Christmas is coming...

Although it may be just over 30 days until the big 'C' comes, we have never been so prepared at BoBelle London. We have two new deliveries in preperation for the festive season, which includes new Athena Purses, Gaia Purses, Hemera Handbags and adorable Hestia Keyrings.

Our collection of fairly traded and ethical eel skin leather fashion accessories from BoBelle London certainly tick all the boxes for suprising loved-ones with a unique gift:

• Ethical? Check
  
• Hand made? Check
  
• Great colours? Check
  
• Individual? Check
  
• Fashionable? Check
  
• Recommended by magazines? Check

If you need help this Christmas deciding which pieces to go for at BoBelle London, please do contact our Sales Team who will be more than happy to help you. In addition, we do offer exchanges and gift receipts so if your loved-one would like to exchange, the option is there. furthermore, with complimentary gift-wrapping we save you time as well!

Need some more inspiration for gifts further than BoBelle London? Why not look at Ella Georgia - she has some gorgeous one-off jewellery pieces with rings, brooches, necklaces and more. She also has a gorgeous selection of ethical cashmere (without the high price tags!).

Another one-stop-shop for the family is Javari - they have a great selection of shoes and accessories, so perfect for Christmas Day walks! Below left is on sale at French Connection at Javari...click here to see!

If it is something truly ethical you are after, have a look at Fashion Conscience - I love the ruched Rani Jones bodycon skirt...gorgeous! They also have lovely tops and t-shirts, dresses, Terra Plana shoes and more:

If definite fashion is your key, have a browse through Eternal Envy - I love their silk dress here from Traffic People - unique, it won't be seen on anyone else and is supporting small designers. The leather jacket is a true investment that will never go out of fashion... What more could we ask for? (Aside from the Theia Ravishing Red Clutch from BoBelle London to match...well, an outfit isn't complete without accessories...)

I hope you like a few of our festive ideas for Christmas! Please do contact sales@bobelle.co.uk if you have any questions about BoBelle London or about shopping for your loved one in general.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes

Claire

BoBelle London - Fashion with Ethics

http://www.bobelle.co.uk/

Future 100 Award Ceremony

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DAY: Carbon offsetter and belly dancer named among top 100 young social entrepreneurs
20 November 2009
by Chrisanthi Giotis

From ITV to a philosophy of it's not just about me - Sophie Mei, belly dancer turned social entrepreneur
One hundred of the most promising young social entrepreneurs were honoured at a London event on Social Enterprise Day.

The Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs Award, which is organised by enterprise support organisation Striding Out, celebrates young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 who 'demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture'.
The winners include Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Sophie Mei Lan Slack, who has made use of her belly dancing talent by developing a social enterprise focusing on self-esteem, culture and health, and Dan Lewer, founder of Carbon Retirement, a 'carbon offsetting business that doesn't believe in carbon offsetting'.

Lewer said: 'Carbon offsetting is like paying the RSPCA so you can kick your dog.'
Striding Out will provide the Future 100 winners with opportunities to network, raise their profile through media and PR training, and gain mentoring support.
One of last year's Future 100 was Claire Watt-Smith, founder of BoBelle, which makes fair trade eel-skin bags and wallets.

Speaking at the event last night she said the award lead to a major breakthrough in her business. Striding Out helped her gain an introduction to people from high street fashion chain Top Shop and the products are now stocked in 60 stores.
'Once you start telling people about the award, doors will open for you,' she said.

Women's Enterprise Day

A few statistics about women in business:

• There are around 680,000 majority women-owned businesses in the UK generating £45 billion to the UK economy.


• Of the 4.7 million UK enterprises, only 15% are led by women (BERR, 2009). Women starting up in business will tend to provide a more immediate contribution to the economy: around one in five women come into self-employment from unemployment compared with around one in fifteen men ( Annual Small Business Survey 2003, SBS)


• When women represent 30% of the Board of Directors the profitability of a company increases threefold (Women Executives in the UK, Gavurin Intellience, Feb 2008)

We need to inspire more women to get into working for themselves and for women to work together.

Having founded BoBelle London in late 2007, I can safely say the road of entrepreneurship is not easy, but it certainly is enjoyable! No two days are the same, you meet so many different individuals, you have complete autonomy over your work and what you do is yours!!

I have nurtured and loved BoBelle London from the day it was born. It is mine and I will work all the hours until it no longer needs me. Having secured a luxurious department store as a new stockist for December 2009, as well as over 50 boutiques in the UK and Ireland, BoBelle London is certainly getting there! My team working with me are fantastic and today, as everyday, we shall be celebrating our achievements and embarking on new ventures to expand BoBelle London.

Happy Women's Enterprise Day!

Claire

www.bobelle.co.uk

Claire Watt-Smith, Founder and CEO of BoBelle London

BoBelle London's new boutique and expansion

Dear all,

I just wanted to keep you updated on the progress of BoBelle London. Having re-designed the website and updated all of the images care of Amanda Maddox and Bloomhost (http://www.amandamaddox.com/ and http://www.bloomhost.net/), BoBelle London has never looked better!

We have been working incredibly hard and we are really starting to see the results! Over 50 boutiques are stocking BoBelle and we are also in talks with two massive brands to expand BoBelle London and really publicise ethical fashion!

We have some great stockists around the country including Cologne and Cotton in Leamington Spa, London and Bath, Badger in Brighton, Yates Buchanan in Notting Hill and Vanilla in Oxford, but to name a few. Furthermore, one of our favourites is http://www.ellageorgiajewellery.co.uk/ - a fabulous online boutique and store in Boroughbridge in Yorkshire. The founder, Sian Foster, has some beautiful bits and pieces including jewellery, accessories, great stocking fillers, fashion and more. Please do look at her site as it is a real find.

See below some of our latest images from Marie Claire and Fashion Conscience. We also are taking pre-orders for Christmas, so if you want something reserved, please do email sales@bobelle.co.uk straight away!

Lastly, how has the postal strike affected you? We have had to send everything Special Delivery which has been fortunately reliable, albeit expensive! We also have a courier service which we will be using for Christmas especially!

Please do email or message me with feedback as I would love to hear from you!

Best wishes

Claire

http://www.bobelle.co.uk/

Seen here is the Deep Purple Handbag and matching Gaia Purse. This gorgeous handbag is so incredibly soft and strong. Hand made under fair trade conditions this BoBelle London handbag in Deep Purple has fashion written all over it. Did I mention our deep red signature lining? Snap up yours now!

Click HERE to buy and read more about the Hemera Handbag from BoBelle London.

Perfect for Christmas this Ravishing Red Theia Clutch and matching Aphrodite Wallet is certain to add a statement to your LBD. Turn heads and stand out from the crowd with BoBelle London.
See and buy the Theia Clutch Bag in Ravishing Red HERE
See and buy the Aphrodite Leather Wallet Click HERE

What about a little unique stocking filler? Try the Hestia Keyring from BoBelle London; this is a sure way to bring a smile to a loved ones face!

These Hestia Keyrings sell so well at BoBelle London. Brighten up an everyday staple - and always have change on you! The little purse opens up and is fabulous for keeping pound coins safe for emergency car-parking, chocolate or cocktail!
See the full range and buy HERE

Please do keep an eye out on BoBelle London and do let me know what you think as feedback is so important to us!

Many thanks

Claire
http://www.bobelle.co.uk/