A woman with a dream and a vision is a powerful force. Nicole Gianacakos is an Olympia native who has dealt with a lot in her life and has never let it get her down. She is now the proud owner of her just-opened formal wear shop in Olympia, Nicole’s Boutique. It’s proof you should never give up on your dreams.
Olympia Formal Dress Shop Owner’s Journey to Entrepreneurship
Nicole grew up in Boston Harbor and graduated from Olympia High School in 2002. She found herself moving a lot as an adult with her husband, a Navy veteran who served 10 years as a submariner. “We raised our two children here in Olympia for the largest portion of their lives, but we have also lived in Charleston, South Carolina, Silverdale, Washington, the Bay Area of California, and Maple Valley, Washington,” she says.
But it’s Olympia that calls to them. “Olympia has always felt like home,” she says. “We recently moved back to Olympia for my youngest child’s senior year of high school. She wanted to attend OHS for her senior year. It feels so great to be back home and to become a bigger part of the community. Olympia is such a wonderful place to live, the scenery, the people, and there are always new places to explore, even for people who have lived here forever.”
Before becoming a business owner, Nicole was a stay-at-home mom when her kids were younger. After they started school, she became a special education paraeducator for the Olympia School District.
She was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. After remission, Nicole says she took some time off to heal and to take care of herself, before returning to the Olympia School District. “I’ve had to take time off to deal with some follow-up medical problems connected to cancer,” she shares. It was after this that the family moved to California and then to Maple Valley, Washington.
Upon returning (finally) to Olympia, they noticed a lack of formal dress shops while searching for their daughter’s senior prom. “We ended up driving way up north to find what she was looking for,” Nicole says. “Recently, one of my dear friends got married and it was a formal event. I struggled to find something that felt age-appropriate and formal. Those two events really drove me to start seriously working towards making this business happen.”
Nicole didn’t want to offer just any old dresses, though. She wanted to provide beautiful, trendy gowns from mid- to high-end designers for teenagers through adult women.
Near the Olympia Farmers Market, Nicole’s Boutique Offers Prom and Formal Wear for Women
Nicole says one of the biggest challenges to starting her own store was finding a retail space. She wanted something with that classic boutique feel in a good location. “I looked at quite a few spaces and it was a struggle to find a location that felt right,” she says. “I love this space – I have wonderful neighbors and being close to the Farmers Market feels nice. Market Centre is a pretty central and familiar location that most people are aware of and it is easy to find.”
She says the space has a history of women-owned businesses, so she feels as though she is in good company. “It spoke to me,” she shares.
Another challenge has been inclusive sizing. “The designers I am currently working with only go up to size 16, so I am interviewing other designers’ sales representatives that offer more inclusive sizing,” she shares. “I am trying to find the right fit that offers on-trend dresses. I do not want to alienate anyone. I want all shoppers to have options and have the opportunity to leave my store with something they love!”
At Nicole’s Boutique in Olympia, you will find dresses, cocktail dresses, prom dresses, and evening gowns that work for fundraising events, galas, weddings or even cruise ship formal nights. “I am an authorized retailer with a bunch of mid- to high-end designers and I stay up to date with what is trendy for the season,” she adds. “I am always connecting with new designer representatives and trying to find trendy, inclusive, and well-regarded design houses. I currently carry Nox Anabel, Amelia Couture, Andrea & Leo Couture and I have prom dresses coming in from Clarrise. I will continue to add more designers that align with my goals for this business.”
We all need a formal dress now and then. When you need to find something you will truly feel beautiful in, Nicole is ready to help. “I am feeling healthy and ready for this new adventure!” she says. “I am most looking forward to sharing in the joy of finding exactly what shoppers are looking for. It is amazing to watch people come in and find exactly what they are looking for, or people who are just browsing find something they fall in love with. Feeling good and looking pretty is such a confidence boost and I love being a small part of that for others.”
For more information, visit Nicole’s Boutique.
Nicole’s Boutique
111 Market Street NE, Suite 107, Olympia
