Lets use the example in Tip #1:

The mini dress at it’s lowest price from Bluefly, was 79.99 vs an affordable boutique price of $31.00 at Oh So Chic. Bluefly’s current shipping cost per order is $7.95, Oh So Chic’s current shipping cost per order is ZERO dollars. Yes – NOTHING. So far, you’ve spent roughly $88.00 at BlueFly compared to $31.00 at Oh So Chic! One last glance at sales and promotions of each site lets us know that at BlueFly, there is no applicable offer – however at Oh So Chic, there is a boutique summer sale; receive an additional 10% off every order by entering a discount code during the check out phase!

Shall we recap? : $88.00 at Bluefly (plus any in-state tax) vs $25.90 at Oh So Chic for the SAME.EXACT.DRESS.

Total savings? $62.10 aka a full tank of gas on my car! WOOOOOOOW


Now these may all seem like common sense, indeed they are – but sometimes we all need to be a reminder! So don’t forget: Comparison shop, check your shipping options, and shop the sales!

Happy Shopping ladies!


Online: Oh So Chic Boutique
Myspace: Oh So Chic@ Myspace

PCD Presents: Girlicious

File it under my "Guilty Pleasures", but I'll admit to being a semi-fan of the Pussycat Dolls reality tv series!

I was pulling for each of the selected members of the Girlicious group, they seemed to be the obvious choices from the start! The single "Like Me" is catchy, I find myself humming along and doing the dance moves in my head!! (I know I'm not the only one lol)

The make-overs are unfortunately sub par, I almost didn't realize who Nichole was in the video for Like Me. And there's something really weird about Natalie's hairline that irks me. Anyways, congrats to Girlicious!

We have several new arrivals this week and there is just TWO DAYS left in our Spring Event sale!

Party Girl Dress:
Have fun with this ultra Mod black,grey and and gold halter dress. An eclectic pattern makes this halter dress visually stunning! The full length skirt drapes easily, with a gathered waist for a flattering fit. The bust offers a keyhole halter style. Be lovely where ever you go with the halter dress of the season!
Party Girl Dress at Oh So Chic

Garden Party Dress at Oh So Chic

From the yacht party to the all white cocktail party, wearing White Diamonds, all eyes are sure to be on you! This fully lined split sleeve number features an attached belted jewel adorned waistline, that clasps in the back, cinching the waist perfectly! With a zippered back, this dress runs true to size.
White Diamonds Dress at Oh So Chic

Designer Spotlight: Herve Leger (Herve Leroux)

The unique stylings of Herve Leger have been capturing the attention of Hollywood's most glamourous for over 10 years. His signature style, the "bandage" look - was inspired by the Egyptian mummification process of tightly wrapping a body in bandages. His trademark fabric is a special mix of lycra, elastene,lurex and other blends of stretchy fabric.

The end result are pieces that flatter, define and fabulously silhouette the female body. From Victhoria Beckham to Kim Kardashian, and dozens in between - his dresses have been "must haves" on the Red Carpet.

In staying true to fashion trends and form - Oh So Chic! Boutique now has available our version of the popular Herve Leger designs. Appropriately named "Socialite" is a fab-fitting canary yellow one piece. It features a ribbed piping hemline, slight sweetheart neckline, and back cut out!

For only $57, Socialite is a STEAL! Order today and receive 15% off - just use code "SpringFling" at check out. Sale ends 4/30/2008

xoxo
E!

Shop Online: www.OhSoChicBoutique.com
Friend us on Myspace: www.myspace.com/OhSoChicBoutique

Shop today and take advantage of our "Spring Event", receive 15% off all orders as well as an upgrade to Free priority mail shipping! You can use this a limitless number of times! Spread the word ~ tell a friend!

Trinkets and Things!

Accessories can (and will) make or break an outfit! It can take an otherwise "blah" ensemble, and turn it into something spectacular - or on the flipside, the wrong choice of accessories will make even the fiercest ensemble look like a nightmare on Elm St!

