Believe in the Possibility | Founder & President Ma Cherie Bleue
Ma Cherie Bleue Bridal Boutique
Ma Chérie Bleue Bridal is an Award-Winning Boutique. This Montreal bridal boutique is for every bride who LOVES her style. Find your wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, accessories and shoes. Read on to hear the story of Nathale Phillips, Founder & President of Ma Cherie Bleue Bridal Boutique De La Mariée.
Four and a half years after opening Ma Cherie Bleue Bridal Boutique in Rosemére, Quebec has brought me to this fantastic moment in my professional career. My name is Nathale Phillips. I am 47 years old, mother of two beautiful children ages 5 and 9. I am a work-in-progress wife to my very humbled, husband Maxime, of 13 years. I am the proud black business owner of the best job & company I could have ever created and happily call my own. Thank you to Wedding Chicks for the honour of inviting me to your incredible platform to speak the truth about my story, my business and share a few bridal tips.
Being the owner of Ma Cherie Bleue has been the highest honour and joy in my professional career. Ma Cherie Bleue is an appointment-only bridal boutique, designed to empower women to look and feel their best in a wedding gown that genuinely represents their personality and unique sense of style for one of the most important days of their life.
"Having a company like Ma Cherie Bleue, in an industry predominantly caucasian owned, is not without its struggles."
Having a company like Ma Cherie Bleue, in an industry predominantly caucasian owned, is not without its struggles. I have often wondered how many other women of colour would love to take that leap of faith and start a similar business and decided not to because they believe the cards of doubts & failures are stacked too high against their chances to succeed.
"There will be many times when you feel like giving up or feel hopeless, and they will be right there, pulling you back up with encouragement."
Well, I am here to tell you, you can do it and succeed. Know this, the commitment and long hours you will need to invest with a start-up business at times will strain and test your family life. Most importantly, not everyone you meet along the way (financial institutions and other vendors in the industry) wants you to succeed. Some will collaborate with you because, at that "present" moment, you are the only boutique carrying the style of dresses they require for their projects. Do not let that get you down. Do what you have to do! Keep building and moving forward! Others you meet will sincerely want to build a stable working relationship with you. Keep them close to you. There will be many times when you feel like giving up or feel hopeless, and they will be right there, pulling you back up with encouragement.
"For each sale a black-owned company make, a caucasian owned company carrying identical products will make two. Not because you are not capable, or the service you provide is not impeccable."
For each sale a black-owned company make, a caucasian owned company carrying identical products will make two. Not because you are not capable, or the service you provide is not impeccable. Nor is it because your almost thirty years of experience in the fashion design industry, with a 97% accuracy of fit of the gowns produced for your clients, is not valued. The simple truth is, even if your boutique has the right designers and the perfect selection of dresses, some clients are just comfortable spending their money supporting their own. Don't let that get you down. Know and believe this! For every one client lost, two more is on the way! You continue to pull up your bootstraps and do what you must to weather the many storms of retail you will face building your company and stay ahead of it! Keep motivated! Find a mentor or a company that checks all the boxes you want to excel in. Reach out to that company, introduce yourself, be transparent with them, let them know you intend to learn and build. I did, I even went as far as attending their "Women in Business" seminars, and returned energized with a renewed sense of purpose, to continue building the company I care about and love.
There is no such thing as thinking too big or reaching too high! Stop telling yourself you are not good enough, or you are not ready and watching people with half your intelligence achieving what you are beyond capable of doing. We are doing it and proving every day. Today, the boutique has maintained a consistent five-star rating of our exemplary customer service above all other bridal boutiques in the surrounding area. Our reputation has built a high percent referral average because of the many ambassadors spreading the word of their satisfaction across provinces and countries as far as Holland, Madagascar, and the united states from which clients come to our little boutique to find their dresses.
Soon your shop inspires others to open the exact concept. Do not let that get you down! It means you are doing something right! Ma Cherie Bleue was the recent recipient of the 2020 Consumer Choice Award for the no# one bridal boutique in Montreal and surrounding areas for "Business Excellence." Despite the hurdles, struggles, and sacrifices, a black-owned business can be successful and grow in a predominantly caucasian owned industry that we are incredibly proud to call our own.
Read on for five popular
Q & A frequently asked by my brides
1. Is there a right and wrong way
to prepare to shop for my wedding dress?
No, each bride's approach to wedding dress shopping is different. Some create a Pinterest mood board; others get inspired by Instagram pictures. And a selected few create look-book binders (those are rare). And others don't do any prepping and instead take their body shopping!
2. What are some of the essential factors I should
focus on when shopping for my wedding dress?
Brides will tell me differently, but based on my experience, the most critical factors should always be the fit and comfort of your gown, followed by the aesthetics. Remember, in some cases, brides wear a wedding dress the day of, for over 12 hours. You will need to eat, move, dance and sit comfortably in the gown.
3. What do I do when my dream wedding
dress does not fit my vision or body type?
Remember, it's essential to choose a dress that reflects your fantastic personality and your keen sense of style and make you look and feel great in your skin! Even if that dress does not reflect the Pinterest or Instagram wedding dress vision, you'd started your shopping journey with.
4. How do I tune out the opinions
and choose "my" perfect dress?
For most brides, having their family and friends with them for their wedding journey is significant. And too many opinions can be overwhelming and adds to their emotional stress trying to satisfy everyone. Remember why you are shopping? Opinions are great, but that's all they are. In the end, the decision MUST be yours to make. This dress must represent you, your character, your style and YOUR visual memory.
5. Can I bring my fiancé wedding
dress shopping with me?
Of course, you should feel comfortable to bring whomever input you value most. Some brides take their parents, others take their friends, and a few felt comfortable taking their fiancé. Bonus question, and one of my all-time favourites
6. Will this dress make him cry?
A dress on its own will never make a groom cry, but I assure you. You in a gown that encompasses your personality and your keen sense of style and looking amazing topped with the emotions of the day will make any guy cry!!!
Be sure to follow @macheriebleue on Instagram to see all of the amazing designers, real brides accessories and shoes carried at the boutique.
- Bella Belle Shoes c/o: Ma Cherie Bleue
- Makeup Artist: Gabbie McGuire
- Photographers: Photography by Katie-Marie