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The Blissful

Oh my dear blogging friends, I am so delighted and privileged to be able to share with you a wonderful French-inspired shop in Canton, Ohio and its equally wonderful proprietor, Abby! The shop is appropriately called The Blissful! Can you imagine a more dreamy name? I love it!

The Blissful is a lifestyle boutique of French-Inspired Finds & Furnishings Established in 2005, the shop will launch online commerce at its website in January 2008. Isn’t this the most exciting of developments?! Now not only can we be delighted by her charm and wit but we can actually shop directly from her website! That is blissful for us! Be sure to check out her website, it is really a fabulous design!

Now I know many of you may have had the pleasure of visiting The Blissful blog, and you have experienced for yourself how simply charming Abby is! She is one of the people I connected with during my first couple of months of blogging. She has been a voice encouragement to me, both personally and to other women who are working hard in their businesses. Her other blog is actually designed for women entrepreneurs, particularly other shop-owners, although I find her experience, advice, wisdom applicable to my business as well. The entrepreneurial blog, called A Boutique Industry, can be found here.

The Blissful

One of the things I really like about Abby is her dedication to making her dreams come true. I know we’ve discussed before that we should be creating the life we want (not just waiting for it to happen spontaneously!), and Abby is a superb example of doing just that. She has given up her home in pursuit of her dream and is doing everything it takes to make that dream a reality. You’ve got to admire that dedication! But if I was her, I would just move right in to the shop! Yeah, that would be very cool!

I snipped this little bit right off her blog (copyright of The Blissful!) so you could have a glimpse into her life right now with the holidays coming:

This is the time of year that strikes both exhilaration and trepidation into the heart of every retailer. It’s the beginning of the holiday season. If you’ve been out shopping lately, you’ve noticed this! The time is drawing nigh when, along with my fellow shop owners everywhere, I will begin burning the candle at both ends. Lord, let it be a scent I like.

I woke up spontaneously at 5:42 AM today, with one thought running through my head: oh my gosh, we have so much to do to get ready for the holiday party! Now just three weeks away, I have yet to mail the invitations, finalize my schedule of hostesses, firm up my menu (plus buy ingredients, prep recipes, and schedule baking days), conceptualize window displays and new holiday displays and how to zhuzh all the everyday displays in order to accomodate new seasonal merch and new everyday merch, plus figure out what the heck I’m going to wear! On top of this, we are still running the store, checking in new arrivals on a daily basis, etc., etc. The last week of October, we’ll be closed for four days before the party (well, three actual shopping days and one Sunday, on which we’re always closed) so that we can transform the shop into a holly bough-bedecked, glitter glass-encrusted, mercury glass ornament-adorned, twinkly light-spangled, hot chocolate and Joie de Noel-scented confection of wintertime merriment.

The Blissful

What fun to get a peek in to the life of a shop-owner! One thing I have noticed since blogging is that shop-owners are so friendly and fun, I think that must be a prerequisite!

Abby also shared with me what her customers are looking for right now now that fall is underway:

This is the time of year when my customers are starting to nest in earnest. They are picking up those furnishings and home accents they may have had their eye on for quite some time, wanting to complete the rooms in which they’ll be hosting parties and family get-togethers. People are more and more in search of the perfect fall or holiday candle. Spicy and food-related scents, such as Black Ginger or Crème Brulée, sell well for us at this time of year. I also see my customers purchasing more hostess gifts—a special set of drinking glasses, a cool serving tray, gourmet items, one of our great cutting boards, or a pretty apron.

The Blissful

I love shopping, wouldn’t it be fun to be one of her customers? If you live in Canton, Ohio, you are lucky indeed! I hope that you will visit The Blissful blog, and in January become a customer of her online shop. Even now she says if you see something on her site you want, you can give her an email and see what can be arranged! It is so great to be able to support other creative women in business!

Thanks Abby for sharing your blissful dream with us!

All photos copyright The Blissful. Used by permission.

42 Comments

  1. seeb

    Thanks Abby & you for sharing.wonderful shop!

