Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Socha.
Nikki, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It’s not easy to briefly walk someone though a story that started so many years ago. Looking back at all the shifts and pivots that led me to today is a much longer story.
Here is a CliffsNotes version. I have always had the heart of an entrepreneur. It started when I was twelve. Actually, I think it may have been before that. I began my own babysitting company after my dad told me that if I wanted to go to my friend’s birthday parties, I would have to come up with the money to buy their gift. I set to work creating handwritten flyers with my contact info, then posted them at all the local spots in my small town, this was way before the internet, of course.
As a young adult, I put myself through hair school while working as a front desk manager at a trendy salon in Kansas. I worked for eight years as a stylist in Kansas. Then shortly after my husband and I got married, we moved to Colorado, where I worked for five more years doing hair. During that time, I became a small business owner and worked as an independent contractor. I had to google my way through a lot of business jargon but I loved working for myself. It was a ton of hard work with a huge learning curve, definitely harder than I had ever thought, but also 100% worth it.
During our time in Colorado, my husband and I were blessed with our first baby, a precious daughter. We were also faced with a huge decision. My husband was offered a wonderful opportunity in his career and it would require us to move across the country. I recognize this as one of many turning points in my life. I chose to close down my first business, move my family to New Jersey and start a new adventure. Was is easy? No, but then again, nothing that’s worth it ever is.
During that season of my life, I became a stay at home mommy and I loved it. Transitioning from a business owner working long days, to staying at home, wasn’t an easy change. However, during that time, I started to really explore new interests that I never had the time to before. I have always been a person who thrived in a creative space, so I had to get creative in new crafty ways. We had our second precious “Jersey” boy while we lived in New Jersey and shortly after, two weeks to be exact, we were looking at another move across the country to the land of flip flops and a hot summers. Prosper, Texas! That was seven years ago.
I continued to stay at home while my kids were young, but in the early spring of 2019, I decided it was time to become an entrepreneur again and my business Crate Party LLC was set in motion. I had a vision for Crate Party for years leading up to its start. What I didn’t know was how much I would love it.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggle is real. Just not in the way I would have thought. The economy crash of 2007-2008 was right when we were newlyweds having just moved to Colorado. We suffered a lot of financial loss in that time but also gained in the way of personal growth, in our faith and trust in God’s provision. We started seeing so much of the beauty in the little things.
Moving cross-country twice was challenging, especially with children and being away from the support of family and friends. But it was also rewarding to find that my true friendships would last and that new friendships would add beauty to our lives. For me, the struggle is overcoming the insecurities of stepping out of my comfort zone and taking the financial risk associated with creating a new business. It’s a constant worry in the back of my mind, “What if it fails?”
The struggle is in the balance of being a good wife and mom while trying to grow a small business. Making sure that all the areas are being watered and cared for. The struggle is the numerous tutorials and googling my way through designing a website and building a brand. Not to mention, generating Insta-worthy posts in the early morning hours when my family is still sleeping so that I would feel less mom guilt about spending “too much time” on my computer. The struggle is worth it, though. My husband and children are proud of what they have helped me to create. I have found something that I love to do and if it fails, at least I’m not left with the feeling of what if.
Crate Party – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I own a small business called Crate Party that is based in Prosper, Texas and serves the North Dallas area. Crate Party has a practical reason for its name. Your party is packed and delivered in crates to your door, created out of the desire to simplify the party process for moms and dads out there who want a Pinterest-worthy party but don’t have the time, creative desire or endless storage for all the things. Simplifying the process, I help hosts enjoy the moment while I take care of all the details.
Crate Party specializes in slumber parties for both boys and girls, offering slumber party tents in a variety of different themes with customizable favors and packages. Crate Party also offers an outdoor theater that is perfect for family movie nights, slumber parties in tents and video gaming parties. Lastly, Crate Party has a very highly rated, open-air selfie station with unique features such as fun digital props, an incredible selection of filters, boomerang and GIF capabilities.
I’m most proud that I have been able to teach my kids that with a bit of tenacity, creativity, a desire to grow and the patience to learn, they can achieve their goals. The pride and support of my husband and children brings me the greatest joy, but seeing the smiles on the faces of those who are celebrating is why I love doing my job.
Crate Party stands out from the competition in many ways. Not only do we offer a variety of party choices for customers at a buildable price point. You can also find helpful tips, DIY ideas and party printables on our growing blog! Customer service is my top priority and I created a Crate Party to help every type of planner. From the “DIY” person to the “Busy need to hire it all” person and every person in between.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Overcoming the fears that could have kept me from this journey.
Pricing:
- Slumber Party tents pricing start at $150.00
- Outdoor movie theater pricing starts at $295.00
- Open Air Selfie Booth pricing starts at $295.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mycrateparty.com
- Phone: 469-275-8825
- Email: nikki@mycrateparty.com
- Instagram: @crateparty
- Facebook: @crateparty
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