Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Kay.
Nikki, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Of course. I’d be delighted to. Hello! I’m Nikki Kay the founder and CEO of Elite Teepees.
Many entrepreneurs I’ve spoken to, talk about a defining moment – an event or idea that spurned them into creating their own business. Looking back I think that my defining moment was more of a slow burn – a desire that truly came full circle.
I’ve always been highly motivated, and fiercely independent with an incredible work ethic: something I inherited from both my Austrian/Polish father and British mother. Even as a child I had a sense of adventure and loved to travel, meet different people and experience new things.
I was brought up and educated in England, where dancing, travel, sewing, and pets were my childhood passions. As a child, I created costumes for my performing dance troupe, and was never happier than when creating a beautiful flamenco, can-can, or majorette outfit! I also loved to make soft toys which I would donate to our local hospital.
In my mid twenty’s I had the burning desire to travel. At that time I owned an apartment in London and was working for Gap UK as their Recruitment Manager. I started my travels in the delightful town of Meribel in the French Alps. On the first day in Meribel, I met a blue-eyed kiwi surfer called Duncan, who, recognizing my British accent, offered to make me a cup of tea. We have been together ever since.
Fast forward 20 years – I enjoyed a very successful career in the corporate consulting world, spanning 5 continents, which brought me from New Zealand to America in 2013. The pinnacle of my career occurred in 2016 when, as the GM & VP for Service Delivery, North America, my team was recognized by the leading industry authority as the the No 1 service provider.
Then … for the very first time in my career … I LOST MY MOJO. After some serious soul searching I realized three things I needed to regain my purpose; 1) to provide a high-quality service that I felt utterly passionate about, 2) to create a roadmap for others to follow – to empower them to be the best version of themselves, 3) to realize my dream of running my own business.
The challenge was finding the right business. Then a friend sent me an article about a new phenomenon in Australia – a curated sleepover business. When I suggested to my husband, Duncan, that I could create a luxury sleepover business, he thought I’d lost my marbles! While he was more than qualified to make beautiful teepee frames, who could make all the soft furnishings? In the 20 years of being together, I hadn’t used a sewing machine once! So with my excitement building, I bought a sewing machine and immediately fell back in love with the art of sewing. This luxury sleepover business ticked all my other boxes too:- I could build a business for women everywhere to replicate and earn a good income; in the U.S. the recession-resistant birthday market is huge ($38B) and growing; curated sleepovers are the fastest growing global birthday party trend, and it’s fun, flexible, rewarding work. My MOJO was back!!
I faced an agonizing two year wait for my green card to come through, before turning the concept into a reality. Resigning after 16 years with the same firm was not easy. I have to admit to being both very excited and beyond nervous.
Then serendipity played a fortuitous hand. A girlfriend suggested that I might like to live in Carlsbad, San Diego. “Where? Why?” I asked. On a whim, we decided to visit, and it was love at first sight. The beachy vibe, stunning environment, the warmth of the people and community spirit had us hooked. We moved here a few weeks later in October 2018.
I worked extremely hard to bring Elite Teepees to life. To create the perfect Elite Teepee –and to ensure that all the finer details had been thought through, to deliver a unique, exquisite, luxury sleepover experience. I opened my business in Feb 2019. The pure joy on people’s faces when they see their teepees, beautifully styled especially for them, is beyond priceless!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I love this quote from Vivian Greene “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” It’s true that since leaving the safety of my corporate world I’ve been doing a lot of dancing in the rain! I’d give my right arm right now to have my IT Helpdesk, my Marketing Team and my Executive Assistant! Saying that I’ve learned a lot by not having these wonderful support people at my beck and call.
From an Elite Teepees perspective, indeed there have been challenges. Unfortunately not having any kids of our own (only gorgeous fur babies) and moving to a new community meant that I had to establish a new local network. Being a perfectionist around the teepee product design, and sourcing the right accessories took valuable time. I was determined not to succumb to mass consumerism by finding unique accessories to add both luxury and a sprinkling of magic to the whole sleepover experience.
I agree with Richard Branson when he said – “business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders, it’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.” My soul searching from a couple of years ago has given me the courage, tenacity and strength to realize that I’m on the right path.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Elite Teepees – what should we know?
Elite Teepees creates exquisite sleepover experiences in your own home. It was formed to recreate the essence of childhood, where the magic of friendships happen, bonds grow tighter and life-long memories are formed.
Our aim is to revolutionize the humble sleepover into something that is beautiful, comfortable, safe and magical. Making dreams come true is our mission.
The service is designed to be hassle-free for the party host: Elite Teepees sets up your chosen sleepover collection on the day of your party, then returns the next day to pack it all away. In other words : “we bring the magic, you create the memories!”
Each person has their own handcrafted Teepee – a personal luxury cocoon to dream in. Each teepee starts with an exquisite fabric selection and features a full-size mattress, sumptuous European bedding, soft handcrafted pillows, fur rugs, bed tray, night light and a sleep mask. Then we add fairy lights, name plaques, party favors and a large sprinkling of magic. All the sleepover guests need to bring is their overnight bag and a sense of adventure!
As a company, I’m most proud of our ability to create magical luxury sleepover experiences that generate kinship and encourage communication, creativity, and fun. Owning a business where you create pure joy and are rewarded with screams of delight, is incredibly uplifting. Add this to the fact that we are making a positive contribution to our community and I think I may just have the best job in the world!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
You’re right a lot of time and effort goes into building a business, and there are many incredible people who have helped me along the way. After a very successful corporate career with a huge team and a multi-million dollar budget, I’ve had to transform my whole being to be able to succeed.
There are four groups of people who have been instrumental in this transformation: first and foremost my husband who has been an incredible supporter. Not only does he build the teepee frames and assists me with deliveries, he’s also full of good practical ideas. He knows exactly which of my buttons to press, to help me remain focused, grounded, and be true to my vision.
Secondly, I engaged “Weosh” a boutique marketing agency in LA, who specializes in branding and digital advertising. Without a doubt, Weosh breathed beautiful life into my business by creating a brand that not only represents my business but also represents me as a person.
Finally, there two groups of people who have helped me to build a strong network of good, honest, likeminded people – the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and my dear, wonderful, Carlsbad neighbors.
I encourage everyone who doesn’t feel fulfilled, or who doesn’t believe that they are making a positive contribution to society, to make the time to really think through their desires and needs – to dig deep and identify what in life is really important to them. Finding your true passion and understanding what makes you feel valued is the key, in my opinion, to a happy, successful and rewarding life.
Pricing:
- Overnight rental of an Elite Teepee (with all the trimmings: bedding, accessories etc. and a sprinkling of magic!) is $80 per teepee.
- In addition there is a delivery fee to cover loading, unloading, delivery and pick up. Prices vary depending on the party location, starting @ $70 for services in our core delivery zone, which covers the area from Oceanside to Del Mar.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eliteteepees.com/
- Phone: 310 800 8554
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliteteepees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eliteteepees/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elite-teepees-carlsbad
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