    Reply
  2. Robin

    That IS blissful! Oh…if I lived closer I know I’d be a regular customer! Looks divine..thanks for sharing!
    Blessings,
    Robin

    Reply
  3. Julie

    Melissa,
    You know I don’t live all that far from Canton. Maybe an hour away or so. And if I’m not mistaken, I think that I have passed by this store on my way to Massilon. I could be wrong but that name sounds so familiar. Thank you for sharing. I think that maybe my mom and I will have to take a trip out there!

    Anyway, darlin’, stop over and pick up an award I left for you last night. It’s so very fitting today!!

    Love,
    Julie

    Reply
  4. Sophiehoneysuckle

    What gorgeous, gorgeous photos! So much to drool over!!xx

    Reply
  5. Vineeta

    Mellissa, Im so glad I came to your blog! Love your voice, your pictures and your taste. Just read a few posts, but I am going to add you onto my blog ‘Eyecandy’ list, so I can go through all your posts.
    This shop is amazing & like all good shops has way too much stuff that’s gorgeous and begs to be taken home. Its positively ‘crammed’ with goodies!

    Reply
  6. rosieswhimsy

    Sigh……..wish I lived close by. Looks like the kind of place you could spend hours in….snooping in every corner. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be looking for her shop to go online :-)

    Reply
  7. Joy

    What a lovely post! I just found out about The Blissful today and am lovin’ everything she carries. :)

    Reply
  8. Pat

    The Blissful looks like such a fun place to visit! My kind of shop, indeed!!

    Pat

    Reply
  9. Me, Myself, and I

    Oh…thank you for taking us inside such a beautiful shop. I could find myself getting lost in there for hours with all those fabulous finds. Too bad, I wasn’t anywhere near Ohio…I’ll have to check out their website instead. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Ruth Welter

    Melissa, what a beautiful shop. Wish I lived near there, I would love to visit.

    Reply
  11. Lynda

    I wish I did live near Canton! I’d love to visit The Blissful. I’ll be sure to visit her online shop in January. ~ Lynda xo

    Reply
  12. the feathered nest

    I would go CRAZEEE in that store! How gorgeous is everthing – lots! Love it! Can’t wait to see her online store although I saw that she said you can call her if you see anything you want. I may just have to do that :0)

    Manuela

    Reply
  13. Elzie

    Oh, I would love to visit that shop. So many lovely things. I would have to take my big wallet LOL.
    Love Elzie

    Reply
  14. Sweet Cottage Dreams

    I love Abby’s shop so much and will have to read her bit about owning a shop. That is something that I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember.

    Melissa, I cannot wait to see what twinkling things are in store for us on your blog!! tap, tap, tap, drum, drumming, drum…..

    Have a great rest of the week!!

    xo,
    Becky

    Reply
  15. Mélanie

    It seems to be a wonderful place !!!
    I love it
    Great to read your post about a dream that came true

    Reply
  16. Vee

    Yessss, I think that Abby’s correct about the scents that folks are looking for. I just purchased one called “creamy nutmeg” and it’s divine. Melissa, thank you for pointing out another wonderful blogger and her delightful shop.

    Reply
  17. Terri

    Oh, it just kills me to see that stuff online without being able to touch it, to poke through the piles, to hold things in my hands and inspect them. All her stuff looks amazingly wonderful – positively neato finds! Can’t wait for the online store…thanks for the tip. Just catching up on some of your posts – you have been busy! Some awesome posts – love those swings most!

    Reply
  18. Rhoda

    Oh, my kind of place too! I doubt I’ll ever be up that way, but the pics sure are pretty. We can browse online though for some eye candy.

    Rhoda

    Reply
  19. Kathleen Grace

    Thanks for the cool heads up, I love finding more great idea blogs! I’m headed over there rightnow:>)

    Reply
  20. diane

    What a beautiful shop! I recently found her blog-I wished I lived nearby so I could visit. Thanks for sharing these photos.

    Reply
  21. Cre8Tiva

    what bliss to have a little shop like that…except i could never run it…i am way too impatient to deal with customers…bt i know who i wold get as a partner…again you have given me such good ideas…blessings, rebecca

    Reply
  22. Deb

    Your shop looks devine!!! I so wish that I lived closer. I cannot wait until you open your online shop in 2008!!! I LOVE your decorating style!

