Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Anderson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bri. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Picnicking was an unexpected tradition that developed over time for my oldest son and I. When we lived in Atlanta, we would always picnic whenever the weather would permit, it became “our” thing. Picnicking evolved into a spring/summer time ritual that allowed he and I to enjoy time with one another, all while indulging in the pleasure of natural sunshine and all the other gifts nature has to offer. I also have a background in (and passion for) event planning. I was finally in the process of getting my dreams out of my head, and into reality, and starting to take the necessary steps to start my own company, but then life happened and I got pregnant with my second son! This unexpected gift threw my plans in a whirlwind. A few years and some shelved dreams later, I relocated to Tampa and a bunch of my friends kept asking if I have any plans of doing events down here. Eventually, a childhood friend of mine, Candace Page, hit me up randomly one day to put a little more fire under my butt, and boom A.Tailor’d Picnics was born in late June 2020. I had just started my custom designs business, A.Tailor’d Designs, a few months prior in April 2020, so starting another new business venture really had me amped up because now I could incorporate the two together. I would say I am where I am today as the result of ALOT of trial and error, mixed with about 15 years of customer service and networking, followed by constantly putting God first and giving Him ALL the praise. Honestly though every time I look at my kids’ faces, I get all the motivation and drive I need to take me even further. Lastly, it brings me immeasurable joy to witness my customers’ pure elation and to see their eyes over bounding with visual delight at something that I’ve created.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If any entrepreneur says yes to this question just know they’re a bold face lie, lol! It has not been a smooth road at all. I literally travel to Atlanta from Tampa EVERY WEEK. I’m also a one-woman army, (with a car & not a truck) so that makes things even more challenging, but I learn a lot with every picnic. As I “grow” along I am learning and becoming the woman and business woman I have always dreamed of being, so the challenges are worth it. I’m excited for all the plans I have for my company’s future.
Please tell us about A.Tailor’d Picnics.
My company is a Full-Service Luxury Picnic Company that offers a beautifully unique and relaxing twist to celebrations. It’s perfect for dates, baby showers/gender reveals, company events, proposals, birthdays, or just treating yourself and/or your special someone to something nice. No matter the occasion, a luxe picnic is just the way to celebrate! Besides, who doesn’t love a glammed-out picnic, or the perfect instagrammable photo op? In the near future, I will expand my company to offer event planning. I’ve already been booked with a client who didn’t want a picnic but a dinner party instead. Of course, I still found a way to incorporate a “picnic” by decoratively placing some vibrant rugs, pillows, comfy blankets and other accentuating ornamental pieces around on the floor for her guests as an option if seating reached capacity.
I’m most proud of how I can say that I created this on my OWN as a single mom of two boys. I didn’t and don’t have any financial help or any help at all with anything from inventory to designs to set up/break down. Sometimes I have to bring my 2-year-old with me because I don’t have many babysitters and that can be hectic but I ALWAYS push through and deliver (even if I do have to cry it out in the car lol). I take pride in the resilience that I have innately and the fortitude that I’ve developed since becoming a business owner. I’ve made some great connections networking and some reputable companies/small businesses have even reached out to me like Yelp Atlanta, Yelp Tampa Bay, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, and now Voyage Atlanta. The Current Hub and Roamilicious has reached out to interview me as well. I was pretty shocked like wow, ME? Y’all want to interview me to talk about my company? I am very grateful and thankful that God has deemed it fit to bless my business and so quickly at that. I thought about it the other day like wow Bri you’ve only been in business for 4 months… God is good, he’s great. I know I would not be where I am today without him.
I feel like I’m what sets my business apart from others. My whole life I’ve been a ball of energy. If you’ve ever been around me or any of my friends, they would tell you I would give the shirt off my back to someone in need, I’m loyal to a fault, I love too hard, and I laugh and play ALL DAY. I make a conscious choice to enjoy life, I’m a goofball… you are gonna laugh around me for sure. I just choose to see the positive in everything in spite of the negative and that’s what sets me apart. Not only that, I’m not in the event planning business for a quick buck. I truly enjoy it, it’s my life’s passion. I eat, sleep, and breathe event planning. I’ve had romantic partners complain that I’m on my phone too much or we don’t spend enough time because all I do is research how I can be bigger and better to take my brand to the next level and set myself apart (insert wink here, lol). I would do this if I didn’t get paid for it and that’s how I know that I’m in the right place and doing the right thing. I’ve been told I am under charging but that’s the thing about being a business owner you get to make the choices. I want everyone to be able to enjoy a luxury experience. I believe that treating oneself to memorable luxury experiences needs to be normalized… but that’s another topic for another day!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I can’t put my finger on a specific favorite memory. I had a pretty great childhood, I always say I was blessed because I had 3 parents, My Mom, My Dad & My “Step-Dad” so I was pretty spoiled. I bounced back & forth from Miami to Atlanta because my birth Father is from Miami. I played sports like softball, ran track for a little, I cheered & danced. I went on summer vacations every year with my family, my childhood was too good to narrow it down to a favorite.
Pricing:
- Pricing STARTS at
- $150 for two individuals
- $250-275 for a group of 4-6 individuals
- Styled photoshoots start at $175
Contact Info:
- Address: Atlanta , Tampa & Other FL Areas
- Website: www.atailordpicnics.com
- Phone: 6782429667
- Email: atailorddesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/a.tailordpicnics?igshid=12i5n0df7vndj
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/a-tailor-d-picnics-tampa
Image Credit:
JLavii Photography
@Jlaviiphotography (on Instagram)
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