After months of growth and community support, sisters Kelby and Brittany Hancock and their mother, Robin, have taken the next step in their business journey, opening Pretty in Pink Market & Mercantile at 140 S. Middleton Street in downtown Robbins.
The new storefront marks another milestone for the business, which began with a simple idea and a pink pop-up tent.
The three women launched their venture in January, looking for a flexible source of income that fit their busy lives. Brittany was attending nursing school while Kelby was a stay-at-home mom, and they wanted something they could build on their own schedule.
“We noticed there wasn’t anywhere nearby to get dirty sodas,” Kelby said. “We thought, why not do it ourselves?”
Their first setup was a pink tent. As customer support quickly grew, they upgraded to a pink concession trailer. Now, just seven months later, they’ve opened a permanent storefront in the heart of Robbins.
“We started in a tent, and business was really, really good,” the sisters said. “So we moved to a trailer. We wanted to grow and offer more, but the trailer was getting too small for everything we wanted to do.”
Brittany found the Middleton Street building, and they believed it would give them the opportunity to expand their menu and create a space where customers can stop in throughout the week.
The trio agrees that working together has been one of the highlights of the business.
“Honestly, we don’t really argue that much,” they said with a laugh. “Like any family, we have our moments, but we settle things pretty quickly.”
While the storefront will become their primary location, the pink trailer isn’t going anywhere. They plan to continue taking it to events and weekend locations, while also giving Brittany’s children an opportunity to become involved in the family business one day.
For now, the store’s hours are expected to be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Customers can expect many of the favorites that helped build the business, including dirty sodas and energy drinks, along with an expanded selection of treats, including candy grapes, candy apples, candy pineapple, Kool-Aid pineapple, cotton candy, acai bowls, and mini pancakes. They will also have a vendor room with products from local vendors. They plan to offer special events such as fight nights, movie nights, game nights, and more.
The sisters held a soft opening over the holiday weekend, which was a success, selling out early every day.
As they reflected on the whirlwind seven-month journey from tent to trailer to storefront, the ladies said none of it would have been possible without the community.
“We just want to thank everyone for all the love and support over the last seven months,” they said. “The encouragement from the community has meant everything to us, and we’re excited for what’s next.”
You can follow them on Facebook here: (20+) Facebook. They can also be reached on Facebook for their trailer bookings.
Feature photo: Brittany (left) and Kelby Hancock/Contributed photo.
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Curtis Self | Reporter
Article by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self. Curtis has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2019.
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