Sarah Senior started Sarah’s Silver Icing Boutique two years ago after falling in love with the Canadian online shopping store.
As a busy working mother of two, she didn’t have time to go to the mall to try on and buy clothing, but she was skeptical about shopping online at first.
“Online shopping can be daunting as you don’t always know what type of quality you will get, what the sizing or fit is like, and how long shipping will take,” she explained.
She decided to give Silver Icing a try. Silver Icing is a Canadian company based out of Vancouver and was once featured on the popular CBC show, Dragon’s Den. Founder, Christina Marcano had a vision to create a fashion line for women of all shapes and sizes that combined both comfort and style.
“Many people turn to online shopping nowadays as it is extremely convenient,” said Senior.
After ordering a few pieces for herself, Senior fell in love with the fashion line and wanted to learn more about how she could get involved with the company.
She decided to become a stylist, which allows her to order products for customers, with the option to have them pick up locally in town to save themselves on shipping costs.
“They love the convenience of online shopping with the personal touch of having a stylist,” she said of her clientele.
“My customers feel confident ordering online because they know that I put the time and effort into ensuring they are getting the right size and fit for them.”
Bulk orders are placed throughout the month and customers are able to pay Senior directly via electronic money transfer or cash. They can also order directly from her website and have the products shipped to their home.
“ As a stylist, I ensure that my customers are getting the right fit and style by providing them with thorough reviews and ‘in real life’ photos of women that closely resemble their own size and shape,” she said.
Most of her customers are local, but she also has customers across the country and even in the United States.
“I find that the vast majority of my customers come from referrals, which is the greatest compliment I could ever receive in business.”
Senior mentioned that the return rate for all Silver Icing is seven-eight percent, while the industry standard is around 30 percent.
“We can directly attribute this to the personal shopping experience that we provide our customers with,” said Senior.
She loves helping her clients pick out the latest fashion finds by posting on her online store Facebook page daily.
“My customers love waiting for my evening post to see what is coming out the following day,” she said.
As a stylist she also receives discounts on the clothing.
“Now that I am a stylist, I am able to earn an extra income and expand my own wardrobe,” she explained.
Senior works full time as a school teacher. She is currently on maternity leave and is set to go back to work in March. She says she will continue to work with Silver Icing on the side because being a stylist is something she is truly passionate about and loves helping other women feel fashionable and confident.
“I find it extremely rewarding helping other women find items that they get excited about and feel amazing in,” she said.
“Wear what makes you feel good and your confidence will shine through. Celebrate those curves and love your body now!”
In April, the company launched a sister site of Silver Icing, called I Dress Myself, a clothing line just for children.
“As we know, kids grow out of their clothing so quickly; I am constantly shopping for my little ones. Knowing that I can provide quality clothing at a reasonable price to other local parents makes me feel great about what I do,” she explained.
Through her side business, she has met many other mothers in town who have become customers and now friends. She participates in many of the local vendor shows and events that help her with networking and advertising.
“ I have made so many new friends through this company and I can’t even begin to describe what that means to me,” she said.
To learn more about Sarah’s Silver Icing Boutique, check out her Facebook page here or send her an email at [email protected]
