Pearls N Palominos: It’s less about style, more about empowering

Mother/Daughter duo, Tracy and Montana Conrad have meshed their talents, skills and ideas together for years. Their partnership began when Montana was big enough to sit in a saddle on one of their miniature, prize winning show horses bred at Country Lane Miniatures and Shetlands a few miles south of Cypress River.

Pearls N Palominos, a clothing brand developed by the pair last year, may be a new venture, but the partnership is anything but new.

For years, Tracy has built Tracy Conrad Studios into a highly popular and recognizable business. While Tracy is the driving force behind the business, Montana has worked alongside her mom throughout the years, bringing her own talents and ideas to the table.

While Tracy brings years of experience in photography and working with women to the venture, Montana brings her own unique set of talents. Living and working full-time in Winnipeg as a marketer and graphic designer, she contributes her keen eye for style, marketing experience and creative imagination to Pearls n Palominos.

Montana has also designed and built the Pearls n Palominos website, giving customers an opportunity to browse the collection and see what is new and currently in stock before making the trip to the country.

Tracy is highly sought after for weddings, but her photography has always been about more than simply capturing a beautiful image. She has a gift for helping women and young girls see the beauty within themselves, and in doing so, discover a new confidence.

That same philosophy has now found its way into Pearls N Palominos.

“Obviously it’s about the clothing and having clothes, but it’s what this brand represents,” Tracy explained. “In the same way that my photos and empowering women have always been what I represent, that’s what we want this brand to be about.”

And perhaps that is key to understanding Pearls N Palominos. The clothing is what brings people through the door, the vision behind it is much bigger and magnetic.

That philosophy came to life in a very tangible way during Pearls N Palominos’ recent “Fall Roundup” soft launch at the Conrad farm.
What Tracy and Montana envisioned as a garden-party-style evening quickly became so much more than a clothing event.

Women, and a few brave men accompanying them, gathered at the farm to shop, visit, enjoy refreshments and support a collection of local entrepreneurs.

“We were looking to create a garden party ambiance and I think we did!” smiled Tracy.

Woodengate Cider served mimosas and cider, served in elegant flutes decorated with edible flowers. Tasha of Richmond Honey Farms brought honey and candles, Kayla Prior, a new floral business from St. Claude brought an assortment of colorful flower arrangements and local artisan, Kim Knockaert showcased pottery and woodwork. Pies from Cindy Dalrymple rounded out the offerings, while Tracy’s son and Montana’s boyfriend grilled fresh smash burgers for the guests.

Tracy deliberately purchased the pies herself, wanting to make sure the vendor wasn’t left with a large quantity of baking if the event didn’t draw the crowd she and Montana hoped for.

As it turned out, she needn’t have worried.

The flowers sold out. The pottery and woodwork quickly found buyers. And all of the pies disappeared.

“So I said to my husband, ‘Okay, I can’t wait to try a pie.’ And he’s like, ‘Tracy, they are all gone.”

It wasn’t the sales that left the biggest impression on the mother and daughter.

It was the people.

Tracy confided she was nervous leading up to the event, unsure of what to expect from the soft launch of a boutique located in the country rather than on a traditional main street.

Her worries quickly disappeared.

The boutique was bustling with activity. It became so busy that it was difficult to move through the space, there was a line-up at the till, and women continued to linger long after they finished shopping.

“There were so many women, some local, some from Winnipeg and Brandon, actually from all over the province,” Tracy recalled. “There were so many faces I didn’t recognize but many I did.”

Both Tracy and Montana commented that there were many moments during the evening when they had to step back to collect themselves.

“There really were numerous times I just had to step away to collect myself,” she said, becoming emotional as she recalled the response.

It wasn’t only a celebration of their new business venture, but of the women and small businesses as well.

“They were here to support us and the other vendors and be present to wish us luck,” said Tracy. “That’s the building process.”

As the evening began to wind down, the last guests were leaving around 11:30 when someone called the group outside.

