We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Nunez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
I am hoping to build a legacy not only for my children’s children but for my community as well. A legacy that can be remembered not just financially but morally and ethically. I think they will say that I was an innovator in my field, I worked with tenacity while always put God and my family first. I was a loyal and faithful friend, a great wife and mother. I would like to be remembered for changing the way that children of color think about books and travel. Making it important for them to know that they don’t have to be a statistic and reading can take them all over the world!! To be will traveled is to be well cultured and that is everlasting.
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 have been an entrepreneur since the 3rd grade. My first business was called the N&N Store (my business partner’s name also started with an N). We sold greeting cards, collectible/trading cards and candy. Fast forward to today, where I have spent over 20 years in corporate America building on my craft and taking all that I have learned with me. Travel Like Kai is a speciality travel and accessories line for kids. We provide books and travel accessories made just for littles, which makes traveling with littles less stressful for families. Travel Like Kai started with just one book and then turned into a brand. Kai is my two year old son and the main character and reason behind the brand. I was reading Kai a book one night and felt that it had “very little words..mommy can write a book” (I said this to him out loud while reading him the book..lol). So right then and there,I wrote “Travel Adventures With Kai: My First Plane Ride” in the notepad on my iPhone. I then proceeded to do the research required to get it illustrated and self-published. Fast forward to today, we have 3 books (2 in 3 languages: English, Spanish and German) and more in the works. As for the accessories (backpacks, travel neck pillows, blankets and more) I felt that the books were great but kids also wanted their own travel items, made just for them. It is very easy to find travel accessories for older children but not for little kids. I also wanted Kai to have something to add to his financial portfolio. I have spent the last 5 years in the finance industry, focusing on protecting families, retirement and child savings plans. I share this information with families at events and various other outlets. The books and accessories that are found within Travel Like Kai not only make travel easier for families by keeping their littles occupied, they are all based on teaching aspects. “My Travel Journal” is for 6-9 year olds and it was created with SEL (Social Emotional Learning) concepts in mind. “My Travel Learning Guide” which is for 2-6 year olds is a book of site words, which are all travel based. I want families to know that they do not have to stop traveling because they now have little kids. It may seem stressful but that stress can be lessened with the proper resources. It is also extremely important for families who do not have the means to travel just yet, to know that it is highly possible. Lastly but not least, representation. I want children who look like my son to know that they too can travel all over the world and they don’t have to be an artist or sports player to do so. I have also created a course with specialized curriculum to teach others how to become self-published authors called: “Let’s Get Published – Masterclass”. This class will take you from idea to finished product within a matter of weeks and as early as a few days.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
This is unpopular opinion but I funded my business through my 9-5 and I had no intentions on quitting until my business replaced my income…but then I got laid off. I feel that you cannot create or work on your business if you’re worried about how you are going to pay your bills. It may take you longer to get to where you want to be but it will be sustainable. You will also have more capital to devote specifically to your business. I am not worried about what social media has to say and I’m not risking being homeless or a certain lifestyle just to say that I “work for myself”. Go to work, fund your business, purchase your inventory, pay for your marketing or anything else that you need for your business to become successful. It will require sacrifice on both ends but it will all be worth it.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients for me has been events. Clients that I initially thought would be my ideal customer have proven me wrong. When I am at an event, I am totally in my element and I never meet a stranger. I’m talking to EVERYONE! I experience in the experiential marketing industry and this just comes natural to me. I will talk to you even if you do not have kids. I feel that when people see that I am the author and I tell them the story of how the books and brand came along, they feel more connected and want to purchase. I have also had events that were total busts but that comes with the territory.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.travellikekai.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/travellikekai
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travellikekai
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolenunezceo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@travellikekai
- Other: Purchase our books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Adventures-Kai-First-Adventure/dp/B0BJV411G5
- Email: [email protected] Free Consultation for Child Savings Plan: www.cinlensolutions.com