Nina Nichols, the proud owner of iPrint Solutions, has an inspiring journey rooted in resilience, determination, and the pursuit of creativity. Originally from the Philippines, Nina spent 14 years as a teacher, first in her home country and later in Jakarta, Indonesia. After moving to the United States in 2016, she found herself at a crossroads. Teaching no longer felt like her calling, so she decided to channel her passion for graphic design into founding iPrint Solutions, a business that has become a lifeline not only for her customers but also for herself.
When asked what inspired her to start the business, Nina shared that it wasn’t a romantic journey. She simply woke up one day and realized she wanted something different. Initially, she started with an Etsy store, but soon after launching her business, the world was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Nina was diagnosed with cancer. What could have easily been a breaking point became a testament to her incredible resilience.
Through the pandemic, chemotherapy, radiation, and five surgeries, Nina refused to let her dreams fall by the wayside. She recalls, “I didn’t stop. There were times when I was having chemo at the cancer center, and I was still processing orders and growing my Etsy store.” Even when faced with immense pain and the toll of treatment, Nina pushed forward and bought her first machine, determined to control the quality of her products and scale her business.
One of the key challenges she faced was transitioning from outsourcing her products to taking full control of production. “To be competitive in this market, I needed my own machines,” she explained. Having her own equipment gave her the quality control she long desired and the ability to meet her customers’ needs personally.
Beyond surviving cancer and running a business during a pandemic, Nina’s ability to build strong personal relationships with her customers sets her apart. She prides herself on attention to detail, especially when creating deeply personal products like memorial plaques. “I give very detailed attention when processing those orders because I know it’s part of the healing process for my customers.”
Her best-selling products, like custom calendars and product tags, reflect her versatility and the personal touch she adds to each project. Her approach to customer service is straightforward: whether a customer spends one dollar or a thousand, they receive the same high level of care and attention.
Nina’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, is rooted in her own experience. “Your gender doesn’t define what you can do,” she says. She recalls the intimidation she felt when first using her laser machine, which was bigger than her. But instead of letting fear hold her back, she embraced the challenge. “If I’m dealing with a problem, I just need to look for solutions. That’s why it’s iPrint Solutions.”
Looking ahead, Nina has big plans for her business, including adding new machinery like an embroidery machine and a CNC machine to expand her capabilities. However, the future also holds uncertainties as she continues to monitor her health. Regardless of what happens, Nina’s legacy will be that of someone who turned pain into purpose.
“I don’t want to be remembered as just a cancer patient or a business owner,” she says. “I want to be remembered as someone who took pain and turned it into something positive. You don’t know how resilient you are until you face those challenges.”
Nina Nichols’ story is one of perseverance, creativity, and unwavering strength. Her journey with iPrint Solutions continues to inspire both customers and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
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