A vision of helping women feel great about themselves

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TRANSCRIPTION WITH SPEAKERS
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[00:00] SPEAKER_03: Welcome to Canada's Podcast.
[00:05] SPEAKER_03: Hello, I'm Mario Toneguzi, managing editor of Canada's Podcast.
[00:10] SPEAKER_03: My guest today on Calgary's Podcast is Nancy Nasser,
[00:14] SPEAKER_03: who is founder of Think Stunning. Thanks for joining us today, Nancy.
[00:18] SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Mario. I'm very happy to be here. Thanks for having me.
[00:22] SPEAKER_03: All right, wonderful. Let's start off by just maybe you're describing for us
[00:26] SPEAKER_03: what Think Stunning is and what you do.
[00:30] SPEAKER_01: Think Stunning is a boutique located in South Centre Mall,
[00:34] SPEAKER_01: and we offer women and baby and home accessories.
[00:40] SPEAKER_01: I would say actually Think Stunning is more than a boutique.
[00:45] SPEAKER_01: It's a place filled with stories, with love, with creativity,
[00:48] SPEAKER_01: because I have built a community of 28 women,
[00:52] SPEAKER_01: local female entrepreneurs that create amazing, talented women
[00:59] SPEAKER_01: that create products that are one of a kind.
[01:03] SPEAKER_01: So, yes, that's what we offer, a story behind each product.
[01:07] SPEAKER_03: Oh, perfect. When did you start this?
[01:10] SPEAKER_01: It was back in 2015 when I joined the unemployed professional market.
[01:17] SPEAKER_01: And it was a crisis in Calgary, and I didn't know what to do.
[01:22] SPEAKER_01: So, I decided I'm going to design a launchback,
[01:27] SPEAKER_01: because back when I used to work in a corporate,
[01:30] SPEAKER_01: I realized that women didn't have a nice launchback to carry their food,
[01:37] SPEAKER_01: so they would just use shopping bags. So, I decided,
[01:40] SPEAKER_01: okay, I'm going to just design one, and that's what I'm going to do.
[01:43] SPEAKER_01: And I wanted women to be able to eat healthier on the go.
[01:50] SPEAKER_01: So, I designed this launchback, and I used to go from market to market to promote it.
[01:55] SPEAKER_01: And I met wonderful, talented women, and that makes me feel like I wasn't the only one,
[02:01] SPEAKER_01: going through that crisis, and they were playing the women doing the same,
[02:07] SPEAKER_01: like making products to help their family.
[02:10] SPEAKER_01: And I felt very inspired. Two years later, I opened the store,
[02:16] SPEAKER_01: think it's standing, became a brick and mortar.
[02:19] SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
[02:19] SPEAKER_01: That's how, so the concept, with the vision to support women,
[02:26] SPEAKER_01: and to help women to, you know, look better and feel better about themselves.
[02:32] SPEAKER_03: So, what were you doing prior to this?
[02:35] SPEAKER_01: I used to work at Deloitte at Accounting Forum.
[02:38] SPEAKER_03: Okay.
[02:41] SPEAKER_03: So, how was that transition going from the corporate world to being your own,
[02:47] SPEAKER_03: on being an entrepreneur?
[02:51] SPEAKER_01: It's always been in my heart.
[02:54] SPEAKER_01: And I always wanted to have my own business, and I did in the past,
[03:00] SPEAKER_01: but then I went back to corporate, and then I got laid off, and I decided,
[03:05] SPEAKER_01: okay, maybe this is the time for me to create something.
[03:08] SPEAKER_01: And I saw, you know, my love for fashion is always been there.
[03:13] SPEAKER_01: So, I decided to design this launch back, and that's how all the started.
[03:18] SPEAKER_01: I think the stunning was born.
[03:21] SPEAKER_03: Yeah. How has it been, obviously, the journey of an entrepreneur is not an easy one, right?
[03:28] SPEAKER_03: How has it been for you, the last few years?
[03:30] SPEAKER_01: It's been, like you said, a journey.
[03:34] SPEAKER_01: And in the process, I have made wonderful people, is, you know, ups and downs, obviously.
[03:43] SPEAKER_01: But, you know, it's during these tough moments when you feel the connection,
[03:49] SPEAKER_01: and you feel the support from your community.
[03:52] SPEAKER_01: So, it takes a village, and I feel very grateful for that.
[03:55] SPEAKER_01: I think it's stunning, it's driving, I think it's stunning, it's getting more noticeable in our community.
[04:05] SPEAKER_01: People keep coming back and sending their friends.
