There is a new kind of cool on the block. Founders Lisa Ng and Wendy Kammarcy have launched a new lifestyle website entitled The Hip & Urban Girls Guide, or HUG for short. Based in Toronto, but with content worldwide, the Hip & Urban Girls site is a “lifestyle blog dedicated to urban eats, hip getaways, cool events and networking”. And they aren’t kidding about the networking part! I have now attended two of their networking events and these ladies can schmooze. Lisa is like a matchmaker of entrepreneurs! She is constantly introducing like-minded ladies to each other and setting up meetings with some of the city’s best go-getters.
I recently met with Lisa and Wendy to talk to them about HUG and how it all got started:
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| Wendy (@BossLadyWendy on Twitter) |
WK: We had our own individual blogs at the start of the year. I had tons of photos and stories I wanted to share with the world and Lisa decided to start blogging as a hobby (she runs her own DJ company www.helloDJ.ca and it was off-season for weddings). We're both foodies and love to travel so the topics we were blogging about were very similar - so we just decided to merge everything and team up under Lisa's original blog to create The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide!
So Lisa has her DJ'ing company, Wendy what were you doing before HUG? Did you have your own business as well?
WK: I was running in the rat race! Working in Online Marketing for a large global corporation. I LOVED what I was doing so naturally I was eating, sleeping, breathing my job which didn't really leave much time for me to enjoy other things. I burnt out and realized I needed more "balance" so I left all that behind to start my own consulting business (I specialize in online marketing and advertising -- sem, seo, social media, etc.). It's worked out great because I can now travel whenever I want, take an afternoon off to go shopping, lunch with friends or yoga class!
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| Lisa (@HipUrbanGirl on Twitter) |
WK: I knew I wanted to go into business with Lisa because she was already running a successful business of her own and I knew there was a lot I could learn from her. She has skills that compliment mine - for example, Lisa is definitely more outspoken then me so she manages the PR whereas, I am more of the "Geek Girl" so I'm good with project management and optimizing our website.
LN: I was the Meetup organizer for Toronto Work at Home Women. Through that group I met some amazing female entrepreneurs and Wendy was one of them! It is so important to surround yourself with ambitious, supportive and positive people.
What is your goal for HUG?
WK & LN: We want to become the #1 portal/website for women ages 25-35 in Toronto. I know people think we are 'just a blog' - but we are so much more than that. We host a unique networking event once a month for women to connect offline and encourage each other's projects and businesses. They have become so popular that we had to open up the occasional Co-Ed Edition so hip + urban guys could join in the fun too. There is so much young ambition in this city and we want to be in the centre of it all!
Where do you see the HUG brand going in the next 5 years?
In the short term we'll continue hosting events, developing our Blog with valuable content and forming partnerships with corporate sponsors who would like to co-host with us. In the longer term we definitely see the HUG brand expanding across Canada and the US.
It is always inspiring to see other women take life by the horns and follow their dreams and these women are truly motivation for me to get going! The official HipUrbanGirl.com website launched last Wednesday and I had the privilege of attending their party held at SpiceSafar on King St. The event was packed with young, talented, entrepreneurs - both male and female and even featured a routine by Fever, the new cabaret style burlesque show on now at Second City.
WK & LN: We want to become the #1 portal/website for women ages 25-35 in Toronto. I know people think we are 'just a blog' - but we are so much more than that. We host a unique networking event once a month for women to connect offline and encourage each other's projects and businesses. They have become so popular that we had to open up the occasional Co-Ed Edition so hip + urban guys could join in the fun too. There is so much young ambition in this city and we want to be in the centre of it all!
What is one trait that every Hip Urban Girl must have?
What is one "Hip Tip"?
WK: Be true to yourself. It is one of the hardest things to do but the best thing you can do for yourself.
WK: A positive outlook on life. It's all in the attitude baby!
LN: To make sure they are living the life they want and to the absolute fullest. There are no do-overs!
What is one "Hip Tip"?
WK: Be true to yourself. It is one of the hardest things to do but the best thing you can do for yourself.
LN: Drink lots of water, you'll feel ten times better and have more energy.
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| Lisa & Wendy at the HUG launch at SpiceSafar |
In the short term we'll continue hosting events, developing our Blog with valuable content and forming partnerships with corporate sponsors who would like to co-host with us. In the longer term we definitely see the HUG brand expanding across Canada and the US.
It is always inspiring to see other women take life by the horns and follow their dreams and these women are truly motivation for me to get going! The official HipUrbanGirl.com website launched last Wednesday and I had the privilege of attending their party held at SpiceSafar on King St. The event was packed with young, talented, entrepreneurs - both male and female and even featured a routine by Fever, the new cabaret style burlesque show on now at Second City.
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| Me with Hip & Urban Girl Kimberley of Arbonne Cosmetics |
Their regular networking events are held once a month in chic downtown locales and if you havent attended an event yet, I highly recommended meeting up with the Hip & Urban Girls. All their contact information can be found on their site here if you want to join their Facebook page and stay on top of upcoming events and giveaways.
xoxo,
dg
4 comments:
Thank you for all the lovely compliments and a feature on your blog!
Great post! These ladies are tres inspiring :) Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the last networking event but this just motivated me to definitely attend the next one. Thanks for sharing Davida!
Great article Davida... and look, I even made it into the photo gallery ;)
Loving HUG - I keep meeting so many talented women. Keep up the good work.
Off to check out H.U.G I'm embarrassed to say never heard of the site till I read it here. I'm so glad I came by, not only to discover your blog but many others:)
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