We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robyn Woodside. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robyn below.

Robyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Looking back, I do wish I had started my business sooner. I have always loved planning parties, and had a few people tell me I should do it professionally. I am a full time teacher, wife, and mother. I decided when my daughter was about one and I was in the middle of my fifth year of teaching to get started. My best friend is a social media manager, and I took her advice on websites and social media sites; she made my logo. I did a lot of my own research on packages, pricing, and what people are looking for from an event planner.
Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching. I still don’t know that I’d ever fully leave the profession; however, I absolutely love planning, researching, and making a vision come true, whether it’s for me or someone else.
If I had started sooner, though, it probably would have been before I had my little one. I would have, obviously, had more time to get everything set-up quicker and put myself out there more. I am also glad, though, that my daughter gets to grow up watching her mom do something she loves and start something on her own.

Robyn, 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?

I am an event planner. I offer multiple styles of packages for any kind of event, which include just helping with set-up and tear-down of events to planning and executing everything from start to finish. I also offer consultation-style packages, where I can help you find everything you want to make you vision come to life without taking away the love others have of putting everything together. I am also slowly starting to gather a collection of items I would eventually like to rent out (chairs, tables, tablecloths, dishes, etc.).
I have thrown quite a few parties in my day, and I believe what sets me apart from other businesses in my area is the affordability. Obviously, businesses charge their worth and the more established businesses in my community are worth their prices. Coming from a teacher’s salary and talking to other’s I’ve thrown parties for, people want the extravagance without the price, and I’ve been able to do that for myself and friends and family. I’d love to offer that to others who want to “go all out”, but can’t afford top dollar options. I love looking at the visions and ideas people love for their event, and spending my time researching the options that fit their budget, venue, and style the best.

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

My best source of new clients has been a combination of social media and my supporters. I have tried whenever the opportunity arises to put myself out there and promote myself the best I can. Also, the people I’ve surrounded myself with have been my biggest supporters. They share my business and my pictures with people as often as they can. I feel so supported and so loved.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Starting this business up while being a teacher and a mom, there have been several times where I just wanted to delete my social media pages, throw my business cards away, and relax for a minute. When I get overwhelmed in my weekday job, and then I have to come home and make contracts, research, or pack up everything for set-up that weekend, I realize how exhausted I truly am.
I have to keep reminding myself how much I love what I’m doing, how much I want my daughter to be inspired, and how I want to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/woodsides-party-planning
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodsidespartyplanning?igsh=MTQwdWFzZjRxbGRoZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodsidespartyplanning?mibextid=LQQJ4d