We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriella Schatt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gabriella, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
I had been in multiple Facebook groups for quite a while, and I noticed myself mentioning what I would do if I created one personally. So one day I decided to actually go for it. I made the group back in 2018 but didn’t start developing it until 2020. There were a lot of uncertainties when I decided to start one of my own. It started out not only as a way for my family and friends to get information about Hersheypark but to get feedback on what I would create. My main goal was to create a community for people to not only share their love for Hersheypark, but get accurate information for their trips, and get some tips along the way. As the group got shared more and more, I noticed an increase in attention. Anything from questions to a small community starting to engage with one another. Once we hit 1k members in a couple of weeks after starting up, I knew we had the opportunity to be successful.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve lived not far from Hershey, Pennsylvania all my life. My family’s history was the starting point for all of what I do now. My grandfather Frank had such a love of Hershey, and he was the one who started it all. I was in Kindergarten when I went to Hersheypark for the first time. It was Christmas Candylane and my mom recalled me asking “Can we come back here again?” Little did I know I not only would end up being a season pass holder on and off for 12 years, but work there, and create a group dedicated to the park that currently has 21k members. Being able to provide a space for thousands of people to share their experiences, if it’s anything from advice to just sharing their day, really has made a difference in the community. Our Admins, moderators, and group members all provide information on upcoming events, pass information, perks or any new information passholders might be interested in. As well as opportunities to share their talents, from photography, video content, and even engineering! As we have grown, business who partner with Hersheypark along with Hersheypark themselves, have been able to advertise their content and information to group members. I think what sets us apart the most is how we try to engage with our group members. As for getting to know our group- starting in 2024, we plan to have our first official meetup, along with more giveaways, and exclusive events. Our goal is to make it a community. A way for members to meet new people, make friends and even create their own business opportunities. We are most proud of the fact that we have not only succeeded with that for ourselves, but for members of the group as well. The main thing we want members to know is that the group was made for them! I’m grateful for the wonderful experiences and advancements in my life that were all made possible by the group, but at the end of the day, it’s all something I do for fun, and it’s not only the members that made it possible, but what the group is for. Being an admin is not an easy task, but I definitely try my best to be fair and let everyone be heard.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
The Moderating team has been a mix of people, and some have come and go as the group has gotten bigger. My mom happens to be one of the other Admins, but the rest of the moderators I actually met through the group! James, Susie, Tyler, and Stephannie I met in person at Hersheypark. They not only were part of the community but now continuing to help grow it! Our moderator Shannon I met during my time working inside Hersheypark!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I think the most effective way to grow membership is by listening to what a majority are interested in. Unfortunately, you can’t please everyone, but engaging in different ways to keep members interested can go a long way. It doesn’t have to be complicated either. Anything from letting their concerns be heard, not leaving them in the dark about how things are run, and events. Something simple like this or that questions, nostalgic relatable content, and content to keep them engaged. Once you gain a following, it’s also fun to start events, giveaways, and other ways for members to really enjoy all of what you have to offer on and off social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tr.ee/b-vmhRvNfA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hersheyparkpassholders/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/groups/597503027275263/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriella-schatt?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2F
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCvLafZTc-6BXdPmSOazpeDw
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hersheyparkpassholders?_t=8yvmbyigpbe&_r=1
Image Credits
Tori Hartman, Gabby Schatt