Pretty Little Shoes creates an at-home shoe shopping experience while giving back to local women’s charities such as The Princess Shop! Pretty Little Shoes is an e-commerce initiative founded in January 2016 by Baillie Janex with majority of sales being online or through home Shoe Parties. Baillie is passionate about giving back to the community and that’s how Pretty Little Shoes became involved with The Princess Shop! For every 150 pairs of shoes sold through Pretty Little Shoes home parties a brand new pair of shoes will be donated to The Princess Shop to be used by Princess Graduates participating in The Dress Program! 

We have asked Baillie a few questions about Pretty Little Shoes and her involvement with The Princess Shop:

Q1: Tell us about Pretty Little Shoes

Pretty Little Shoes is a home and ecommerce based shoe company located in Saskatoon. The bread and butter of Pretty Little Shoes is the in-home shoe party.

Shoe parties are so much fun - we bring a selection of shoes for you and your girlfriends to try on, purchase, and take home the day of the party. What better way to spend an afternoon/ evening then trying on shoes with your girlfriends?! In addition, we also offer one-on-one shoe shopping appointments, shopping via our online store, and we also have Facebook and Instagram so our customers can stay in the know about all things Pretty Little Shoes.

Currently we carry ladies shoes from size 5-11, but also carry a small selection of little girl shoes. We offer a wide variety of shoe styles (boots, heels, flats, sandals, booties), and carry a wide array of brands.

Q2: Tell us about yourself! Why did you wish to be involved with The Princess Shop?

I am an entrepreneur, student, runner, friend, and volunteer. I love the flexibility that my business allows me to have. Each day is a different schedule and brings something new - which is good because it keeps me on my toes. :)

When I first started Pretty Little Shoes, it was a priority of mine to find a local organization that we would be able to give back to. I know a couple ladies who are Fairy GodMothers with The Princess Shop and they have expressed how much they love their roles, so The Princess Shop was an obvious choice. Not only is it wonderful that they provide graduation attire for the Princesses, but offering mentoring to these young ladies is very encouraging.

Q3: How does The Princess Shop benefit from your involvement?

I'm very excited to be involved with The Princess Shop! Every woman deserves to have a day that they get to dress up and feel gorgeous and if we can help by providing a pair of shoes, then I am so happy to be involved. Pretty Little Shoes is excited to donate one pair of shoes to The Princess Shop for every 150 pairs of shoes that we sell. We also gladly accept donations from our customers/ hostesses that we pass on to The Princess Shop.

Q4: What was your graduation experience like? Your dress?

To be honest, I wasn't overly excited about graduation and the dress up experience. I used to say I was going to wear a brown paper bag to my graduation. But when I went dress shopping and found a dress that actually looked good on my tiny frame, I got so excited! It was a gorgeous strapless, navy blue dress with ruching.

Graduation was always something that scared me a little - fear of the day, fear of what would lie ahead, and saying good-bye to many friends who I had become so close to. But my graduation day was close to perfection. I have so many fond memories of that day, whether it be the ceremony, getting dressed up, or spending the day with my friends.

Q5: If you could give Princess Graduates a word of advice, what would it be?

If I could give a word of advice to Princess Graduates it's this - Work hard. Dream big. Have faith. Don't settle. Success isn't just handed to you - you have to work for it. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, lift you up, encourage you, and love you just the way you are.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Good things can happen if you stay within your comfort zone but great things happen if you step out and see what else is out there.

The Princess Shop is grateful for local initiatives that can give back to our Princess Graduates in unique ways! You can find Pretty Little Shoes online, to shop or book a home party, at www.prettylittleshoesonline.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PrettyLittleShoes. You can also find them on Instagram @pretty.little.shoes and using the hashtag #PLShoes. Check it out for back to school shopping and you will also be contributing to a good cause, The Princess Shop!

Here at The Princess Shop, we are making our way through our 9th graduation season with 130+ Princess Graduates in our Dress Program! We have seen amazing growth in numbers of women accessing the Dress Program, which lends out the dress and accessories to graduating women in financial and/or social need. Furthering that, for Saskatoon Graduates we can set them up with hair, makeup, photos, limo and corsage (Thanks to these amazing sponsors) to provide the enhanced graduation experience to mark the accomplishment.

Over the past 8 years (this year not included) we have supported 628 women for their graduation day. That means 628 women have attended their graduation feeling proud of their accomplishments, and equivalent to their peers. 628 women who might not have attended their graduation celebration at all, if not provided the opportunity to be a part of The Princess Shop's Dress Program.

That being said, we know a thing or two about graduation days: the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Whether you're reading this and you're a graduate, an escort, a parent, friend or a family member of a graduate, this is for YOU! We all want the big day to go smoothly, but we know anything can go wrong. It is our goal for our Princess Graduates to have a stress-free graduation day! Having been a part of so many graduates' big day, and accompanying them to hair, makeup and photography appointments, we have learned a lot about quick fixes, and how to be prepared in case of anything - and we would love to share this with you! 

Here is The Princess Shop's Graduation Emergency Essentials Kit:

The Princess Shop is now in its 9th Graduation Season in Saskatoon! What does this mean? It means we have helped over 628 young women in Saskatoon and surrounding areas to feel supported, celebrated, and beautiful on their graduation days. 

If you are planning to graduate in 2016, we want to hear from you. What many do not know is that in addition to our Grad Dress Program, we also offer mentorship opportunities, and scholarship opportunities for all current and past Princess Graduates. If you are considering applying to be a Princess Graduate, here's what you need to know: 

1. Print off our application form and submit it to info@theprincessshop.ca (or drop it off in person)

2. Once we have received your application, Karen from the Princess Shop will contact you to book your dress appointment with one of our volutneers!

3. At your dress appointment, you will have the opportunity to try on your favourite choices of our massive selection of new and gently used grad dresses! 

4. At your appointment, you will also have the opportunity to choose shoes, jewellery, and handbag for your special day.

*All Saskatoon Princess Graduates will have hair styling, makeup artistry, photography, and corsage provided by the Princess Shop, and our wonderful sponsors!

5. Princess graduates are eligible to join our mentorship program, The Fairy Godmother program, as well as our Next Chapter program, which has scholarship opportunities that are available exclusively for Princess Graduates!

6. In addition to your graduation experience, The Princess Shop also holds three events annually that are great opportunities for you to meet fellow Princess Graduates, our wonderful volunteer team, and receive all of the support, and information you might need about our mentorship and scholarship programs! We encourage all Princess Graduates to attend!