Kelci Boniface took The Black Frame Boutique from side hustle in her basement to her full time job. She knows how hard it is to be a Ladyboss, which is why she thinks you deserve a cold beverage, a good phone scroll session, and a comfortable pair of shoes.
Q. Tell us a bit about yourself.
A. I am a wife, a mom of two children–Brayden (8) and Kinsley (6)–a daughter, sister, friend, hockey mom, business owner… I thrive on chaos! I love being a boss–the CEO of my own life is the way I wanted to approach each and every day! Work hard play hard is a motto at our house. We enjoy life and spend time doing what we love as a family. After 12 years of owning The Black Frame Boutique as a “side hustle” it is my full-time business and having a different “day job” is a thing of the past.
Q. How did you get involved in your work?
A. As Brayden told someone when he was four years old, “My mom plays hair and helps dress her friends.” I have always been a people person and love helping others find happiness. I started doing hair in 2009 and always thought it would be fun to have my own business someday. My husband thought I was crazy, but it was a dream of mine. I started the boutique in a spare bedroom in our basement and began doing pop up shops. I put together our website from scratch while having no idea where to start and eventually opened up a small location in Sola Salon to test the market. My husband and I had lots of long talks about opening up a place of our own, so we put all of our eggs and dreams in one basket and decided to open a boutique and spa under one roof. Having my husband and family as my biggest supporters sure helped my dreams come true. Plus, hard work and dedication sure pay off! From shopping in the
boutique or getting something made from our very own print shop, we have many services to offer at Black Frame: spray tans, manicures and pedicures, esthetic services, hair services and more. I am so proud to have an incredibly talented team offering diverse services under one roof. A lot of people who come in for the first time as clients have now become lifelong friends. Today we have multiple Ladybosses working right beside us. Amen to women supporting women!
Q. What does it mean to be a Ladyboss?
A. You may not realize it but every day you have Ladyboss moments. Women supporting women. One of the most powerful things we can do as women is support other women. Leadership is hardly ever easy, there are always things to do, teams to manage and endless problems to solve. However, it is not for everyone. Those who do it will shine bright in their field and inspire others to do their best work. Follow your dreams and develop yourself in the process
Q. Who inspires you?
A. My children inspire me. In this day and age, when children are pulled in multiple directions about who they are and who they should be, they have managed to find and retain their own true identity. My children make me want to be as good of a role model as I can be. I also get inspired by others. Seeing other people perform acts of kindness or listening to someone talk about something great that has happened in their life. I like to listen and take things in, it’s all about having an open mind and letting inspiration find you. And I find inspiration in this quote: “Learn to love the hate. Embrace it. Enjoy it. You earned it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone should have one about you. Haters are a good problems to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.” – Kobe Bryant
Q. What is your favorite form of self-care?
A. Living in chaos, it is hard for me to find time for self-care–but trust me–I thoroughly enjoy getting my mani and pedi’s along with my eyelashes filled and a good massage
every couple of weeks! Enjoying a cold beverage while “scrolling aimlessly on my phone” (as my husband would say) is also a great way for me to stay relaxed!
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve heard recently?
A. Learn how to manage expectations. Life is all about managing expectations–most of all your own. The world will expect many things from you, and you expect many things in return. Going through life trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations can be exhausting. One of the best ways to manage expectations is to communicate with everyone on a frequent basis. When you feel your energy or happiness slipping, focus on softening your expectations. You will be better off not only at the time, but in the long run.
Q. What do you think women need right now?
A. Does a vacation sound good or is that just me!? You can always tell who the strong women are. They are the ones building one another up rather than tearing each other down. We as women need to support women and don’t find others as competition rather than an inspiration–her success is not your failure. Always be a dreamer. A person with a dream can be a powerful force. In the end, we all need a good friend you can call or she knows she can call you. A little confidence boosting lip-gloss, nail polish or necklace. Comfortable shoes that never give you blisters. A favorite movie you can quote every word. A few minutes to yourself– because girl, you deserve it!! XOXO Check us out at our West Fargo location, 435 32nd Ave E, or get social with us on Facebook
or Instagram @shopblackframe – shop
online at www.shopblackframe.com
