Inspiring Conversations with Nicole Pier of Coco Concepts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Pier. 

Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always felt a passion for the design world, especially home interiors. My mom’s best friend, Lisa, is an interior designer in Boston, and ever since she introduced me to the field at an early age, I couldn’t get enough. Learning about fabrics, colors, and the steps to decorate a room were exhilarating to me. Lisa’s job was my dream and a path that I didn’t think I would take until later in my life. 

Growing up in an entrepreneurial, business-minded family, I always dreamt of running my own company but I didn’t exactly know what kind. After graduating from Miami University and working in corporate recruiting for a couple of years, I knew I needed to make a career change. With support from my husband and family, I decided to turn my passion into a reality and go back to school. Over the course of few years, I completed my interior design degree through Cuyahoga Community College and interned at SMC Design, a full-service design studio based in Cleveland. 

After learning the technical and business sides of the industry, I decided to take a leap of faith and open Coco Concepts in May of 2018. Coco Concepts offers interior design services for both residential and commercial spaces. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been an adventurous road, to say the least, but I have had so much fun along the way. 

The biggest obstacle I have had is juggling the different roles as a business owner. In the beginning, not only was I the interior designer behind Coco Concepts but also the accountant, delivery driver, marketer, and everything in between. At this point, I feel like Coco Concepts is a family business as my husband and parents help out significantly, which I’m very grateful for. 

The biggest challenge in the past four years was navigating through covid. Like every aspect of our lives, the beginning was so unknown but we adjusted and made due with zoom meetings and got creative. The supply chain issues in the furniture industry are still ongoing but patience is key. I like to remind my clients that all goods things are worth the wait. 

Even with the challenges that covid presented, it also offered many wonderful opportunities for my business. With families spending more time at home, my clients wanted to invest in their spaces for comfort, entertainment, and work. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Coco Concepts is a residential and commercial interior design company, with a passion to create beautiful spaces for all styles and budgets. Coco Concepts specializes in decorative styling, space planning, and custom interior designs. Whether you are interested in renovating your home or would like a decorative refresh, Coco Concepts is here for you. 

Our mission is to delight our clients while adding fun and flair throughout the entire design process. 

We have been so fortunate to have worked with such wonderful clients. It is so rewarding to see your clients’ faces when the project is finish and learning how much they are enjoying their new spaces. 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t necessarily believe in luck. I think timing is everything and also hard work. The timing of when I decided to go back to school was so important along with my internship at SMC Design. That was a pivotal point in my career path to where I am today. I also believe the networking I did when I established Coco Concepts was everything. The first few people I told my business idea about introduced me to my first clients and my first major projects. The experiences on those jobs really snowballed my cliental and lead me to where I am today. 

People may say that’s luck but I believe it was the timing of where I was in my life and the determination, I had to grow my business. The past four years have been a true grind and I am so proud of the business and beautiful spaces I created. 

Pricing:

• Initial Consultation: $100
• Hourly Design Fee: $150/hour

Contact Info:

• Email: cococonceptsinteriors@gmail.com
• Website: www.cococonceptsid.com
• Instagram: @nicolecpier

Image Credits
Emily Millay Photography