THE CIGAR PLACE
Celebrate joyous occasions and momentous events with a visit to The Cigar Place. Customers flock to the picturesque Woodbridge location, to delight in the superb assortment of cigars and cigar accessories, humidors, Cuban coffees, men’s jewelry, office décor and customized gift baskets. The friendly husband-and-wife team of Joe and Diana will help you choose the appropriate gift to mark any event, whether it be a birthday, wedding engagement, bachelor party, the arrival of a baby or an anniversary. 905.264.9159

THE SPA BOUTIQUE
When you visit The Spa Boutique’s website, click on services and you will see exactly why it has become such a success. From photo rejuvenation to the renowned Green Peel, The Spa Boutique’s menu of medical treatments will satisfy the most specific needs.
www.thespaboutique.ca, 905.884.6270

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BLACK-EYED SUSAN’S
Located at First Canadian Place in the heart of downtown Toronto, Black-Eyed Susan’s should be the first place you think of when you need elegantly arranged flowers. Sure to satisfy an artistic eye, Black-Eyed Susan’s will deliver your dazzling arrangement to a loved one anywhere in Canada or across the globe.
www.blackeyedsusans.com, 416.361.3500

BROWNS
These happening eco-friendly bags are a part of Browns exciting new green initiative. Available in a variety of colours and styles, these trendy totes are Browns’ way of helping you put your best foot forward.
www.brownsshoes.com

MARKHAM THEATRE
Markham Theatre is calling all fine art lovers to the stage for the celebration of its 25th anniversary season. Join The Canadian Tenors on Dec. 18 –19, 2009, for a fundraising event filled with dinner, songs and a silent auction. Proceeds go towards the future of arts in our community and the work of Markham Theatre.
For tickets call 905.305.7469,
www.city.markham.on.ca/markham/attractions/theatre

MUNGE LEUNG
Whether it’s hospitality, residential or retail, Munge Leung has been there, done that, and designed it all. Alessandro Munge and Sai Leung joined forces 11 years ago and have since designed some of Canada’s most renowned developments. With a history of successful projects ranging from five-star hotels, nightclubs and restaurants, Munge Leung has become a proven leader in the interior design firm industry.  www.mungeleung.com, 416.588.1668

As you walk down the cement steps that lead to the Jeanne Lottie boutique, a smile will instantaneously spread across your face. With just one look at the window display – adorned with sheer pink curtains that fall softly across a delicious display of elegant shoes and matching purses – you will be drawn through the pink-frosted glass door to emerge delightfully in handbag heaven.

If you’re the fashionable and playful type, the countless clutches, casual totes, sleek evening bags and snazzy satchels will definitely catch your eye as you make your way across the lush, faux grass-covered floor. When you reach the back of the store, you will see dozens of spectacular flats, heels and pumps on display near a bed covered by a pink comforter.

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With a vast array of styles, sizes, colours and materials, Jeanne Lottie provides its clients with one-of-a-kind accessories at reasonable prices.

The mastermind behind Jeanne Lottie is Jane Ip, age 49. Ip understands that accessories have the power to define distinctly the different roles you take on, as well as your moods and, ultimately, your desires. For this, Jeanne Lottie offers countless styles for varying personalities.

“Our designs are different, constantly changing, fashionable and affordable,” says Ip, the successful entrepreneur behind the Jeanne Lottie empire. “And [they] are designed for women who are smart and know how to have fun,” she adds.

After all, the purpose of a handbag isn’t limited to holding your keys and wallet – and Jane Ip knows that.

Since its inception almost a decade ago, the Jeanne Lottie boutique has been the place to go to for the hottest accessories in town. Specializing first in handbags, then expanding to offer shoes and jewellery and now presenting perfume (Rose Diamant, a soft floral), Jeanne Lottie has emerged as a must-go-to boutique in posh Yorkville.

This is because Ip has faultlessly combined her love of colour and her natural ability to sketch her designs.

“I just love colour,” says Ip. “Inside my house, I have many colours. Yellow, green – it’s a very colourful house.” Ip lives where she works (with her dog, Baby Doll) in the Jeanne Lottie head office, which is not far from the Jeanne Lottie boutique. Interestingly, her house is pink, and has, in fact, been dubbed “The Pink House.”

It might seem as though Ip had always dreamed about becoming an entrepreneur in the accessories field, but this is not so. She only realized her potential at university, and because of some advice from her father.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ip decided to move to the U.S. in 1978. After dutifully studying at Portland State University in Oregon, Ip graduated with two degrees: one in business administration, the other in psychology. In 1982, she moved to Canada and received an MBA from the prestigious Schulich School of Business. She moved back to Hong Kong briefly before returning to Toronto with her sister Charlotte. The sisters, who have three brothers and another sister, decided to open Jeanne Lottie in 1985.

“My dad was a successful entrepreneur, and he inspired us to have our own business,” says Ip. “Now, I love being an entrepreneur.”

Jeanne Lottie is not a person’s name. “Jeanne is from Jane and Lottie is from Charlotte,” explains Ip. “And it means ‘true happiness’ in Chinese.” She says Jeanne Lottie accessories result in true happiness. Perhaps this is what has set this formidable fashion line apart from others.

Charlotte retired 10 years ago after starting a family of her own, while Ip set off to open the first Jeanne Lottie boutique in Yorkville. Almost immediately, Ip’s uniquely designed accessories and the location she chose caught the attention of handbag aficionados.

“I love to sketch. I never studied design, though, so it came very naturally, I guess. It’s very easy for me – especially handbags.”

After the Yorkville location opened, Ip made the decision to expand to the U.S., but managing the store became difficult, since she lived in Toronto. She lost quite a bit of money after opening a Jeanne Lottie store in the Hotel Aladdin in Las Vegas, a year before Sept.11. “The store was in the desert,” she says. “And because of 9/11, retail sales were extremely bad.”

Ip closed the store, but not before receiving various awards for her designs, including The Best Handbag Shop in Nevada award.  “It was like gambling,” says Ip of the experience. “Every step is a hardship, a challenge, and I still have a long way to go.”

Yet, she didn’t let the loss affect her. To the contrary, she applied her full attention to the Yorkville location. And since her father was an experienced entrepreneur, he taught her invaluable lessons. “My father taught us to work hard, not to hold grudges and to be willing to help others,” says Ip. This is probably what propelled her to give back to society.

For the last five years, Jeanne Lottie has played host to the Annual Pink Bedroom Party, a fashion and lifestyle extravaganza that raises money for The Campbell Institute for Breast Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital. In the future, Jane Ip hopes to host worldwide Pink Bedroom parties in her favourite cities – Barcelona, Spain; Cuzco, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Puebla, Mexico; and Hong Kong.

“It’s very important to me,” says Ip. “It’s a mission to spread true happiness.” www.jeannelottie.com