Widener University SBDC Client Success Story
Polishing Power: Helping the Community Grow, One Glossy Coat at a Time

Ever since she can remember, Nicole Rayfield was an entrepreneur at heart, creating solutions to whatever problems she noticed. She had a knack for creative writing skills and even taught herself how to do graphic design. While in college, she used her English & Communication experience to create a business that helped students improve their resumes.

“If I didn’t have his (Jim) help, I don’t think the business would have been this successful in just a month.”

After earning her MS in education at Drexel University, she started Polish Me Professional, a comprehensive set of career and business consulting services. It was intrinsically rewarding because it gave Nicole an opportunity to see clients benefit directly from the coaching on interviewing, resume writing, and business planning. Nicole combined these passions into obtaining a doctoral degree in organizational leadership from Eastern University. Her studies on the experience of Black women in non-black spaces was instrumental in pushing the boundaries of her entrepreneurship journey. As such, she combined her scholarly insight with her business skills to create Polish Me Unbothered, a nail polish brand that celebrates and empowers women of color in the workplace.

While this venture has been going smoothly, Nicole is no stranger to overcoming the challenges that entrepreneurs face. She knew she had the opportunity and the skillset to be successful but taking on the time commitment and energy to achieve success was no easy task. Early on, she faced the professional difficulties of scaling her business such as figuring out organizational structure, advertising, licensing, and taxes. There were many questions that were left unanswered about these topics, and she sorted out the services of a trusted mentor to help fill the gap between her vision and its execution.

That is when she connected with Jim Turner, from the Widener SBDC; as a former Widener University employee, Nicole was somewhat familiar with the Center. She quickly formed a fantastic relationships with Jim where she could bounce ideas and ask questions and have her concerns about the more nuanced aspects of business addressed. Together, they devised a plan which included a strategic pricing strategy and engaging target market action plan. As a result of their collaborative efforts, Nicole was named the Winner of the Level Up Pitch Competition sponsored by WURD Radio station – a spectacular accomplishment to hold after just one month of officially opening Polish Me Unbothered!

While being an entrepreneur has changed her mindset and opened many doors for Nicole, none of them are as important as the fact that every day she can make a difference in her community and make her customers feel seen and valued. Whether it’s observing the smile on a polishers face as they relate to the culturally oriented names, the sense of pride that comes from being supportive of a black and women-owned business, or feeling a sense of community connection because of the proceeds of her sales going towards vital issues in society, Nicole’s goal is to make sure that everyone who encounters her brand feels polished and unbothered!