‘Married with Children,’ Nichols runs her own successful business

As a youngster growing up and attending school in Robinson, Texas, Meagan Nichols of Vian never thought she‚d grow up to run a successful business while married, and with two children.

After graduation, Nichols went on to attend and take classes at the University of North Texas. 

“Now I am married to my husband, Cheyenne Nichols, and have two kids, Canyon and Caisley,” she said. “Both of my kids are in sports, so juggling all my work is a task, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Nichols owns The Punchy Gaucho in Vian, a western and Boho-style clothing boutique specializing in men‚s, women‚s and children‚s clothing, tons of different miscellaneous items and custom-made T-shirts.

Nichols said she decided to go into business in 2017 by starting her own mobile spray-tan business.

“My dad was diagnosed with skin cancer, and I wanted a way to bring awareness to women by offering spray tans instead of tanning beds,” Nichols said. 

“Along with spray tans, I then started making T-shirts and selling them online. The T-shirts took off, and before I knew it, I needed a huge, outdoor shop, and then later on, a storefront, because the business kept growing.”

She has now been in business for three and a half years.

“We do lots of online sales,” she said. “And offer shipping and pickup.”

Now a typical daily schedule for Nichols involves running her clothing boutique, making custom T-shirts, taking orders, shipping items, and traveling to her kids‚ sporting events.

“Sometimes it‚s hard because I take my work home with me since I take orders all day and night, but it is always worth it in the end,” she said.

Nichols said being a local business owner is so much fun. 

“I have made so many new friends and enjoy being in a small town like Vian,” she said. “The community has been so welcoming, and it‚s so nice to be able to be a part of all the local events.”

The town of Vian held a ribbon cutting, welcoming the business to the area in May 2021.

“When I opened my store, my main goal was to have something cute and trendy, but also affordable,” she said. “I know how hard it is, especially when you have children involved in every possible sporting event, to have extra money to spend on yourself. So, I wanted my store to be the place you can shop without breaking the bank.” 

In June, Nichols said she purchased a camper to travel to events for the store.

“We are hoping to travel worldwide with The Punchy Gaucho!” she said.

The Punchy Gaucho is located at 202 W. Main, and can be reached by phone at 254-651-8901 or by email at thepunchygaucho@gmail.com. It can also be found on Facebook by searching the business name and on Instagram at @thepunchygaucho.