S&M Couture
S&M Couture
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Description

S&M Couture Inc. is a fashion-forward retail clothing boutique store located in Pickering that aims to revolutionize the retail experience. Founded by fashion-enthusiasts Sharifa Manning who later jointly collaborated with her son Nehemiah Heywood-Bennett when she realized that he had a passion and eye for fashion like herself.

We both enjoy helping people look uniquely their absolute best while instilling purposeful confidence in them so they don’t leave the same way they came. This is why our slogan is “Let me dress you and you will never leave the same way you came.” We both prefer a family-driven approach to the business because it allows us to come together and utilize our individual skills and interests to establish and grow our company. Our shared passion for fashion has played a significant role in shaping the direction and vision of the company.

Our individual fashion expertise and insights allow us to create a business that resonates with our target audience and offers unique perspectives in the fashion industry. Our collaborative effort allows us to have a strong sense of shared values and a deep understanding of our customers' needs. As mother and son, we aim to build a foundation that will bring a personal touch, a sense of dedication, and a shared commitment to the success of the business. In turn, strengthens our bond and creates a solid foundation for our company's growth and development.

Number of employees
2 - 10 employees
Industries
Apparel & fashion

Recent projects

Exploring Resilience: A Psychological Perspective on Life Stories

This project aims to assist S&M Couture in the initial stages of writing a book focused on resilience and perseverance, drawing from the life story of the company's founder. The project seeks to leverage the expertise of psychology students to conduct research on resilience, perseverance, and related psychological concepts. Students will be tasked with formulating and scientifically backing up key facts and themes that will be central to the book. The goal is to provide a solid psychological foundation for the narrative, ensuring that the themes of resilience and perseverance are not only compelling but also grounded in scientific research. This project offers an opportunity for students to apply their classroom knowledge of psychological theories and research methods to a real-world context, enhancing their understanding of how psychological principles can be applied to personal narratives.

Admin Sharifa Manning
Matches 2
Category Creative writing + 2
Open

Strategizing Digital Growth: A Comprehensive Marketing Plan for S&M Couture Inc.

The main goal for the project is to create a comprehensive digital marketing plan for S&M Couture Inc. that includes content planning and creating a clean and professional look for the company's online presence. This will involve several different steps for the students, including: - Conducting a thorough analysis of the current digital marketing strategy and online presence of S&M Couture Inc. - Developing a content plan that aligns with the company's brand and target audience. - Creating a visual and aesthetic strategy to ensure a clean and professional look for the company's online platforms. - Implementing strategies for social media marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization. - Monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of the digital marketing plan and making adjustments as needed.

Admin Sharifa Manning
Matches 2
Category Digital marketing + 1
Closed

Fashion Internship for S&M Couture

S&M Couture seeks a fashion intern to enhancing visual merchandising, and supporting retail operations. The project aims to provide students with hands-on experience in sourcing, merchandising, design, and business operations within the fashion industry. Responsibilities include assisting with the following: Sourcing & Planning: Sourcing: Research and select clothing, shoes, and fabrics, focusing on sustainable brands. Outfit Coordination: Style work and school outfits for Monday to Friday. Fashion Calendar: Plan yearly purchase dates and rental launches. Retail Operations: Visual Merchandising: Organize the retail store layout and digital displays. Inventory Management: Manage stock, shipping, and receiving. Client Relations: Attend meetings, create presentations, and document client feedback. Marketing: Marketing: Promote the brand via social media and analyze how economic trends impact fashion. E-commerce: Update the website with new rentals and collections. Administrative & Operational Support: Administrative Work: Daily administrative tasks including inventory tracking, order processing, and scheduling. Vendor Relations: Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and vendors for ongoing and future collaborations.

Admin Sharifa Manning
Matches 1
Category Fashion design + 4
Closed

Boutique Design and Layout Optimization

S&M Couture is seeking assistance in designing and optimizing the layout of their new clothing and shoe store boutique. The goal is to create an inviting and functional space that enhances the shopping experience for customers while maximizing the use of available space. The project involves analyzing the current floor plan, identifying areas for improvement, and proposing a new layout that includes designated sections for clothing, shoes, and accessories. The design should consider factors such as customer flow, aesthetic appeal, and ease of navigation. The project will provide learners with an opportunity to apply principles of interior design, retail management, and customer experience. Key tasks include: - Reviewing the existing floor plan and identifying inefficiencies. - Proposing a new layout that optimizes space and improves customer flow. - Creating a visual representation of the proposed design. - Providing recommendations for fixtures, displays, and decor.

Admin Sharifa Manning
Matches 1
Category Interior design
Closed

Latest feedback

Dr. Douglas Ferrier
Dr. Douglas Ferrier
He
Professor
April 28, 2025
Project feedback
Sharifa gave good feedback and was enthusiastic about this program. Overall things went quite well. There were a couple of miscommunication instances during the semester such as change of scope, etc. Students had a hard time getting pictures and description of some products to finalize the online shop and ended up going for placeholders.
Mohawk College
Software Development Project Winter 2025
Mohawk College
S&M Couture
Designing and Implementing a User-Friendly E-commerce Website for S&M Couture
S&M Couture
Tigist Beshe
Software development Instructor
April 17, 2025
Project feedback
Just wanted to say a big thank you for giving our students the opportunity to work on the capstone project with you. Your support, responsiveness, and collaboration throughout made a huge difference. Even though my main communication was with the students, I’ve been closely following their progress and updates along the way. From everything I saw and heard, they truly enjoyed working with you and appreciated how open and engaged you were during the whole process. It was a great learning experience for them. Thanks again for being such a great partner — we really appreciate it!
Bow Valley College
Software Development Capstone (SODV2999)-T25
Bow Valley College
S&M Couture
Designing and Implementing a User-Friendly E-commerce Website for S&M Couture
S&M Couture
Dalciana Vicente Tanaka
She / Her
Employment Counsellor/ Mentoring Coach
December 24, 2024
Project feedback
Sharifa consistently maintained excellent communication with the team throughout the project. She was always professional, quick to respond to any questions, and made sure everything ran smoothly. Her positive attitude created a collaborative atmosphere, and the team really appreciated her approach. Her professionalism left positive impression on everyone involved.
BUILD
JVS Toronto- BUILD (November 2024)
BUILD
S&M Couture
Boutique Design and Layout Optimization
S&M Couture