[04:08] SPEAKER_01: So, I can see the need to have something unique, something different,
[04:13] SPEAKER_01: and I also see the love that Cagurians have to support local.
[04:19] SPEAKER_01: So, that's very good.
[04:20] SPEAKER_03: And you're obviously, you know, in an industry or the retail sector has been challenged in the last couple of years,
[04:27] SPEAKER_03: especially through COVID, et cetera.
[04:29] SPEAKER_03: How important was it for you during that time to be able to adapt, to be resilient?
[04:39] SPEAKER_01: Yes, that's what we do.
[04:40] SPEAKER_01: We recreate, we reinvent ourselves.
[04:43] SPEAKER_01: We try to pivot, to change, to make it work.
[04:48] SPEAKER_01: And, you know, I always think about a problem like something excited,
[04:55] SPEAKER_01: because you are able to, you know, see it in different ways,
[04:59] SPEAKER_01: and try to find a solution.
[05:02] SPEAKER_01: And, you know, we made it true, and that's very, I feel very proud about it.
[05:08] SPEAKER_03: You mentioned before about having an interest in being an entrepreneur, where did that come from?
[05:17] SPEAKER_01: It comes from family.
[05:19] SPEAKER_01: I used to, I am from Venezuela, I used to own shoe stores.
[05:24] SPEAKER_01: Oh.
[05:24] SPEAKER_01: And, yes, growing up, seeing my family working, you know, in their own businesses,
[05:30] SPEAKER_01: always make me happy to, you know, passionate about the process behind the scene,
[05:38] SPEAKER_01: how a product comes to life, and I always was very fascinated with people who are able to create this.
[05:45] SPEAKER_01: And, you know, I was very passionate about it, yes.
[05:51] SPEAKER_03: What made you come to Canada?
[05:55] SPEAKER_01: Well, I am safety reasons.
[05:56] SPEAKER_01: In my country, unfortunately, it's a beautiful country.
[05:59] SPEAKER_01: Venezuela, but it's not safe.
[06:02] SPEAKER_01: And, over many, it's not the best.
[06:04] SPEAKER_01: So, we decided to find something better in Canada, it's now home.
[06:10] SPEAKER_03: Yeah. So, when you, you know, in that environment in Venezuela, with your family and businesses,
[06:17] SPEAKER_03: what do you think you learned from them about being an entrepreneur?
[06:24] SPEAKER_01: Well, yes, I carry the values, of course, their integrity, their, you know, the way they see the world in a positive way,
[06:38] SPEAKER_01: it can be a chaos, but we will always find the positive side.
[06:42] SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
[06:42] SPEAKER_01: And, and stay optimistic during challenging times, because, you know, at the end of the day, we are all on the same boat.
[06:50] SPEAKER_01: And, and when you have faith, it's, it's something that I will help you go through, through the tough moments, for sure.
[07:00] SPEAKER_01: Yes, I carry the values in my heart.
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[07:13] SPEAKER_03: So, when you look at Nancy, the retail sector, tell me how it's changed for you in the last few years,
[07:22] SPEAKER_03: and what specifically, how, how have you adapted and adopted different things to, to meet the changing environment?
[07:32] SPEAKER_01: Well, at the beginning, when we first started in 2017, I was looking, I didn't have, you know, in mind, is going to be women, entrepreneurs, I'm going to be supporting women in my head, I was thinking,
[07:46] SPEAKER_01: I want to support, little, little brand, small businesses, because I feel identified with them.
[07:55] SPEAKER_01: And I feel that they didn't have the representation in country that they deserve.
[08:01] SPEAKER_01: So, I want, I wanted to partner with these small businesses.
[08:04] SPEAKER_01: I wanted to find ways to offer their products, because they didn't have the representation.
[08:10] SPEAKER_01: And as, you know, the businesses start going as the years start passing, I realized that I, I have chosen, without knowing, a group of women, and I felt very connected to them, and we brainstormed together, and we create designs together,
[08:27] SPEAKER_01: and I decided this is, this is how I feel good about this is, you know, during tough times, you wake up in the morning feeling, okay, what am I doing this again?
[08:38] SPEAKER_01: And then when you realize the positive impact you are creating, and in, and so many, you know, families and life, you feel like, okay, this is why I want to do this, and I feel good about it.
[08:52] SPEAKER_01: So, it started happening, and I liked it, and that's how the concept was created, work with women, and empower them, and feel supported by them, and encourage each other.
[09:06] SPEAKER_03: So, you know, Nancy, over the years that, have you noticed, in terms of the consumers, more than wanting to purchase local stuff, and why?
[09:19] SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes, I see, it's beautiful, I love to see this. People have realized that it's important to keep the money in the city, to make the economy better by supporting local.
