Your Special Event

www.yourspecialevent.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

My event consultancy business aims to take the stress and leg-work usually involved in planning any personal event (eg. weddings, birthday or anniversary celebrations, engagement parties, Christmas parties, etc.) by referring clients to the businesses that best suit their desired style for their special event. We work closely with a broad range of businesses that provide all services required for events - from venues to caterers, from vehicle hire to party hire, from musicians to formal wear and more!

2. When and why did you start your business?

Several years ago, after assisting family and friends with their respective weddings, I realised I had a passion and love for this kind of work. I'd gained the necessary skills in my previous employment to be able to successfully start my own event consultancy business.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with of your business?

Aside from providing professional assistance to clients planning their various personal occasions and ensuring their events are all they dreamed, I have been able to fulfill my dreams of being my own boss and running the business with integrity and in a manner I feel comfortable with.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

There are never enough hours in each day to achieve all I'd like to. I also need to constantly balance how I use the time I do have - advertising and promotion, networking, client meetings and research for them, remaining in contact with businesses I refer clients to, developing relationships with new businesses and suppliers, bookkeeping, and more. Another challenge I find is keeping a steady flow of clients.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

Registering with well-used online wedding directories has proved to be the most successful form of promotion for my business.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

I found that for my particular business, Yellow Pages and Yellow Pages Online haven't been very successful marketing and advertising forums.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

My logo! :)

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

A couple of my friends have their own businesses and have encouraged and inspired me to continue pursuing my dream. I also find it inspiring when I meet with other businesses in preparation for referring clients to them, and they mention that they've only been in business for a number of years, yet they've come so far.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

After re-designing and optimising my website, I plan to take on as many clients as I'm able to. I am also in the process of choosing a not-for-profit organisation to which I will donate 10% of all that I earn through my business. Once I am able to fully support myself financially above and beyond this, I will take on an assistant.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Never rush into anything. If someone is trying to pressure you into making a decision on the spot, it is wisest to say 'no'. Taking the time to think through all the implications and let the idea sit for a while has always proved to lead to better choices in the end.

Visit us at: www.yourspecialevent.com.au