Submitted by Aline Machado, owner of Bella Bella Boutique on-line e-commerce shop
My desire to own a boutique started at an early age, when I was 7 years old growing up in Brazil. My passion for Fashion continued to grow and after moving to the USA to finish an English program at a school in Massachusetts, I got my first job at Express clothing store at age of 16. Just a few months later, I … Read More
Submitted by Jo Nicewicz Carville who owns
Jo Karen with her partner Karen Bender in Acton, Massachusetts
Having my own shop was something I had always wanted to do. I had actually looked at gift shops before I had children but decided to put that on hold and begin to raise a family. I was fortunate to be able to stay at home while my children were young. As soon as they no longer need … Read More
Submitted by Cindy Johnson, who owns SOL Lingerie with her sister, Jeanie Peterson in Denver, CO
Once upon a time there lived four lovely sisters. The two oldest talked about grown up things like boys, while the two youngest spent hours outside in the creek and on rainy days they were inside playing shop. The older sister liked to arrange the store while the younger sister kept tally on a chalk board as she rang … Read More
Submitted by Rachel Wentworth and Meredith Donaldson, owners of Forty Winks Lingerie in Cambridge, MA
We decided to open Forty Winks after several disheartening experiences when shopping for lingerie. While neither of us have especially large busts, it seemed impossible to find a bra with a fit that was just right. Meredith was wearing a 36A (she’s a 32B/34A) and I was wearing a 34B (I’m a 32D). No one had ever told us differently … Read More
Submitted by Sherry Gummow, owner of Busted Ladies Lingerie in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada
I’ve always loved to “dress up” as compared to “dress down.” I wore hats when nobody else did, love bling with everything, and feel naked without my lipstick & earrings – even when heading to the barn. I had a dream in my early twenties of owning a store where “customer service” ruled supreme, where buying decisions were made with certain women … Read More
Submitted by Cyla Weiner, owner and partner of
Sylene of Washington in Chevy Chase, Maryland
While growing up in the lingerie business in NJ I never thought about having my own store. Until one day after I got married and was teaching French, that I had a brilliant idea to open a lingerie store similar to the one my parents had in NJ. Teaching wasn’t as appealing to me as shopping. My husband gave … Read More
Submitted by: Lida Lisney, owner of Inside Story in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario
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I was born and raised in Montreal, and moved to Toronto in 1989 to pursue a career working as a flight attendant with Air Canada. With a son to support, I took a part time job on the side (which was made possible by my intermittent schedule as a flight attendant) in the fall of 2002 – at none other than … Read More