Meet Trailblazer CamilleNicole Dix

Today we’d like to introduce you to CamilleNicole Dix.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I could share several stories on how I got started and what got me to where I am today, but I’ll keep it brief. I was born and raised on the East side of Niagara Falls, New York. I have lived in Arizona for the last past seven years. I am currently a Medical assistant as well as an ambition-driven dream chaser! I have always dreamed of becoming a personal stylist as well as being the CEO of my own clothing line and boutique. Over the years, I have been inspired by my parents a few family members, but my main inspiration is my oldest son Ian S. Lightfoot Jr. customized clothing, Project Runway Red-Carpet Events. So, one day, I dedicated to brainstorming day in day out on my brand and business name. I thought to myself why am I over thinking about it when my brand will have such great quality and personality it will sell itself. I decided on my first and middle name CamilleNicole which has an elegant ring to it.

Once I had my brand name, I wanted to start off by selling signature CamilleNicole bling t-shirts with the guaranteed of high-quality rhinestones just to see people’s reaction. Next steps were to start doing my research through varies outlets online because I wanted things done professionally. I began to organize a balance on a small variety of colors and sizes so I would not create a chaotic or lifeless business. I placed a small order on a collection of t-shirts, headbands, and visors through a local vendor. I placed a few pictures of my merchandise on Facebook and Instagram within the cation were the prices. My t-shirts began to sell at a high volume, so I decided to test other items such as women slides, hats, pajama’s clothing attire, and jackets. I knew this was a risk-taking adventure, but my soul nor my daily thoughts of my dreams would allow me to do anything other than to go for it. I planned for the negative or maybe even failure, but I prayed on it and kept it pushing with positivity!

To my surprise, everything was going at a steady paste keeping my business at a float. Not to mention my target audience is precisely where I want it to be which is between the ages of 35 – 50 who appreciates elegant, luxury, sophisticated garments for women. As time went on, I attended Phoenix Fashion Week Emerging Designers at The Talking Stick Resort in 10/2018. I was so overwhelmed with comfort, joy, and excitement I knew I was right where my soul and God wanted me to be the feeling was extremely powerful, I thought to myself this is the path God has chosen for me! I was finally amongst others who had the same passion for not only Fashion but the art of fashion. I met so many motivational ambitious individual’s that was just like me and understood me it made me hunger for more. So, I began to attend Phoenix Fashion Week Seminars with Brian Hill and his team who has been a huge help very inspiring and please believe me this is definitely an understatement! Do to the hunger that rages within me when it comes to Fashion, and I am now currently working on my line CamilleNicole’s affordable luxury clothing for courageous elegant women. My brand will give women a glamorous empowered emotional connection!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road it has honestly been a very rocky one! I am grateful, and I humbly appreciate every obstacle because within ever hurdle I’ve jumped over it taught me how to eventually land on my feet go harder with my researching and remain focused! My first struggle wasn’t the fear of not selling my product nor about the money it was mainly me being afraid of failure and doing it alone! As I got over the struggle of my fears, I began to test vendors to complete my bling signature CamilleNicole t-shirts. I had a vendor who wanted me to change the font and told me it was impossible to complete. I had vendors who didn’t complete my orders correctly, and I even took losses. I refused to give up on my vision, and after weeks of research, I found a vendor who could deliver exactly what I had envisioned. From that point on, I knew by doing my research the possibilities were endless and it actually gave me the push I needed.

I would advise other women to do the following:
• Have Confidence within yourself and business
• Brand Identity is incredibly important
• You do not need to be rich to start your business
• Do not be afraid of working with a small team
• Never be afraid to start your business on your own
• know the importance of rewiring and not being afforded of starting over
• Build better habits
• Always be professional
• Strategize by coming up with a plan write down your plans and ideas no matter what hour of
the day it may be!
• Know your targeted customers
• Take risk
• Know your target age
• Know exactly what lane you want your brand in
• Stay original
• Remain emotionally connected to your business
• Market/network your business
• Know who you’re doing business with
• Build a grand team
• Find your tribe and love them hard
• Set goal smash them out (keep on repeat)
Most importantly never give up on you just because others don’t understand you! Remember you are the most powerful piece in the game so do not be afraid of being unique!

