We recently connected with Chelsey Bichay and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

When I first thought of starting my own luxury picnic business, I felt a lot of conflicting emotions before actually committing to my business. I was so excited about the idea of taking my passion for design and party planning, and turning it into something that could go beyond just a hobby, but this question kept playing in the back of my mind- “what if I put all of this time and effort into a business, and I’m unsuccessful?” That question instilled fear and panic, but I decided at this moment that I’ll never know unless I try, so I may as well give it my best effort. The very first thing I did was talk to every important person in my life for feedback and encouragement to take this major leap of faith. Once I had the support, it was time to execute my plan and bring this super fun idea to life. I immediately created “mood boards”- which is basically a type of collage consisting of images and objects to help visualize an idea. I included images of pillows, tables, decor, lighting, tents, and more to help me come up with the vibe I wanted for my picnics. I landed on a boho, romantic, cozy, and intimate vibe and that’s when I really started to become more excited and a lot less nervous about the potential of my business. Over the next several months, I began collecting the items I would need to set up my very first picnic. I was feeling a little overwhelmed at this point in the process because truthfully, I didn’t have a lot of funds, and with no investors and even prospective clients, it felt like I may have bitten off more than I could chew. I pushed my fears aside and decided I would lean into my faith. I created an instagram page and was overwhelmed by the support of friends, family, and even complete strangers. Before I knew it, I was planning a picnic for my first client!

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’d love to introduce myself and provide some background information to hopefully help you all get to know me a little better. My name is Chelsey, and I’m the owner of a luxury picnic business- Picnic Perfect Luxury Curations, also known as Picnic Perfect LC. I am a Florida native, and currently reside in Lake County, Florida. My family and friends mean the world to me, and I’ll always go the extra mile if that means putting a smile on someone’s face. I met my significant other in 2019, and together he and I share the sweetest pup named Diesel, who is considered our baby (yes, we are those kind of dog people!). I’ve always had a passion for interior design and event planning, but it wasn’t anything more than a creative outlet up until May of 2021, when Picnic Perfect LC was founded. I absolutely love creating long-lasting memories for my clients. Whether it’s a simple date night or an extravagant proposal, I strive to not only meet my clients expectations, but to exceed them. I accomplish that by focusing on the small details. I believe that’s what sets me and business apart- not only my passion and pride in the set ups I create, but my attention to detail. When you hire Picnic Perfect LC, you can expect a truly seamless experience. I coordinate with vendors, venues, complete both set up and clean up, and make it a priority to keep you informed and apart of the decision making (if you wish to be!). Your only job is to show up and enjoy your event, date night, or even a brunch with the ladies! There’s no celebration too big or small, and I believe they should be equally as stunning!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There were many kinks to work out in the first several months, but unfortunately the weather cannot be controlled and I learnt that the hard way. I was officially open for business in May, and had a few clients booked for a summer picnic. As many of you know, Florida’s weather is unpredictable and can ruin anyones outdoor event in a matter of seconds. I had an afternoon picnic booked, and I stalked the radar all day long, and all day long it showed a 5% chance of rain. I thought, okay great! I’ll load up and head to the location and begin setting up, while continuing to monitor the forecast. The skies were blue and not a cloud in sight leading all the way up to the scheduled time for my clients picnic. As soon as my clients sit down to enjoy their date, the clouds start rolling in and the sky goes dark. I immediately open my weather app to see 100% chance of thunderstorms come on my screen. I was mortified as I watched my poor clients running through the pouring rain to their car with their charcuterie board in hand, where they proceeded to have their date night. I watched as the rain and wind completely soaked my items with mud, and was praying it could all be salvaged. I felt so defeated in that moment, and honestly considered giving up on my dreams of owning my own business. Truthfully, had my clients not been so kind and understanding, I likely would have. They were gracious enough to reschedule with me and give me the opportunity to recreate their date night, which I did free of charge of course. It was a great reminder that sometimes you just have to roll with the punches, but don’t ever give up on something you care about.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn as a business owner was saying yes to every opportunity. It took me a lot of sleepless nights to understand how important it is to accept opportunities that align with my schedule and capabilities. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of sacrifices that you must make when running a business, but doing things from a place of depletion when you stretch yourself too thin leads to burnout, which then results in lower performance and lower quality events or services being delivered to the client. As I previously said, I strive to provide my clients with the best experience possible and that simply isn’t possible if I’m doing that from a place of self sacrifice and burnout. I’ll always do my best to accommodate, but if I’m unable to for a specific date, I make every effort to find a date for my clients picnic or event that works great for them and myself, ensuring the best experience possible!

Contact Info:

• Website: picnicperfectlc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picnicperfectlc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picnicperfectlc

Image Credits
KRISTEN KPPHOTOCO