I’d like you to meet Katy Harwick, a native Neapolitan and small business owner.  She wouldn’t want to live anywhere else except beautiful Naples Florida.  Katy went to the University of Florida for undergraduate (Economics) and graduate school (International Business).  After school, she absolutely wanted to stay in her home town.  She worked at the Chico’s corporate offices in Fort Myers before leaving to start her own business.  Cypress & Palm Boutique opened three years ago in May of 2017.  It is located at 821 Vanderbilt Beach Road Naples.  Naples has great shops, but there are not a lot that catered to contemporary women’s apparel. Cypress & Palm carries a variety of brands that are perfect for the laid back resort lifestyle of Naples.  Katy’s shop is open year round and even in the midst of a pandemic, doing very well.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’m very lucky to be close to my family and have a lot of them live in Naples as well.  My mom and dad are snowbirds and my sister and niece are in Orlando.  I couldn’t ask for a better crew!

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I own Cypress & Palm Boutique, a women’s clothing and accessories store. I love meeting new people and seeing old friends in the store. Helping them discover something they love always makes me smile.  In the future perhaps Cypress & Palm Boutique locations will pop up in other resort areas of Florida and maybe Michigan too!

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Osteria Tulia, Campiello, USSNemo and, of course, Skillets!

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I was born and raised in Naples!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Italy – it is absolutely my favorite place to visit. I studied abroad there in college and haven’t been back since. The country is beautiful, the people are great, and the food isn’t too bad, either!

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Holiday – I watch it every December. Friends is my all time favorite TV show, but Schitts Creek is a very close second.

Q: What advice would you give to people?
“Do your best.” That’s what my mom always told me.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Go to the Kentucky Derby.

Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Coldplay.

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Jabberwocky. It was a childcare center in Coastland Mall in the early 90s. Parents could drop their kids off there and go shopping, while the kids played in the ball pit and worked up the courage to go down the big blue slide.

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Karen, my best friend quarantined in NYC. She had to postponed her wedding due to corona-virus and I haven’t seen her since January. I’d love to give her a big hug. We would definitely go to Skillets.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love Celebration Park! It’s an awesome new addition to the community.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Growing my business and opening additional locations.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I did an internship at the Burberry Headquarters in London.

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Italy and Hawaii

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
December, Thanksgiving, National Margarita Day

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My mom’s key lime pie.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My niece, Sophia

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Gardenias and peonies

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
My family, my parent’s cooking, Florida.

Other Posts

HOME