If wedding bells are in your future, Nikki Bouchard has you covered.
She's a leader in the beauty and bridal worlds, has boundless enthusiasm and is on a mission to make everyone she connects with feel stunning.
And, the Bumbolina Studio owner is expanding her efforts into SPACES, the Sault’s new digital town square, where she connects brides with reputable vendors, shares beauty hacks and supports fellow small business owners.
SEE: SPACES is live! Welcome to Sault Ste. Marie’s very own social network
“I really want to provide a streamlined and accessible resource for all things beauty and bridal,” she says. “I aim to empower individuals to discover and embrace their unique beauty and confidence, whatever that may look like for them.”
And, Bouchard wants to promote positive connections and success for everyone in the community, through her host role in SPACES.
SEE: Sault entrepreneur mentors small business owners in SPACES
Bouchard should have good opportunities to do all the above in the homegrown social platform, hosted by community champions like Bouchard.
Bouchard has lived in Sault Ste. Marie for 34 years and ran her own hair salon for 14 years. In 2020, as the pandemic hit the area, Bouchard took a risk, purchased property and opened Bumbolina Studio, a home for herself plus a passionate team of others in the industry.
She really wants to bring that one-stop shop and support for those in the community, to the Beauty & Brides space.
SEE: Exotic pet breeder hatches new community in SPACES
“The SooToday SPACES team approached me to be the host, and I realized I could bring the platform and industry that I have already created,” she enthused.
“It’s a chance to expand the studio and online community I have, to something even more tailored to our own community and to people looking for shop local, one-stop solutions to all of their beauty and bridal needs.”
SEE: SooToday wants you — to host one of our new SPACES
As a Day 1 host, Bouchard has been sharing a flurry of resources and events in the Beauty and Brides space.
If your boyfriend just proposed but you feel like a deer in headlights trying to plan the thing, Bouchard has you covered.
“I know from my own experience that there are so many pieces that need to be planned and arranged, for that perfect wedding day,” she says.
“I want to make that planning easier for those in my community, so I gather as many wedding-related businesses as I can to offer to my clients. I have their contact information and business information and help my clients and those local businesses by aiding them to find each other.”
SEE: Lifelong Sault photographer captures imaginations in SPACES
Another aspect that Bouchard wants to bring to the platform is honest reviews of products she has tried.
“I am a brand educator as well, but I really want to educate people about what is out there, what works and what doesn’t, and what is a good value as well,” she says. “I hope also to be able to share others’ experiences with different products.”
Bouchard is hoping to eventually add more of a wellness aspect to the space, although she acknowledges that right now there is plenty of content just focusing on beauty and wedding planning.
“We will see if we can get into the wellness side, at some point,” she says. “It is definitely part of beauty in my book, but right now there is so much content for everything else, we will have to wait and see.”
SEE: Talented local carpenter helps us build the Sault’s new social network
Many of Bouchard’s posts give a shout out and share resources of many other suppliers and small business owners in the Sault area, growing and supporting that community in the way that she would like to do.
“We have so many wonderful small businesses in our area that can support all of our clientele in terms of all the aspects of a wedding, all the beauty support anyone would need. Why would anyone need to go anywhere else?” she asked.
“I am aware that my influence can lead to many positive connections, which creates magic,” she says with a smile.
“I hope to continue to spread the word to help promote success for everyone!”
SEE: So you want to be a SPACES host
Bouchard ended, “I hope we get lots more engagement and more people helping each other in this space. The more people react and respond, the more we can do for each other. I am very excited for this new, locally focused community.”
SEE: Sault newcomer excited to welcome others to a special space