[09:34] SPEAKER_01: And I'm so happy that, you know, to see that, when I first started, it wasn't, it wasn't a thing yet, and then, you know, during COVID things, it started shifting, and changing.
[09:46] SPEAKER_01: As I always said, something bad will lead you to something good, and, and this last Christmas was very amazing, because, like every customer, I agree with, okay, I love supporting local, I'm so happy to see this concepts growing in the city.
[10:04] SPEAKER_01: And that's what we need, more conscious buyers. Because, you know, the money stays here, we help all these amazing talented people that are local, and you don't need nothing, like you don't need nothing outside of that.
[10:18] SPEAKER_01: It's all created here, and it's amazing. Yes, high quality, you name it.
[10:24] SPEAKER_03: So, if somebody came up to you, a young person came up to you, and said they wanted to start their own business, what advice would you give them?
[10:35] SPEAKER_01: I will be happy, I have three beautiful girls, and I always encourage them to be, you know, to create, to be up looking for something to do to solve a problem.
[10:47] SPEAKER_01: So, what I would say is, don't try to do things on your own, it's always good to find help, there is always someone willing to help, and you, you just have to ask, that's very important.
[11:03] SPEAKER_01: I will also say that it is very excited, but it's also very challenging.
[11:10] SPEAKER_01: And to stay curious, like you got to be learning all the time, like you never stop learning, always have to find ways to create, and to learn something new, and something different.
[11:26] SPEAKER_01: Nowadays, you have to be able to combine online, to combine the physical story, to be on social media, it's a whole new world, and we have to be on top of it, because it's changing constantly.
[11:39] SPEAKER_01: And I will also say, surround yourself, but they write people, right?
[11:44] SPEAKER_01: That's a great group of people that will support you, that's that's key.
[11:50] SPEAKER_03: Yeah, where did you get, where did you get your help in all this?
[11:58] SPEAKER_01: Community, you know, part of them, I found them when I used to go from market to market to promote my launch back that eventually landed on the staples.
[12:08] SPEAKER_01: And from there, you know, I opened the business, but community was my best bet, is telling the story, and making people without knowing, feeling inspired about the story, and wanting to join you, because they also believe that's the right thing to do.
[12:28] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and then having that connection is what creates beauty.
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[12:42] SPEAKER_03: What about in terms of being an entrepreneur, Nancy, like where have you drawn inspiration?
[12:50] SPEAKER_03: Are there different businesses or business people that you looked up to and kind of model as role models?
[12:59] SPEAKER_01: Yes, for sure. Here in Calgary, I always look up to twisted goods, and I reach out to her for, you know, advice as well.
[13:10] SPEAKER_01: Yeah. And she was one of my inspirations.
[13:14] SPEAKER_01: Then out of the city, I always follow, you know, women that are making a great impact, and I always feel very inspired by them.
[13:25] SPEAKER_01: I believe in being sustainable, in creative business that is contributing to sustainable.
[13:30] SPEAKER_01: So I look up to amazing women like Jessica, that has created an empire, and she managed to also be, you know, the mom and the business owner, and she's doing a great job.
[13:44] SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I feel inspired, but you woman, many I would say are on me.
[13:51] SPEAKER_01: Also the talented woman I work with, there are amazing, incredible.
[13:57] SPEAKER_01: They have their own jobs, and they, you know, decide to create what they love, and you can see that reflected in the product.
[14:06] SPEAKER_01: So I always feel inspired around my community.
[14:12] SPEAKER_03: Nancy, you mentioned, you know, three girls, I'm just wondering how do you manage as a business owner and manage, you know, family life as well?
[14:25] SPEAKER_01: Not easy.
[14:25] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[14:26] SPEAKER_01: All easy, and it's been since 2017, and well, you know, it's a lot of time dedicated to the business, but any time I have three times, it's dedicated to them.
[14:41] SPEAKER_01: I love spending time with them, and you know, what we say is not about the quantities, about the quality.
[14:48] SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
[14:48] SPEAKER_01: So that's what we do. We take advantage of the small time that we have here and there they're also very busy.
[14:56] SPEAKER_01: And yes, when we get together, we make it sound.
[15:00] SPEAKER_03: Yeah. What are your plans for the business into the future?
[15:06] SPEAKER_01: My plan, my dream for my business is to become that little window that will showcase incredible product, unique, high quality, made by women, not just local, but also international.
[15:23] SPEAKER_01: I would like to be able to support also my side of the world, like Latin America and work directly with the maker and be able to showcase product that you don't see around that are hard to find, but I've made, but I'm a
[15:39] SPEAKER_01: great artist, and I think that's the vision I have.
