Happy New Year …. Lilla Balint – we are so excited to have you as a WIBN Member in 2014! Joining WIBN in the Spring of 2013, Lilla joined to expand her network after other members referred her to us. As a designer and boutique owner Lilla is a making waves in the fashion world!
Lilla, Why did you become a member?
I know other business owners who are part of the network and found it to be valuable
Tell us about your business
The Black Box Boutique, established by Lilla Balint in September of 2012 is a jewellery box boutique that excites the eyes and inspires your lifestyle. The boutique is a life long dream of Lilla’s and celebrates the beautiful side of life. Each piece of jewelry is selecting in that celebration. The boutique features a wide mix of street fashion, glitter, glam, elegance, hipster, earthy, crafty and luxury – all beautiful featured in the tucked away second floor of a cream colored Victorian house in the heart of Toronto’s Yorkville. The area itself is a historic centre for art and culture with it’s breeding ground for some of Canada’s most noted musical talents, including Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. One can’t help feeling the magic of the village style neighbourhood with the bustling streets of Yorkville.
The Black Box Boutique strongly supports Canadian made brands and features about fifty percent Canadian designers. The boutique also features brands from all around the world; France, Italy, Thailand, India, United States, Istanbul, Isreal and more. The Black Box Boutique sells both men’s, women’s jewellery and watches featuring notable brands such asToywatch, Tokyobay, Noir, Divana, Vita Fede and Made with Love. The BBB has strived to make their boutique and e-store a great asset for customers to associate good quality products with unique designs. Its in-house label Lilla Balint Jewelry is exclusively available through the boutique and website.
I hope you all fall in love just as I have because we all deserve to be a little spoiled sometimes and indulge in beautiful shiny things.
Who are you outside of work?
I am a family oriented person who likes to spend time with my extended family and friends. I live to exercise and do yoga. I enjoy being creative and making jewellery (that’s still part of work as well as a hobby)
What motivated you to start your business or choose your profession?
I felt I always wanted to own my own business it was just a matter of time. I gained experience as a marketing coordinator for a bead wholesaler and branched out into retail.
How do you overcome business challenges or obstacles?
I continue to educate myself through courses, meetup groups and other networking groups. I also have a support team to motivate me and to bounce ideas off of. I enjoy being challenged and don’t see things as obstacles instead I think of creative ways to problem solve.
What are your greatest strengths?
- Following through
- creativity
- Technically savvy
What are your favourite business tools?
- icalender
- mailchimp
What are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate about being successful and happy
Who is your greatest business mentor and why?
My parents, they have been involved in numerous businesses and still today keep having new ideas and new goals.
What advice would you give to other business owners?
Keep hustling
Member Biography
Lilla Balint is a graduate of Ryerson University with a 4 year Degree in Fashion Garment design. As a result of graduating from a highly intensive fashion design school and interning in Toronto and New York City, Lilla has the professional capability of designing through various mixed media jewelry and accessory creations such as; jewelry making, handbags, hairpieces, scarves, leather working, and whatever connects to the latest fashions.
Lilla Balint has been designing and making jewelry even back during her days as a Fashion design student at Toronto’s Ryerson University. Jewelry and accessories have always been a passion of hers. “Jewellery is like the cherry on top of any outfit, it just pulls the whole look together”. She is attracted to all types of looks, from vintage, to glamorous, to delicate pieces, she loves to mix and match looks as well as price points. Lilla has taken her love of jewelry along with her experience as a marketing coordinator for a bead wholesaler to inspire her to open her own jewelry boutique. All the brands and designers have been uniquely selected for their craftsmanship, unique design and fashion-forward appeal. The brands all have very different styles, places of origin and price levels but appeal to the young, fashion forward city shopper.