Triniere Poole volunteered at Nicole Jones’ Sensual Steps shoe salon for 18 months, and the strategy catapulted her from an unpaid intern to the owner and CEO of Haute Pink Shoes.
That’s quite a feat for a woman whose background is in health care.
“I didn’t know anything about retail, so in order for me to be successful, I partnered with a woman who was very successful in this area,” Poole states. “She taught me everything I needed to know about the business. And I just watched her grow her business, and ultimately that gave me the skills and the tools that I needed.”
“[Nicole Jones] moved up and out, started her own business, and I moved into this space. It’s a totally different business, with a different business model,” adds Poole.
For starters, Poole is reaching far beyond shoes.
“My vision for Haute Pink is to create a lifestyle brand, so it’s not all about shoes. Ultimately, I want to become the next Kimora Lee Simmons. So Haute Pink will be shoes, jewelry, a clothing line and a fragrance line. Haute Pink is more of an attitude — it’s an expression of life.”
Launching Haute Pink wasn’t a cakewalk, for the Memphis, Tenn., native. Poole’s husband received a job assignment in Chicago and the family migrated. Initially, Poole settled into her new role as a stay-at-home mom. But the boutique business was calling her name.
“I traded the soccer mom to become the business woman,” Poole states. “Now, I’m gone 40-50 hours a week, it was a huge transition, but ultimately, my family realized that I’m living my dream.”
Business is booming for Poole’s choosy shoe clients, and for the stylish women in the market for select apparel from talented black designers, including Kiwi’s Boutique. “I have her clothes here, so it’s like she has two locations,” Poole says of the label. Poole carries Adorn Fashions jewelry, as well, “She creates beautiful jewelry and handbags,” she gushes.
Haute Pink customers can find colorful, flirty dresses, funky shoes (such as Guess by Marciano, the black-designed Fever line out of Atlanta, and the Maurie & Eve shoe out of Australia); and, the Chosen By Christ embellished T-shirt line.
Poole will launch her own designer shoe line next spring, also named Haute Pink.
And the former stay-at-home mom turned retailer encourages others to follow their passion.
Triniere Pool advises, “push past fear because fear cripples us from anything that we want to do. You can do anything that you want to do; do not let fear stop you.”
Haute Pink Shoes is located at 4518 S. Cottage Grove; 773.924.4011.
Photos: Zondra Hughes
