Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Rodrigues
Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I had grandmothers who owned their own businesses, and a mom who has owned a few of her own businesses. So, entrepreneurship was definitely on my list of goals when I went to college.
I majored in public relations because of my passion for storytelling and writing. After 14 years in the industry, I felt prepared enough to open my own PR agency and we have celebrated 10 years in business. While owning my agency and building it from the ground up, I decided to go back to school to get my MBA to help me strengthen my knowledge when it comes to building businesses and brands. It inspired me to pick up an idea that I had a decade ago, that I created in my mind for men like my grandfather, father and uncles. That business, a men’s grooming lounge named the Kingdom, was finally opened this year and I am celebrating my true step into entrepreneurship through it. It’s a business that not only am I passionate about, it’s one where I can take all of my marketing skills and leadership skills and truly make something positively disruptive through it, while strengthening humanity through the strengthening of good men.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the first business, NRPR Group, I think anybody would tell you this, it’s kind of like becoming a parent for the first time. You are going to take your best guess when it comes to certain things. You only truly learn when you’re faced with something unexpected and have to figure it out in the moment. So obviously, with my first company, there were a lot of things that I had to learn in the moment that were sometimes costly. You learn about legal and finance quickly when you own a business because of the bumps in the road with starting a company.
It’s been a much smoother ride starting The Kingdom because I understood how to better lay a foundation, what to look for when building a team, and what to do structurally. Then obviously marketing and PR come very naturally to me. So both companies have a really strong backbone when it comes to marketing and PR, which is what most businesses struggle with. So between The Kingdom and NRPR, I’d say our strongest suit are our marketing and PR. Now they’re both steadily running simply because of the bumps in the road that I experienced 10 years ago with just getting NRPR off the ground. Choosing an accountant, choosing a lawyer, and getting contracts together. Those hardships in the first couple of years made it much easier to structure The Kingdom and we feel like it is going to move 10 times faster, simply because I’ve personally learned from my mistakes as an entrepreneur.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
NRPR Group is a public relations & marketing firm that serves game changers and disruptors across the world. Our agency is staffed by strong writers, communicators, thinkers and doers who understand the value of relationships and continue to build long-lasting ties between clients, the media and their audiences. We pride ourselves on an award-winning reputation, powerful global network and passionately mission-driven client roster. We serve startups to Fortune 500 companies within consumer tech, fintech, healthtech, enterprise, mobile, digital entertainment, lifestyle, sports and consumer products industries. What sets us apart is our dedication to delivering great results for our clients through fostering great relationships with journalists.
The Kingdom is a next-gen men’s lounge and sanctuary, redefining timeless male grooming and rejuvenating rituals with a modern twist. The Kingdom is a sanctuary for the modern man, where indulgence and relaxation are paramount, offering an exclusive experience rooted in tradition and tailored for contemporary well-being. The Kingdom sets itself apart by being the only one-stop-shop for men to take care of their haircare and beard care needs, massages, manicures and pedicures, waist up waxin, facials and more, offering a vice-free environment where men can enjoy self-care services, ensuring comfort and inclusivity.
For NRPR, I’m most proud of our brand’s longevity and resilience. Maintaining a strong, independent agency for 10 years, especially in the challenging post-COVID economy, is a significant achievement. If anyone wants to get close to God, they should start a business because I’m telling you, it’s probably the hardest struggle you’ll go through, even harder than raising children. It’s tough because you have people relying on you for their livelihood, period. I’m also proud of the fact that people believe in the NRPR brand. There are enough satisfied clients who continue to give us referrals, and it’s helped us stay alive, thank God.
For The Kingdom, I’m mostlyproud of the mission and the values that they embody. It is a business that I’m now building for the strength of humanity and humankind when everything else is becoming automated and people are worried about AI and losing human connection. We’re really standing firm in the values of strengthening humans, especially those who are men. Who have been struggling more and more with mental health so that’s probably what I’m most proud of. That we’re forging ahead, and that people are believing in the mission and the values and it’s catching on.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The thing I value the most are just the humans that I get to interact with, at the companies, both people on my team and anyone we’re providing a service to. I think that that’s really where the memories are created. Those are the things that money cannot buy, loyalty, trust, and just continuous building together. If it wasn’t for the clients or customers that we have, or if it wasn’t for the team members that we have. I wouldn’t have any businesses. I wouldn’t have anything. That’s what I value the most and want to continue striving for. These are all people that I’m creating memories with, and something that I just call million-dollar memories. It’s just things that money can’t buy that have more value than the stuff that we purchase with the money that we make. That to me is the most important.
Pricing:
- NRPR – Pricing Dependent on Project
- Kingdom – Market Service Rates for Mens Grooming
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolerpr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NRodPR
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicoleRPR
Image Credits
Professional Headshot Credit: Mark Singerman Photography
