MANSFIELD — Did you know that the pineapple is a symbol for warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality?
It’s true, the juicy yellow fruit is good for more than just a garnish for tropical drinks. In Britni Harp’s household, it’s also a symbol for the blonde hair she piles in a messy bun on top of her head on a daily basis.
But the meaning behind the pineapple quickly transformed into something more for Harp – it became a business model for a new venture she decided to take on, an online-only shop appropriately named “The Pineapple Boutique.”
In fact, the slogan for the boutique is, “Be a pineapple. Stand tall. Wear a crown and be sweet on the inside!”
“I love the overall message this sends to women,” Harp said. “We are to be confident, self-loving, respected, empowered, and independent but also sweet, loving, kind, generous and humble. If we strive to be those things, the impact we can have in this world is immeasurable.”
Harp is not an entrepreneur by trade. After graduating from Mansfield Christian and attending Palm Peach Atlantic University in Florida, she moved back to Mansfield with her doctor of pharmacy degree and currently works as a pharmacist.
It was after purchasing an item of clothing from an online boutique in Colorado last August that an idea started to take shape.
“I realized how much fun it was to receive the package in the mail – the cute packaging, the anticipation, the excitement,” Harp said. “The only problem was how long I had to wait to receive the item. I figured there had to be another way.”
In September, Harp decided to go out on a limb and start her own online boutique based locally, and officially started selling clothing in October from vendors based out of California. Starting her own business was always something that had intrigued Harp.
“There is so much advancement and growth you can achieve with your own business, the sky is the limit. And that really excites me,” Harp said. “It’s all about your effort and your drive. You determine your own destiny.”
Harp quickly built The Pineapple Boutique around the idea that customers could always find something to suit their style, no matter their age – her customers range in age from early 20s to late 70s, and everything in between. True to her initial idea, Harp also strives to ship her orders one to two days after placement, and shipping is always free.
She also decided to capitalize on the current economic culture and build The Pineapple Boutique as an online-only shop rather than a brick-and-mortar store. Harp is able to operate her business from the comfort of her own home, minimizing overhead costs and keeping prices low, and store credit is offered for returns made within 14 days to ease the minds of customers who prefer trying on a product before purchase.
“We are a people of convenience – if we can order it online and get it delivered at our doorstep, why not,” Harp said. “It was never really a question in my head on whether or not to open a physical location. Obviously, there are pros and cons to each business model, but I do believe online is better overall.”
As for the clothing, Harp describes the boutique’s style as “casual, cute and comfy.” She runs a very interactive Facebook page for The Pineapple Boutique where new items for sale are posted three to five times a week. Customers can also browse items on the boutique’s Instagram, and place orders on the boutique’s brand-new website.
Harp’s favorite part about the Facebook page is easily the back-and-forth engagement with customers, with many people posting their own pictures wearing their Pineapple Boutique purchases. Opening the boutique has helped Harp make new friends and connections, as well as reestablish old friendships from high school and college.
She also thinks back to a quote from a successful entrepreneur friend: “We rise by lifting others up.” Harp strives to live by this motto at The Pineapple Boutique.
“I don’t want the boutique to be just about selling clothes,” she said. “The world is such a negative place and there needs to be more positive lights shining through. My goal is to motivate, inspire and love, and if all of this helps just one person change their life for the better then it’s worth it.”
Website: www.thepineappleboutique.us
Facebook: @thepineappleboutique17
Instagram: @the.pineapple.boutique
