Table Tonic {Feature Interview}....
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 7:02AM I'm really excited to blog about a certain special lady this morning! Her name is Louise Bell....it wouldn't surprise me if you have heard of her :) The former "Creative Director" of Cosmopolitan, Cleo & Dolly Magazines is now a mum-preneur & 'work from home' business owner! In March of this year she launched her fabulous online homewares store Table Tonic!
If you haven't checked out Louise's online store....what are you waiting for? It's AMAZING! And her blog is always one of my favourite daily reads :) She blogs about anything & everything beautiful. Her posts are always full of colour, flair & inspiration!
Table Tonic has popped up in the Media quite a bit since opening it's virtual doors, but the most recent publication I've spotted it in was a lovely 4 page spread in the latest issue of Shop Til You Drop Magazine!
Last week, I had the pleasure of 'chatting' with Louise! After several emails back & fourth, I was lucky enough to get a casual 'interview' with her! I'm so excited to share Louise & Table Tonic with you today.....
Not only is she a driven & successful business owner, but she's a dedicated Mummy & Wife....AND...a very lovely and giving soul. Here's the questions I asked her:
Tell us a little about your business:
The Table Tonic online store (tabletonic.com.au) is a melting pot of all the wonderfully bright, cheery and eclectic homewares I've always admired from afar. I say "admired" because they were either out of reach, or simply unaffordable. If you're big on colour, texture, and well crafted, handmade pieces that will last a lifetime, you might just like it. Tabletonic.com.au opened it's "virtual doors" on March 8th, 2010.
What/Who inspires you?
Creative people inspire me enormously. Artists, photographers, interior designers fashion designers, jewellery makers, fellow bloggers... the list goes on.
What do you love most about what you do?
Oooh, that's a toss up between working from home and getting to play with Juju hats every day!
What has been the highlight of this year so far?
Surviving the first 4 months of business is quite an achievement, I think. And some wonderful feedback is starting to come back from customers, which is really thrilling.
Explain a 'normal' day in your life:
A normal day involves checking emails, breakfast, packing orders, listening to Sia (usually while packing orders!), a quick lunch up the road, a trip to the post office, some blogging, some blog reading (not nearly enough), dinner, then more of the same. At 11pm? Lights out big time!
Your Favourite Quote/Motto: Oh, I have many. This is one of them: "When you plant a tree, never plant only one. Plant three - one for shade, one for fruit, one for beauty". It's an African proverb.
What are your goals for Table Tonic, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
One day, ONE DAY, I hope to have a "bricks and mortar" (retail) store. But in the mean time, I'm looking forward to gradually expanding the Table Tonic range. There are a bunch of wonderful products out there that I'm positively BUSTING to get my hands on!
Why do you blog & What do you blog about?
I blog to share beautiful, clever and unique things and ideas. The Table Tonic blog is 5 parts interior decorating, 2 parts photography, 1 part architecture, with a liberal sprinkling of fashion.
3 Things you are:
1. Obsessed and infatuated with beautiful things. 2. A wannabe stylist/interior designer. 3. Positive, hopeful, optimistic.
3 Things you aren't:
1. Messy. 2. Disorganized. 3. A writer.
Anything else you'd like to share with my readers:
My favourite piece of advice: Be kind to people. Every day. All the time. Without expecting anything in return.
{ABOVE: Table Tonic Online Store}
{BELOW: Here's a few pics Louise shared with me of her gorgeous home & Table Tonic products}
BELOW: Her beautiful home office....where all the magic happens :)
A big thank-you to Louise for her time & doing this feature interview for me :) I'm sure you're all off to view Table Tonic's store & blog now......ENJOY!!
Please drop me a line & tell me what you think of Louise's gorgeous products & online store!
