I’d like to share an inspirational story about a mom who wanted to teach her young daughter how to run a business of her own when she grew up.
That goal was met, and Mom and daughter now own and operate a business that boasts sales nationwide.
The story begins in 2006, when Nichol Vagrosky launches her first candle company. She decides to take her daughter Victoria under her wing with the goal of showing her the ropes of building a business as well as how to create a brand.
Fast forward to 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic is in full swing, and business and supply-chain failures are making headlines almost daily.
It’s also the year the mother/daughter team successfully launches Victoria Nichol, a luxury candle, lotion, reed and fragrance online business.
Nichol, a graphic designer for 30 years, serves as creative director, designing the packaging, logo and formulations. Daughter Victoria serves as the company’s media manager; her responsibilities also include quality assurance and inventory oversight as well as client relations.
A mainstay of Victoria Nichol remains candles. But not just any candles!
“Our candles are all-natural, and their quality is first class,” Nichol explains, adding the candles are manufactured using all-natural soy wax, cotton wicks and oils that are free of VOCs or phthalates, which are known to be unhealthy for people and pets.
“Our candles burn clean and long and are highly scented,” she adds.
Victoria Nichol also offers a line of 100% natural, handcrafted goat’s milk soaps. “Customers may design and customize their own bar online with their choice of flowers, oils and fragrances,” Nichol points out, noting that soaps are “made with natural emulsifiers such as carrot oil, geranium oil, olive oil and coconut oil for healthy skin nourishment.”
They also offer a reed and fragrance line. And yes, these are also made with all-natural ingredients and essential oils.
Nichol states with pride that only natural ingredients go into their products.
“While some say ‘natural’ on their soap ingredients, we list all of ours. We do not use any chemicals or additives. We use pure goat’s milk for the soaps, pure soy wax for the candles. When customers build their soaps, they get to choose the oils/emulsifiers. That way, they can avoid any allergens. They are in full control of what their soap bars are made of.”
But it's not all work and no play for these mother/daughter entrepreneurs.
“We have a great time working together and fulfilling orders!” Nichol says. “We pour the candles together and have fabulous luncheons together to come up with new products.”
Both Nichol and Victoria love getting feedback from their customers.
“We get really excited when men write in and tell us how much they love our soaps,” she says. “They especially love the fragrance Sweet Tobacco, as it is masculine, yet light. It has been a favorite. We have customers who rave about our candles because they burn clean and have unique fragrances. We are always testing the market and asking people, both men and women, what they would like to see or smell in a product.”
In addition to their business website, VictoriaNichol.com, customers can soon find their favorite Victoria Nichol products on Amazon, as well.
“We are always coming out with new products and look forward to creating a new bath line of bath bombs, shower gels and scrubs,” Nichol notes.
Meet Nichol and Victoria
Both women grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and moved to Edmond 12 years ago.
Nichol bought her first business after graduating from Amarillo College. She’s been running her ad agency as a designer for 30 years and also runs a few telehealth companies. Victoria attended cosmetology school in Edmond. Nichol lives in Oklahoma City, Victoria in Edmond.
Somehow, Nichol finds time to pursue other passions as well as her businesses: she is an abstract painter, a gourmet chef and an author who writes about her faith and her life triumphs. She’s also “mom” to three mini Australian shepherds and one AussieDoodle.
“Our biggest mission is to serve people, and I am working on philanthropic ways to serve women and children,” Nichol says, noting that Victoria Nichol donates 5% of gross sales to the YWCA for women's missions.
Did someone once describe success as sweet? In this case, it’s also all-natural and awesome smelling!
