We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Terra Tominelli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Terra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I owned a private school for over 20 years, but I became burnt out and wanted to reinvent myself. I was searching for a creative outlet when COVID hit, and I decided to sell the school. I have always had a passion for fashion and a talent for styling outfits for my friends and family. In 2019, I started an online boutique and a pop-up store located at The Bazaar on Apricot and Lime, where I am still operating. However, my ultimate goal was to launch a mobile Fashion Truck, and it is part of my 5-year business plan.

I have always had a love for food and fashion all my life. One night my husband and I were eating tacos at our favorite taco truck in Sarasota, Florida. I started envisioning a mobile fashion truck on steroids. I remember thinking, “There’s so much that can be done the possibilities are endless. I’m a visionary and a multi-passionate entrepreneur. I said to my husband what do you think of a retail space on wheels? We started talking about different ideas. The new concept came alive!

I couldn’t stop obsessing over the idea of a mobile fashion boutique that would bring a certain style to Sarasota, where I reside. I kept thinking about all the things I would do differently such as the products I would sell, branding, and social media marketing. But, thinking about it was one thing, finding the confidence to pursue my dreams was another.”

I have always known that people admire the way I dress, and I have received compliments for it. However, for me, fashion is not about materialism. I come from a middle-class background, and we never had access to designer brands. Our options were limited to the mall, and I had to find my style there. I have always been a creative shopper, but I wanted to do more than just shop.” I want this mobile fashion truck to be a space for not only shopping but also private styling sessions, private shopping parties, and exclusive fashion truck shows. Clients can get unique one-of-a-kind curated styles from my hand-picked collections each week.

I decided to start my fashion truck.

The truck was the critical aspect of launching my business, and it took nearly a year to build. My truck was originally a delivery FedEx truck so we gutted and renovated the entire interior!
I am grateful for my husband, Chris because I couldn’t have done it without his construction expertise and attention to detail. While I excel at styling clients, I am not good at building things. Chris is the person behind the scenes who designed and built the interior of the truck and ensured that everything outside and mechanically was safe. The Fashion Truck will be launching in 2024.

I like the novelty of having a Mobile Fashion truck; I can go to certain events, have private parties, fashion shows, and styling sessions, and move around every day! Another advantage is that I can bring Pups Blossom and Ellie (my puppy and fashion truck mascots) with me anywhere we go!

Additionally, customers’ shopping experiences are more personalized. My boutique is intimate and we can guide customers through my inventory and make suggestions based on what they’re looking for or their body type. Because I am a Fashion Stylist. I can help to customize their favorite pieces from the truck.

Behind every success story lies a lot of hard work. Even though the journey has been exciting, fun-filled, and the best experience of my life so far, it has required me to put in an immense amount of effort. There are no shortcuts to success, and setbacks are inevitable, making the process of achieving my goals both physically and mentally exhausting.

Time to paint the town Pink with the New Pink Sebastian Boutique mobile fashion truck.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Pink Sebastian Boutique I aim to inspire women to feel beautiful inside and out while giving back to our community. We offer a wide range of styles that enhance a woman’s beauty, comfort, and authenticity.

We provide various services such as pop-up trunk shows, closet editing, styling concierge, mobile fashion truck for private parties, style coaching, and affordable styling classes. Our fashion house offers affordable clothing that caters to all women, all ages, and all sizes without any judgments.

Our goal has always been to help women find their unique styles and step out of their comfort zones by carrying the latest fashion trends and some exclusive pieces.

I can help customers fine-tune their tastes and create a wardrobe that matches those preferences.

We are here to assist you with sizing, styling, or any other information you require. We believe in embracing and celebrating all body types and personalities.

I am proud of contributing to my community through charity fashion shows, mentoring young female entrepreneurs, and philanthropic work.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that business growth depends on striking a balance between improving your business and yourself. It’s essential to be willing to make decisions that are outside of your comfort zone, even though it may never get easier. As a leader, you should trust yourself that you’re making the right decisions.

Remember to persevere through any obstacle and to seek help when needed. Trust your instincts, remain open-minded, and always stay true to your purpose. Avoid getting distracted by what others are doing, and remain focused on your own goals and intentions. Ignore any negative background noise, and believe in your vision for your business. Even if others do not initially understand or envision it, it may still be a brilliant idea. So, go for it!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A Personal Account of Devastating News
When my son was just 19, he received a diagnosis that no parent ever wants to hear: Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the time, he was attending Full Sail University, pursuing his dream of becoming a music engineer. I still remember the Friday evening when our entire family gathered at the doctor’s office to learn the results. The feeling was indescribable – as if someone had ripped my heart out of my chest. We had to pivot our lives to adapt to this new schedule of traveling to Tulsa to the Cancer Treatment Center of America for treatments for a year and a half. At the time my business the private school was exploding and my husband also owned his own construction business which also was crazy busy.

It’s remarkable how even in the face of such a challenge, our family was able to adapt and adjust to a new schedule of traveling to Tulsa for treatments. The added difficulty of trying to balance your own busy lives while also providing care and support for your son. Amazingly, we were able to lean on your staff, family, and friends for help during such a tough time. Asking for help can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for support when we need it.

My family’s strength and resilience during this time was truly inspiring. It’s important to remember that in times of hardship, we are never alone. There is always support available, and it’s okay to ask for help when we need it.

Contact Info:

• Website: PSboutique.shop
• Instagram: PinkSebastian941
• Facebook: Pink Sebastian Boutique
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terra-tominelli-452043188/

Image Credits
Studio 1415 Sarasota Photo Studio