Nicole Newby

I’d say my success comes from a powerful combination of education and experience. When people ask how my business has grown so quickly, I always tell them it’s because of hard work and a commitment to learning. When I formed my LLC, I wanted to understand entrepreneurship from every angle, so I went back to school to earn my bachelor’s degree. While launching Blaque, I was learning in the classroom and applying those lessons to my business in real time, and that made all the difference.

I was enrolled in an entrepreneurship program where I gained hands-on knowledge in marketing, business finance, and operations, all while my business was actively growing. That experience helped me avoid many mistakes and scale faster. Within three years I reached six figures, even though the business has officially been open for two years; I spent the first year designing and preparing everything behind the scenes.

Of course, the journey wasn’t perfect. Early on, I faced a major logistics challenge because I didn’t realize shipping could take four or five weeks. I was promising customers a two- to three-week turnaround without yet having the systems in place to deliver at that level. But those moments taught me some of my most valuable lessons. I truly believe failure is essential to success you can’t grow without it. For me, it was the blend of education, real-world experience, and learning from setbacks that got me where I am today.

The best career advice I ever received came from my mentor, Patrice Smallwood. We who I met with weekly when starting my business, guiding me with insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom. I am thankful for her guidance and friendship.

My advice to anyone starting a business is simple: don’t give up. I know it sounds cliché, but the truth is, entrepreneurship is hard. I often tell people that entrepreneurship is actually a gift one you don’t always recognize at first. It teaches you how to speak confidently, set boundaries, stand up for yourself, and fight for what you believe in. It shapes you into a stronger, more self-aware person in ways you never expected. In my case, it molded me into the woman I am today across so many areas of my life.

I always say: believe in yourself and keep going, no matter what. I want young people especially to understand that they can create their own opportunities they don’t have to wait for permission to be successful. I didn’t study design; I simply started, and I learned along the way. In the beginning, I was just making things for my son. I wasn’t thinking about production, manufacturing, logistics, websites, warehouses, or staging. But I made it a point to learn every part of the process. I immersed myself in understanding entrepreneurship from every angle, and that dedication to learning is what truly leads to success.

Another challenge I faced, beyond logistics and production, was learning how to manage customer expectations and communication. When you’re starting out especially as a creative, you’re so focused on making a great product that you don’t always realize how important clear communication is to the customer experience. In the beginning, I didn’t fully understand how timelines, updates, and transparency could impact trust. I had to learn that customers don’t just value the product; they value the process. They want to know when their order is coming, what stage it’s in, and that you’re being honest with them.

That was a big lesson for me. I realized that running a business isn’t just about creativity or even operations it’s about relationships. I had to develop systems for communicating updates, setting realistic turnaround times, and being upfront about delays or changes. Once I learned that, it changed everything. It helped me build stronger relationships with my customers and grow my brand’s reputation. In business, mastering communication is just as important as mastering your craft, and learning that was one of the most important turning points for me.

I believe one of my core values is creativity and self-expression. Everything in my business reflects who I am, who my children are, and the organizations we’re part of. My creativity is deeply rooted in motherhood everything I create is done with my children in mind. I see creativity as a gift, and I’m grateful that I get to wake up every day and use that gift to bring ideas to life and make whatever I envision.

Another value that guides me is giving back and being a good human. It’s important to me, both for the organizations I serve and for my children to witness, that we recognize how blessed we are and use those blessings to pour into others. Whether I’m volunteering at schools, teaching young people about entrepreneurship, or speaking at youth entrepreneurship events, my goal is to show kids that they can create their own opportunities. They don’t have to wait for permission to be successful.

In my personal life, I cherish spending time with my children, attending church, going to the gym, and recently I’ve been enjoying learning how to play chess it’s been such a fun and rewarding challenge.