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am currently a personal stylist, personal shopper and a fashion designer who takes pride in the elements of my designs such as color, shape, texture, form, and personality! My collection is upscale and cohesive when you see my designs you know it’s CamilleNicole. I play with colors, but I like the colors to mesh. I personalize my CamilleNicole signature t-shirts. I also create unique one of a kind signature pieces not available in stores! I love customizing garments for individual’s for special occasions rather its styling or being one’s personal shopper. Customers can contact me personally tell me exactly what they want, and I can bring their vision to life. I am a woman who definitely lives for fashion when I cannot sleep, and I literally count fabric and dream designs! I specialize in luxury women’s affordable clothing bling is my thing along with the sales of my small online boutique items.

As a brand, I am very proud of my brand’s personality the relationship I have with my brand the purpose my brand serves to women the way my brand communicate with all women warms my heart. No matter how a woman’s day may have been, I want all women to feel like luxury while wearing CamilleNicole! What I feel sets my brand apart from other brands is how I become intimate with my customers, how I treat my customers like family along with impeccable customer service. My brand is very consistent in quality, and the customized items are for only one individual never to be duplicated which my customers appreciate.

Childhood experience – I’ll share a few memories of my childhood experiences. As a little girl at the age of seven, I knew I was different from other girls my age! I always wanted everything to match every single day if I had on pink and white, I wanted my undergarments, socks, and shoes to be those exact colors. If I did not have socks to match, I would hand sew the fabric onto my socks to match my outfit for the day. As a teenager I began to collect allowance from my mother and grandfather I noticed my addiction for fashion had gotten worse. I would have at least a $100 bi-weekly I would spend my whole allowance on a pair of expensive boots. I would have to wait until my next allowance day to purchase an outfit to match my boots and just my luck I probably would not have enough for the outfit I wanted. My sister Tameka would have spent her money wisely responsibly by purchasing multiple reasonable priced outfits and maybe even a pair of shoes. I would always gravitate towards high-end merchandise even though I knew I couldn’t afford it. At some point, the allowance was no longer available, and I was no longer able to purchase the things I liked. I would spend time at my aunt Cynthia house she would have the best sweat peach cobbler and Spiegel magazines. I would seat at her dining room table eat my dessert and look through the magazine all day circling my wish list. I was always on cloud nine while visiting with her and I enjoyed accompanying her while she shopped at all the department stores or malls.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
In my opinion, our experiences are what shape and prepare us for what is to come in the future. And now that I am here, I can’t agree less that everything I have been through has been in constant preparation of where I am going. I grew up in a low-income economy where everyone strived to do better and be better. But amidst this, I was blessed with parents who do not let the economy define how they look and dress. As it is often said, that it is how you dress that you will be addressed. My parents dressed as though they were members of the higher class and even at that, they extended the facial lift to our home decor which was extremely beautiful. I grew up with a sense of environment, and more importantly, not letting my environment define my success. My mother Patricia F. Skipper, who passed away over 20 years ago, always told my sister and I there is a BIG world out there get out there and get in it! My father will always remind me I can be anything I want to be just put my mind too it educate myself and keep God first! My aunt Cynthia has always been a huge inspiration as she still is today. She always told me no matter where you come from there are always opportunities in this world! My aunt has always had the most amazing peach cobbler along with Spiegel magazines! I would go to her home on some weekends to satisfy my sweet tooth and fill my heart and soul with the pleasure of looking at her Spiegel Magazines while circling my wish list. My whole family has always been rich in fashion, art, love, support, and prayer no matter what the circumstances! I am humbled and grateful!

Contact Info:

• Email: camilledix4@gmail.com
• Instagram: @1camillenicole
• Facebook: CamilleNicole

Image Credit:
photographer Chris Cole Jr. (My son), Sharkfin Studio

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