Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandrea Council.
Hi Alexandrea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2011, my bestie and I decided to move to Atlanta. I had high hopes of starting a career in marketing, but God had a different plan. After countless job applications, I finally landed a position in HR. Although I have grown in my career, I always knew my long-term goal was entrepreneurship (and what better place than a city that’s known for successful black businesses). I wanted to start my own business but hadn’t found the right idea yet. One day my boyfriend finally gave in to my random rants about having a picnic. Since I like to be prepared, I already had a picnic basket, blanket and travel plates ready to go! I went to Target to snag the rest of our supplies; I grabbed utensils, napkins, wine glasses and obviously wine. After packing up all the items, along with some playing cards and a speaker, we were all set for our picnic date! We picked up some sandwiches from a local restaurant and headed to the park. When we realized how much stuff we had to tote, we thought maybe this was too much lol. After a few trips to the car, we were all set up. The picnic was a success, however, I kept thinking to myself that this was a lot of work for one picnic, maybe this is why you don’t see many people doing it. This thought continued to linger in the back of my mind, but I never considered it to be a problem that needed a solution.
During the pandemic, I had a lot of idle time (as everyone else did) and I figured, why not start a new venture. In my MBA program, I took an entrepreneurship course that helped me understand how to find gaps in our daily lives and search for opportunities to solve them. One night I wrote down different ideas that came to mind, and I was drawn back to the picnic idea. I thought if someone could take all the leg work out of setting up a picnic and all you had to do was show up, would people be interested? I researched if this was an actual thing and low and behold it was! There were a few picnic brands that were popping up mainly in the Cali area and it sparked my interest to see if I could make this into my own. I was so excited about the idea, I stayed up half the night creating a startup plan, reviewing expenses and supplies and park regulations. I wanted to get as much information as I could to ease my entry into this new market (I am a bit OCD when it comes to planning). I called my dad, my go-to handyman, to ask if he could make the custom tables for me and he was on board. He lives in New York but flew down just for this. I hit the ground running. Although I came up with the idea back in 2020, I didn’t officially launch until summer 2021. With the support of my family and friends, I started The Pop-Up Soirée, LLC.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been easy. Initially, when I contacted Atlanta Parks and Rec, I was told because of Atlanta’s high risk of COVID spread, no activities were allowed in the park right now. However, that was frustrating to hear because I knew other businesses were using local parks for workout classes and other activities. Building up my inventory was also challenging because at the time, there weren’t many options for non-glassware items (parks prohibit glass) and floor seating options were limited. I snagged what I could find and since I am a pretty creative/crafty person, I loved the idea of making different things to customize my picnics. By the time I started my business, there was more competition in the Atlanta area, but I was passionate about my brand and knew there was enough opportunity for everyone. It has definitely been a challenge to find different ways to market my business. Creating social media content is a job in itself and I am a one-woman act as of right now with a full-time job.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Pop-Up Soirée was created to provide a unique experience that you, your friends and loved ones could enjoy whether from the comfort of your home or at a local park. We provide everything you need which alleviates the stress from planning your event, all you have to do is show up. After a brief consultation of what you envision, we get to create a customized experience that brings your idea to life. We specialize in picnics, but we can also accommodate regular events as well. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, a promotion, an engagement or you just want to fellowship with friends, we’ve got you covered! I am big on customer service (especially b/c it is a lost art now) and I always strive to provide each client with excellent service. You could have the best product out there, but if your service is sub-par, people will find another brand. Although there are still things I am learning along the way, I continue to be intentional about the service I provide and the way I handle business.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I consider myself to be a calculated risk-taker. If I haven’t had the opportunity to thoroughly review something and weigh all the options, I usually will not do it. I understand the concept of no risk, no reward, but the way my brain works, it’s hard for me to comprehend doing something without knowing all the facts. I like to ask a lot of questions so I understand the situation, which helps me make a more informed decision.
When I started The Pop-Up Soirée, it was a bit of a risk because I knew people were still hesitant about being “outside.” The best way to mitigate that risk was to ensure I took the necessary precautions to provide a clean and safe space for clients. PPE (down to shoe booties) is worn to reduce the spread of germs. In addition, clients have the option for in-home picnics that they can enjoy from the comfort of their homes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thepop-upsoiree.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepopup_soiree/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepopupsoiree
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@thepopupsoiree
Image Credits
Chelsea Jones of Cheesypics
