Female-run Okotoks space wants you to bliss out
A new space in Okotoks, Alta., houses a multitude of businesses that change based on the day of the week, but they all have one thing in common: they're run by women.
Bliss Room is a 120-square-foot space on Elma Street in Okotoks that houses a spray tan studio, clothing store and a space for yoga instructors or estheticians.
"You're going to see a space that is a lot of different things, but it flows," said Bliss Room founder Brittany Prete. She also runs her business, Organic Tan, out of the space.
"You have one girl on Monday, one girl on a Tuesday, one girl on a Wednesday, one girl on a Thursday, and so on."
The rental space, which is a room within the Bliss boutique, opened six weeks ago.
It was created with female entrepreneurship in mind. Prete said she wants to give an affordable space to women in Okotoks.
"Bliss is a space that was built on high hopes, and big dreams, and Bliss is a collaborative, shared space for women in business to run their businesses where we support each other and lift each other up. Our motto is 'Good vibes only,'" she said.
Prete said she doesn't make a profit from the women who operate out of Bliss — and that their success is based on their own work.
"They need to find out who they are and what their business is and how they want to make their business successful," Prete said.
Prete poured her savings into Bliss after she was diagnosed with Stage 1 melanoma a year ago.
"My husband said, "What are you doing with your life? You're so outgoing, you're so passionate,'" Prete said. "It just dawned on me one day, I need to do something for myself."
Jessica Irwin, the owner of Swoon Brows, operates her business in the space.
"I love starting new businesses, and I love helping and supporting people who start their own businesses," Irwin said.
"The cool thing about it is that the sky's the limit. Like think of what you can do. That room is open for anything and whatever," she said.
