Nellie Thomas
CEO/Owner Miz Nellie's Soundtracks
Nellie Thomas, known affectionately throughout
the music industry as "Mizz Nellie" is from Magnolia,
AR. Early in her career, she worked in various capacities
in real estate throughout Chicago until meeting Mr. Barney
of Barney's One Stop in 1980. Ms. Thomas worked in advertising,
marketing, as a record buyer and cashier for Barney's. During
her tenure at Barney's, Mizz Nellie created "The Breakfast
Club," an informal group of local, regional and national
record professionals who would get together bi-monthly to
discuss active retail plans for the stores in the mid-west
area. In May of 1997, Mizz Nellie left Barney's One Stop to
create her own independent record store..."Mizz Nellie's
Soundtracks." Between 1997 and 1999 Mizz Nellie's midtown
store was very successful, however, In 1999 her store was
destroyed by fire! Through an outpouring of generosity and
support from various record companies and local retailers,
Mizz Nellie Thomas was able to rebuild her store in a different
location and was back in business after only three months!!
1999 also brought another milestone in Mizz Nellie's career...
she founded and began operation of "The Ultimate Music
Group." The Ultimate Music Group is a coalition of stores
that consist of 15 dedicated local music retailers who support
each other and continue to find creative ways to promote new,
developing and established artists. A pioneer, industry veteran
and source of inspiration for all... we salute Mizz Nellie
Thomas, a NABFEME Shero!
|
