Let’s Go Baby!

This is me all happy after ticking off the to-do tasks.

It was a fruitful procurement trip.

New designs for the new quarter are confirmed. Made new business contacts whom one of them is an awesome sweet young owner.

Very importantly, I managed to seal the deals on the kids apparel. This took me seriously long time to materialise. Another step forward for Queenbels. I also returned with limited restocks of previously all sold designs, extensions of the previous selection and beautiful shawls and wraps. As I am writing this, most of them are all sold.

Thank you for always supporting and loving Queenbels. The only thing I can do to make your support worth, is to continue to introduce good selection of apparel and  and keep it up with the customer service.

I am hopelessly in love with the fine selection of shawls this time. There is something for everyone. Chess Board Shawl in Blue is for the ones who want elegance in subtle. Rose Silk-Feeling Shawl is for the flamboyant and Chess Board Shawl in Lime is for you if you like a pop of colour.

All shawls are all sold. Thank you so much for the awesome support. I am already looking and selecting new prints for the next batch of shawls. Stay on our Facebook page for updates.

Remember our pretty Tiered Ruffles Chiffon Blouse in Baby Pink?

Tiered Ruffles Chiffon Blouse in Baby Pink

I have brought back this design in a dress! This is the first time I do extensions of an existing design and I am so happy this is so well-received.

Tiered Ruffles Chiffon Dress in Baby Blue

Close up of the pretty ruffles

Not only that. I have also brought back a dress version of our all sold Full Bloom Lace n Curls Chiffon Blouse.

Full Bloom Lace n Curls Chiffon Blouse in Pink Violet

Tadah! Full Bloom Lace n Curls Chiffon Dress in Dark Blue. As at now all available instocks are sold. I have left my own piece in the shop for pre-order purposes.

Full Bloom Lace n Curls Chiffon Dress in Dark Blue

I have also brought back previously all sold Rose Lace Crepe Blouse in a new colour, baby pink!

Rose Lace Crepe Blouse in Baby Pink

I have kept a piece each of all the above designs because I have missed out keeping the previous versions for myself.

There are many more new designs which I have already listed on our Facebook page, in the photo album ‘New Designs Are Now In Store‘. If you can’t come and shop in store, feel free to email your orders to shop@queenbels.com.sg and we will send you your purchases via registered mail.

Thank you so much for the lovely support. More gorgeous designs are hitting our rack this new quarter so stay tuned right here and don’t go anywhere else.

Cheers!
Shirley

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Into The Lace Collars

Before I go into the Christmas greetings for year 2013, I must do a special mention on this blouse.

I rarely do prints and collars. Prints + lace collars is another first for Queenbels.

What make this blouse special is the use of lace peterpan collars in matching colours to the base colour of the blouse. The completed design extrude a vintage feel that is so enchanting. I cannot say no to this blouse.

There was quite a selection of colours and I picked two colours that I think most skin tones can carry very well.

If you have fair skin colour, you will be able to carry both colours. To choose one, I suggest the colour orange.

If you have dark skin tone, the colour blue is a more suitable choice.

If you like this lace collar but not in peterpan collar, we have one in a beautiful small flower lace and the floral prints simply say “It’s Spring!”

Now how to wear these blouses?

Wear it with pencil skirt or pants, tucked in, for work days. For the weekends, match it with demin or shorts.

Best of all, handwash it, cool iron it once and you don’t need to iron it again. That’s my experience. Please handwash only, do not soak and do not bleach.

Both colours of Lace Peterpan Collar & Blooming Floral Blouse are now all sold. Restocks for colour orange will arrive in January 2014. Unfortunately, colour blue is not available for restock. Very sorry for any disappointment caused. And one last piece available in store for the Lace Collar & Spring Floral Blouse.

Guess which blouse did I keep?

Answer can be found on our Facebook page.

Cheers,
Shirley

Snowmen In The House

Snowmen in the House!

Happy Sunday!

I hope your weekend has been good so far. I spent yesterday afternoon in the showroom, opening up the space for people who already knew where we are and for any lucky person who discovered us. I did some housekeeping too and added some new displays.

I love Christmas.

I am not a Christian so I don’t celebrate Christmas as a religion.

I love the Christmas season for the gifting and sharing, warmth and the songs. This is the time of the year that I send my well wishes via Christmas cards.

This year’s Christmas is especially meaningful to me.

Queenbels has found a place to call her own.

And because it’s her first Christmas in her new place, I must do up the place with Christmas decorations!

This is the first time I buy a snow spray. I tasked the husband to do the spraying. I think I am better at helping out than to do the task.

I now have a white Christmas tree and two snowmen in the house!

Pretty? “D

Cheers,
Shirley

Launch of The Private Showroom

My Mini Sewing Kit

It’s always the mini sewing kit and myself or the laptop and myself in the showroom, while waiting for the next private shopping session to begin.

There are also days I come to the showroom just to spend some time here and do some work.

Some of you would have known by now that I have set up a private showroom for Queenbels.

When the business entered the 3rd year, I asked myself what’s next.

