2022 Reflections & 2023 Dreams
NEW YEAR GOALS & REFLECTIONS
2022 Reflections & 2023 Dreams
a time for reflection...
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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BUS STOP REFLECTS / The woman-owned and operated independent designer shoe boutique for women in Philadelphia is a small team of women with big dreams for 2023.
BUS STOP REFLECTS / The woman-owned and operated independent designer shoe boutique for women in Philadelphia is a small team of women with big dreams for 2023.
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OUR TEAM'S LOVE LETTER TO A YEAR THAT'S OVER & A NEW YEAR AHEAD /
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THE BUS STOP TEAM REFLECTS ON 2022 & HAS BIG DREAMS FOR 2023.
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The BUS STOP Team is grateful for you. Our loyal customers, friends & family have uplifted us this year.
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So did our experiences.
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As a team practice in both gratitude & self-reflection, Elena, Aubrey, Grace & Aubrié individually answered these questions:
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What were you grateful for in 2022?
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What is a goal of yours for 2023?
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What is your power color for 2023?
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We welcome you to dive into our reflections here & we invite you to ask yourself these questions too.
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<3
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With LOVE, gratitude, & care,
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Happy New Year from the BUS STOP Team.
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May we all have a restful, joyful, peaceful, & abundant year ahead...
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THE BUS STOP TEAM REFLECTS ON 2022 & HAS BIG DREAMS FOR 2023.
.
The BUS STOP Team is grateful for you. Our loyal customers, friends & family have uplifted us this year.
.
So did our experiences.
.
As a team practice in both gratitude & self-reflection, Elena, Aubrey, Grace & Aubrié individually answered these questions:
.
What were you grateful for in 2022?
.
What is a goal of yours for 2023?
.
What is your power color for 2023?
.
We welcome you to dive into our reflections here & we invite you to ask yourself these questions too.
.
<3
.
With LOVE, gratitude, & care,
.
Happy New Year from the BUS STOP Team.
.
May we all have a restful, joyful, peaceful, & abundant year ahead...
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Photo taken at Paradigms Gallery, artist on display Justin Favela
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ELENA /
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In 2022, I did a lot of self-reflection with regards to the business. Self-reflection entails asking yourself questions about your values, assessing your strengths and failures, thinking about your perceptions and interactions with others, and imagining where you want to take your life (or business) in the future.
As a female independent small business owner, I made some fairly big changes in my business, which I’m so proud of.
1) In February 2022, despite financial hardship I decided to renovate the shop. I closed the shop for 1-week and $10,000 later re-opened with a brand new fresh look, which I love! Thanks to my team of 4 incredible women - Aubrie, Aubrey, Grace & Jessie - who worked around the clock to help me achieve this.
It was scary to spend money, when the money wasn’t coming in but I’m so happy with the new refresh.
2) BUS STOP X Loud collection launched in June 2022 to tie-in with the shop’s 15th Anniversary. This was a painful process as the launch was originally planned for March but supply chain issues (which were totally out of my control) kept delaying the launch and party date. It was Ready Set Go & STOP for a period of 3+ months! Very emotionally frustrating, as my hands were tied but the party was a huge success.
3) Streamlined our product offering to focus more on brands that resonate with our values. We now sell brands that are either family-owned, sustainable or made in the USA.
4) I don't know how I did this but I designed the new Spring/Summer 2023 BUS STOP X Ground collection in breakneck speed! I've never done this before and it was a question of either taking the swatches with me on my holiday to Europe or designing the collection before leaving. It felt invigorating to design based on my initial gut feeling, rather than agonizing back and forth. You'll be happy to hear that I loved the prototypes, the collection is in production, and will be launching Spring 2023.
5) Had a family scare when my mum was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her face while I was on holiday in Cyprus in September. She had to have an emergency operation, but I was so relieved that I was there to be by her side every step of the way. Thank goodness she has made a full recovery.
6) In 2021 I was so disappointed that our Black Friday Sale wasn't as fruitful as in the past. I decided that in 2022 I was going to do away with this annual tradition, and do things a little differently (and my way). So I re-imagined Black Friday by offering something different, and more worthwhile. 20% of all sales were donated to a local grassroots charity Pheed Philly that helps the unhoused population of Philly by providing the basics like, food, water & blankets. I had a goal in mind which was not reached on Black Friday, so I extended it to Small Business Saturday, and by doing so surpassed my goal. On Giving Tuesday, I donated a check for almost $1,000 to Sarah Magazzo the Founder of Pheed Philly. I felt so good giving back, and so did my customers!
