Bamboo Ballroom

Stacey Boruk, Owner

What inspired you to start this business?

I have always loved fashion, and when I started my business 12 years ago there were very few boutiques or shops (big and small) for women to find clothing with an edge or unique on-trend pieces. I was inspired by lack of choice and a knowing I could provide an outlet for others experiencing similar fashion frustrations.

What do you like most about your business?

I love opening boxes with new arrivals—it’s like Christmas!

What do you feel differentiates Calgary as a supportive community compared to other big cities, in terms of businesses supporting other local businesses?

Calgarians love to collaborate. Everyone is very willing to either reach out or jump on-board and try ideas at your suggestion—it is so great not to be met with resistance! It helps there are so many businesses to choose from so the collaboration possibilities are endless.

How do you feel Calgary’s culture has changed or developed in the last few years?

Consumer culture is moving towards more unique pieces and experiences. People are carefully choosing where to spend their time and money and they want to leave feeling satisfied with whatever they purchased. No one is buying just to buy anymore.

Where are your favourite stomping grounds in Calgary?

For food, I love Minh Chau Vietnamese, Vintage Chophouse, Kanpai Sushi and Bridgette Bar for hanging out. I go to UNDRCRD for fitness and HIFI or Commonwealth for dancing.

Why do you feel it is important to collaborate with other businesses in Calgary?

Collaboration utilizes two different networks and therefore has twice the reach. I also like to collaborate with other businesses not related to fashion to access an entirely different group of people who may not have known about my business. It’s also good to collaborate with similar groups to expand your current reach even further.

If you had a dream local business to work with in the city, who would it be?

I’ve always liked West Elm, and I’m excited to announce our official collaboration for an evening of fashion and furnishings on Sunday, December 3 in support of Alberta Children’s Hospital!

Where do you find inspiration / where do you go to feel inspired?

Instagram makes it easy to find inspiration because you can view the entire world without leaving your house. However, I still enjoy taking in my surroundings and challenging myself to find the one thing that really sticks out to me and asking myself why it stands out. I then examine that into a further internal discussion or awareness, sort of like, “Why do I like that building?  Well, I like it because the windows are mirrored, the entire building is pink and, oh my goodness, an orange sunset reflecting off a pink mirrored building is incredible!”