At Know-it-all passport®, we only write about companies and individuals we can recommend. Royal Bloom florist in Lausanne, run by Lois Vitry-Trapman, was an easy recommendation. We decided an article would interest our readers and Lois has kindly offered a bouquet to one of our lucky readers! Read on to find out how to enter the competition. Lois answered a few of our questions here.
When and why did you decide to open a florist/gift shop?
The idea first came while I was studying Interior Architecture in Lausanne, which I completed after having just passed my Bsc in Hospitality management at the prestigious Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne. I wanted a space of my own, a place of beauty and creativity for clients to get their ‘flower fix’ and sound advice on interior design without breaking the money jar, and a space of creativity that would allow me to be my best, host workshops for adults and kids alike, and reunite everyone in one sympathetic place. After having had three kids and started a business with my husband in 2012 which I still handle (www.royalfish.ch), I really thought it was time to express myself through beauty and art and opened Royal Bloom.
What background do you come from?
I am originally half French, half British from my parents, but grew up in sub-Saharan Africa and the USA. I hold Africa very close to my heart and have always wanted to go back and open a hotel or a restaurant in the Congo, but that for sure is for another chapter of my life! I came to Switzerland to study Hotel Management. I have lived in Costa Rica, Washington DC, Congo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Kenya , Belgium and Mauritius. I speak 4 languages and define myself as a citizen of the world. I set my eyes on this very precise boutique upon arrival in Switzerland, as the florist there was such an inspiration, creative and provocative. When she was ready to retire, we spoke and I finally ended up opening my dream store in April 2019.
Necessity is the mother of invention... or is it: Mother is the necessity to invention? In this case, both are correct! Local mother of two young daughters saw a need for comfortable, chic undergarments in the way of bras, camisoles, and underwear... as there was none to be found! Alisia Grenville thought about it and then acted upon it. Something not too babyish nor too adult. Something just right, something soft and pretty and pastel.
The International Women Club of Nyon (IWCN) was founded in 1987 as a non-profit organisation for English-speaking women residing in Nyon and the surrounding region. Its purpose is to promote friendly contacts among women of all nationalities through multiple activities and to help facilitate the integration of newcomers. The IWCN consists of approximately 550 members taking part in more than 50 interests groups, ranging from cookery and culture to sports and languages. Most of these take place during the working day.
The Club is managed by volunteers, and all members are encouraged to give their support by offering some of their time, talents and skills to the functioning of the Club activities. A weekly mail Newsletter, The Digest, gives information on local events, items for sale/rent and includes advertisements from non-members. A monthly publication, The Grapevine, keeps members informed of Club activity, coffee mornings, local excursions, trips abroad and special events.
A big part of the Club is to get funding for the donations to organisations that relate to women and children in need at the local -and international level. The Charity Committee select with organisations that will be funded. Every year the Charity Committee is organising a book sale in October at the new coming event to fund money. In December every year, the Charity Committee provide with refreshment for the December Christmas Carol Concert and donation given at the concert goes to an organisation. In 2018 the donation went to the One-Dollar-Glasses.
A Swiss-born Max Steiner decided in the year 2000 to move to Bolivia, the home country of his wife, and founded Hostelling Bolivia. What started with the installation of youth hostels and adventure travelling is today a well-known charity organization. Max Steiner’s latest project is called One-Dollar-Glasses, and it aims to cover the entire country. A German maths teacher in Erlangen started the project. He wanted to create glasses for one dollar to support people in developing countries. It took two years to create a box to produce glasses in the simplest way possible. His first field test succeeded in 2012 in Uganda and later spread to several other African countries. It has now reached Bolivia. Max Steiner goes to rural areas, organizes eye tests and is able, with his team of helpers to manufacture glasses right away for those in need. At a later stage, people in rural areas will be trained to continue this work.
As a result, besides the amazing possibility to bring eyesight correction to people who have never seen an optician or had any glasses, this project also creates work. A 10 $ donation will give a person a pair of glasses.
Local entrepreneurs Barbara Traulsen and Selene Folkesson continue their success with the popular multi-functional straps and fashion accessories, Brappz, started in 2014. We published this article at the time. The idea started in a fitting room battling with the bra-strap dilemma: to conceal or reveal? They decided to reveal but with style! By swapping the traditional unsightly bra strap for a sassy silicon strap and fun, detachable hook, they created a clever fashion accessory that doesn’t look, feel or adjust like a conventional bra strap.
The strappz (straps) make the perfect fashion accessory for anyone who enjoys designer bra-straps but Brappz also comes as stylish additions to your hair, designer bracelets around your wrist, necklaces, or even trendy laces in your shoes!
These silicone-based strappz and 2-way detachable hooks come in a large variety of colors and sizes. Snap on charms, including Smiley™, as well as heart shaped ones really add that all-important bling. We've just been informed that you will receive 2 flamboyant red strappz with any order over Fr. 20.- made by the end of February 2019! In addition, Brappz are giving knowitall.ch readers an extra something: read below to see what it is!
Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde - Where is Waldo
From January 31st to February 3rd, artgenève will welcome 90 contemporary and modern art galleries from 18 countries presenting more than 800 artists in Palexpo’s hall 2. A strong institutional program and original curated shows will enrich the prestigious selection of regional and international galleries including newcomers Hauser & Wirth, Capitain Petzel, Eva Presenhuber, Raffaella Cortese, kamel mennour, ShanghART and Marlborough, just to name a few.
After a first and successful collaboration in 2018, artgenève will once again enlarge its artistic offer to decorative arts and design by inviting PAD (Pavilion of Art and Design) to present about 30 galleries in a dedicated section in parallel of the Salon d’Art. In the same spirit, PAD Monaco will open end of April along artmonte-carlo 2019 at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
Highlights
The 2019 edition will celebrate the 5th anniversary of "The Estate Show", an annual exhibition presenting monumental works by historical artists, with Chris Burden’s 40 Foot Stepped Skyscraper.
The Kunsthaus Baselland, the Ringier Collection from Zurich with a focus on Valentin Carron, the personal collection of artist Olivier Mosset presented by the Musée de La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Fondation Gandur pour l’Art displaying a timeless exhibition will join the MAMCO and its "in course of acquisition" stand, the Centre d’Art Contemporain presenting the "Biennale de l’Image en Mouvement" and other independent regional and international art spaces to enrich artgenève’s institutional landscape. The Fondation Beyeler, the Whitechapel Gallery and the Serpentine Galleries from London will also honor the Salon d’Art with their presence.