[15:44] SPEAKER_03: Yeah. Do you create as well?
[15:46] SPEAKER_03: Sorry.
[15:47] SPEAKER_03: Do you create stuff as well?
[15:49] SPEAKER_01: Yes, well, as I said, I designed this launch back, and then I also designed handbags.
[15:57] SPEAKER_01: And you know, I also, you know, dream about going back to choose and maybe one day I would be able to have my own line as well.
[16:06] SPEAKER_03: Where does the inspiration for designing come from?
[16:12] SPEAKER_01: I always have an eye. I would say I have an eye for pretty things.
[16:18] SPEAKER_01: I like to, you know, help women look amazing, like enhance their look and put together their accessories.
[16:27] SPEAKER_01: I am fascinated by how an outfit could change just with the right accessories.
[16:34] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[16:35] SPEAKER_01: And I saw that, you know, since very young, looking at my mom, she was always wearing pearls and waking up in the morning and amazing looking with makeup and her downing.
[16:46] SPEAKER_01: And she was always my biggest inspiration.
[16:49] SPEAKER_01: I was like, when do you stop caring? She's like, never, you never stop caring.
[16:54] SPEAKER_01: You, you know, show up with your best look and your best face.
[16:59] SPEAKER_01: And that will make an impact.
[17:02] SPEAKER_01: It will just make sense and everything else is going to start working.
[17:06] SPEAKER_01: And I learned that from her and I carried that deep in my heart and I believe that it's true.
[17:11] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[17:12] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[17:12] SPEAKER_01: What do you do?
[17:13] SPEAKER_01: I do.
[17:15] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[17:15] SPEAKER_03: Just a different vibe.
[17:18] SPEAKER_03: Right. And it's kind of funny though, right?
[17:20] SPEAKER_03: Because these days, you know, we've, you know, because of COVID, everything changed and so many things are now over this, right?
[17:31] SPEAKER_03: Right.
[17:31] SPEAKER_03: And, you know, we have all the stories about people working at home and they're wearing sweatshirts.
[17:37] SPEAKER_03: Yes.
[17:38] SPEAKER_03: And sweatpants, it's said.
[17:39] SPEAKER_01: But that's changing, Mario.
[17:41] SPEAKER_01: I believe that is changing.
[17:43] SPEAKER_01: I can see it every day with my customers.
[17:45] SPEAKER_01: They're missing the connection.
[17:47] SPEAKER_01: We are made.
[17:49] SPEAKER_01: We are built to have the connection with other humans.
[17:53] SPEAKER_01: And that can only last.
[17:55] SPEAKER_01: Very little time that we need to go outside and to see people and to interact.
[18:02] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[18:02] SPEAKER_03: Exactly.
[18:02] SPEAKER_03: So, so being, you know, a mother and, uh,
[18:09] SPEAKER_03: a little and spending time with that.
[18:11] SPEAKER_03: Then on the other part of it, uh, doing, uh, you know, the, um, the, the work itself.
[18:18] SPEAKER_03: Like what else, what do you do?
[18:20] SPEAKER_03: Like for yourself?
[18:21] SPEAKER_03: Like what, what passions or interest do you have for yourself?
[18:27] SPEAKER_01: I, I like to wake up early.
[18:30] SPEAKER_01: I like to, you know, start very early when everything is quiet and I'm, you know,
[18:38] SPEAKER_01: and I like to, to meditate, to think about how is my days going to be and to be grateful.
[18:46] SPEAKER_01: And I also like to work out right after.
[18:49] SPEAKER_01: So that's, that's my time.
[18:51] SPEAKER_01: That's what I, and I also, when I can, I love to catch up with my friends.
[18:56] SPEAKER_01: So that's, that's something else I like to do.
[19:00] SPEAKER_01: That's it.
[19:00] SPEAKER_01: No time for anything else.
[19:02] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[19:02] SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
[19:03] Speaker UNKNOWN: 
[19:03] SPEAKER_03: All right.
[19:04] SPEAKER_03: Well, thanks very much Nancy for joining us today.
[19:07] SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Mario.
[19:08] SPEAKER_01: It was a pleasure.
[19:09] SPEAKER_01: Thank you for having me.
[19:11] SPEAKER_03: All right.
[19:11] SPEAKER_03: That was Nancy Nasser, who is founder of Think Stunning.
[19:15] SPEAKER_03: I'm Mario Toniguchi, managing editor of Canada's podcast.
[19:19] SPEAKER_03: Today with Calgary's podcast.
[19:21] SPEAKER_03: Thanks for joining us.