An all-female business collective quietly opened in the heart of downtown Victoria last month, taking over a 4,200-square-foot space in the 1400-block of Broad St.
“We are a bridal, beauty and fashion collective,” said Marion Groot, owner of Ma-Luxe Studios and brainchild behind The Studio Collective.
Ma-Luxe Studios offers tiered membership for studio use and collaborative services. Its current members include professionals in photography, makeup and hair artistry, bridal fashion and accessories.
The collective provides creative services to private and commercial clients, Groot said. The studio space is also available for private functions.
“We have our brides and beauty and fashion clients and then our commercial clients, which tend to be branded clients ... in Victoria and abroad, and we help them develop visual content for their branding.”
Groot has been providing bridal and branding services for several years, and was inspired to create the collective after experiencing first-hand the difficulty of connecting with other small business owners.
“When you’re an entrepreneur and trying to move your business forward, it can often be quite lonely,” she said. “The women involved definitely get a sense of camaraderie.”
Ma-Luxe Studios is providing services for 110 weddings this year alone, and is already booking into 2014. Find more info at ma-luxe.com or 250-590-5051.
– Daniel Palmer
Child-care centre opens in Uptown
Kids & Company, a Toronto-based, corporate-sponsored child care company, opened in Uptown last week, making it the first shopping centre in the region with a dedicated child-care facility.
The company teams with employers looking to enhance their support of working parents, as well as providing short-term help for parents who want to shop without the kids around. Kids and Company is at 3500 Uptown Blvd. Visit kidsandcompany.ca for more information.
Fringe at the Sub hosts cut-a-thon
On the Fringe Hair Design is hosting a cut-a-thon Oct. 26 to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The event happens in the Michele Pujol Room in the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria. The salon’s goal is to raise $5,000. Call 250-472-7521 for more information.
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