In 1914, the first Nichols store was founded by H.A. Nichols in DeQuincy, Louisiana from savings accumulated while working at a sawmill for $1.50 per day. In 1934, after attending college at Louisiana State University, T.D. Nichols, better known as Truman, began working with his father in DeQuincy. Upon his father's death in 1948, Truman assumed ownership of the family business.
After working with his father for many years, he was prepared to lead the business into the future. Truman grew the business considerably during his tenure, adding additional stores throughout Louisiana and a central warehouse in Many.
Always one with a knack for numbers, you could usually find him at the warehouse checking in the merchandise as it rolled off of the trucks.
Many days Truman would have a special young partner working next to him, his daughter Debbie Nichols. At an early age, Debbie began learning about the family business from her father. Whether cleaning shelves, counting boxes, selling fireworks, or ordering crayons, she found out early on what was involved in the retail business. After graduating from Northwestern State, Debbie began working full time in the business as a buyer and running the warehouse with her father. In 1998, Debbie became a third generation owner of the Nichols stores after the death of her father. Today, Debbie carries on the tradition that her father and grandfather started in her own unique way.