Inspiring Conversations with Nina Thomas of Yes, Grace Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Thomas.

Nina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always had a love for boutiques growing up in a southern culture where it was the pinnacle of fashion. In addition to that, I had a love and knack for business and relating with people. Despite this mixture of love and passion, that’s not what I set out to do when making the decision for college. I decided to chase what I thought was a more “prestige” career and would give me larger finical stability. Throughout school, I still did things to feed my sales and fashion craving like modeling for local boutiques, styling friends, being a personal shopper for individuals, and just simply dressing up every chance I got!

Once I left college and got into the “big kids world,” I found myself further away from my dream. I told myself I was going to work for a company, retire after 25 years, and then open a boutique. A way to “live out my dream in a more “secure” fashion. My then career path within the CPG, consumer product goods, industry dictated lots of moves across states in order to gain experience and promotions. Due to this, I would become involved in various social and church groups to gain a community since I was a single individual without family in most of the cities I moved to.

I moved to Chattanooga, Tennesse in January of 2017 and joined two pivotal groups that helped spear my business. I joined the Junior League of Chattanooga and became active in my Church, Redemption to the Nations. While meeting girls in the Junior Leauge, I would always share my vision of working and then opening a shop once I hit retirement. Little did I know that sharing that dream with two girls, in particular, would grab my hand and my dream and help my dream become a reality far before I imagined. In tangent, I shared the same dream with Church leaders who spoke blessings over me and gave me the encouragement that this vision and goal had a great purpose and to pursue it. Shawn Strevier and Nico Glover are the two girls I mentioned earlier, and I am forever grateful that God placed them in my life. Both business owners, they both not only helped me get my business licenses, plans, and more in the order they were also the graphic designer of my original logo, and initial models!

I received my license for things in the early fall of 2018, but things came to an abrupt halt when I had to move to Nashville due to layoffs at my 9-5 job. It wasn’t until December of 2019 when I was able to finally launch my online business due to various life obstacles. I was encouraged by the wave of support but soon, we went into 2020 and the uphill battle it posed for all of the worlds. In June of 2020, I started doing Pop-ups to build awareness of my Brand, which really gave me the encouragement to keep going after a depressive slump I had with the business. The name changed from Watch Me Boutique to Yes, Grace in October 2020 to align better with the personal beliefs and meaning behind the business. In January 2021, we set up space in the Shops of Painted Tree in Franklin, TN. We are currently exploring the next round of growth opportunities and are always humbled and encouraged with each step of the process!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been parts that were lay-ups and parts where I felt like I was trying to make a basket from a half-court shot. One of the biggest struggles along the way was that the business venture has been 99% self-funded in tangent with working a very demanding 9-5 job. Due to this, it really was a series of stepping stones in getting certain supplies or items to get things running. There was one point where I had customers who were buying clothes and then reporting it as a fraud on their card once they received their packages. Therefore I was getting negatively hit from inventory and profit so a double loss!

Another is figuring out the social media world! Social media is a great tool but with the daily changing algorithms, demand for content, and the saturation of retailers that had to turn to online during the pandemic, you really face an uphill challenge of bringing awareness to yourself.

Lastly, like most entrepreneurs, I am a one-man-band 90% of the time! I recently have outsourced help in a few areas but, I pick the product, Built and keep the website updated. Maintain the accounting. Set up, style, shoot and edit all the photos. Pack and ship all orders. Set up and run all the Pop-ups along with my 9-5 and somewhat of a social life!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Yes, Grace Boutique is a trendy philanthropic boutique that focuses on women and young contemporary apparel, accessories, and more!

We believe in Ephesians 2:10 – That God created you to do amazing things and when you look good, you feel good and empowered to go do these things!

A portion of the profits are donated each month. If there is another cause or need that we feel strongly about, we will donate an incremental amount. We are primarily an online business but can be seen within the community at various markets and we also have a location at Painted Tree in Franklin.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: ShopYesGrace.Com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopyesgrace/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopYesGrace/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ShopYesGrace/
• Other: www.tiktok.com/shopyesgrace