Musings from Grooster on Vancouver, Shopping, Local Businesses, Events, Restaurants, Cafe deals and other things.
Shop Online. Shop Local. Shop Grooster.com
posted by Alicia Olive at
, Jun 29, 2011
This past weekend, we went in search of a little retail therapy. A new season begs for new clothes, but we faced the dilemma of finding a few new pieces that complement our wardrobe and also redefine it. Naturally, we went straight to Tenth & Proper.
Located in quaint Point Grey Village, Tenth & Proper carries classic pieces with an edge. The result is a collection that suits all ages and body types. Top quality brands like Nougat, In Wear, and Nicole Bridger are featured alongside Tenth & Proper's house line, ProperTy. Made by the same European manufacturer that produces clothes for Prada and Jill Sander, ProperTy features luxurious fabrics and chic designs.
Our eyes were first drawn to the ultra soft stretch linen and silk ProperTy t-shirts and the flowy jersey dresses. But ultimately, we fell in love with an out of season, but oh so fabulous, trench coat. A high quality wardrobe staple, indicative of the aesthetic of Tenth & Proper.
They say you should have three black shirts, two pairs of black pants, and a white button down shirt to establish the foundation of your wardrobe. Good thing you can get all six at one little store in Point Grey. --AOLabels: Fashion, Point Grey, Shopping
posted by Alicia Olive at
, Jun 27, 2011
Housework is never associated with fun, but with a broom from Granville Island Broom Co, it can be! Handcrafted by Jori Bojm, Mary Schwieger, and Sarah Schwieger, each broom is made using the traditional Shaker method. The Schwieger sisters learned the craft from their parents and are keeping it alive with their spectacular creations.
As functional as they are beautiful, the brooms come in many styles. From the Scrub Brush for cleaning carrots and potatoes, to the Cobwebber made to remove cobwebs from the ceiling, there's a broom for every occassion. Some of them, like the Ironwork Whisk, are great pieces to add a rustic feel to your home decor.
Brooms make great housewarming or wedding gifts. Traditionally signifying good luck, they are said to sweep away bad fortune and protect against evil. This is why newlyweds used to hold hands and jump over a broom, so that good luck and good fortune would govern their marriage. So next time a friend gets married, pick up a Broom Co. broom and help them make their marriage a clean sweep.
For more info on Broom Co. and their catalogue, visit their website at http://www.broomcompany.com. --AO Labels: Granville Island, Housewares, Shopping
posted by Lesel, CEO at
, Jun 24, 2011
Don't wait for summer to arrive. Even though it seems to rain everyday, SUMMMER REALLY IS HERE!
It's warm, the days are long and we love being near, on and even in the water. We don't have a sailboat or motor boat and Tofino's a little far for a proper surfing fix. But we've found our favorite new activity: Paddleboarding.
It's an awesome way to get out on the water. Go solo or grab a couple of friends. Even fido (or Henderson in our case) likes to come along for a ride.
Our top three spots for a paddle: Deep Cove, Jericho Beach, False Creek.
Labels: Adventure, Paddleboarding
posted by Lesel, CEO at
, Jun 20, 2011
Summer is here (at least according to the calendar). For us, a stroll through the Village at Park Royal must always include a stop at Kiss & Makeup. They stock a carefully selected mix of clothing, accessories, beauty and skincare. We found two great product sets on most recent visit.
Even with spring on it's way out, there's plenty of cleaning left to do. It's time to try a new fabulously fragrant line of all natural cleaning products. The Laundress line includes surface cleaners, scented vinegars, special cleaning tools and a myriad of specialty laundry washes specifically formulated for denim, baby, wool, cashmere and more. These highly concentrated and highly effective cleaning products are gracing the shelves of chic laundry rooms everywhere and make the most unpleasant of chores almost fun. Get yours now.
With your cleaning all done, be sure to walk away smelling like roses. Kiss and Makeup stacks all five of the The Melange fruit note palettes. These compact sets of four solid perfumes are designed to be worn alone or blended. With fragrances inspired by the most desired scents in perfumery, you can wear them alone or follow the blending instructions for something unique. Be bold - mix and match these scents to suit your fancy.
