Whitney Avishar has helped shape Charlotte fashion for years now, which is its own special form of art. As the owner of The Pink Hanger, a women’s fashion boutique carrying some of the most on-trend styles from today’s top designers, she is the guiding force behind this bright, airy space and its mission to provide Charlotte women with a look for any occasion.
The store, a contemporary boutique nestled in the Cotswold neighborhood, is the kind of locally-owned business that keeps its customers coming back. In a day and age where brick-and-mortar can face steep challenges, Whitney has made her shop a vital part of the community by being involved and present for each customer who steps inside, and spreading her fashion expertise wide and far.
Have you always loved clothing and fashion?
Yes! I grew up the child of parents who were in the retail/buying world. So I have many memories of sitting in on vendor meetings at a young age. When I opened The Pink Hanger ten years ago, I saw a need for a boutique where the primary focus was customer service and making each person feel valued. My family has always had a very entrepreneurial spirit. As a result, they really encouraged me and helped give me the confidence to make it happen.
Where do you get fashion inspiration from today?
A lot of inspiration comes from small or local fashion influences. I love seeing what Trish and Ari are up to, and Johnny Fly out of NoDa also provides inspiration. We have been carrying them in store for a couple years now and our customers can’t get enough of their glasses. I also love going to market in Atlanta and New York.
What is your day-to-day like at The Pink Hanger?I used to be the manager, buyer, sales assistant, accountant, and cleaning crew. When you’re first starting out, you do it all. Now I have two amazing co-managers, Chelsey and Lily, who run the show day-to-day. I’m happy to say that besides the accounting, my main responsibility now is just being with the customers and styling them! That was my first love, and it’s great to have the time to refocus on the fun part of being a store owner.  Why did you pick Charlotte for The Pink Hanger’s location? |
Providence Plaza was our first and only location. I loved that this location at the intersection of Providence & Sharon-Amity was on the border of so many great neighborhoods: Cotswold, Myers Park, Eastover, and SouthPark. We love hearing from our customers how convenient our location is. They can just pop in before carpool, after a session at FlyWheel, or really whenever.
What advice would you give to other people who are thinking about starting their own business?It’s a long, tough road, but it’s worth it. When you start out, be prepared to work all the time. Customers need to see you and see that you are invested in your business. They want to get that love and attention from the owner. Once you are established and have a fantastic team in place, you can step back a bit… and maybe hire someone else to clean the bathroom. |
