We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jemannie Luong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jemannie , thanks for joining us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?
When I first shared the news of Picnic Party Cincinnati, I was so nervous to tell those closest to me for fear of judgement. I was met with mixed reactions from my family and friends. There were those who thought the idea was fun and inventive, and there were those who gave me a skeptical smile and nothing more. However, both of those reactions were vital in gauging how the general public would come to view my business.
To me, asking friends and family to support your business can look like many things. I think some get locked into the idea of support being a purchase. And while a purchase is great, you cannot expect everyone to (literally) buy into your business. To me, support also looks like interacting with social media posts, talking up a business through word of mouth, sharing connections, and showing up.
One of the first events I hosted with Picnic Party Cincinnati was my own launch party. I will never forget those who showed up to support that event. Being surrounded by family and friends who will watch you grow and help you if you fall is invaluable. Those individuals are just as important as those who purchase your goods/services.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
The model of luxury picnics came to me from TikTok. I had seen videos of the practice on the west coast and thought to bring it to Cincinnati. It seemed like such a fun and unique idea that blended creativity, event planning, and customer service all in one. I loved the romantic gesture of a picnic in nature; luxury picnics just elevate that idea.
What is a luxury picnic? A luxury picnic set up includes more than just a picnic blanket and basket. It also includes low tables, plates, chargers, cutlery, linens, drinking glasses. etc. This set up allows guests to enjoy nature in a more comfortable dining setting. To make things more fun, Picnic Party Cincinnati also incorporates beautiful décor such lanterns, candle sticks, and pillows. This truly elevates the look of your picnic. Final touches include personalized signs, polaroid cameras, board games, and a Bluetooth speaker for tunes.
Picnic Party Cincinnati fully plans and executes luxury picnic events. My absolute desire is to take the headache of planning an event away from my clients. I ask simple details such as location, color scheme, and occasion, and take care of the rest. This means that my clients have more time to enjoy the moment, instead of sweating the little details. Simply show up, have fun, and leave happy.
Apart from the beautiful picnic clients receive from Picnic Party Cincinnati, for me the most rewarding aspect of luxury picnics is seeing all the memories made. I love learning the reason for picnics. We have so far hosted an array of events including date night, marriage proposal, business gatherings, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, and my favorite…just because! I also love seeing everyone gather around the table to enjoy time with each other. It is very rare to have all your friends and family in one place, so any chance my clients get to be with their loved ones is very special for me to be a part of. I am very proud that Picnic Party Cincinnati allows for these intimate moments to happen.
I truly care about my client’s experience. I have an extensive background in customer service, but beyond that, I understand that treating others with respect and care goes a long way. I promise to my clients to be thorough, patient, and careful with their needs and expectations. And I promise to continue working hard for myself and for you.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I became a mother this past May. It was something I planned and was very excited about. However, I did not realize how much would change when it came to my work. Being a working mom has come with so many challenges I never expected, and I have had to pivot in many ways to keep my family happy and my business afloat.
The first pivot I had to make was allowing myself to understand that I would not be physically able to do my job after a certain point in my pregnancy and postpartum. I am a very determined and headstrong individual. I also rarely ask for help. However, in being 8 months pregnant in the middle of picnic season, I quickly learned to ask for help. I also wasn’t expecting the disappointment that would come from turning down picnics during maternity leave. A part of me really wanted to say, “whatever” to the 3 months of rest I took following birth, but I am very glad I did not. While I truly wanted to provide my service to those who reached out, I understood that it was best for all that I didn’t push myself before I was ready. This is a lesson many small business owners forget…how to be gracious to themselves and set up boundaries. I learned that I can’t do it all, and that’s okay.
There are other little changes I now understand to be my reality. I cannot prepare for a picnic whenever I want. I cannot accept any and all bookings. I cannot do paper work whenever I have a spare moment. I cannot leave for a picnic on the day of an event as easily as before. All of these instances require me to think of someone other than myself. Childcare is now at the front of my mind. However, this has also taught me a huge lesson in being prepared. Now more than ever, it is very important for me to be organized and prepared. This includes planning my timeline, materials, and childcare well in advance.
There was actually one instance that just occurred in which I messed up my picnic timeline due to poor planning. I ran late for my picnic and had to bring my baby with me. I got very lucky, because my clients were understanding and it was a cooler day (I cannot set up events with my baby in the heat for obvious safety concerns). It was a huge lesson learned for me.
I could talk about the obstacles business moms face all day, but at the end of it all, I am just that: a business owner and a mom. Both are key components of my identity.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I almost did not launch Picnic Party Cincinnati for the silliest reason.
When I first had the idea to bring luxury picnics to Cincinnati, I understood that I did not create the business model. However, I was very excited at the prospect of being the first luxury picnic company in Cincinnati. I relished the thought of having that tagline on my website and social media. “Cincinnati’s first luxury picnic company” – that is what I wanted.
In reality, I do not know if I was really the first luxury picnic company in the city. (Although I am for certain that I am amongst the very first.) When I learned of other picnic companies in the city, I started doubting myself. I thought that my company would be just another dime a dozen and that I should quit while I was ahead. But what was really happening was that I was scared of the competition. I was counting myself out before I even gave myself a chance.
I am so glad that I pushed forward and expanded my mind to think past the thoughts of having to be “the one and only” or “the best”. My mindset now is to do my personal best and to let my individual business style do the talking. There will always be others, but I learned to get out of my own head and to not be so hard on myself. I have my own ideas to offer to Cincinnati, and I shouldn’t let me get in the way of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.picnicpartycincinnati.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picnicpartycincinnati/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picnicpartycincinnati
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemannie-severson-luong-m-a-935028a3/
- Other: Picnic Launch: https://www.facebook.com/1036275334/videos/1313963609019971/ Picnic Interview:
Image Credits
lindseytphoto DGStudios