We recently connected with Melissa Gibson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I came up with the idea for my luxury picnic business in the fall of 2021. After losing my job with a major retailer prior to the pandemic I took the opportunity to enjoy time with my 3 children as a stay at home mom. I had worked my way up as an executive there. There were a couple of years at the end of my 10 years with that retailer where I spent approximately 25% of the year away from my family, as I oversaw the home division for 22 stores from Buffalo, NY to Danbury, CT. After going through a lot of my savings I knew that I needed to do something for money. But I also knew that I never wanted to work for anyone else ever again. I had experienced the freedom of not working a traditional job and there was no way I could go back.

In my spare time I like to travel and have visited 38 states and a few place internationally. For each destination good food and great company has been a focus. Literally planning out dining experiences and meals that my friends or family and I would prepare. I always took the opportunity to create beautiful table-scapes that were photo worthy in order to create a certain atmosphere. It was something I was good at and also enjoyed. So when thinking about what I loved doing most I tried to figure out how I could parlay that into a lucrative venture, and in the most cost effective way possible. And Brass and Bamboo Picnics was born.

I knew this was a worthwhile endeavor because it offered a way for people to feel as if they were being whisked away to somewhere else, if only for a couple of hours. I felt it would work because it would offer people a way to celebrate differently. No matter if it was for a special occasion or for no reason at all, a first date of 20th anniversary, everyone loves to indulge in captivating experiences with someone special. Brass and Bamboo Picnics offers a unique alternative to the typical party or night at a restaurant that most people would use to celebrate life’s milestones.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Aloha! My name is Melissa. I am the creator and owner of Brass & Bamboo Picnics. Born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu I relocated to Rochester, NY in 2001. Being part native Hawaiian I carry the aloha spirit with me in everything I do and hope that that sense of care resonates with each client I encounter.
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In my former life as an executive for a major department store retailer for 10+ years, I worked to develop the talent of my teams and across functions. I landed a role as the District Merchant for the Home Division in 2016 overseeing 22 stores from Buffalo, NY to Danbury, CT. In that role my love for home decor flourished. I gained so much knowledge on not only function, but style. Helping elevate not only presentation in stores, but also making personal connections with customers and helping them with their most precious spaces, their homes.
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That knowledge and experience gives me such a passion for what I do in my picnic business. Each theme is curated with care in hopes of creating a table-scape that is cohesive and seamless for our clients to enjoy in both function and beauty.

I am so excited to be able to offer my clients unique and affordable options for celebrating their special occasions, differently. I offer a wide range of services including: luxury picnics, table styling, wicker peacock chair rentals, balloon design, custom digital design with print options, hula dancing and interactive experiences, lei making (class or sales) and day of’ wedding coordination.

What sets us apart is our knowledge and passion for vintage dinnerware. A Brass and Bamboo Picnic experience marries vintage and modern elements to create a vibrant table scape crafted with pieces of history. We also share that history with our clients at the introduction to their experience. They truly appreciate it and often feel “quite fancy”, as we have heard time and time again.

I am most proud of my connections with my clients. They allow me to be a part of some very special milestones and intimate moments . I don’t take that lightly.

I want potential clients to know that they are the lifeblood of my business and that without new clients there is no Brass and Bamboo Picnics. I want followers to know that they matter and every like, share and comment encourages me to keep going.
I want our biggest fans to know that I appreciate them from the bottom of my heart. Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much) for embraces this concept and me! We do all things with excellence and do not take the trust our clients, followers and fans have placed in us for granted.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I raised the capital on my own by flipping vintage items I found thrifting. I was able to sell items for a very steep markup then reinvested into purchasing more product. I did not want to start this business in debt. Since the needed inventory was relatively low I decided to raised my own capital instead of securing any type of loans or credit. My biggest sellers were colored wine and water goblets and brass candle stick holders. Go figure.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me has been happy clients. I get about the same amount of leads from google searches, social media and marketing efforts combined as I do from word of mouth. It’s really the push for me to make sure that every client and their guest(s) have a stellar experience. It’s been the gift that keeps on giving.

Contact Info:

• Website: brassandbamboopicnics.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brassandbamboopicnics