Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolas Mercalo.
Hi Nicolas, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a kid, I’d sell toys I no longer played with—many of them bought by my parents—and go door-to-door in our neighborhood with a little cart. I could sell just about anything. I once pitched a bouncy ball as a dog toy, and even convinced someone to buy a thrift store statue as a lawn ornament.
There was a time I was fascinated with Egyptian culture, and I begged my mom for a small pharaoh statue I saw at Ross. A month later, I sold it to a neighbor for nearly $30. I was in elementary school, but already in business.
By middle school, I was selling candy during the holidays—50 cents a piece. I just knew I was built for this.
Fast forward a few years, and the seed for my current business, Mercalo, started forming. I remember praying for an idea that aligned with my values—something that would help people like me feel good about themselves, inside and out. That’s when the vision for Mercalo began to take shape.
The name comes from my last name, and the brand itself is rooted in purpose. I threw myself into learning everything I could about soap-making, natural oils, fragrances, herbs, the history and the science. I studied business administration with a minor in marketing at university, using every bit of that education to build something real—and I’ve never stopped learning since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been easy. One thing I wish I had prepared for more was the emotional side of starting a business. What surprised me most was that most of my early support came from people who didn’t even know me personally. Meanwhile, many of the people I did know—friends, even some family—didn’t show up in the way I expected.
When I launched, I did everything I could to market the brand while also trying to protect my own mental health. I found myself begging people I knew just to visit the website. Some acted like I was asking for the world—when really, all I wanted was a moment of their time. I remember thinking, “Please, just look at the dang website.”
I cried a lot during that time. The process forced me to see people for who they really were. I learned the difference between relatives and true family. Between acquaintances and real friends.
The launch itself was lonely. There was no party, no celebration. I launched my business on my birthday and ended up spending that day by myself. I took myself out to Ruby Tuesday’s—just me, in a cold booth, eating mozzarella sticks while waiting for my food. I hadn’t cried that hard in a long time.
But that moment, as painful as it was, also marked the beginning of something real—something I built for myself, from the ground up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have always been a hard worker. Outside of anything relative to Mercalo, I also work as a freelance marketing specialist. I love marketing. In most cases, it mixes business administration with creativity. I think that marketing was always going to be a part of my calling in life.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I had friends here and there, but I was always more comfortable on my own. Being alone felt safe.
There was a lot of childhood trauma—too much to unpack here—but enough to shape how I moved through the world. I didn’t always feel cared for, and because of that, I learned to shut people out. It became a kind of survival instinct, a way to protect myself from disappointment.
I kept my distance, not because I didn’t want connection, but because it felt safer to keep people at arm’s length. If no one got close, no one could hurt me. Loneliness became familiar—but at least it was predictable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shopmercalo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopmercalo?igsh=eTc2eWc3ZmpkNHk5&utm_source=qr
