Interviewer: When did your business start?
Nicole: Nissie Creatives started in July 2021.
Interviewer: How did you come about the name “Nissie Creatives”?
Nicole: I prayed about it. Before I start a lot of the things I do, I make sure to spend time praying. After one of my research sessions, I spent time praying about it. After a while, the name just came to me.
Interviewer: How did you fund the start of your business—through planned savings, previous capital, or was it more of a spontaneous decision?
Nicole: I used my savings to start the business so I guess you could say previous capital. Starting Nissie was not necessarily in our plans. But as time went on, I realized that it was something that I wanted to do so I used my savings to start it up.
Interviewer: What was the toughest part of starting your business?
Nicole: Getting the raw materials I needed was the toughest part of starting. I had to import a lot of the stuff I needed because finding them in Ghana was pretty hard.
Interviewer: You mentioned earlier that you used your savings to start the business. What inspired you to take the risk of investing your savings in something, even when the returns were uncertain?
Nicole: I made sure to research and gather knowledge about my business before I started, consulting with others to ensure it was what people wanted. I also did research on how to do the customizations on the items that I make. I made sure I had a lot of knowledge on what I wanted to do and how it would work so I could make an informed decision. By the time I knew that I was ready to start, I was sure it was a good enough risk to put in my savings to get the machinery, raw materials and things I needed to make it work.
Interviewer: What attracted you to this niche?
Nicole: The idea originated from a personal struggle of wanting customized items with minimal order quantities since Ghanaian companies I often asked required quantities of about 50 or 100 when I just wanted one. I always had to ship from outside Ghana if I wanted a quantity of just one or two, which was too expensive. Through research, I discovered others shared the struggle, and that’s how the company was born – to provide unique and personalized gifts.
Interviewer: Were you already creatively inclined, or did you proactively build creative skills in response to the identified need for your business?
Nicole: I’ll say a lot more of the first than the second. Primarily, I’ve always been in the creative space, engaging in activities like drawing and DIY projects. However, when I faced a problem without a solution, I proactively learned new skills for my business. I had no knowledge of what I’m doing when I started. I had to learn a lot of things like how to use the machines and the apps. So, in as much as I was already in the creative space, I had to learn and build skills to do what I am doing. It is therefore a bit of both, but more of the first one.
Interviewer: Would you say it is better to plan extensively before starting something, as you did, or to just start and figure it out along the way?
Nicole: I believe planning is crucial before starting. There’s a scripture that says before you start anything, count the cost. It’s like building a house—you need to know the expenses for the foundation, roofing, and more. The same applies to my business. I know people say that when you want to start something, just go just start it. I think planning is also part of “starting” rather than just doing it without having any plan. Planning helps avoid aimless actions and keeps the focus. So, planning is an important part of taking the leap to achieve something.
Interviewer: Can you share a pivotal moment in your business journey when you felt a significant transition and saw tangible results from your efforts?
Nicole: Yes, I’d say last December was a major turning point for me. Trying something new for my Christmas collection, I sold out quickly, realizing how much the business has grown since my initial plans in 2021. I had these kinds of plans when I was starting in 2021 not knowing that two years later, I would actually get most of them done. It was a moment of excitement and reflection on the progress made.
Interviewer: How do you handle doubts, lack or setbacks in your business journey?
Nicole: I’m a planner, so when things don’t go according to plan, it shakes me up a bit. However, I’ve learned that setbacks often provide valuable lessons or indicate the need for patience. For instance, the product I launched in December was initially planned to be launched in 2021 and I tried again in 2022. A lot of money and effort went into it, but I didn’t get the end results I wanted which really shook me. I had to put it aside, wait a bit, get things done better and then try it again last year. This time, it worked out better than I expected. My new way is that I adapt and seek alternatives when faced with challenges, ensuring the business keeps moving forward.
Interviewer: What has been the highlight of your business journey so far?
Nicole: A major highlight is when customers share their joy through videos or messages upon receiving their custom items. It motivates and reassures me that I’m creating meaningful experiences for them.
Interviewer: Has your motivation evolved from addressing a need to a genuine passion for the creative work, especially considering the joy and feedback you receive from people?
Nicole: Yes, it really has. I started because I was trying to solve a problem, but now, I find joy and creativity in the process. While I’m solving an issue for you, you get to experience it as a fun and creative way of gift-giving.
Interviewer: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your entrepreneurial journey?