Kiss & Makeup: 925 Main street in The Village at Park Royal, West Vancouver. -- LRLabels: Beauty, Home, West Vancouver
posted by Alicia Olive at
, Jun 15, 2011
Vancouver is a coffee town. You can't walk half a block without running into your next caffeine fix. But we're bored with the ubiquitous latte and biscotti. So we decided to shake it up a little and try out Caffe Citadella.
Located in the Fairview neighbourhood, this coffee joint calls a heritage house home. Serving up a cozy ambiance, 49th Parallel coffee, and some of the best baked treats, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Our afternoon tea consisted of the perfect latte, fragrant earl grey tea, and a dark chocolate and lavender bar. A little like a fruit and nut Toblerone, we were instant fans and will be back soon for another fix. All in all, it was the perfect end to our sunny afternoon.
Too often we grab our coffee to-go just so we can keep up with the daily grind. It was nice to savour it in a great place over good conversation for a change. We recommend you stop by Caffe Citadella and do the same soon. --AOLabels: Coffee, Fairview Slopes, Food
posted by Lesel, CEO at
, Jun 13, 2011
It's been an amazing year. Since Grooster's inception, we've been tweaking the business to make it better for you, our customers, as well as more affordable and sustainable for the businesses we feature. To cap off the year, we've recently completed both a client and customer survey. Your feedback and suggestions have given us great direction and an even better idea of who our typical Grooster client is. Turns out that of those who responded:
- There are a lot of ladies in the crowd (79.5%)
- Most of you are within the 26-35 age range (29.9%), followed closely by the 36-45 set (25.7%)
- Just over half of you live in the City of Vancouver (50.8%), most others live real close by.
- You are most concerned with whether a product is locally made (45.5%) and good quality or unique (33.6%), than with its price
- The top 4 products you buy online are books (68.6%), electronics (45.2%), clothing (41.5%), and beauty products (33.6%)
With this information in mind, we’ve already started the ball rolling on some changes. We simply can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on. Watch Grooster - we'll be launching our new site in the next few weeks! It will be everything you love about Grooster, but even better! --AOLabels: Grooster, News
posted by Lesel, CEO at
, Jun 10, 2011
In honour of our first year come and gone, we’re recapping some of our top deals from great food to snazzy clothing.
Biercraft (formerly Stella's), June 2010: This was our first offer and, therefore, it holds a special place in our hearts. We love it because we were super thrilled that we got to work with such an amazing place; Biercraft has a stellar selection of local and international craft beers; and the owner, Donny, rocks! He is a big supporter of local businesses and start-ups, loves trying out new things – he was trying out Grooster and another local mobile payments company Mobio long before anyone else was in the game – and he's a straight shooter who tells it like he sees it.
School of Fish Foundation, August 2010: This was an amazing experience. Why you ask? Because we love creative and unique ideas that showcase the best of Vancouver. The School of Fish dinners provided an opportunity to learn about sustainable seafood, while feasting on the finest fare prepared by the talented crew at C Restaurant. The venue was absolutely incredible and founder Shannon Ronalds is an amazing guy who knows how to pull together the right people and create a once in a lifetime experience.
Northshore Ski & Board, various offers: We've sold a lot of products on Grooster, but the Northshore deals (ski goggles, EMU boots and now paddleboards) were some of our favorites. We love Vancouver's adventurous and active side and we thrive on connecting consumers with great products from local retailers. Owner, Vince at Northshore has been great to work with and his shop provides some of the best customer service around. --AOLabels: Adventure, Food, Sports
posted by Lesel, CEO at
, Jun 7, 2011
We did it! We’ve taken our first steps, said our first words and officially turned 1 year old last week on June 1st. It's been an amazing ride!
Not only have we worked with some of the very best businesses in the city, we've also gained a loyal following of locals. Our subscribers and followers have made this past year possible and for this, we sincerely thank you. Building an empire is no easy feat, but with your support, we are well on our way.
We also owe a great deal of thanks to our clients for placing their trust in us, as we’ve gone from the new kid on the block to online promo aficionados. Our fierce support of local businesses and love of helping people discover all things wonderful in Vancouver have been our guide.
Thanks again to everyone who has shared in our journey so far. Now that we’re growing up, we’re making a few changes. Keep your eyes peeled and watch this site in the coming weeks!
