Self-employment
Twin entrepreneurs enjoy double the successIf two heads are better than one, then so are two Seneca diplomas. That, in a nutshell, is the winning formula behind a fashion boutique called Boa. TOM BARTSIOKAS |
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 [ 2007-09-12 ] |
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Shortly after graduating from Seneca College, twin sisters Ofra and Daphne Nissani opened their own fashion boutique in Toronto called Boa.
Started by twin sisters Daphne and Ofra Nissani, Boa has been rated one of the best places to shop by Toronto Life Magazine thanks to its trendy clothes and original accessories including earrings, necklaces, handbags and belts.
"Starting our own business and working independently is something we really wanted to do since our days at Seneca," Ofra says. "Everything we have accomplished to date has really been a dream come true."
Using their Seneca knowledge, and their family's entrepreneurial spirit, the Nissanis opened their first store at Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue in 2001, and followed that up two years later with another store in the Beach.
It was during their studies at Seneca that Ofra, a graduate of Marketing, and Daphne, a graduate of International Business, first started dreaming of launching a company that combined their love of fashion, business and marketing together.
Shortly after graduating, the twins decided to pursue their goal and informed their parents they would be going into business for themselves.
"Our parents were entrepreneurs, so they wanted us to find jobs and get a pension instead," Daphne says. "Now they are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish."
But it wasn't easy. The sisters struggled financially to get their project off the ground.
"When we opened our first store it was very tough," Ofra says. "As two young entrepreneurs, many banks wouldn't come near us."
Undeterred, the sisters took out personal lines of credit instead, and the rest, Daphne says, is "history."
In each of their roles managing the company both sisters say their Seneca training comes into daily practice.
Ofra looks after all of Boa's marketing, accounting and human resources needs, while Daphne manages the majority of the store's clothing purchases.
"Because we are importing a lot of our fashions from the U.S., I'm using my knowledge in documentation and transport selection, while my sister is using all her marketing skills to promote our stores," Daphne says. "What we learned at Seneca has really helped us to succeed."
With their second store in the Beach doing well, the twins are now scouting locations for a third BOA boutique.
"It is just a matter of time before we open up another one," Ofra says. "Hopefully there will be many more to come."
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