Nicole: One thing that came to mind when you asked the question was to keep pushing and to keep doing more. I have realized that the more I do, the more people get to see what I do. The more I create and showcase new products on social media, the more I get people who are interested in what I do. I never tell myself that what I have done up to a certain point is enough. I’m always looking for the next thing I can do to show people what I have to offer them. There are times when I may get a creative block, but as soon as an idea comes, I push for it. It keeps me motivated, attracts more interest, and ensures that I’m always seeking the next creative endeavor.
Interviewer: I noticed you are a woman of faith when I listened to a podcast where you mentioned how there are times when you may not have as much as you would want to yet after talking to God about it, you see changes. How has your faith influenced your entrepreneurial path?
Nicole: I remember you asked a question on how I came about the name for the business. My answer is a perfect example of how I make decisions regarding my business. I don’t do anything new in the business without praying about it. I need the Holy Spirit to guide me, so I try not to make a drastic move if I haven’t yet gotten an answer for something I’m praying about. The times I jump the gun and do what I want, it often doesn’t work. I have learned a lot from that. My faith is integral to my business decisions. I pray for guidance to make the right choices and seek improvements in my ideas. It’s a crucial part of my journey, helping me identify and solve challenges in my entrepreneurial path. Regarding the podcast, a number of people messaged me about how they liked it, but I feel people only heard the good parts. There is a lot of behind the scenes on that. I’m constantly learning and there are times things don’t go my way, but I will always resort to prayer.
Interviewer: What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs who may be hesitant or unsure about starting their own ventures?
Nicole: If you’re certain about pursuing your passion, take the leap and start. Do thorough research, learn, and seek spiritual guidance. If you’re sure that you have all that checked out, go ahead and start. The initial phase may be uncertain, but starting opens doors, and the Holy Spirit can bring unexpected opportunities your way. Something I always tell my friends is that once you start it, the Holy Spirit will make sure people hear about it. I can testify on that because a lot of people that make orders are people, I don’t know yet they know and are interested in what I do either because of what they’ve heard or seen somewhere. If I hadn’t started this two years ago, I wouldn’t be what I am right now, so I am glad that I did start and once I started, things started working out.
Interviewer: Was the trend of your customers being people you don’t know a constant from the beginning, or did it evolve over time?
Nicole: This is a very interesting question. There is this notion that most at times your customers would not be your friends. It is something I have experienced and can attest to. I first thought that the people who would buy would be people close to me but two years down the line, I can assure you that most of my customers are strangers. I think it’s easier to sell to strangers who appreciate the product than to people with personal ties. This is because people you know may ask for discounts, want it completely free or some other interesting thing altogether. Interestingly, I was actually thinking about this a few days ago. You’d think the people closer to you would buy more but I don’t know, it’s just interesting how that is not the case. I actually do have a number of friends and family who order. If I’m doing a comparison, however, I’ll say I sell more to strangers.
Interviewer: How do you maintain customer loyalty and stay relevant in the market?
Nicole: I utilize Instagram ads for marketing, constantly introduce new products to maintain customer interest. I’m always trying to innovate, just so that there’s always something that you think you need from me. For example, I have a product catalog that has all the packages I do that you can pick based on your budget. This helps so people can see what they can get and then make their order. Loyal customers also enjoy discounts, free delivery, or an additional item in their orders, fostering a strong connection. Another thing that people like is that when they come knowing they want a gift package but don’t know what to get, I can help you curate your package based on information you give me about the person you’re getting the gift for. This also makes the customers feel creative as we do this together. Customers sometimes add personalized notes, they enjoy the entire process which often keeps them coming back.
Interviewer: Do you work solo or with a team? If you have a team, has it grown since the beginning, or is it a fixed team handling various aspects of the business?
Nicole: I was the only one working on the business until last year September. Currently, I have two interns that are working with me, so they come and then we do reels for Instagram and packages together. If you’d notice, on Instagram, I have a few with them in there. They help a lot with the back end, so whilst they’re working on packages, I can be working on other things, which helps a lot.
Interviewer: If you could speak to Nicole the first day, when she made the decision to start, what would you tell her considering the experience you now have?
Nicole: Dream big, that’s it, dream big.
Interviewer: Any last words?
Nicole: Being asked to share my journey has been a great opportunity. Reflecting on my experiences during this interview has made me appreciate the growth and journey from where I started to where I am now. I’m truly grateful for this chance. God bless you for that.