Conversations with Mandy Taylor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Taylor. 

Hi Mandy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started Pinafore in 2016 out of my home as I transitioned from the corporate world so that I could be at home more with my children. We mainly solid products through Facebook and people coming to shop in person in my home. About 6 months in I decided to go mobile and bought a 24ft closed van trailer and upfitted the inside to look like a store. We had people come to shop there and we also did pop-ups and other shopping events with the trailer. During that time, we still were doing the majority of our business through Facebook sales. I decided in November of 2019 that I wanted to focus my sales online and so we sold the trailer to another boutique owner, created a website, and signed up with Comment Sold to start using their platform for our social media sales. Our business took off after we made this switch. Sales were increasing for us, we were growing and I have always had a desire to create my own line of clothes or bags, so in August of 2020, I got in contact with a company who helps small businesses launch a store on Amazon and decided to take the plunge. I started working with a manufacturer to create a bag line that would be sold on Amazon. To say the bag line has been more successful than I imagined is an understatement but it also has been a learning curve and we definitely have faced some challenges. We ranked #1 for new selling women’s crossbody handbags on Amazon and sales have grown month over month. We recently launched an app that makes the shopping experience for our customers so easy. We have always wanted to provide our customers with the easiest/best shopping experience right from the comfort of their couch and we have successfully done this with our app. We do live sales on our app and Facebook every Thursday and Sunday. During the lives, we showcase all of our newest arrivals and it really provides customers with the dressing room without having to go the store. We try clothes on and talk about fit/fabric and how to style which our customers have loved. It also has helped us to keep that personal touch with our customers to show them we are real people. We are excited for the future of Pinafore and have some other things we are working on to continue to grow our business. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not a smooth road at all. The online boutique world is extremely competitive and it seems like there is always a new one popping up daily. I have always wanted to be different and set myself apart from other online boutiques so continually trying to set my business apart from others and offer unique items at great prices has always been a ton of work but one that has been worth it and I believe has contributed to my success. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Pinafore Boutique is an online women’s boutique. We offer women’s clothing in sizes S-3X, accessories, and gifts. We also manufacture our own bag line that features crossbody bags with adjustable/interchangeable straps that easily allow you to match your bag with any outfit. We are known for our bags and clothes that fit women of all shapes and sizes. 

What’s next?
We are excited to see our company to continue to grow in the triangle and also beyond the triangle. We are working with different companies now on how to do that and also handle our growth. 

Pricing:

• Bags are sold for under $70
• Clothing prices range $29-$50

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.pinaforeboutique.com
• Instagram: @shop_pinafore
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pinaforeboutiquevip/
• Other: Our App can be downloaded on the App Store or Google Play by searching “Pinafore Boutique”