    Many Blessings & Warm Wishes,
    Debbie

    Reply
  23. Apryll Annie

    Hi Melissa, thank you so much for the lovely comment you left on my blog. I think your blog is wonderful! Its really nice to have the support of the blogging community.

    -Apryll x

    Reply
  24. Christine

    Thank you so much for sharing such an awesome lady! Gosh, that’s what I’m needing these days is some uplifting ladies who take the time out for us little people! Fabulous in my book!
    Take care dear!

    Reply
  25. Neutral Dwelling

    I really enjoyed reading her blog – A Boutique Industry. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  26. KJ

    How sad to miss this bliss… This store looks so inviting! I know I would be at home. Maybe we could move California…

    This is a very nice tribute!

    KJ

    Reply
  27. tica

    Thanks for the tour, looks like a place where your eyes could feast.

    Reply
  28. Niesz Vintage Home

    Wow! What a great shop!
    I don’t live in Canton, but I am in Ohio. :)

    This may require a fall roadtrip.
    Thanks for introducing me to her shop and blog!

    Kimberly :)

    Reply
  29. Rhonda

    Thanks for introducing me to The Blissful. I just want to stay and linger over every little thing:)
    Too bad Ohio is so far away for me. I would love to see it in person.

    Rhonda

    Reply
  30. Mari-Nanci

    A lovely entry. And I thought I had commented here. -sigh-

    Mari-Nanci

    Reply
  31. Dena

    I wish I lived closer, what an amazing shop! I’ve often daydreamed about owning my own little shop and visiting with like minded women as they came in. I so admire women who have made it a reality. Thank you for sharing and I’m off to visit her blog :)

    Dena

    Reply
  32. Daisy Cottage

    What a great post about Abby and her WONDERFUL shop! I remembered how thrilled I was when I first discovered her blog – how I wish I could visit her shop in person! I will definitely be one of her on-line customers! Thank you for the inspiring post!

    xo,
    Kim

    Reply
  33. Abby from The Blissful

    To Melissa & All Her Fabulous Friends & Readers–

    Ladies, I am simultaneously flattered, humbled, & filled with glee over your outpouring of support & compliments for my shop, The Blissful. As some of you know & many more of you can imagine, shop owning is a way of life that requires a lot of dedication, sacrifice, a continually renewed imaginative mindset, and prayerfulness. It delights us to discover new friends & customers from around the U.S. & beyond. We can’t wait to share a wider selection of our goods online with you through our e-boutique in January. Thanks for all of your kind words & well-wishes!

    –Abby

    Reply
  34. kari and kijsa

    So beautiful….we loved the glimpse of the owner….and seeing her follow her dreams…it’s awe-inspiring! Thanks for a great post!

    kari and kijsa

    Reply
  35. Judy

    OOoooooo…now that is one shop I would like to visit! The chances if me ever landing up in Ohio are pretty slim, but I will visit on-line. Beautiful!

    Reply
  36. Erin

    This post and your nesting post inspired me! I just bought a beautiful little apron for my sister for her birthday, which is far more original than I usually am. I love the idea of being a domestic goddess- it sounds so wonderfully girly and creative yet not frivolous or shallow! Too bad I am still so far from it.

    Reply
  37. Erin

    Oh, and that last bit Abby said about customers looking to finish decorating and nest— SO TRUE!

    Reply
  38. phyllis

    How have I overlooked this blog? I see all of my buddies hang out here already! Love everything I see :)

    Reply
  39. My Melange

    Oh my…..Love, love, love it. I am loving the Frenchness of it all!!! I will be sure to check it out!!

    Reply
  40. Carrie

    Thank you for sharing this wondrful shop.

    Reply
  41. Kim Hardt

    Hi Melissa, You blog is fantastic. Ran across it today. I love to decorate as well. But my passion is designing one-of-a-kind papier mache creations. I wish I could do what you do. What fun you must have.

    My neighbors have always told me I should be into decorating. Easier said than done. I have to give you credit. I would love to swap blogs with you.
    Thanks

    Reply

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