Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jillian DeAnnuntis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jillian, thanks for joining us today. Do you manage your own social media?

I have handled my own social media accounts since the very beginning. We proudly have over 16,000 followers to date across all platforms.

Jillian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jillian DeAnnuntis and I am the Founder & CEO for The Picnic Fairy & Co. I live in beautiful Clermont, Florida with my two teens Evan & Mikayla, my partner Calvin, and my dog Micah.

I started The Picnic Fairy in late 2020, a few months into the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Central Florida area. Like many families, I was looking for ways to help support my family financially, while doing something I was passionate about.

I came across an ad for a company setting up luxury picnics in California and I knew instantly that we had to bring this amazing concept to Central Florida. I felt it was the perfect choice for me personally, since I would be able to combine my passion for interior design and love for the outdoors, to create beautiful luxury picnics for our clients.

I also knew that people were longing to be with family and friends again safely. They were desperate to get back to celebrating all those special occasions and milestones. I wanted to help them create new memories safely.

The flexibility allowed me to continue being a stay at home Mom. I have been a stay at home Mom since my daughter Mikayla, was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome in 2007. Having a traditional job hasn’t been an option for me with the demands of being a special needs parent.

Although, running a business as a special needs Mom has many challenges, I don’t have to worry about losing my job now because I have to take her to too many doctors appointments or worry that I have to pick her up early from school often because she had a meltdown that day. I can also be there for my son when I’m needed most. Attend his sports competitions and join them on field trips.

With the help of my oldest daughter Gianna, we did so well in the first couple months, we were able to expand to South East Florida, Northern NJ and Puerto Rico. In less than one year, we also expanded to Northern Florida.

The Picnic Fairy of South Florida is managed by my very talented sister, Jessenia Collazo. My brother Luis & Sister-In-law Jesenia, manage our Northern NJ location and the lovely Jennifer Turak, a fellow special needs Mom, manages Saint Augustine and Northern FL.

Puerto Rico is currently managed by me however, it is in the process of being purchased by a new family who will take over operations over there soon. We are very excited.

We also have a few more talented individuals that have joined us and help us set up luxury picnics and events. We are lucky to have them all. Their love for what they do shows in every set up they design.

We currently offer a few different packages and services. We offer luxury picnic experiences for 1-80 guests. We offer fairytale teepee sleepovers, perfect for kids birthday parties. We offer full-dining set ups with standard height table and chairs. We offer Movie Nights with projector screen rentals, we specialize in marriage proposals and we offer packages for Micro-Weddings, Corporate Events, Sweet 16’s, Quincienera’s, Birthdays, Bachlorette Parties, Gender Reveals, Baby Showers, Anniversaries and more! We are your one stop shop. We work with amazing local vendors to help bring our clients vision to life. Our unique style, professional customer service, competitive pricing, and attention to details are what set us apart. We allow our clients to choose their theme or colors and every set up is unique just like our clients. No two picnics are ever exactly the same.

I am truly proud of how much we have accomplished and grown in a short period of time. Thru hard work, perseverance and faith, we have accomplished more than I dreamed of. We have over 16,000 followers across our social media platforms, and 5 star reviews on Google, Facebook and Groupon. I have been featured in three articles and selected to be featured in Who’s Who In America. I am so thankful for all of our past and future clients, friends, family and everyone who has supported us along the way.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

We keep in touch with our clients via email and through our social media platforms. We provide information about any new and exciting news and updates as well as any sales going on.

We offer all clients 15% off any future bookings. This is our way of welcoming them to The Picnic Fairy family.

We have also started to send out thank you notes, Happy Birthday, and Happy Holidays Cards to all past clients.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Being a special needs Mom and running a business has had its share of challenges. I believe the strength and the life experiences I’ve gained over the past 15 years, while raising my daughter with Prader-Willi Syndrome, has made me into the woman I am today, determined and resilient. The experience I’ve gained has prepared me to face obstacles with confidence and to continue to have faith.

I’ve learned how to juggle many things at once. Doctors appointments, school meetings, meltdowns, 12 hour work days. It has been challenging at times but it has been so rewarding. Being a stay at home, special needs Mom, I often looked at others and longed to have my own career, or something that I can feel I accomplished other than being a Mom. The Picnic Fairy & Co. has made this all possible for me and my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.picnicfairy.com
• Instagram: @thepicnicfairy
• Facebook: @yourpicnicfairy
• Other: TikTok: @thepicnicfairy

Image Credits
XOXO Sarai Photography