Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Real.
Hi Ashley, 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 backstory with our readers?
I have always wanted to own a boutique and my job was already a hairstylist, so I got the idea to do a mobile boutique and that is when Pink Canyon Boutique was started. I worked in a salon during the week and the idea was to go to outdoor markets and rodeos on the weekend. Then, Covid 19 hit and the world shut down. There were many challenges being a small business owner in the beginning but as the world reopened outdoor markets exploded and it’s been great. After a year I ended up combining the two businesses into a brick and mortar. I am the owner of Pink Canyon Boutique & Salon in Floresville, Texas and I still take the mobile boutique out to markets on the weekends. The mobile boutique has been up and running while going on its third year, and the brick and mortar store & salon just celebrated a year. That is a huge deal to me with surviving these past few years of Covid and the uncertain financial market. Thank goodness for family, friends and the community I live in as they have all been very supportive.
My heart and soul goes into my work and it’s really a family affair. My husband, who also owns a small business of his own, has helped with the gutting and building of the trailer and store which was a lot of work. If you see me out at the markets around Texas you also see my mom because she travels with me and helps out with the boutique. My dad has built the permanent jewelry displays in the trailer and sometimes has his own wood workings for purchase in the boutique. I love what I do, I keep it small, I’m not a huge store because at any time I can pack my retail up and hit the road but I’m growing and who knows what the future holds. I’m definitely not against being bigger but my advantage is getting to travel around my community and other places in the state. I enjoy giving back too, no one ever gets successful all by themselves, and helping in the community is really important to me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Covid 19 was and still seems to be a lingering challenge as well as the ever-fluctuating financial market. I pride myself on having a product that is good quality and affordable, I will not waiver on this but trying to keep the price point affordable with inflation has its moments but I’m hanging in there because I don’t believe quality items have to break the bank. Along with that challenge is the shipping crisis, just trying to get items has been hard, having enough products for holiday shopping and markets was crazy. The domino effect of what is happening seems to be never-ending but I know this can’t last forever so the game plan just has to be revised. With that said I’m ordering earlier to allow enough time for shipping and ordering more than what I need because not all of my products will come in. This particular challenge has affected both boutique and salon.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Pink Canyon Boutique & Salon?
Pink Canyon Boutique & Salon is a one stop shop for women. It’s a boutique and salon combined into one at the brick and mortar location. A place where women can come and shop, get beauty products, be beautified with a haircut, color or style and socialize. Then, the mobile boutique every weekend goes out into communities around Texas at markets or small town rodeos and is a fun experience for ladies to pick out outfits, latest fashions, some houseware items or jewelry for themselves or gifts for events. I have done hair for close to 20 years now and I love talking with women and helping them feel beautiful the boutique is just another avenue for that to happen. But of course, we all know true beauty comes from within so if you look good and feel good then you just shine. Since I try to market to all areas of a women’s life and having the experience of hair and shopping in one spot it is really important to me to work with young girls too. I try to help young girls with volunteer hours with school and to be a role model for them. I want them to be proud of themselves and know they have value. If I can teach them self worth and how to work hard through my life experiences then that’s a win in my book.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Well, anyone who knows me knows I love to talk because that is what my life is about. Whether talking to customers who want to shop or clients in my chair at the salon everyone always has a great life story and I love to learn from people. but when I get home I unplug. I really don’t like to be on the phone and I prefer to be outside rather than inside. Quiet time is good my home with my husband and animals is my peaceful place.
Contact Info:
- Email: Pinkcanyonboutique@gmail.com
- Website: Www.pinkcanyonboutique.com
- Instagram: @pinkcanyonboutiqueandsalon
- Facebook: Pink Canyon Boutique
Image Credits
Ashley Real
