We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charlene Lindsay. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charlene below.

Charlene, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Until recently, I wished I had found this passion and path sooner. But I’ve realized that the only way I found it was through my journey thus far.

Becoming a mother had a lot to do with starting my event planning business. Throwing parties for my son is when I began to fall in love with planning celebrations. My approach to planning my son’s parties was to memorialize the phases of his life by incorporating things that brought him joy into the details of the party. And having our family and friends celebrate with us was a way to share his joy. I use that same philosophy for every event I plan now. Events are ways we can capture a special moment in time and share it with those we love.

Custom gifting was an unexpected addition to my business that gained momentum during the pandemic. Custom and personalized gifting became a way that I helped others stay connected when we couldn’t physically gather. Though unexpected, gifting feels like a natural extension of my love for planning events. I believe that both events and gifts are ways we celebrate, honor, and share joy with each other.

So I no longer wish I had started sooner. The experiences of becoming a mother and finding ways to stay connected during the pandemic brought me here, and there’s no place I’d rather be as a mom, creative, and business owner.

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

I own an event planning and custom gift company. I help people create events that are unique, personal, and memorable, and I take the guesswork and monotony out of the gifting process to help others gift with ease, intention, and authenticity.

I fell in love with planning events when I became a mom and planned my kids’ birthday parties. I found magic in creating a space and time to gather with family and friends to share what brought my kids joy.

Speaking of gathering (or lack thereof), that’s how the custom gifting side of my business began.

In March of 2020, we were making plans to gather with friends and family to celebrate our baby girl on the way. And then the world shut down. We canceled our baby showers, and all of the gatherings I was looking forward to personally and professionally in 2020 were canceled or delayed.

By late summer of 2020, our son was loving his new role as big brother but desperately missing his friends. So, we planned a virtual ice cream party and delivered “Just Add Ice Cream” gift boxes to his friends to enjoy with us over Zoom. It was a hit! And that is when I decided to officially add custom gifts and party boxes to my business offerings.

Since that virtual ice cream party, I’ve designed and shipped hundreds of custom gifts and party boxes for organizations and individuals all over the country who want to celebrate, appreciate, and uplift their clients, colleagues, friends, and family. And I’ve collaborated with other small business owners to design gifts that feature their products.

What sets Shine apart from other businesses is the approach to events and gifts. For me, it’s much more than fancy parties and pretty packaging. There’s a special connection and joy I believe we can share when we celebrate–even in the midst of difficult seasons. I deeply believe we all have a light to shine, and I believe one way we can share our light is through memorable events and thoughtful gifting.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I worked with an amazing business coach last year, and it really helped me gain clarity around my “why.” That has been pivotal for me in how I think about my talents and business. I had no idea how much personal work went into being a business owner, and I was able to do that with my business coach. I joked that our sessions were part therapy and party business coaching, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It has made me more passionate about my talents and the value I bring to those I work with.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I am pleasantly surprised when strangers find me via social media or Etsy, but by far the best source of clients has been my personal and professional network. I have had old high school friends I haven’t talked to in years reach out to me for custom gifts.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shinebycharlene.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinebycharlene?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= (handle: @shinebycharlene)
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlene-j-lindsay