7) Renewed my annual membership with Sister Snog, a prestigious award-winning business club based in the UK. I joined in 2020 to connect with like-minded women across the pond. Since joining, I have learnt so much and implemented many new tools into my business. I'm lucky to have so many Sisters in my life to guide and support me in my ever evolving entrepreneurial journey!
9) Implemented structured team meetings & a platform to communicate with the team — Slack. Giving my team opportunities to voice their views and initiate action.
2023
1) I have some very exciting news, I have become an author for the very first time! The book launches during Women's History Month in March 2023. Stay tuned for more details.
2) I have decided To Do things differently “Elena’s way”. By this I mean non-traditionally, and with the help and input of my team. It's a good time to think outside of the box, make changes, and do things new and differently from the established norm.
3) I'm planning the Spring launch of the new BUS STOP X Ground collection. First off, is the photo shoot and I'm hoping to shoot this outdoors (as long as the weather holds up).
4) I'm finally getting around to celebrating my 60th & my sister’s 60th (no we’re not twins, I turned 60 before she did by a few years). We had plans to go to Charleston for my 60th but that was when my dad was really sick & passed away a month later. My poor sister Andre turned 60 during the 2020 Covid lockdown. So we’re going to a yoga retreat in Kalkan, a beautiful spot on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
My Power Color for 2023
I would have to say that my power color for this year is SKY BLUE. This color represents wide, expansive space with clear direction, and it also happens to be one of the key colors in my new BUS STOP X Ground collection launching Spring 2023!
Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!
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ELENA /
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In 2022, I did a lot of self-reflection with regards to the business. Self-reflection entails asking yourself questions about your values, assessing your strengths and failures, thinking about your perceptions and interactions with others, and imagining where you want to take your life (or business) in the future.
As a female independent small business owner, I made some fairly big changes in my business, which I’m so proud of.
1) In February 2022, despite financial hardship I decided to renovate the shop. I closed the shop for 1-week and $10,000 later re-opened with a brand new fresh look, which I love! Thanks to my team of 4 incredible women - Aubrie, Aubrey, Grace & Jessie - who worked around the clock to help me achieve this.
It was scary to spend money, when the money wasn’t coming in but I’m so happy with the new refresh.
2) BUS STOP X Loud collection launched in June 2022 to tie-in with the shop’s 15th Anniversary. This was a painful process as the launch was originally planned for March but supply chain issues (which were totally out of my control) kept delaying the launch and party date. It was Ready Set Go & STOP for a period of 3+ months! Very emotionally frustrating, as my hands were tied but the party was a huge success.
3) Streamlined our product offering to focus more on brands that resonate with our values. We now sell brands that are either family-owned, sustainable or made in the USA.
4) I don't know how I did this but I designed the new Spring/Summer 2023 BUS STOP X Ground collection in breakneck speed! I've never done this before and it was a question of either taking the swatches with me on my holiday to Europe or designing the collection before leaving. It felt invigorating to design based on my initial gut feeling, rather than agonizing back and forth. You'll be happy to hear that I loved the prototypes, the collection is in production, and will be launching Spring 2023.
5) Had a family scare when my mum was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her face while I was on holiday in Cyprus in September. She had to have an emergency operation, but I was so relieved that I was there to be by her side every step of the way. Thank goodness she has made a full recovery.
6) In 2021 I was so disappointed that our Black Friday Sale wasn't as fruitful as in the past. I decided that in 2022 I was going to do away with this annual tradition, and do things a little differently (and my way). So I re-imagined Black Friday by offering something different, and more worthwhile. 20% of all sales were donated to a local grassroots charity Pheed Philly that helps the unhoused population of Philly by providing the basics like, food, water & blankets. I had a goal in mind which was not reached on Black Friday, so I extended it to Small Business Saturday, and by doing so surpassed my goal. On Giving Tuesday, I donated a check for almost $1,000 to Sarah Magazzo the Founder of Pheed Philly. I felt so good giving back, and so did my customers!
7) Renewed my annual membership with Sister Snog, a prestigious award-winning business club based in the UK. I joined in 2020 to connect with like-minded women across the pond. Since joining, I have learnt so much and implemented many new tools into my business. I'm lucky to have so many Sisters in my life to guide and support me in my ever evolving entrepreneurial journey!
9) Implemented structured team meetings & a platform to communicate with the team — Slack. Giving my team opportunities to voice their views and initiate action.