Tatiana, a friend of mine - recently celebrated the Grand Launching of her Accessories Boutique : www.PinkCherie.com !
I love everything about her site, from the fabulous design to the excellent prices! She divides her storefront into several collections: Baby Me - for the younger diva's, Inspire Roses, Love Letter, and Classic Virtue.


I patiently waited for her site to go live, I had already picked out several baubles that I decided were absolute MUST HAVES! Needless to say, I ordered ASAP. Here are my pieces:

I'm a fan of all thinks girly, feminine and pink. So of course - these trendy triple heart designs were just what I wanted!

Now the fun part will be pairing them up with something from the boutique! I'll probably wear the necklace with this piece:

I've got the accessories, the dresses, the shoes - now I just need the perfect event to attend!!! (lol)

Don't forget ladies - we're having a Spring Sale all month long at www.OhSoChicBoutique.com . Just use code: SpringFling for 15% off and complimentary shipping on all orders!

Shop online: www.OhSoChicBoutique.com
Myspace us!: Oh So Chic on Myspace

The 3 P's: Product Price and Professionalism

I'm a member of several online communities, the topics range from sports, to fashion and everything in between. Recently on one of the message boards, a member spoke about the importance of "The 3 P's" : Product, Price and Professionalism. I read over the post a few times, realizing that someone had summed up the entire misson statement of my quest to business ownership using three simple words!

While in the planning stages of launching the boutique - I asked myself what I had to offer, what would set me apart from every other online boutique? How could I complete with major retailers? Or more popular start ups? In short, my outline spoke to The 3 P's: Product, Price and Professionalism.

1. Product:

At Oh So Chic!, I strive to bring only the best. I promised myself that I would never sell items that I myself would not wear. I can admit, in the beginning of my journey - finding vendors with the product quality I wanted to deliver was a bit of a challenge. There were/are absolutely some items, that upon receiving the shipment, I just sighed and said "Ugh! I can't sell this!" . I laugh at it now, but it certainly wasn't funny then! Talk about money being flushed down the drain! But my loss is someone elses gain, as I have donated some of those items, and plan on donating more in the near future! However, I feel confident now and going foward in knowing that I've established relationships, gained valuable experience and rest assured that the product I bring to my customers is not only trendy and chic - but quality!

2. Price:

The wonderful thing about operating an online storefront versus a brick & mortar storefront is that our overhead is so much lower. For some e-tailers, they may take this as an opportunity to charge the same prices as brick & mortars, even though our expenses are typically much less. I've made it my mission to stay competively priced. Certainly, no business in the world could survive by just giving things away - however, I always take my customer into consideration when establishing a price range. Every piece is priced fairly, competively and based on it's quality. You will not regret a purchase from Oh So Chic!

3. Professionalism:

I still maintain my full time job, and have worked in the same industry for 5 years. I've worked for one of the smaller companies in this industry, and one of the largest companies. I see first hand the importance of professionalism, customer service - and the direct impact it has on your ability to build relationships. I am an staunch believer in professionalism and quality customer care. In many cases, people are more apt to be loyal to quality service, than to any brand. This is why it is very important to me, to make sure that every one of my customers has as pleasureable an experience as possible. From the ease of site navigation, to order and fulfillment - shipping, and the follow up. I make it my business to respond to inquiries as quickly as possible, I may answer a dozen questions from one customer - who decides not to purchase. And that is still ok - they will always remember the service they received, even without making a purchase. I make myself open to answer questions that a customer may have regarding the sizing, there have been several instances where I've sent my own pictures to customers - just so they can get a visual of how a piece will look on an actual body! Every order I ship is wrapped as if it's a gift, a hand written Thank You card is tucked inside, along with a small gift as a token of my appreciation. I was recently asked by someone very close to me if I'd continue to do those "small" things once my business grew - I looked at him and said frankly "Why wouldn't I?". The smallest things often leave the biggest impact.

We are currently running a month long sale to celebrate the changing of the seasons! Stop by and check out our new arrivals, receive 15% off all order, and complimentary shipping by entering code "SpringFling" at check out!

Shop online: www.OhSoChicBoutique.com
Friend us on myspace: www.myspace.com/OhSoChicBoutique