Why I started the B O N N E brand.

I guess I have always been wired as the type of person that came up with an idea, and wanted to bring it to fruition by finding the right people to bring it help me bring it to life. And these ideas were always ones that brought joy to people, made them smile, entertained them, or added value and zest to their lives.

Take for example, coming up with plays, musicals, songs, devotionals, dance routines, spy kids club, sticker club, you know “that kid”, well, that was me. Oh and I would BEG my parents to have yard sales. I always wanted to pick out my things and sell them to other people, yes to get some cash but because I wanted to share my things with people and wanted them to be excited about getting to enjoy them too.

And this went into my teen years. I remember walking into Starbucks/Chapters and seeing all the magazines for women that I found motivating and encouraging and inspiring in areas of health, wellness, style and fitness. I used to think, maybe I will have my own magazine someday and get to influence readers in a positive way. OR one of my dreams still yet to come, getting to have a show like Live with Kelly.

But these were before the days of social media, digital blogs, IGTV and the ability to really communicate and connect instantly with “new versions” of magazines and television.

Throughout my career I have had many amazing opportunities with charities like The Gideons International In Canada, travelling the world reporting on their global work, I have been able to report with CBC, work on television shows with BellTV on the marketing side, and other cool opportunities too. But I always had this desire to pull together everything I truly enjoy, and get to do what I LOVE for a living, with myself being the only “ceiling” to what I could accomplish.

In November of last year, I started Bonne Media while I was also working in digital marketing at Sun Life Financial. I started Bonne Media as a marketing company that would help business owners bring their vision, service or product to life for other people, connecting them to their target audiences in order to engage and really accomplish what they’d set out to do. This work began to be one of the most exhilarating and rewarding things I’ve been able to do. I really approach it as if it’s my own business, with the same energy, and care as if it really were my business. (So now I get to be a collaborator with many businesses across the city and country!) I absolutely LOVE it. And we’re still growing and accepting clients AND interns if you’re interested. ;)

So fast forward to last July. I had just gotten married, went on a dream honeymoon, and I came home, quit my job and pursued my dream job of running my own business.

But very quickly, I wanted to have a little more room to explore and really expand my brand into more of a lifestyle brand. A brand that people recognized as one that inspires them and motivates them in many areas of their lives. And in very much Ashley style, I like to do a bit of everything. I know I know, there’s also the strength of doing one thing well but let’s continue… so I wanted to expand my brand. So I choose a few buckets that are all under the umbrella of BONNE.

Bonne means good, pleasant, well in French. And Bonnell was my maiden name. I really like that combination and wanted to keep that. I’m about adding zest to everyday life and living life to the fullest. If you want to live your dream life, you can! That’s the message I want to enforce.

Here are the sections of my brand, I would LOVE for you to explore, take a look around and be inspired!

B O N N E everything is:

B O N N E Media: full service marketing agency

B O N N E life: blog & podcast about living our best life!

B O N N E fashion: SHOPPING! I love to shop. This is a curation of items from my closet that you can buy, as well as an original line I’m having fun with and other recommended favs of mine!

B O N N E fitness: An inspiring collection of fitness training opportunities to inspire you to be the best version of yourself!

B O N N E travel: This is launching in JANUARY! This will be an everything you need to know about over 20 destinations globally I’ve been to with my recommendations! It’s also a travel service where I can curate a trip especially planned for Y O U!