2023
1) I have some very exciting news, I have become an author for the very first time! The book launches during Women's History Month in March 2023. Stay tuned for more details.
2) I have decided To Do things differently “Elena’s way”. By this I mean non-traditionally, and with the help and input of my team. It's a good time to think outside of the box, make changes, and do things new and differently from the established norm.
3) I'm planning the Spring launch of the new BUS STOP X Ground collection. First off, is the photo shoot and I'm hoping to shoot this outdoors (as long as the weather holds up).
4) I'm finally getting around to celebrating my 60th & my sister’s 60th (no we’re not twins, I turned 60 before she did by a few years). We had plans to go to Charleston for my 60th but that was when my dad was really sick & passed away a month later. My poor sister Andre turned 60 during the 2020 Covid lockdown. So we’re going to a yoga retreat in Kalkan, a beautiful spot on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
My Power Color for 2023
I would have to say that my power color for this year is SKY BLUE. This color represents wide, expansive space with clear direction, and it also happens to be one of the key colors in my new BUS STOP X Ground collection launching Spring 2023!
Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!
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AUBREY /
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I’m grateful for a successful creative & professional year! I got to make and sell some of my favorite pieces this year and watch my friend get married in a custom bridal gown I made for her! It was incredibly enriching and exciting. I’m grateful my family is healthy and I just got engaged to the person I love so it feels like the year has been incredible. I’m incredibly grateful for my community in Philadelphia, through BUS STOP, my brand, and Gleaners for enriching my life.
My goal is to collaborate with friends and designers and have my Modern Misfits accessories in more boutiques across the country. I also hope to have a few wonderful adventures and discover some new beautiful places.
My power color for 2023 is grassy green. Green is evocative of nature, the most creative place and healing resource. Living in the city it’s easy to forget the power of nature to bring new ideas and peace. The color green always brings me back to that notion.
I wish everyone a wonderful year.
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I’m grateful for a successful creative & professional year! I got to make and sell some of my favorite pieces this year and watch my friend get married in a custom bridal gown I made for her! It was incredibly enriching and exciting. I’m grateful my family is healthy and I just got engaged to the person I love so it feels like the year has been incredible. I’m incredibly grateful for my community in Philadelphia, through BUS STOP, my brand, and Gleaners for enriching my life.
My goal is to collaborate with friends and designers and have my Modern Misfits accessories in more boutiques across the country. I also hope to have a few wonderful adventures and discover some new beautiful places.
My power color for 2023 is grassy green. Green is evocative of nature, the most creative place and healing resource. Living in the city it’s easy to forget the power of nature to bring new ideas and peace. The color green always brings me back to that notion.
I wish everyone a wonderful year.
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GRACE /
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So thankful for many things! Just picking one. Thankful for my house. A place to hide, to work, to gather all of the thoughts + things.
Goal // to focus on the long term big ask— creating ways towards financial + creative independence.
Neutral prints as power color // most
myself.
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GRACE /
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So thankful for many things! Just picking one. Thankful for my house. A place to hide, to work, to gather all of the thoughts + things.
Goal // to focus on the long term big ask— creating ways towards financial + creative independence.
Neutral prints as power color // most
myself.
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AUBRIÉ /
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I’m grateful for the growth of my project, THE EROTIC PROJECT, and authentically, mindfully, and ethically making art which I know thoroughly resonates with many people and continues to build safe spaces for expression and community building.
My goals for 2023 include: growing the project by launching our podcast, releasing the SOFT Book & getting it into stores in Philly, LA, and Mexico City, producing the FEEL card deck, and creating a gorgeous exhibition showcasing the work I've been co-creating for 3 years. I'd also like to reconnect with myself more deeply in 2023.
My power color for 2023 is black. It makes me feel graceful, sexy, seen, serious, strong, and powerful.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE BUS STOP TEAM <3
AUBRIÉ /
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I’m grateful for the growth of my project, THE EROTIC PROJECT, and authentically, mindfully, and ethically making art which I know thoroughly resonates with many people and continues to build safe spaces for expression and community building.
My goals for 2023 include: growing the project by launching our podcast, releasing the SOFT Book & getting it into stores in Philly, LA, and Mexico City, producing the FEEL card deck, and creating a gorgeous exhibition showcasing the work I've been co-creating for 3 years. I'd also like to reconnect with myself more deeply in 2023.
My power color for 2023 is black. It makes me feel graceful, sexy, seen, serious, strong, and powerful.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE BUS STOP TEAM <3