Women in Business - Hardee Investment Holdings & Monkee's of Myrtle Beach

Two Women, Two Sisters, Two Businesses Leading the Grand Strand

Monkee's of Myrtle Beach

 

Mandi Reaves is the owner of Monkee’s, an upscale women’s boutique in Barefoot Landing.

 

Monkee’s has been a much-beloved, prominent fixture here along the Grand Strand, with a loyal, local customer base in addition to being a repeat go-to for women visiting the area. Monkee’s opened its first store in Wilmington, N.C., in 1995, and has grown exponentially, with locations in a dozen states. Each boutique is independently owned and operated, Mandi explains. “The Monkee’s franchise has been a perfect fit because of its positive message and I loved that the franchise allowed me to be part of the team but also ‘allowed me to explore my own creativity,’” she adds.

 

Mandi always loved fashion, design, styling, and connecting with people, and in 2019, her dream of owning a Monkee’s store in the Grand Strand area became reality.

 

The store specializes in curating a mix of brands and designers in order to offer the best selection of women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories.
“Here at Monkee’s of Myrtle Beach we want your experience in-store and online to be personal and memorable,” Mandi continues. The store offers an extensive selection of designer boutique-style shoes, clothing, and accessories “that are hand-picked seasonally to reflect current trends while also maintaining a classic Southern style.”

 

Her inspiration comes from seeing clients so enthusiastic and happy with their finds, she says.

 

“It’s about watching others walk out the door feeling excited about themselves or the purchase they have made for a loved one! The Monkee’s motto has always been: ‘Come in, sit down in our living room, try on, and have fun!’  There is no pressure here,” she adds.

 

As the saying goes, “Team work makes the dream work!” and Mandi is quick to praise and credit her team at Monkee’s. “I absolutely could not do it without my amazing team! Paige, Sarah, and Bailey have been with me since opening, and I couldn’t do it without them! They help coordinate everything from buying to accounting… even down to the sales! We also pride ourselves in hiring local high school and college girls in our area! We love encouraging the local girl who is hustling!”

 

Together, these two women, sisters and business owners continue to focus on growing the Grand Strand for all future women business leaders.

Hardee Investment Holdings

 

Monica Hardee is vice president of Hardee Investment Holdings, a family office created by the CEO of its “sister company”, A.O. Hardee & Son Inc., a regionally prominent heavy-highway construction company based in Little River. She is the third generation to be involved in the construction company that segregated its assets to create HIH, a privately held real estate holding and investment company.

 

“I spearhead development, which includes supporting day-to-day administration and management of business functions related to various types of asset classes, including land banking and commercial real estate development services to regional and national homebuilders. We currently have under production approximately 6,000 acres in North and South Carolina,” she explains.

 

The University of South Carolina graduate holds certificates in Construction Estimating, and Civil Engineer Blueprint Reading and is a licensed real estate broker.

 

Additionally, for over 16 years, Monica has owned her own brokerage company, Land Point Properties. Her experience as Broker in Charge as well as a lifelong apprenticeship alongside her father, and grandfather in the construction industry has fostered a broad and deep understanding of real estate, development, construction, finance, and “the art of the deal.”

 

Monica hopes to see more women pursue leadership roles in the construction and real estate industries.

 

“Women are pushing to establish more senior roles for themselves in commercial real estate, an area where we are severely underrepresented. Despite progress in other professions, my industry still largely remains a male-dominated field. My dream is to not only carry on the legacy of the family business, but to hold the gate of opportunity open for other young women.”

 

As seen in Grand Strand Magazine. Read more here.

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Iconic Monkee’s Franchise Comes to
Myrtle Beac

Now Open in Barefoot Landing 

September 2019 – After months of anticipation and planning, Monkee’s of Myrtle Beach celebrates its Grand Opening on Saturday, September 7th. The doors on the upscale women’s boutique franchise open at 10 a.m. at 4822-A Highway 17 South in Barefoot Landing. 

Cutting the ribbon will be store owner Mandi Reaves  born and raised in N. Myrtle Beach.

The upscale ladies' boutique features designer shoes, clothing and accessories and unique brands – something the duo thought was missing in the Grand Strand. 

“Our area lacked a true designer boutique store,” says Reaves. “There are so many ‘resort wear’ shops, but not many stores that cater year-around to both locals and tourists with cutting edge fashion.” 

 Reaves fell in love with Monkee’s during shopping trips to the franchise’s flagship store in Wilmington. 

After years of talking about opening her own Monkee’s, she is thrilled to make her dream a reality. 

Monkee’s of Myrtle Beach will carry designer lines such as Unbuttoned Jewelry, Crosby, Tyler Boe, AG and J Brand jeans, Anna Cate, and Marie Oliver  – brands new and fresh to the area. 

Designed to look like your (well-heeled) girlfriend’s closet, the boutique’s signature chandeliers, comfy couches and stunning shoe galleries are all staples in a Monkee’s store. 

“I am thrilled to bring the Monkee’s shopping experience to Myrtle Beach,” adds Reaves. 

The Myrtle Beach store is the fourth Monkee’s location in South Carolina. All are independently owned and operated.

 

As Seen On CNBC: A Look into Monkee's of Myrtle Beach

Featured on the segment "American Dream," Erica Davis walks through Monkee's of Myrtle Beach highlighting the high-end, luxury clothing, shoes, and accessories that they bring to Barefoot Landing.
You can watch the feature here.

 

 

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