Nice to meet you! We are the Bellissima shopkeeper sisters, Maria Hannus-Hautala and Sanna Hietamäki. We are happy to help with anything related to shoes, check out our contact information here.
We sisters are currently living through our busiest years, with a total of four children's age range currently from four to 11 years. There are plenty of activities and hobbies in our families, and sometimes the little shopkeepers might also be busy on the shop floor. 😊
In our store, you will most likely also get to meet Shop Dog Peppi. Peppi loves petting and gladly acts as the top taste judge. Sometimes Peppi also takes well-deserved breaks and rests in her own bed in the back room or behind the cash desk.
To start with, let’s mention our strategic measurements, the most important being that Maria the shopkeeper’s shoe size is 43 and Sanna the shopkeeper’s is 40. You can read more about our feet and feelings regarding shoes on the product pages.
Close to our hearts is the idea that beautiful shoes are meant for everyone. That’s why we only include models in our women’s shoe selection from brands that offer as wide a size range as possible. So, in addition to sizes 36–41, either small sizes (33–35) or large sizes (42–46). Or ideally both ends! Our principle is to take all sizes produced of the models we select. This way, we continue Bellissima’s original idea as a specialty store for small and large women’s shoes.
We also try our best to find shoes with different last widths. Many of us Finns have wide feet, but there are also narrow-footed among us. Each of us also has our own feelings about shoes. Even if feet are exactly the same size, the feelings can be very different between people. We also share our own experiences of shoe models on our online store’s product pages, if that would help in choosing shoes. Our dream would be to own our own shoe factory, where we could always make shoes that fit according to the customer’s own measurements and wishes!
A brief history is also in order. Bellissima’s story originally began in the center of Helsinki in the early 2000s. At that time, the selection included only small (32–35) and large sizes (42–46) of women’s shoes. In 2019, Maria became the Bellissima shopkeeper, Sanna joined as a partner in 2020, and thus the legendary concept was born: Bellissima shopkeeper sisters. 🤩 We are the fourth entrepreneurs in Bellissima’s history.
In 2021, we expanded our selection to children’s shoes, especially recommended children’s shoes. Barefoot shoes meet current recommendations with flexible soles and a good foot-shaped toe box. Most of our children’s shoe selection consists of barefoot shoes. We started with two popular brands still included, Froddo and Affenzahn. Since then, shoes and rubber boots from Bundgaard, lovely shoes from D.D.Step, and slippers from Slipstop have joined. The newest brand in our selection is the lovely Yoyo Junior slippers for the little ones in the family.
Along the way, in addition to the logo, we have also renewed our women’s shoe selection. The familiar and well-proven brands Remonte and Gabor have remained at Bellissima all the time and continue strongly. Over the years, we have found new lovely brands, such as Andrea Conti and Chantana, Vintro, Laura Vita, and Andres Machado, not forgetting. Unfortunately, we have also had to give up some brands, sometimes making tough decisions based on numbers and sometimes because brands stopped producing special sizes.
Well, that’s how business is! 😊 That’s why we love our work, as every day is different. We always think we have seen everything, but new things always come up to solve. The best part of our work is you, our wonderful customers! 💖 You wouldn’t believe how our day brightens when we receive lovely feedback and thanks by email.
Thank you to each and every one of you! 💖 We are here for you, and Bellissima wouldn’t exist without you wonderful customers. Let’s keep in touch! Best regards, Maria and Sanna
