We recently connected with Eboni Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Eboni, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

n Spring 2020, there were major milestones happening in my personal life that I was bummed about not being able to have our typical BIG family celebrations ) due to COVID and social distancing rules. There were a lot of CDC guidelines regarding proximity and indoor spaces but activities outdoors were considered low risk. I always enjoyed being outside but really nature & I figured a picnic could be a new fun and safe activity to do with friends/family during a pandemic! Most people at the time felt safe from a social distancing perspective outside so I figure it is easy to catch up with friends and create memorable moments.

I created a business plan and emailed it to my closest family members and friends. There were a flood of suggestions that ultimately elevated my vision and goals for the business. I knew people are willing to pay for the experience but naturally, I was scared to proceed and didn’t want to fail. There were nights I was staying up at 2 am, brainstorming & researching and I just couldn’t stop thinking about how this had so much potential.

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

A picnic is one of the simplest pleasures that you can enjoy and I’ve always enjoyed celebrating others so this inspired me to establish Picnic in the Ville. ​Not every special occasion requires an elaborate, over the top event. Sometimes, the simplest celebrations are the most memorable. We hit that sweet spot between minimalism and extravagance by creating intimate, customized picnics for as few as two people to as many as 25 people. We put together private picnics, either indoors or outdoors, and offers several different themes and locations for attendees to choose from. Whether you are planning a marriage proposal, celebrating a birthday, or just want a reason to spend time with loved ones. Picnic in the Ville pride ourselves on transparency & service excellence- that what sets us apart.

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

Crucial conversations are overrated….

There were a lot of mistakes and rushing into things without considering the certainty of running a business. Having those tough conversations played a huge part of establishing a business mindset. Making sure that Picnic in the Ville was not another hobby but a business that had the potential to grow, figuring out ways to communicate value in a way, & understanding everyone is not you cliental. Understanding the importance of partnership/operating agreements, the perks of LLC & sole partnerships and managing the financial aspect were something that I had to figure out quickly.

These conversation were awkward at first & I tried to avoid most of them because I just wanted to make people happy & get started! but it makes you grow & changes your character. Every time we I stepped off that safety net, it build my courage & I adapted and become a stronger business women.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Picnic in the Ville launched at the end of Summer 2020. The first sale didn’t happen until February 2021! It was another one of those sleepless nights -I received the notification and was super excited! I took a screenshot and sent it to my family and friends at 2 am in the morning. Even now- every time we get a notification – it’s a sigh of relief and a rush of joy and appreciation. For someone to believe in your vision and trust you to create a memorable moment for them is a blessing and we don’t take that for granted. It’s probably my biggest motivation and it’s very rewarding because I’m working towards something that I genuinely want to do! To take the time, continue to be transparent, excel in customer experience, and have a lot of patience & courage to grow yourself and the business.

Contact Info:

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