The Ribbon in My Journal – Phyllis Hoffman DePiano

The Business of Bliss

Phyllis

Entrepreneurs are near and dear to my heart. I remember when we started our magazine company with a few dollars and a lot of determination. Starting a business is not for the faint hearted, but it is very rewarding. It requires an unwavering commitment and a lot of work. After 33 years in business, I can say it was worth it. I love what I do and am so grateful for our company.

We celebrate entrepreneurs in Victoria magazine every year. One of the entrepreneurs featured in our January/February issue is Arbie Goodfellow of Mitford, Michigan. As you know I am a shoe lady. I am excited for you to see her exquisite shoe designs for brides. Her shoes are works of art incorporating beads, bows, and gorgeous embellishments into every pair. 

I know you will enjoy reading her story and celebrating with her.

 

Arbie Goodfellow

Employing artistry that for decades garnered her accolades on the ice, Arbie Goodfellow, of Milford, Michigan, glided  into a new career as owner of the online bridal boutique Parisxox with the same unwavering dedication that made her a U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist.

Once she turned professional, Arbie began a coaching career that spanned more than ten years. The work was arduous, with long hours passed at the rink giving individual and group instruction and on weekends guiding or judging students during competitions.

Choreographing routines and bejeweling costumes utilized her talents, but travels abroad made Arbie yearn for a different lifestyle. As she strolled cobblestone streets in Europe, she recalled inspiring expeditions—climbing in the Swiss Alps, exploring storied castles, examining paintings by the old masters—and realization dawned. “Instead of composing a program of music for one of my skaters, I wanted to create something with my hands,” she explains.

Incorporating a vintage brooch into a choker she fashioned for her wedding in Switzerland proved serendipitous, and soon she was producing elegant accessories for a growing list of bridal shops. When a client asked Arbie to embellish her wedding shoes, the results were so stunning that the customer’s mother wept at the sight of them and the wife-to-be ordered a second pair for dancing. From these events, Parisxox had established its niche.

Arbie designs the collections showcased on her website, ranging from demure ballerina flats to elegant d’Orsay heels. She sends sketches and fabric samples to her manufacturer, then by hand transforms the satin shoes with custom tints and shimmering accents.

 

Since exchanging skates for bespoke slippers in 2009, the proprietress says she has relished the freedom that entrepreneurship offers. Arbie spends blissful afternoons combing antiques markets around the world in search of delicate trims, but working from home enables her to coordinate studio responsibilities with her family’s schedule. Applied to her custom-dyed line, bits of ribbon and lace combine with cultured pearls and Austrian crystals to become couture treasures—allowing each bride to walk down the aisle in splendor.

 

 

 

 

If you could start a business today, what would it be with you at the helm?