Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Nicholas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alicia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my first job within the design industry in 2006 for a local designer and retail store owner. This first job was instrumental in my progression to where I am today. It was at this job that I was able to learn from her and form relationships with vendors from the store whom I also ended up working for and with to this day. As I gained more experience and worked in different facets (art galleries, trade only design showrooms, design/build custom home builders) I continued to build my resume and in 2019 formed a new partnership creating a retail boutique named Luxe Custom Collective where we offer luxury products such as jewelry, gifts, wine, home decor, art, and Interior Design services.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Passion, perseverance, and desire to learn and evolve along the way is required for any successful business. There were many challenges along the way. Stores closing, recession, inner office management changes similarly to most industries over the last 15 years. Some of this, though, I can look at now and see where it encouraged me to grow. An example of this was changing roles within the company I worked for at the time. My role was changed to that of a project manager due to construction timelines and needs changing within the company. This actually was a great tool for me as I learned far more about the construction side of the business, change orders, purchasing, and warranty. This knowledge provided me with the experience needed for my next job as a both a project manager and designer. I was now more efficient and understanding of the building/remodeling process in a new light.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The absolute most important part of my business in all aspects is relationships. Relationships with homeowners are, of course, the most intimate. When working on someone’s home, “everything is personal,” I specialize in custom home design, which means for me to perform my job best, I need to know the family that will live there. This starts from meeting with the architect and reviewing plans, ensuring that the house meets the needs of its inhabitants, asking questions… are there children? Pets? extended family? special needs? future needs? working from home. Besides inspiration pictures that just look pretty, what makes the client feel happy and healthy in their home? What do they not like about their current home? There is so much psychology behind many of the questions and sometimes hidden in their answers!
Many of my clients I will work with for 2-3 years so I am happy report that after that time period we’ve built a relationship beyond the professional and remain in contact after they have moved in. The other side of this is business with vendors, contractors, and even a few of my previous employers. Designing a home requires collaboration. I am so fortunate again to have built friendships with many of these people over the last almost 15 years. In the world of construction where hundreds/thousands of products are required to complete in its entirety the relationships are fundamental for success This also carries over to my retail store Luxe. My business partner Jeri Slater and I met and had a shared vision. Create a beautiful place that people can meet, shop, and have a glass of wine. We regularly have clients that just come to visit. Creating a place that offers, comfort and joy is my goal. Especially under the circumstances in relation to Covid a safe, happy, healthy home is what we seek most.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Opening Luxe in August of 2019 was a milestone moment in my career. Within our store we have our design studio and offer products that are unique to the area. Our store itself is unique as the concept is unlike what is typically seen in our market. The location of our store was one of opportunity due to another store unexpectedly closing. So while Jeri and I were in the very early stages of procuring this concept the opportunity presented itself. The lease was signed, we quickly remodeled and opened our doors in under a month. We did not even have all of our products in and people were peeking through the windows and asking to come inside. We held our official grand opening the next month in September and I gave birth to my 3rd daughter in October. 2019 was quite an exciting year!
Contact Info:
- Address: 9595 Six Pines Dr. Suite 680 The Woodlands TX 77380
- Website: www.alicianicholasdesign.com and www.luxecustomcollective.com
- Phone: 832-797-3043
- Email: hello@ANDluxeliving.com
- Instagram: aliciabishopnicholas
- Facebook: luxe custom collective
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