Portia Smith, the owner of Pink Sheep Interiors, credits her retail career to one simple truth: she genuinely loves people. She never wanted a traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle. Smith wanted the lively energy that comes from welcoming people through the door, learning what they love, and helping them make their spaces feel like home. Her family used to joke saying that she could “sell ice cubes to an Eskimo,” and in her world, that wasn’t a joke, but simply a sign of her gift for connection.
That gift turned into a decorating skill set over time. She pursued formal interior decorating training through an online program for three years, building the knowledge to support what she already felt naturally confident doing. And when she was ready, she started small by working with neighbors first, offering interior help to people close to home and expanding as word spread. Those early conversations carried her further than she had anticipated.
After relocating to South Carolina, she made a move that many entrepreneurs hesitate to make by launching Pink Sheep Interiors with a physical storefront.
Along her journey, she learned the lesson every small business owner eventually learns: it’s not enough to recommend; you must close the gap between inspiration and action. Smith noticed that some people who thought they wanted interior design weren't booking jobs, which left her spinning. The store solved that problem by creating a space where her concept could be felt instantly.
What began as small furniture and home accents evolved into something broader: a lifestyle boutique. Today, Pink Sheep offers home décor alongside items like women’s fashion, handbags, jewelry, and dog swag.
When asked where the items come from, she's quick to clarify that she does not create products herself, arguing that her "superpower" is her ability to tell stories, and that approach shapes how she shops.
She gravitates toward businesses and products with meaning. "I like when a brand has a real origin story behind it," she said, whether that brand is something deeply personal or a creative response to a problem someone couldn't have solved any other way. For Smith, those narratives matter because people don't just want objects; they want to feel good about where their purchases come from.
To Smith, "different" is the point. Pink Sheep's name stems from her reflection of her lifelong relationship with being the one in the family who "didn't always color inside the lines" and went to the beat of her own drum. "People may recognize the term 'black sheep in the family,' but I wanted to change that narrative to 'pink sheep'; it's hard to forget the pink sheep," she said. Her philosophy is simple: there's room in the world for more than one aesthetic, and not everyone wants to look or be the same as someone else.
In an era where entrepreneurs often feel pressure to go big or go viral, she chose a path centered on building relationships, visibility, and creating a great experience for customers. Instead of focusing on elements she couldn't control, she set her sights on the ones she could: showing up consistently, building trust, and delivering experiences people want to share.
Smith recalled moments that kept her going — the person who comes in, finds something meaningful, and later returns because Pink Sheep Interiors was remembered. (She wants Pink Sheep Interiors to be top of mind for customers because of their experiences and personal touches). In her view, that's what transforms a storefront from a stop on the map into a place people connect with.
Looking ahead, Smith's goal is not to "grow bigger," but rather to keep getting better: sourcing quality products, deepening the brand's story, and staying rooted in the community.
She wants Pink Sheep to remain an intimate boutique alternative and the kind of place someone checks first for home goods and gifts before defaulting to online ordering.
Her community commitment has also expanded into her newest venture of Pink Sheep Pups and Company, a dog apparel shop opening in a separate location not too far from the Pink Sheep Interiors location. As a dog mom herself, she saw a gap in the market years ago while traveling. Now, the idea is taking shape locally, with plans to get involved with shelters and community giving.
Although the emotional rhythm of owning a small business can be exhausting when one day can bring excitement and the next day can bring uncertainty, she urges entrepreneurs to have "grit on purpose." "Stay humble and do it for the love of the game, and not for the love of the gain," she advised.
What started as a decorating passion became a storefront, then a lifestyle brand, and now — two connected businesses built around identity, community, and "story-first" shopping.
Pink Sheep Interiors' owner, Portia Smith, focuses on building something personal, staying to her pink sheep-ness and keeping the door open for anyone looking to find quality pieces that fit perfectly in their space.
Pink Sheep Interiors is located on 2876 Howard Ave, Unit A Myrtle Beach. To connect with Portia Smith, the owner, reach out to her via email at pinksheepinteriors@gmail.com
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