When Eleanor von Boetticher set out to build ProElvis Jumpsuits, she knew costumes—but running a business? That was a different story. Yet Nanaimo, a city known for its openness to unconventional ideas, proved to be the perfect launching pad for an unexpected but thriving venture.
Nanaimo’s entrepreneurial climate has long been shaped by its unique mix of creativity, resilience, and community support. It’s a place where small businesses flourish not just because of ambition, but because of a network that fosters growth. Eleanor’s journey is proof of that.
The Role of Community in Business Success
Starting a business is never a solo act. For Eleanor, Community Futures Central Island was instrumental. The organization provides resources and training for entrepreneurs, bridging the gap between passion and practical know-how.
“When I started ProElvis Jumpsuits, I had a knowledge of costumes, but no knowledge of how to run a business,” Eleanor recalls. “It is Community Futures that filled in that knowledge gap for me.”
Beyond structured support, Nanaimo’s business community thrives on collaboration. Small business owners lean on each other, whether it’s troubleshooting manufacturing challenges or finding local suppliers. The culture here is one of cooperation rather than competition—a rare and invaluable advantage.
A Hub for Creativity and Talent
ProElvis Jumpsuits benefits from something else that sets Nanaimo apart: a deep well of creative talent. Artists, craftspeople, and designers flock to the city, drawn by its affordability and natural beauty. For Eleanor, this means she has access to skilled artisans who can bring her elaborate, rhinestone-studded jumpsuits to life.
“There is a strong community of artists and craftspeople living on the island,” she says. “And a diversity of creative people coming to live in Nanaimo and looking for work.”
Exporting from the Hub City
Nanaimo’s entrepreneurial ecosystem doesn’t just serve the local market. ProElvis Jumpsuits ships internationally—to the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and even as far as South America and East Asia. That level of global reach might seem surprising for a business operating outside a major metropolitan area, but Eleanor has found that Nanaimo offers key advantages for exporting.
“Nanaimo truly is the ‘Hub City,'” she says. “Courier and postal shipping times and service are very good considering we are not a major city. Plus, we are able to get to know the personnel in the courier companies and Canada Post closely, since we are in a small community. We don’t have the traffic problems of major cities.”
Looking Ahead
Eleanor isn’t slowing down. ProElvis Jumpsuits is growing at a steady 20% per year, continuously adding new products for Elvis tribute artists worldwide. On top of that, she’s developing a distribution business—Rhinestone Canada—to supply crystal rhinestones to the Canadian costume market.
“We continue to grow year over year,” she says. “There’s always something new.”
The Unexpected World of Elvis Tribute Artists
Perhaps the most surprising thing about ProElvis Jumpsuits? The sheer diversity of the global Elvis tribute artist community.
“The worldwide network of Elvis Tribute Artists includes young and old, male and female, and all skin colors, shapes, and sizes of people,” Eleanor shares.
It’s a testament to the universal appeal of creativity, performance, and reinvention—something that Nanaimo itself embodies. In a city that celebrates fresh ideas and supports those who pursue them, businesses like ProElvis Jumpsuits don’t just survive. They thrive.■