FBY LINDA S. HOPKINS
or most women, shopping isn’t a mission. It’s an excursion: think mini-vacation, therapy session, and party, all in one! That’s what you’ll get at The Pink Pineapple, where owner Susan Davis makes sure everyone has fun, including her customers, her sales associates, and herself.
“People feel like we are their friends,” Davis said. “It’s like you’re coming to our living room. You want coffee? You want water? If need be, we have wine!”
Customer service is at the heart of The Pink Pineapple, and that means offering just the right amount of assistance. “It’s really fun for us when we get someone in who wants help. But if you prefer to browse on your own, you are welcome to do that,” Davis said.
“We’re there if you need us.”
At the same time, you might think of The Pink Pineapple as your safe place to try out a new look or a style you’ve never considered before. “We like it when people get out of the box a little, and we encourage customers to try new styles. If you don’t like it, don’t come out of the dressing room. But it can’t hurt to try it on. And we are honest. We don’t want you to buy something you don’t like or something you don’t look good in.”
Davis takes pride in the way she shops for the store and believes it is the key to a thriving clientele that includes a large local following as well as a bevy of seasonal guests who return to shop with her year after year. “I try to buy things that will look good on almost every body type.
I also want it to be a little unusual—not something you will find anywhere else,” she said. “We have a few staple-type things, but if you’re looking for a pair of plain black pants, it’s probably not the place to find that. I may have them, but it’s not my specialty.” She also differentiates her store by carrying lines that are not available in other area boutiques. “I try to not have the same lines as my competitors. Sometimes it happens, but I try to be different.”
A big focus at The Pink Pineapple is comfort. Everything Davis buys has to pass the touch test: Is it soft? Is it comfortable? In the store now, look for stylish but practical leggings and pants with built-in tummy control; cute, easy-towear shoes (sandals, wedges, Espadrilles); cool summer dresses; relaxed cotton tops; and accessories ranging from classic jewelry and handbags to funky statement pieces. Prices are affordable, with tops starting at $49 and almost everything in the store under $200.
