We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Clark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

For five years, Hue Loco—my hand-dyed yarn business—operated out of a rental space that we eventually outgrew. When the building was sold and the new landlords turned out to be a nightmare, I knew this would be the catalyst for change—and that we needed more. I nearly signed a lease on a larger space, but the rent was essentially the cost of a mortgage. I just couldn’t do it. That’s when I made a huge decision: to buy a building for Hue Loco. It was the scariest professional leap I’ve ever taken. It took almost a year to find the right place—it was painful. A couple of deals fell through, and what I ended up with was a 7,400-square-foot former automotive shop. It was actually the best-case scenario for the type of space I needed, but it was a total dump and required a lot of updating.

We moved in right on the heels of renovations, and it was rough. I lost a couple of team members during the transition, which I had expected, but it was incredibly difficult to navigate at the time. Every day felt uncertain, and I had to keep reminding myself to be brave. I learned and did more new things that year than ever before in my career, and looking back, I’m incredibly proud of that. Two years later, the space is nearly finished, and it finally feels like a true, long-term home for Hue Loco. It’s a place that reflects our identity, supports our growth, and gives us the room to create. The risk was massive—but so was the reward!

Nicole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I founded Hue Loco in 2015, during the early days of motherhood, as a creative outlet to feed my love for knit and crochet—and it quickly grew into something much more! Today, Hue Loco is a woman-owned, woman-operated fiber studio based in Loveland, Colorado. We are a small, passionate team of fine artists who live and breathe color.

Before starting Hue Loco, I spent over a decade as an oil painter and worked in Art Education. That background gave me a deep understanding of color theory and visual storytelling, which I now use to create dynamic, curated palettes that help knitters, crocheters, and color lovers feel confident and inspired in their craft.

To me, color is more than just pigment—it’s a tool for expression, joy, and connection. My mission with Hue Loco has always been to empower makers and spark creativity through thoughtfully curated yarn & color palettes.

Everything we do at Hue Loco is grounded in a few core values that are deeply personal to me:
Authenticity — being honest, intentional, and real in how we operate
Passion — bringing energy and joy to every skein we dye
Community — creating space for inclusivity, connection, and support across the maker world

Whether you’re building your dream palette or experimenting with something new, I’m here—along with my team—to support you on your creative journey!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I funded Hue Loco the old-fashioned way! I starting out with some savings bonds that my grandma had given me back in high school which amounted to about $2,000. I didn’t take out any loans or look for outside investors; instead, I played the long game of selling, purchasing more materials, and then selling again. It was a slow and steady process, but by reinvesting every dollar back into the business, I built Hue Loco from the ground up. It took time and patience, but I’m proud to say I grew a successful, thriving business the OG way—one step at a time, with grit and persistence. I went into purchasing a building for Hue Loco with zero debt, this wouldn’t have been possible had I started the company in a different way!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I started building Hue Loco’s audience by creating an Instagram account, a YouTube channel, and podcast. From the beginning, my content was personal and engaging—I shared glimpses of my daily life alongside raw studio shots and product close-ups. To grow my following, I frequently hosted giveaways, both solo and in partnership with others in my industry, which helped attract more followers and build community. Throughout it all, I stayed authentically myself. I didn’t chase trends—not because I advise against it, but simply because I didn’t have the time—I did what I could, when I could, always prioritizing my personal life over ego or the pressure to grow quickly.

As our audience grew, I expanded our reach by launching an affiliate program and collaborating with others for cross-promotion on social channels. I haven’t always gotten everything right, I’ve made mistakes along the way, but each one has been a learning opportunity. More often than not, I just trusted my gut—and it’s helped me build a loyal, engaged and trust-based community!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hueloco.com
• Instagram: nicole_hueloco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialhueloco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialhueloco

Image Credits
Nautikrall Crochet, Hue Loco