The Purest of Fiji

As I walk into the room the overpowering aroma is something I immediately akin to. The sweet smell of coconut mixed with crushed coral, sand and salt takes me to another place as I prepare to have my Fijian Bobo (pronounced bombo) massage. As the therapist starts to work her magic, the heady aroma fills the room and I am transported to a place of lapping water, palm trees and the sound of ukelele strings. Within an hour, my bobo is over but the sweet scent that filled the room that day has been with me ever since. That was 2005, the place was Fiji and the fragrance was Coconut Lotion by Pure Fiji. 

Fast forward eight years and a half years later to 2014 and that moment from 2005 still comes to mind every time I smell that sweet coconut aroma. 

It is safe to say that I have fallen in love completely with all products from Pure Fiji and since that first encounter their range has grown extensivley and now encompasses not only body products but facial products and products for your man as well. 

Pure Fiji started life in the kitchen of owner and founder Gaetane Austin's home some twelve years ago. Pure Fiji began research & development of their uniquely Fijian products around the family kitchen table! Pure Fiji aims to provide their clients with high end products which utilize the herbal and botanical benefits that have been used and nurtured by the Fijian people for hundreds of years. 

Their range of products includes lotions, creams, scrubs, nourishing oils, and amazing body butters. Art from the health benefits, the complete range of products in both of their ranges being the Reniu range and the Pure Fiji Spa range are available in the most divine fragrances including coconut, pineapple, starfruit, mango and passionfruit which will make you think you are on holidays everyday. 

Princess Fashions and Accessories are proud to be stockists in Australia

of the Pure Fiji products and you can buy them from us today online or in store! 

www.princessfashionaccessories.com.au

26 Walker Street, South Windsor

 

Online Retail - Do Consumers really still need to touch and feel ?

Online spending in April 2013 alone was up 23 per cent from the same month one year ago, compared to only 12 per cent in March however still highlighting that online retail sales have continued to grow at a vastly stronger rate than the traditional bricks and mortar retail sector. To a business such as mine who is relying 99 per cent on the online shopper this is great news. 

This alone proves to me that the Australian Consumer is no longer feeling the need to touch and feel as much as what our parents and grandparents did!

Current trends show that the dominant larger sectors, such as department stores and homewares and appliances, already comprise more than half of all online retail spending but they are being closely followed by boutique fashion stores and online gaming stores. 

The power of social media today can play a large role in the marketing of an online retailer which is a tool that I used in the beginning not to market but to commence and sell via for Princess Fashions and Accessories in 2011. 

I saw a real need in the market place within the Fiji Islands for fashionable and affordable ladies clothing, footwear and accessories. Even though Fiji is seen by many people overseas predominantly as a holiday doestination with relatively poorer economic circumstances, from a local viewpoint I could see that there were so many ladies working within the capital city alone who had an expendable income and wanted to purchase on trend fashionable items. As any good business person does I used this insight to my advantage and tested the waters by purchasing retail items which had been heavily reduced or on sale here in Sydney, sent them over to Fiji to my sister in law and she sold them in local currency at a small profit to friends and family. We did this for a couple of months whilst I put out feelers here in Sydney with wholesalers and wholesale agencies and then we decided to take the plunge and register our business in both countries. Up until February this year we had only been retailing via our Facebook page in Fiji only and when we hit 20,000 likers for our page I decided that I needed to begin thinking about commencing Princess Fashions and Accessories here in Sydney also. 

Now based online we buy, warehouse and ship to Fiji from Sydney and sell world wide via our online store. As a new business with no shop front I have found that I am using as many social media outlets as I can and heavily reply on Facebook as my one of my main social media pages followed by Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

I believe to be a successful online retailer you must have a firm but flexible returns policy, have your key customer service area's be responsive quickly via email, offer as many merchant payment methods as possible, have a fast website with clear, vibrant images that can be viewed from many angles and of course market your range accordingly.   

With online retailers such as the Iconic, Boohoo.com, Style Tread and Asos breaking retail records across the globe and setting the way for smaller business, coupled with the everyday fast paced hectic lifestyles that people lead today, I firmly believe that online retail is well on it's way and the general consumer is feeling the need less and less to touch and feel. 

Pleather - Gen Y's Leather

What is "Pleather" ?

The word “pleather” is a popular slang term for synthetic leather made out of plastic, and is actually a combination of the two words “plastic and leather.” When the faux leather first arrived on the fashion scene in the 70's the word was used in a derogatory manner, implying that the wearer was just too poor to buy pricey, stylish genuine leather items that were in fashion at the time. 

In more recent times many people prefer wearing pleather articles of clothing because they are against using products made from animals.

The most popular form of pleather is made out of a polyurethane film, which is a lighter, more flexible and less restrictive material than leather. This material is easy to clean, requiring the owner to simply wipe over it occasionally with a damp cloth. This simple care routine ensures a longer life for the garments, making them nearly as durable and reliable as their true leather counterparts.

Another reason for pleathers consistent popularity is that it is a very versatile fabric that can be made into virtually any accessory or item of clothing. In recent years, it has been used by numerous designers to create form-fitted jackets, stylish jeans, flattering skirts, trendy tops, fabulous handbags, and sexy shoes. This multi-faceted textile is one that people of all ages and fashion styles can wear tastefully.

This fabric also breathes, meaning that even individuals living in hot and humid climates can enjoy pleather garments all year round. In addition, the fact that it is easily dyed means consumers can always find items in the “in colors" of the season.

Pleather is still less expensive, sometimes costing up to three times less than real animal hide leather. This makes it an attractive fabric for companies that make mass-produced clothing lines and accessories. 

The pleather of today isn’t the much-ridiculed, squeaky, faux hides of yesteryear. The softer, realistic-looking material is a popular choice with designers, not only offering them a flexible, versatile textile to work with, but also bridging the great divide between between being stylish and being animal friendly.

Why not try it today!