Story & Lesson Highlights with Nycole Mason of Portland, OR

We recently had the chance to connect with Nycole Mason and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Nycole, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
One thing people often misunderstand about Elegant Boutique is that it’s just another beauty supply store. In reality, we’re a mobile, community-driven business that delivers convenience, quality, and care right to our customers’ doors, 7 days a week. Many people don’t realize the amount of planning, sourcing, and personal touch that goes into every order, from our own brand of braiding hair to the curated products we ship worldwide. It’s not just about selling products; it’s about building relationships, supporting stylists, and making beauty accessible wherever our customers are.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Nycole, founder of Elegant Boutique, Oregon’s first and only mobile beauty supply store. I launched the business in 2021 during the pandemic because I wanted to make beauty supplies accessible, convenient, and personal. Getting delivered right to your door, 7 days a week.

What makes Elegant Boutique unique is that we’re not just a store; we’re a community hub for stylists and beauty lovers alike. We offer our own brand of braiding hair, a wholesale program, ship worldwide, assist programs/organizations who serve kids and families in the foster care system and we even created a section on our website called ‘PDX Stylist’ to spotlight local talent.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding inventory, launching vending machines on college campuses, getting more stylist to buy wholesale, and hosting exclusive events like our Beauty Vault Pop-Up that happened back in August. For me, Elegant Boutique is about more than products, it’s about building connections, supporting the next generation of stylists, and delivering beauty with care no matter where are customers are.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I’d say my great-grandmother. She was a resilient, hardworking, but most of all God-fearing woman who always believed in me, even before I fully believed in myself. It didn’t matter if it was with school, a job, or wanting to start my own business, she believed in me. From the time I was a child, she saw my potential to build, to lead, and to create opportunities not just for me, but for others. Her faith in me has been a constant source of inspiration that I continue to lean in to even though she’s now gone. It has shaped the way I run Elegant Boutique today, which is with purpose, determination, and care for the community I serve.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes!! There were definitely times I almost gave up, especially in the early days of Elegant Boutique. Sourcing inventory was a huge challenge, with high minimums from vendors, not being a typical brick-and-mortar store and the pressure of running a mobile business, which is something no one in Oregon has ever done before. There were moments when I questioned if I could make it work, especially because not many people believed or understood the vision of my business or what it was that I was doing. But I kept going because I believed in MY vision. Making beauty accessible, convenient, and personal. Each time I pushed through, I learned something new about resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of serving my community. Those challenges ultimately made the business stronger and helped me grow as a leader.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the beauty supply industry tells itself is that it’s only about selling products. Many people think success is just about inventory or trends, but the truth is that relationships, community, and accessibility are what really matter. Another misconception is that mobile or small businesses can’t compete with big-box stores, when in reality, personalization, convenience, and genuine care create a competitive edge that big retailers can’t replicate. The industry sometimes overlooks the people behind the products, but at Elegant Boutique, that’s exactly where we put our focus.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who built opportunities, uplifted others, created something that had never been done in Oregon before, and stayed true to her vision no matter how hard people tried to get me to quit or do something different. I want them to say that I showed resilience in the face of challenges, supported my community, and created a business that wasn’t just about products, but about people, relationships, and empowerment. More than anything, I hope they remember that I gave back, inspired others to chase their dreams, and left a positive mark on everyone I worked with.

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