Michelle Rizzardo of One of a Few
Even though she’d worked in retail since her teenage years, Michelle Rizzardo didn’t always think having her own shop was something she’d want to do. But when she decided to open One of a Few, it seemed like the most obvious decision to those who knew her well – a good sign, if we’ve ever seen one!
After college, while backpacking around Asia, Michelle was inspired by how gorgeous her hang-drying clothes looked while the sun streamed through them - that image planted the seed that would grow into One of a Few. She returned to Vancouver and started working on a business plan for a mock boutique, and when she presented the idea, it was so solid that she was encouraged to pursue it. Michelle had been doing all the practical aspects of running a boutique for years in different shops, so she was well-prepared for the job. Finding a good location was key, Michelle knew, and the Gastown neighborhood of Vancouver has created an incredibly supportive community of entrepreneurs and artists. Adapting to the unexpected changes the shop goes through was a challenge at first, but Michelle now sees those changes as opportunities to grow and better support her customers and fellow business owners.
PAY ATTENTION: It’s clear this one’ a great one.
FULL NAME: Michelle Rizzardo
CITY: Vancouver, BC
BIGGEST BUSINESS HURDLE YOU’VE OVERCOME: Running my own store has complications and joys. I would say that the joys outweigh the complications and to be honest the hardest thing to learn was to drive through obstacles I could not control. When I first opened my shop my anxiety level would go up and down all over the place. Eventually I learned that I could use any situation and grow from it. If a brand I loved became too saturated in the city, it was time to find something new. It’s the ebb and flow of business and essentially what kept me always moving, learning and researching. Now after 15 years of running my own shop I use what I once saw as a negative situation as more of a building block and an opportunity to grow.
FAVE PIECE IN YOUR CLOSET RIGHT NOW: My MNZ Olympia shoes, they are so comfortable, make my short legs look longer and they go with absolutely everything. My Bronze Age Serenity puff sleeve dress in white. It’s locally made, the cotton is crisp and thick enough so it’s not see-through and it’s easy to throw on in hot weather. My Marie Turner lunch bag, I can wear it with jeans and a t-shirt and then throw on a dress and wear it out at night. My Palorosa large tote for beach days with my kiddos and last but not least any white t-shirt that doesn’t have a child's fingerprint on it. I can never pick one item, but currently, all these items are on a heavy rotation so I had to mention them all.
FAVE SANDWICH: This is such an Adele question! I’d skip a sandwich and eat hash browns all day long if I could, extra crispy though, that’s essential.
Follow @shoponeofafew
Shop oneofafew.com