We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Rayman and Leigh Warren a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Caroline & Leigh, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
Every event we work is different – different venues, different types of tents, different vendors, different weather. Each requires a different plan of attack! But this also keep it fun and interesting!
Wind is probably our biggest concern. It creates a struggle for job site safety and aesthetic execution. If we can add vinyl tent walls to help hold the fabric in place, we do. We always try to have a person or weights to hold down ladders in severe wind situations. We’ve also moved weddings up a day – if possible- when severe weather hits.
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.
Leigh left the wedding planning industry when she found out she was pregnant with twins (hopeful for nights & weekends to take on a different role for a few years). However, soon after the twins were born, she was getting asked to do odd end sewing jobs for weddings and interiors. It was a pretty organic start – freelancing here and there – taking on small gigs of her own – but before too long little things turned into big things and she knew she needed a partner to keep up with demand. Caroline was actually her replacement at the wedding planning firm and we kept in touch over the years. Though Caroline moved away from Charleston to try out the DC event circuit, she always had the intent on returning to the Lowcountry. In Spring of 2017, very newly married, Caroline moved back to the Holy City and we partnered up to create The Social Spool.
The Social Spool began 6 years ago. We are a decor company whose main focus is to combine innovative designs with our light -hearted southern style to enhance event and interior textiles. After our 30 years of combined event industry experience we decided to create event enhancements (custom ceiling treatments, curtains, cabanas, altars, table linens. chuppahs) and custom sew table top decor (napkins, runners, placemats, etc). We also have dabbled in home goods such as pillows and window treatment. And during the pandemic in 2020, we began making face coverings!
We love color and texture! We love when a client wants to do something funky and original to create a one-of-a-kind look! We are most proud when our team creates a custom product/look that becomes the new trend!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
We adore the vendors we work with. They are our biggest cheerleaders and help guide new clients our way. We also have a big presence on social media. Instagram and Pinterest are such good marketing tools and showcase inspiration for potential clients.
Any advice for managing a team?
We have a mostly female staff – so we have a great bond. We are all so different – but help each other grow through emotional, spiritual, and creative outlets. We always keep snacks and candy on hand for those high-stress job sites. We also love to build in fun working lunches, coffee breaks, beach days and holiday parties to further the bond. And we travel together and love those close-knit house rental hangs where working on afternoon puzzles with a tasty glass of wine!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesocialspool.com
- Instagram: @thesocialspool
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/thesocialspool.com
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/thesocialspool/
Image Credits
Headshots: Julie Livingston 1) Anne Rhett Photography | Intrigue Events 2) Tim Will Photo | Ellen Robinson Events 3) Hannah Alyssa | Ellen Robinson Events 4) Tec Petaja Photography | Bellafare 5) Perry Vaile | Fox Events 6) Ali Beck | Peninsula Events 7) Demi Mabry Photography | Katrina Hutchinson