Introducing...NIKI!

To mark four fantastic years of Belle, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the amazing woman who has made it all possible, our gorgeous friend and leader, Niki 

Everyone has those people that enter their lives and never leave - those school friendships that last from school through university and into the real world; those ante-natal group mums and dads that go through the same highlights and lowlights of parenting at the same time as you; those school pick up faces that morph into weekend sport faces and end up reoccuring throughout your child's school days and beyond; and then those work friendships that get you through those long tedious days. 

Niki and I had that work friendship.

Sometimes it feels like from another lifetime - working alongside each other for a decade at an Australian clothing company that had multiple stores throughout New Zealand.  Being the front-facing image of a company is not for everyone; retail is not for everyone; you have to be quick, efficient, think on your feet, have common sense (you would be surprised how many young retail workers lack this very skill) and have a permanently slightly chipper view of the world. 

My decade of memories with Niki are full of laughter and naughtiness - she was always willing to egg us on, to make silly suggestions, and to often bring lightness and levity to sometimes serious situations.  Without fail for every stocktake her kids would call up and check if she was bringing KFC home for dinner when she finished.  Niki is the type of mum to cook three different dinners each night - one for her daughter, something different for her son, and yet another for hubby.  Niki has always given freely of her time and her efforts.

Eventually Niki decided to put her vast set of skills toward starting her own business; taking that leap of faith and putting herself out in the world in that most vulnerable of ways.

Niki found Belle.

She started with an existing company, with an existing brand, customers and collections.  Over these 4 years we have seen Belle gain brands - Indi+Cold, Melissa Shoes, Federation, X Lab, Lollys Laundry, Tuesday, Me The Label, Junkfood Jeans, Verge, Storm, Thing Thing and Cartel & Willow.  We have also lost brands, sadly watching them dissolve and disappear - Nyne, Ketz-Ke and Wilson and Trollope.

Niki is always willing to drive Belle toward a brighter future, willing to broaden our horizons and create relationships with unknown brands, willing to test our fashion sensibilities and to help us create fresh, fun and funky wardrobes.

Niki seems fearless; she embodies all of those necessary traits of a good retailer - quick, efficient, able to think on your feet, common sense, and always smiling.  I always know when Niki is close, as her infectious laughter is iconic and it always seems to announce her arrival into the room.  Yet we all know that no one is infallible.

We want to thank you for sticking with us; for being with us through those ups and downs over the past four years.  Your support has been invaluable to Belle and especially to Niki.