Melanie Pierce is the owner and operator of the unique mobile boutique the Bikini Bus. Based in Cary, NC, this bus boutique offers quality Brazilian swim suits all year around. Melanie has wrapped an 18 passenger bus, taken out the seats and renovated the inside to look like a boutique.
Melanie currently works full-time in broadcast, and does Bikini Bus part-time. She said the bikini bus came about when she thought she was going to lose her job. She explained “I thought that they were going to lay me off because there were talks about the company going under.” Thinking that she would be out of a job, she decided to start a concept she had previously thought about before called “Bikini Bus.” Once she realized the company was not going over she decided to juggle both, “Bikini Bus is more of my passion”, she says and would love to do it full time. When asked how she came up with the concept of the bus and bikini’s she explains that she wanted to create a place where she could offer swim suits year around because even though its cold in the winter, people vacation year around and options are limited if you need a new suit. She says “I didn’t know some fashion trucks existed until I thought my idea.” Open for 10 months she says overall everything’s going very well, “I’ve had some great events and some great sales!”
A typical day for Melanie on Bikini Bus includes preparing a cooler with bottled waters, cups and ice because the bus can get hot, especially on summer days. She checks the inventory in the bus to make sure everything is locked down and nothings moving around once she starts to drive. From the house she makes one of the most important stops of the day, STARBUCKS. “I pull into the parking lot, bus and all, they are used to me by now.” Once she gets her coffee and heads to the venue, it takes her about 30 minutes to set up. She accessorizes the wheelchair lift, sets a rack outside, lightly cleans the bus on the inside, and sets up her device so she is able to accept debit/credit cards. She explains that events can last anywhere from 4 hours to 9 hours but at any given event customers express their love of the concept and are always thrilled to check out the bus.
One of the most important things to Melanie when dealing with clients is customer service. She explains how customer service can be a make or break thing, especially since she is selling bikinis. She talks about how making a good impression and creating a nice environment are important, “I want to create a pleasant experience for something that can typically be dreadful.” Since trying on a swimsuit can be a vulnerable experience she makes sure she provides a welcoming environment where women can come a board and feel comfortable. In addition to creating a nice environment, Melanie is quick to educate her customers about different swim suits that flatter their body type, “I don’t want to limit anyone from feeling confident no matter what their body type is.”
Some of the challenges Melanie has faced with this business has been understanding what licenses are needed when you go to each city and explains how doing your own finances for your business can also be challenging. Her future plans include hiring someone to handle her accounts, hiring a manager with retail experience, adding a marketing team as well as designers that can help her design her own swimsuits.
Her advice for others wanting to follow in her footsteps is to talk to other business people. She advises that sometimes you have to “listen and check your ego.” She continues “you may think you know it all but you have to be open to ideas even if they may be different from what you originally thought, your ego is what can cause you to fail.” She encourages young entrepreneurs like myself to follow our dreams and not be discouraged by what others think. She says “know that there will always be people to tell you that your idea isn’t going to work”, but she recommends tuning out the negative because you don’t want to look back later and regret trying your business because others discouraged you from doing it. Melanie is a proud member of the American Mobile Retail Association and you can find where she will be next by checking out her website at www.bikinibusnc.com or liking her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BikiniBus.
