Meet Chelsea Nikole | Style Engineer, After 5 Lux, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Nikole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Working hard. You can see it in my eyes, literally. All the late nights and early mornings have truly allowed me to enjoy the success I am now experiencing. After working all week, I still get up at 5am on the weekends to prepare for my photoshoots. Brush teeth, shower, make-up, hair, get dressed, then out the door to shoot for four hours. And do it all over again the next weekend and the weekends to follow. Do I get tired of doing photoshoots? Yes. Do I get tired of packaging orders? Yes. Do I get tired of searching through inventory? Yes. Do I ever give up? No.

I have made persevering a habit. Through the good quarters and the bad quarters, I persevere. Through the “sold out” picks and the “wtf was I thinking” picks lol, I persevere. It’s my tenacity that has contributed to my success, but it’s also other people’s observance of my tenacity as well. My customers see how hard I work and that makes them want to support the vision even more.

Additionally, I have made it a habit to say “no”. No, I cannot make it to the family barbeque. No, I cannot be a vendor at the pop-up. No, I cannot buy these $1000 shoes right now. I can say no to these things because I know that there will be a time when I can say yes.

A habit that I am now developing which will only contribute to my success even more is delegating. I work hard, I persevere, and I stay focus, but as the company grows, I know that I cannot do everything myself. Delegating helps to free up my time so that I can do other things for the company or with my family. Not to mention, delegating allows other people to grow in their craft as well.

These are among the few habits that have helped me to succeed and I hope others, whether entrepreneurs or professionals can adapt these habits as well so that they too can be successful.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
After 5 Lux is a women’s clothing store. It is for the ladies that still believe in modesty; they don’t believe they have to show off their body all the time. It is for the ladies that still believe in true fashion, not trends. After 5 Lux is Chick-Fil-A. There may be many McDonald’s in the world, but you get what you pay for. Don’t get me wrong, McDonald’s has the best fries, but the quality and consistency of CFA is undefeated. And just like CFA, After 5 Lux is unwavering in its pursuit to provide women with the best, classic pieces that will last, quality pieces that you do not feel guilty for indulging in. And that is what sets After 5 Lux a part, when trends fade, the After 5 Lux woman will still be here.

I have gotten to where I am today by providing people with what they want. In the wise words of my pastor, “If you give enough people what they want, they will give you what you want.” But above that, I believe I have gotten to where I am because I believe in God. I believe that he gave me the vision. I believe he did not put fear in me. I believe that he will make a way for me so with my faith I never have to worry, just execute.

I have learned many lessons along the way, but one of the most important ones is never give up. I started a company when I first graduated college, put it on hold, and when I came back, I came back with a new company, After 5 Lux. Now seeing the success of four years of After 5 Lux, I wonder what eight years of success would have looked like with my other company. This time around I am not wondering, I am going to see it through.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were in town for a week I would take an hour drive south to Miami. In Miami you can find some of the best eateries and exhibits. I love places with unimaginable experiences and instagrammable moments. We could enjoy ice cream in a sink, visit pop-up museums, and parade the streets at night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to the big Man, God! He put this vision in me and it is only through him that I am able to execute it. I feel like I am on the BET awards, because shout out to my mamaaaa lol. She attends trade shows with me. I don’t know what I would do without the extra set of eyes and the rhetorical question: “You know your customers, will they like that?” lol to which I quickly put it back on the rack lol. Shout out to my dad and the rest of my family that alleviate the stress in my life, watch my son while I go out and conquer the world lol, and always spread the word about my business to their friends and co-workers. Shout out to my son, Masyn Lee, for igniting my fire. Shout out to my friends that feel encouraged/inspired by me, little do they know, they are actually the ones that encourage me, I never give up so that they too know they possess the strength and fearlessness they need to succeed. Shout out to my customers, for supporting me for the last four years. They have seen the growth of After 5 Lux and are responsible for it. Thanks to my “Lux Ladies,” during the pandemic (2020), my net sales nearly doubled. Shout to the men that acknowledge women too can be bosses and are doing what they can to ensure it. Shout out to women all over the world that inspire other women. For me, it is boutique owners like Nichole Lynel and Lily (Lily’s Kloset) that inspire me to dream bigger and dare bolder. And lastly, shout out to Voyage MIA for giving me the opportunity to spotlight those that motivate me and mean more to me than they will ever know.

Website: www.after5lux.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/after5lux/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/After-5-Lux-LLC

Other: Email: after5lux@gmail.com Phone: (561)-876-7455