The Owners...
 Carol Dowling
Co-Owner & Operator
Bellócchio — Upscale Resale
Carol Dowling does not believe in standing still. The former Vice President of Stores for Dayton Hudson is moving into the next phase of her career and her life with the same philosophies and commitment that enabled her to reach the pinnacle of the retail fashion industry.
Now an entrepreneur, Dowling has opened her own store, together with partner Carolyn Joseph, last summer in Royal Oak. Bellócchio, pronounced Bell-o-key-o and meaning “an eye for the beautiful,” focuses on upscale resale merchandise. Bellócchio features women’s designer clothing, including separates, sportswear, dresses, suits and outerwear, as well as shoes and accessories including handbags, scarves, belts and fashion & fine jewelry. Bellócchio also features select home decorative accessories and objects d’art.
Dowling enjoyed more than 25 years of her professional career with Dayton Hudson. With an impressive track record in multi-store leadership, she was responsible for more than $700 million in sales. During her store career, Carol was Store Group Vice President of Hudson’s top volume stores at Twelve Oaks, Northland, Fairlane, Summit Place, Lakeside and Oakland, plus stores in Ann Arbor, Flint, Okemos, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, Battle Creek, Traverse City, Toledo, Ohio, and South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Additionally, Carol assumed the responsibility of orchestrating the planning and opening of the company’s Somerset Collection North anchor.
Dowling is a 1969 graduate of Wayne State University with a degree in Communications. In 1994, Carol was honored by the University’s School of Business Administration as a Distinguished Business Leader. In the program bio created for the for the awards event, Carol was “hailed as one of the best merchandising people around.”
Dowling is currently a member of the Women’s Economic Club of Detroit (WEC) and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She is a past member of numerous organizations including the University of Michigan Retail Advisory Board, Wayne State University Advisory Board, Michigan Merchants Council Board of Directors and the Detroit Institute of Arts Founders Society.
Dowling currently resides, with husband David, in Northville, Michigan.
 Carolyn Joseph
Co-Owner & Operator
Bellócchio — Upscale Resale
Like partner Carol Dowling, Bellócchio is Carolyn Joseph’s debut as an entrepreneur. Although Carolyn has never before owned and operated her own business, she has always approached her professional challenges with an entrepreneurial spirit unmatched by most. Throughout her career, Joseph has earned a reputation for bringing a new and fresh perspective to her tasks, creating successful operations from the ground up.
Joseph comes to Bellócchio from the Menttium Corporation, where as Regional Vice President, she utilized her superior networking skills to launch Menttium 100, an executive mentoring program in Detroit. Under Joseph’s leadership, the Detroit business community enjoyed one of the most successful Menttium 100 programs to date.
In addition to the numerous connections she acquired through her time with Menttium, Carolyn comes to Bellócchio with an impressive background in retailing. She is best known for managing Hudson’s FYI, a personal shopping service. Joseph was responsible for all aspects of the business, including sales planning and special events to the development of a high profile clientele.
Joseph is a 1971 graduate of Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Merchandising. She has also received substantive training in the areas of interactive management and customer service.
Joseph is a member of the Women’s Economic Club of Detroit (WEC), Fashion Group International, Women’s Automotive Association International and sits on the Nominating Committee of the Michigan Metro Girl Scout Council.
Carolyn and husband Wayne reside in Northville, Michigan. |