I did a flowchart starting with Day 1 and ended up putting a huge question mark on the next step arrow.

To develop a business, we are talking about growing something, like a plant. From the seedlings, type of soil to use, amount of water to use, to get sufficient sunlight, finally seeing the 1st leaf sprout from the soil and most importantly, to keep the plant alive and blooming.

Things kind of fall into routine in the 3rd year. I have to keep things revolving. I cannot stay stagnant. I began reading up. Anything. I need inspirations. I refuse to do anymore new selections. Not until I know what’s next. Just when I was about to pull my hair, ideas started flowing in. I began to compile statistics, did research and did some test-drives.

Then I stumbled upon this tiny space. I call it the pigeon hole.

When I first stumbled upon this tiny space, I knew I have found it. Images of her future looks formed almost immediately. It’s magical.

I transformed the pigeon hole into a cosy private showroom.

Why a private showroom?

The concept is to create a walk-in wardrobe. This will be your own private shopping space. You can come in, try on the apparel that you like, play around with the different looks you have in mind. If you like the items, you buy them on the spot and off you step out with new outfits in hand.

Regular customers who came, enjoyed the private shopping time at the showroom. I am really happy that they are making themselves at home and feel totally at ease walking around bare-footed on the carpeted floor. Now they get to see the products in real life. I see the smiles on their faces, having the entire wardrobe to themselves to try on any apparel and accessories they like, without having to squeeze with other crowd or queue to use the fitting room. Sometimes when they cannot decide among the different colours, they will grab a seat on the faux leather mushroom stools to ponder over and rest their feet too. If they need help, I give very honest opinions.

Passer-bys who discovered the tiny space find the pigeon hole amazing. Some gave very kind and encouraging words and some were simply amazed at the private shopping concept at such affordable price points. I am glad that people are embracing this brand new concept that I have introduced.

Private shopping is now no longer a luxury that only the bigger brands can offer.

My Favourite! Polka Dots & Balloons Flower Stand	Balloons Decor
Floral and Pink Balloons Flower Stand	Purple Theme Flower Stand

I was very pleasantly surprised at the flower stands arriving at the private showroom, one after another. It is such a blessing to receive well wishes.

Thank you very much.

Hello Kitty Bag Charm	Hello Kitty Bag Charm in Crystal Ball
Flower Ball Necklace	Soaring Owls Hinged Bangle

From now onwards, the private showroom is given priority for all new arrivals. I have been posting sneak peeks of the new arrivals almost daily on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/queenbels). ‘Like’ our Facebook page now to start receiving these sneak peeks. If you are on Instagram, follow us now at http://instagram.com/queenbels.

I will not be announcing the exact location of the private showroom on the webstore or on the social media. I want to keep the place private and exclusive.

Start making an appointment via email: shop@queenbels.com.sg stating your name, mobile number, preferred day, date and time of your private shopping. I will reply via sms. I will make the entire showroom available ONLY FOR YOU within your booking hours. Bring your girl pals and enjoy some private shopping moments together.

 You know where to find all the good stuff right? 😀

Cheers,
Shirley

I Travel I Scout I Present Beautiful Apparel

I travel I scout I present beautiful apparels

I have never like travelling for work.

When I was still in the corporate world, I ran away from all jobs that required me to travel. It is such an irony now that I have to go on work trips at a frequency more than I ever desire.

Earlier this month I took off for another procurement trip in the midst of the renovation madness. I was very lucky that I had a reliable interior designer to count on. When I returned, the entire showroom was 99% ready for handover.

This procurement trip wasn’t entirely successful. Part of the new procurement plans did not fall in place. I was pretty disappointed. All wasn’t lost though. At least I made some progression in acquiring new contacts.

I am introducing new apparel designs for the upcoming new selection. One of the highlights are the printed blouses. There is a wide selection of prints and fabrics and I really like the spectrum of colours displayed.

I narrowed down to cute animal prints and yummy pastry prints, made with quality knitted back pieces and very suitable for the local weather.

Squirrel Blouse

Horse in the Rainbow Knit+Cotton Blouse

The Squirrel Blouse reminds me of the small squirrels that I saw pretty often in my previous workplace. They move very fast racing from one tree to the other, escalate up the tree at a lightning speed and disappeared into the branches. Guess what is the most visible thing that I can see from far amongst all these actions? It is the furry squirrel tail. One word: CUTE.

The Horse in the Rainbow Blouse revokes memories of the storybooks I read when I was a child. Magical horse gallops through forest and emerges under the warm sunshine like a shining knight. This blouse is one of the pieces I kept.

A Berries Tart Blouse

Pink Cupcake Blouse

Cupcakes seems to be the ‘in’ pastry since late last year. I admit I like cupcakes and people around me all know that. At one point I go to the same bakery almost every other day and buy box of six each time. That did alot of damage to my waistline. I have since cut down. It remains my top favourite pastry.

All these pretty printed blouses are now available for purchase, only at the private showroom.

You know where to find all the good stuffs right? 😀

Cheers,
Shirley