thebahamasweekly.com - Meet entrepreneur Patricia Chatti of the Cia Monet online shopping experience

Patricia Chiatti, creator of Cia Monet online shopping outlet.

Thirty-nine year old Bahamian entrepreneur Patricia Chatti is taking bold and creative steps in the retail fashion world, not only in her country, but in the global market as well. Chatti is the creator and CEO of the Cia Monet fashion house, an online fashion source offering top designer name brands.

"People love high-end products from names like Gucci, Jimmy Choo, BCBG and even Chanel and when they can get them at affordable prices the business works by providing a much needed service, in particular in a country made up of islands and with a more limited in-store shopping experience," said Chatti who came from 19 years in the banking world. "My goal is to make high-end fashion a part of everyday life."

When asked what inspired her business, Chatti said, " The desire to afford the option of a more classier, upscale sophisticated look for the business professionals in the Bahamas as it relates to couture clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelery for every occasion whether its career, sexy social, sporty casual, sophisticated or elegant."

As the creator of two extremely unconventional businesses, (she also created Make Em Listen, showcasing Bahamian performing artists) Chatti is just beginning to make her mark in The Bahamas. Cia Monet is expanding so quickly she's rushing to keep up with her customer's demands.

Cia Monet came about when Chatti returned to The Bahamas in 2005. “It was out of pure necessity," said Chatti reflecting back to that time. "When I returned home I knew I didn’t want to work for just anyone, but at the same time I needed to support myself and my daughter,” she said. “When I came home I brought $700 worth of David Yuman and John Hardy jewelry with me to sell. That was all I had, and by the grace of God, in less than a month they were sold. That inspired me to open Cia Monet.”

Who shops at Cia Monet? Cia Monet's clientele base is a combination of veteran business professionals as well as the new professionals of corporate Bahamas, USA and Europe. "Our customer's prefer one-of-a-kind items, or the comfort of knowing they can order an item from an extensive inventory, and are guaranteed no one else will be wearing that piece. We are not a mass production entity, but prefer to provide our clients with a personalised and private shopping experience," said Chatti.

“My goal has always been to think outside the box,” said the single mother. “I don’t ever want to do anything that someone else is doing; I always want to be different. When l see a need or an opportunity, I then find a way to fill that need or to take advantage of that opportunity. This is how Cia Monet has grown.”

An online company is not the typical clothing and accessory company says Chatti. "Its designed to make shopping fun and simple. Cia Monet is all about providing my clientele with high-end name brands such as Bvalgari, Tiffany, Burberry, Mont Blanc, and even Links of London. "

“We sell it all,” says Chatti. “If you want Gucci sheets you can get it. If you want YSL fashions, you can get it. We have it all from sheets to shoes at Cia Monet.”

Having lived in the United States for 18 years, Chatti says that she knows and understands how hard the industry can be is and is using her networking abilities and social media to propel her forward.

“I know that I have what it takes to make my businesses work. I have never been afraid to speak my mind or to think outside if the box.”

Now she says her focus is expanding her brand and her companies.

“My focus right now is to expand my businesses more internationally,” she says. “Right now we have a large presence in The Bahamas but there is so much more out there thanks to the internet. I want both Cia Monet and Make’Em Listen to be as big as they can be and I know that 2012 is the year for that to happen.”

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