“Guys, come here and look at that moon.”

For Tracy, it was almost a perfect ending to a night that had left her and Montana overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Everything was just perfect and I was feeling so grateful,” she said. “Montana and I are beyond grateful.”

The evening may have been about community, but at the heart of Pearls N Palominos it is still all about the clothing line; and Tracy and Montana are selective about the brands they bring through their doors.

The event brought their name to life; Pearls for the city girls and Palomino for the country girls.

“The event showed how we have been able to cross over, ‘Own your Wild’ is our catch phrase,” said Tracy adding with a grin, “Who cares what other people think, don’t worry about where you might wear it, just own it!”

For a new boutique, particularly one located in a rural setting off the beaten path, enticing established exclusive brands has not been an easy task.

Their first Canadian clothing brand took a chance on the mother-daughter duo, with a representative falling in love with the concept behind Pearls N Palominos.

In fact, Tracy says we are the only boutique carrying the brand that is not located in an urban or resort setting.

“We are so grateful that our rep understood and fell in love with our concept,” said Tracy.

That concept is reflected in the selection of clothing. Although there is a definite western vibe; naturally as Pearls N Palominos was born on a farm surrounded by horses; the boutique isn’t intended to be strictly a western clothing store, “We’re country girls, but we’re not just a Western brand,” Tracy explained.

They currently carry a Canadian clothing line, along with Alberta Boot Company, a perfume line made in Winnipeg, selected hat lines and a few American brands from Texas and Los Angeles.

Tracy spoke about how perseverance was a must right from the beginning, but most especially when trying to get Alberta Boot Company on board.

“We got four no’s from them at first,” admits Tracy.

But Tracy and Montana didn’t give up.

“We just kept at it, kept at it and kept at it,” Tracy grinned. “This is what we are trying to build. Please just believe in what we are trying to do.”

Eventually they received the response they dreamed of.

“I got you, you’re in.”

There were tears which were followed by some pretty epic dance moves.

For Tracy and Montana, each new brand is another step in figuring out exactly where Pearls N Palominos is headed.

“We’re still playing around with brands and quality that we like and trust,” said Tracy. “We’re going to make mistakes, probably a lot of mistakes. But that is how we will learn and grow. It’s all part of the building process.”

The goal is to offer quality, distinctive pieces while continuing to listen to what their clientele wants.

They are looking at expanding beyond their current selection, possibly adding a European line as they learn more about their clientele and what they are looking for. And Tracy confided that she and Montana have already chosen a catchy name for a boys’ and men’s line as well.

For now, Pearls N Palominos operates out of Tracy Conrad Studios, creating an unexpected and useful connection between the two businesses.

The arrangement has already proven to be a bonus for Tracy’s clients, particularly those booking a branding session. Instead of arriving with the familiar question, “What am I to wear?” clients can browse the boutique to find a style that fits the look and feel they want to convey.

Tracy has also been incorporating a number of pieces from the boutique into engagement and other photo sessions, giving clients the opportunity to try something different, and perhaps, discover an outfit they wouldn’t have otherwise considered.

It is a natural extension of what Tracy has been doing for years; helping women fuel their confidence in front of and behind the camera.

Now, clothing and photography work together, giving women not only the opportunity to find something they love to wear, but also to see themselves in a new way through the lens.

And that, perhaps, is exactly what Tracy and Montana hope Pearls N Palominos will continue to be; a place where women of all ages, shapes, and backgrounds can find something that makes them feel good, while supporting one another along the way.

The clothing may be what brings them through the door, but the connection, confidence and community are what Tracy and Montana hope will keep them coming back.

“Of course, it’s the shopping,” Tracy said,”but it’s all about everything in between, it’s the celebration of brave, strong and amazing women!”

PHOTO CAPTION:  Tracy (left) and Montana Conrad were overwhelmed with gratitude at their “Fall Roundup”.