Sharing a passion for service and style
Women in Business
IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.
Meleny Bodaly’s encouragement to other women is simple: don’t be discouraged by outdated attitudes, use what serves you and release the rest.
There is such an interesting variety of fashion retailers sharing their stories here, with specialists in dressing women and men.
Yet there are consistent themes running through these profiles. It’s clear that the love of fashion is foundational; helping procure quality clothing that meets a very specific need is a deeply satisfying vocation; and providing a joyful customer experience is more rewarding than making a sale.
Beautiful!
KIM ARIESEN
Studio Style
Kim Ariesen loves meeting people at her Port Stanley fashion boutique, Studio Style.
“I love to engage with clients and see them happy when they leave.”
She always wanted to own a shop and her education and experience brought her to Port Stanley. A career in corporate and independent organizations provided key skills: sales, management, merchandizing, team leadership and teaching.
“I had all those experiences before I opened Studio Style. It was the right time because I had worked in a lot of different areas. It gave me the confidence,” she says.
Kim is also grateful to the community and gives back through a variety of fundraising, special events and donations of end-of-season clothes to shelters.
MELENY BODALY
Buragina’s Men’s Fashions
For Meleny Bodaly confidence is the heart of great style and helping men find their own style is her passion.
Now celebrating 21 years in business, Meleny has embraced every role since taking over the store in 2017, from buyer and salesperson to bookkeeper and, as she jokes, “toilet washer.” What she loves most is guiding unsure customers and seeing their joy when compliments pour in.
Meleny is a strong advocate for women in men’s fashion, noting that women-led shops are on the rise because customers trust honest, thoughtful feedback. Her encouragement to other women is simple: don’t be discouraged by outdated attitudes, use what serves you and release the rest.
A proud mother of three, she also happily admits she’s never met a cheese she didn’t like.
KARINA BOGLE
White Balmer Shoes
Karina Bogle’s passion for footwear began in high school, working at a shoe store. After an education in marketing and experience with a shoe distributor, she returned to her hometown Stratford store and purchased it.
“I love working in the store,” she says. “I have always liked the customer interaction and helping people find what they’re looking for.”
Karina also likes to show people they don’t need to sacrifice style for comfort. She coined White-Balmer’s slogan “Step comfortably, stylishly” to embody what the store does.
Karina trains her staff to know the brands they sell as well as how to measure and properly fit. “What sets us apart,” she says, “is our commitment to personalized service.”
As well as footwear for women, men and children, she carries handbags, accessories and shoe care products.
LISA FERGUSON
Hangar9
Lisa Ferguson and the team at Hangar9 build a wardrobe around a client’s lifestyle needs using nine essential pieces — hence the name.
They analyse each client’s personality and colour to customize their best look.
“To buy wisely, it takes time, thought and effort,” Lisa says. “We eliminate that stress for you.”
Service is the core of their business, and education is a key component, she says.
“We teach quality versus quantity. We teach about fabric, style and colours. What do you need to get through your day? We plan your wardrobe around it.”
“We know who our client is so we buy for her — jeans to sequins, shoes, handbags, accessories, nylons — the total look.”
VICTORIA MARSHALL & CASSIDY MARSHALL
First & Third
For sisters Victoria and Cassidy Marshall, fashion is the starting point, but people are the heart of everything they do.
As the owners of First & Third, they’ve spent nearly three years building a curated clothing store rooted in confidence, kindness and genuine connection.
“Starting the business meant taking a leap, trusting there would never be a ‘perfect’ time,” says Victoria, “only the courage to begin.”
Grateful for the women who lifted them up, Victoria and Cassidy are passionate about encouraging other female entrepreneurs.
While their lifelong passion for fashion brought them into the business, it’s the relationships with clients, and seeing women feel more confident, that keeps them inspired.
Deeply family-oriented, they cherish time spent with their family and their two other sisters whenever busy schedules allow.
That sense of closeness carries into their work, shaping the First & Third brand, built on community.
MANSI PATEL
Curiosities Gift Shop
For Mansi Patel, owning Curiosities Gift Shop is the realization of a lifelong dream to build something of her own.
Stepping into ownership in 2024, she was drawn to the shop’s 40-year legacy, its commitment to Canadian makers and its deep roots in the Old South community.
“I truly love every part of what I do,” Mansi says. “Sharing the stories behind each piece and connecting with our customers is incredibly meaningful to me.”
She thrives on discovering new artists and curating items that feel personal, thoughtful and perfectly suited to our community.
Mansi encourages women exploring retail to take time to learn what inspires them, reminding them that there is room for every path.
She believes women should feel proud each day they pursue work they genuinely love.
“Show up with passion — you belong here.”
ANNE-MARIE FOREMAN-RUTHERFORD
Magnolia Boutique at Parkway Gardens
Fashion is about connection, confidence and care for Anne-Marie Foreman-Rutherford.
With a decade of experience in the fashion industry and a lifelong background in customer service, she finds genuine fulfillment in helping women feel their best through style.
Working at Magnolia Boutique at Parkway Gardens feels like a natural fit, offering a creative, people-focused environment within a warm, family-run business she’s proud to be part of.
Anne-Marie believes fashion is an especially rewarding career for anyone who loves people and enjoys supporting women in feeling confident and comfortable.
She values the supportive culture created by the owners and appreciates being part of a team that truly looks after one another.
Outside of work, Anne-Marie stays active by working out with her favourite fitness buddy, travelling whenever she can, and recently embracing the addictive joy of pickleball.
• parkwaygardens.ca/pages/magnolia-boutique
PADDY RICHARDSON
Plumage Studio
With more than 40 years in the textile world, Paddy Richardson brings both artistry and authenticity to Plumage Studio, located at The Market at Western Fair District.
Before opening her shop five years ago, she spent decades in theatrical and dance costuming, a foundation that deepened her love for colour, texture and the subtle details that make an accessory unforgettable.
Her leap into leatherwork began unexpectedly during millinery school, when a single piece of leather sparked a passion that reshaped her creative life. Today Paddy handcrafts her leather handbags, and thoughtfully sources tweed caps from Ireland and linen scarves from Lithuania, choosing makers whose values mirror her own.
Drawn to slow fashion and timeless craftsmanship, she encourages women to stay natural, trust quality over trends, and embrace accessories that are truly built to last.
BETTINA WEBER
Boutique Firenze
With an eye for beauty and a passion for craftsmanship, Bettina Weber has created a shopping haven where style, creativity and joy meet.
Her business began humbly in 2009, selling elegant gloves and scarves at fairs and women’s events, eventually blossoming into the charming boutique she opened in 2017.
Bettina revels in the freedom of entrepreneurship. “Anything that goes wrong is on me, but so is everything that goes right,” she says. “There’s nothing more rewarding.”
She infuses her artistic spirit, photography, floral design, and writing into every detail of the shop. Each year, she travels to Italy to handselect pieces, turning her sourcing trips into unforgettable journeys of inspiration.
Though Boutique Firenze is meant to be her “retirement” job, Bettina also serves as Community Emergency Management Coordinator for Middlesex County, a balance that keeps her energized.
