Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Hankins.
Dominique, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always knew there was more to life, and the world, than the neighborhoods that surrounded me growing up. Traveling the world quickly became an eye-opener and an outlet from everyday life. Traveling gave me the opportunity to see the world and literally leave my footprint all over it. I knew I wanted to start a business. I wanted something I could call my own and something that would reflect my biggest passion.
So I decided to start a travel accessory shop to give people all the unique things they want and need when they travel. In a world where everyone wants to stand out, I decided to help people do just that! I came up with a business plan on my living room floor, purchased my first inventory, and promoted and launched my shop via social media. From there, Pretty Little Passports was born.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all! Starting a business from the ground up can be extremely challenging, and comes with lots of ups and downs. As with many small businesses, I am the owner and sole employee. I had no help or backing, so I financially had to invest my own money with no guarantees on return. I have to handle everything from Social media promotion, packing orders, inventory, and customer service, all while still working a full-time job. There are times when it gets hard, overwhelming, and you feel like just throwing in the towel.
Like everyone else, I also have to deal with REAL LIFE. Last year my daughter passed away and I still had to figure out how to keep my business going while dealing with my own trauma. My business didn’t stop because real life got hard. It can be extremely challenging to find the desire and will to keep pushing your business when you feel like everything else has crumbled. I struggled to keep my business afloat while I was drowning in my personal life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Pretty Little Passports – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Pretty Little passports is a travel accessory shop. We sell all the accessories you need to give you a little extra personality while running from gate to gate. From Passport covers to Apple Airpod Cases, we’ve got you covered! We are best known for our passport covers. It seems like everyone has one, so why not make yours stand out?! After all our motto is “Why travel with a boring passport?!” As a company, I am most proud of our strength! I never would have thought that people I didn’t know would support my little idea and keep it going for Two years strong. It’s amazing to see pictures of people taking our covers all over the world.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Expand! Expand! Expand! For our two year anniversary, we completely rebranded the shop. Along with that, I would like to bring in more inventory, new products, and of course, new customers! Moving forward, I would like to add even more personalization options for our products. This is what our customers want to see most.
Pricing:
- Gold/Iridescent Passport Covers $14.00
- Matte Passport Covers $13.00
- Airpod Cases $13.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/prettylittlepassport
- Email: theprettypassports@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Prettylittlepassports
Image Credit:
Ante Smith- ShotByKali
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