Pink Poodle's Story

With the Pink Poodle Dress Lounge, owner Raeshawn Bumphers brought to reality a vision inspired by the women of her family two generations before her. The Pink Poodle Dress Lounge [PPDL] commemorates Ms.Bumphers' great aunt's (Everleaner McDowell), Pink Poodle Lounge in Milwaukee, Wisc. The shop's vintage-themed deco is inspired by family mementos and pictures of by her grandmother (Essequeena Jones) and her grandmother's sisters, whose names and faces are honored in the showroom.

Ms.Bumphers spent more than two decades in corporate America and public procurement roles, while moonlighting as a wedding planner and provider of hospitality services.

Raeshawn ultimately decided to pursue her dream and became a full-time entrepreneur when she launched the Pink Poodle Dress Lounge online in October, 2017. The Pink Poodle Dress Lounge is one of only a handful of bridal salons located in the City of Detroit. As a winner of the Motor City Match grant competition, Ms. Bumphers received a $25,000 grant which was used to bring PPDL from an online store to an actual brick and mortar bridal shop and dress boutique at Detroit Jefferson and Chalmers Historic District.

The Founder's ultimate goal is to provide an enterprise of glamour, style, elegance, and grace to greater metropolitan Detroit that enhances the vitality of Detroit's renaissance while simultaneously establishing a family legacy by providing customers with an unmatched and cherished total experience.

Founder, Pink Poodle Dress Lounge

Raeshawn Bumphers is the Founder and CEO of the Pink Poodle Dress Lounge [PPDL]. After providing bridal and hospitality services for over 20 years and launching an exclusive online website, Bumphers realized that a physical showroom and bridal lounge was required in order to expand the business and meet customer demand. The Pink Poodle Dress Lounge is named after the former Pink Poodle Lounge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which was previously owned by Bumphers great aunt, Everleaner McDowell. The PPDL is a vintage-themed showroom that debuted in the Fall 2018 as a part of Detroit's vibrant renaissance.

Since the launch of PPDL’s physical showroom and bridal lounge, the brand has grown. PPDL’s growth has led to Bumphers becoming one of Detroit’s premier bridal stylist. PPDL became an immediate success and soon Bumphers needed to seek a bigger and better location. With the relocation, Bumphers is now able to offer her customers expanded service with an enhanced bridal showroom and dress boutique lounge.

PPDL and Bumphers have been featured on Detroit’s Fox affiliate (WJBX Fox 2) Detroit’s ABC affiliate (WXYZ Channel 7) and Detroit’s NBC affiliate (WDIV Channel 4). PPDL has also been featured in MunaLuchi Bride, Wedding Day Magazine and the Detroit Free Press. PPDL and Bumphers has a growing social media presence and influence on the bridal and wedding stylist market.
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Prior to becoming a leading-edge entrepreneur, Bumphers was also an automotive procurement professional in corporate America. She possessed excellent abilities and expertise in leadership, procurement, project management, and strategic planning. Bumphers has also served as a Procurement Specialist for the Detroit Public Schools, specifically working to remove the District from being listed as high risk from the State of Michigan.
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Bumphers business acumen enabled her to create and implement a successful business plan that led to the creation of PPDL. PPDL's business plan demonstrated such excellence that she was a proud recipient of a $25,000 award from the Motor City Match entrepreneurial excellence program and secured a business loan with Michigan Women Forward. Bumphers was honored to receive the City of Detroit Spirit Award during PPDL’s opening City Ceremony with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Bumphers is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Alumni. She has also served as a mentor to other entrepreneurs and provided guidance in helping them begin and grown their business.
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Bumphers is a life long Detroiter, who decided to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams once her son, Wesley graduated from Carnegie Mellon University. Wesley has also been an inspiring, unrelenting advocate of all her entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, Bumphers is passionately dedicated to empowering young girls and women to achieve their full potential.

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