Store Owner
	Hometown	Lubbock, Texas
	Sign	Leo
	Eduction	Bachelors: Business & Marketing (Double Major) at Queens University of Charlotte, NC
	Celebrity Style I Admire	Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Simpson, and Kate Hudson
What I Can't Live Without	Fabulous friends & family, shopping, a great bottle of wine and amazing food, my passion and love for style, my never ending crave to successfully accomplish my dreams!
Current Favorite Song	There's so many, but I love: The Fray "Look After You", Good Charlotte "I Don't Wanna Be in Love", and Carrie Underwood "Last Name"
Describe your Personal Style	I always follow my 3 F's: Fabulous, Fun, and Flirty. I'm always Colorful, Daring, and Unique.
Style vs. Fashion? Are they the same, or two different ideas?	Two totally different ideas. Fashion includes the politics of the business where as Style is yours, you own that.
What do you think is a "MUST" of the "Must Haves" at the Pink Coconut right now?	Any of our dresses. Its a complete outfit, thoughtless and simple...put on some amazing accessories and shoes and you're set to go!
On a scale of 1-10, how much can a pair of shoes make or break an outfit?	Definitely a 10. If you're wearing the wrong style of footwear, NO ONE is going to look at your outfit... they won't be able to focus on anything else but your feet.
Favorite Fashion Quote	"I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet", Carrie Bradshaw, Sex in the City

People are always asking how I got into the business and the answer is: I followed my heart and dreams. I've always wanted a store since I was a little girl. I envisioned it in my head and on paper for years. Growing up my Mother had managed and bought for several major retail corporations in the fashion industry in Texas, so she says, "I was born into Fashion from day one". I can remember going with her to the stores playing through the clothing racks, playing "dress up day" in the store, and helping her do floor moves.

Since I knew in the future I wanted to open my own store I told myself to learn on someone else's dime while I was in College. I worked at retail clothing stores in sales, management then became a buyer and designer, moving my way up the ladder. People are always asking if I studied fashion marketing, merchandising, or design, but these were things I felt were obvious choices, things that were self taught and naturally in my blood. I studied at Queens University of Charlotte North Carolina and graduated in 3 busy years with a double major in Business Administration & Marketing and a minor in Corporate Communications & Ecomomics.

After graduating I was offered several positions with designers but came back to the D.C. area, worked as one of the youngest Managers for a luxury high end designer, all the while scouting locations to open my first boutique. I was truly determined to open my store by the time I was 25. When we had first moved from Texas to live in Southern Maryland ten years ago, my mom and I would always say how deprived we were for our shopping fixes. There were absolutely no boutiques or general shopping locations with out having to drive over an hour. I knew that with my personal vision, dreams and style, I needed to bring something fabulous to the Southern Maryland area. I was in love with the individual ambiance a boutique has to offer: a unique sense of style, selectiveness & personal customer service. This is how the first Pink Coconut was opened in late 2007. In 2008, an amazing business woman, best friend, and savvy fashionista, Michelle Armstrong became a business partner with The Pink Coconut. After her first market experience in Atlanta she could see what gave me such drive, inspiration and passion for the business. Together we continue striving to build this empire, making it as fabulous as it should be!

My advice to anyone who wants to start their own business or store is this: You have to really want it. You need to have the drive and passion that comes from within, as well as great vision and stamina. You must trust your instincts and come up with your own formula that works, don't copy anyone, just be a leader. I eat, sleep, and breathe this business...it's my life, my future, and it's FABULOUS! If it wasn't for the faith, love and trust that my Parents and Michelle have in me, The PInk Coconut would not be what it is today. We are all truly blessed for whom we have in our lives to make our successes possible.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, I'm just a true southern girl from Texas who simply followed her dreams...xoxo

~Heather