Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Franco.
Hi Nicole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From a very young age, I always had an interest in creative arts and an entrepreneurial spirit. I remember going to Home Depot every Saturday with my dad for the kid’s workshops where we would build wood projects together. He is a skilled carpenter and DIY extraordinaire so I always admired his talents and loved learning from him. Then, I developed a fascination with sewing as I even aspired to be a fashion designer. My parents always supported my desire to learn so they signed me up for sewing classes at the age of 12. Later on, I would venture into the world of dance by taking Belly Dancing, Hula, Polynesian, and even Tango classes. You could say I’ve always been a person of many interests with the eagerness to learn a little bit of everything.
As a college student in 2011, I found myself unemployed but in search of my next venture. That is when I discovered the world of Etsy. Back then, it was quite new, but in that moment I knew this might be something worth looking into. I started my website and created my Etsy shop where I sold feather hair extensions. While the furor of this fad was short-lived, I was excited about the idea of being self-employed and decided it was time to innovate if I wanted to continue. So I did. I started playing with the idea of creating jewelry and then shortly after expanded to accessories. In addition, I taught myself the in’s and out’s of social media which led me to market my products and gain new customers. I remember I would spend my day creating, packing, and shipping products with the help of my mom to then have to attend college courses in the evening. To say the least, I was a very busy college student who took on more than she could handle. Ultimately, I ended up putting my business on hold and focused on finishing school.
Although I had to shift my focus, learning about digital marketing led me to other job opportunities in the for-profit and non-profit world. These opportunities enabled me to grow and expand my knowledge, but I knew that my heart was in handcrafts and entrepreneurship. That is I took a leap of faith and left my job in September 2021 to pursue a new yet familiar business venture. That is how Nikki Co Handmade was born.
It’s been two months of operating my rebranded e-commerce business and it’s been a whirlwind. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my business would keep me this busy. I’ve had the honor and opportunity to participate in several local pop-up shops since opening. It’s been such an exciting experience and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of my journey.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been a crazy rocky road, but there’s been so many great moments as well. Having to put my business on hold because life got in the way isn’t something I originally intended. However, as cliche as it may sound, “the comeback is greater than the setback”.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Latina-owned business operating out of my home studio. At Nikki Co Handmade, I specialize in handmade jewelry and accessories made out of polymer clay. Although this is a new medium for me, I love the versatility. It allows me to be expressive and I often try to incorporate my Colombian culture in my designs. I want the world to know Colombia for its beauty and rich culture rather than its tainted past and societal perceptions.
What makes you happy?
Making my family proud. They are Colombian immigrants who came to this country in the 80’s with the clothes on their back. Their sacrifice and hard work ethic is what pushes me to continuously make them proud of me. It is because of them that I have had so many opportunities and for that, I am thankful.
Contact Info:
- Email: nikkicohandmade@gmail.com
- Website: https://nikkicohandmade.etsy.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nikkicohandmade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiCoHandmade
