We were lucky to catch up with Patrice Tillery recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Patrice thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump into the story of starting your own firm – what should we know?

I decided to start my own business after planning a wedding. I loved it so much and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. After making this decision, I researched other companies to try to narrow down the kind of brand I wanted to have and to identify gaps in the market. My advice for future entrepreneurs would be to just start. It’s ok to make mistakes, just make sure you learn from them. Also, if you do work that is client-facing, as long as you prioritize the clients, you can make up for anything else.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a native of Baltimore, MD with an affinity for women and girls. I am an alumnus of the Bryn Mawr School for Girls and the University of Maryland, College Park. I have two vibrant, beautiful daughters who influence and motivate every aspect of my life. Over the years, I have acquired over 15 years of experience in management, event planning, fundraising, and project management. I really enjoy trying new things that challenge me to use both sides of her brain, both the creative and the analytical. In typical Libra fashion, it’s all about balance! My tenacious drive and passionate work ethic have fueled success in different areas, which I’m really grateful for. Having diverse experience has given me the confidence to face new challenges and to set and achieve new goals.

I became a full-time entrepreneur after being laid off of my job of 13 years. I had already wanted to jump, but had been afraid, so getting laid off was the final push that I needed. I started to prioritize my event planning company and also became a full-time realtor. I take a pride of pride in my work, and I think this is one of the things that sets me apart. My passion, attention to detail, and desire to leave an impact in people’s lives is what sets me apart most. I genuinely love helping people find the right home or plan major life events. I take great pride in my work and want my clients to leave the experience feeling like I heard them and brought their visions to life. More than anything, my greatest goal is to live a life that positively impacts other people, or as they say, to leave a little sparkle wherever I go!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing clientele is consistently delivering great results. There are so many types of marketing, and they are certainly valuable, but word-of-mouth is still the most trusted source for many. Consistently delivering great results leads to your clients naturally sharing your value with others. If they love your work, they will share it and do so with passion. This is the best marketing you can get! Be consistent, do the work, and do it well.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty by following up on touch points I shared with the client. The most important aspect of this is making a genuine connection, and then nourishing it so that it can flourish. A client retention management (CRM) is imperative for this. I use a CRM to house details I learned about clients like important dates, events, and people in their lives. When I follow up with them, I use this as a reference so I personalize my outreach to them. My outreach feels genuine and personal because it is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alavishexperience.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishweddingsandevents/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrice-tillery-39150943/