Meet Tianna Cerrito | Owner & Founder of The Pink Bungalow Boutique

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tianna Cerrito and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tianna, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
As an entrepreneur, especially in the beginning stages, the idea of giving up inevitably crosses your mind. You can spend an entire year putting so much time and effort into your small business, only to break even. At that point you have to ask yourself, “would I have rather not had my small business and made the same amount of money with much less effort?” This question has popped into my mind several times but the answer is always “no”. The Pink Bungalow adds tremendous value to my life even though in the beginning it may not have had much financial value. It fulfills my life in different ways than money alone. That is how I know to not give up. My life wouldn’t be the same without my small business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Pink Bungalow is a women’s clothing boutique. The boutique carries apparel, jewelry and other accessories. I personally hand pick every single item that is sold in the store. When choosing inventory, I look for amazing quality, trending styles and affordable prices. I offer styling assistance and alterations. Fun fact about me is I love to sew. I can easily hem things for my customers and make other small adjustments that allows them to feel even more confident in the pieces they choose. The store is located in a warehouse district rather than a retail space. This gives the store a cool, industrial feel while also giving me a lot of space for activities. A few months ago, I hosted my first in-store event. We hosted 30+ women and it was a huge success. I loved it so much that I decided to team up with local makers and small business owners to plan in-store workshops and events for the entire year. This is a fun way to get new people in the boutique, network with other small businesses and just have some fun!

After celebrating 5 years of business in December, I have realized the #1 quality you need to have to run a business is perseverance. The world, your customers, and social media are all constantly changing. You’ll have good months and bad months. You have to stay positive, remember why you started the business and find the joy in your work. Have you ever heard the saying “look good, feel good”?. Well, that’s one of my mantras. Seeing how confident my customers feel when wearing my clothes is something that keeps me motivated on my hard days. I help women feel their best and that is one of the most rewarding aspects.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Pink Bungalow is located in Wellington, which is known as the winter equestrian capital of the world. Meaning, I would have to bring them to Sunday Polo. It is a fabulous experience and a blast to dress up for – you know I’m all about the outfit. During half time, all of the spectators go out on the field to stomp the divots and receive complimentary champagne. Another fantastic local spot is Lion Country Safari. They have an incredible drive through safari. I always look forward to the giraffe encounter where you can feed them by hand. It’s fun for people of all ages. My favorite spot to eat in Wellington is Agliolio. They serve incredible, authentic Italian food paired with delicious drinks. The best way to start the weekend is a Saturday morning at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket. It was voted the “Best Farmers Market” in the nation for the past 3 years by USA Today. It doesn’t disappoint. While in West Palm, we can enjoy the downtown area filled with restaurants, bars, speakeasy lounges and more. It’s easy to spend the entire day and night there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Running a small business entirely on your own can be a hard and lonely experience. Lucky for me, I have an incredible family and group of friends that show up for me constantly. They are at every event I host, travel the country with me to clothing conventions, help me renovate every time I get an itch to re-decorate the shop and keep me motivated.

My business would be nothing without my loyal customers, who are known as, Bungalow Babes. They come in to shop every time I drop a new arrival and constantly spread the word about The Pink Bungalow. I am forever grateful for my incredible customer base.

Website: https://thepinkbungalow.shop/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepinkbungalowboutique/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepinkbungalow

Image Credits
Dreamer Photography by Yisel Crystal Clear Photography