Today we’d like to introduce you to SELENA BRITTON.
Hi SELENA, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My professional journey into event planning didn’t begin until later in life. As a young girl, my parents owned and operated a minority-owned cafe and catering business. I spent a lot of days in the kitchen, food prepping, loading-trucks, sweeping floors, wiping tables, counting inventory, etc. When working in a family business a job title is non-existent, you did it all. It was here, I learned the importance of work ethic and the value of building relationships. Although I didn’t find love for cooking, I did cultivate a passion for event design.
In 2007, I started event planning as just a hobby I would create elaborate themes for my daughter’s birthday parties. My instinctive goal was to thrill my guest with decor and provide interactive yet engaging experiences for families, not just kids. I wasn’t convinced I was ready to be a party planner, I just enjoyed the process of transforming an empty room into a beautifully designed space and appreciated the joys of celebratory moments.
The excitement of entrepreneurship can lead you to a mountain top full of ideas but there is also a valley that many people don’t discuss. I witnessed first-hand both sides of the spectrum, so I had real reservations to start event planning full-time. I worked in government for over a decade marveling at the idea of stability with no real joy in my heart to do the things I loved. Don’t get me wrong. I loved working in public service, but I also relished the idea of being creative. I had a long conversation one night with my sister about living the life you want. I wrestled for days about what that looked like for me. But, I remember in that conversation she encouraged me to move forward with my dreams of becoming an event planner. It ignited a fire that I suppressed for so long in my comfortability in my full-time job. I spent the next few months working on my business plan.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges we faced as a new company was learning to establish business credit. I was naive to the world of business. My basic understanding of business credit was limited to opening a business bank account and paying vendors on time. I spent a lot of nights researching steps to developing a strong credit profile.
The simplest things such as a business telephone number, applying for a Duns Number, or establishing Net-30 accounts can make the world of difference. We knew at some point we wanted to grow our company, so we positioned ourselves for financing.
When we started, we didn’t meet the requirements to qualify for any financing. Most banks don’t like to give loans to small businesses because of the high risk associated with new businesses. Banks look for the 5 Cs in lending: capacity, capital, collateral, conditions, and character. Although many financing options exist; grants, and alternative loans the determining factors will be based on company needs. I learned if you manage to diversify your accounts early and develop positive credit history the long-term benefits will be advantageous.
My advice, hire an expert.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Aura Decor Events?
Aura Decor Events curates lush events with artistry and exclusivity in mind. Cutting-edge technology, luxury decor, and eye-catching aesthetics allow guests to partake in an immersive experience. Through my services, I create viable solutions utilizing event CRM organizational tools and effectively communicate with a network of established vendors. Clients entrust their confidence in my ability to provide over 20 successful events, leading to increased profitability and product visibility.
We are most proud of how we’ve managed to pivot our business to include balloon design as a new component to our initial business ideas. When COVID hit, 96% of event planners experienced cancellations. This was extremely detrimental for us as we were a new business pre- Covid. We introduced balloon design to celebrate life despite the current conditions. We were setting up balloon designs in driveways, front lawns, across entryways to homes, you name it – we did it. We even created a party in a bag for people who were unable to leave their homes.
I remember one day I posted on Instagram that life still should be celebrated. I received a DM from a young lady that day stating this post touched her deeply because her sister passed away at age 39 from Covid and for years she planned her 40th birthday party. I think I cried that night for almost an hour. I didn’t know this young lady or her sister, but her story touched me in such a profound way. I was close to her sister’s age, and I know how big milestone birthdays are supposed to be. From that day forward I decided that milestones didn’t mean a thing to me, that every day is a gift.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
MTV used to air a show called My Super Sweet 16; it featured 15-year-old girls who obsessively planned their 16th birthday party. Needless, to say I was that girl. I literally drove my parents insane to have a Sweet Sixteen party long before the show aired, might I add.
I can firmly remember tearing out a sheet of loose-leaf sheet of paper from my notebook and writing out plans for my birthday. I contacted venues, created a guest list, picked out decor, and even decided on linen colors. I convinced my friend to be the Dj of the most epic party of our teenage life.
On the day of the party, a limo picked up my guests and me. We traveled about 30 mins to a nightclub in downtown Baltimore that my parents rented out exclusively for my birthday. We were so excited because we had never been to a nightclub and reveled in the thoughts of how much fun we were going to have. We walked into a room full of all my friends and family yelling, SURPRISE! I was utterly pleased and grateful. The party was everything I asked for and more. I will forever remember my Sweet 16.
Contact Info:
- Email: aura.decorevents@gmail.com
- Website: auradecorevents.com
- Instagram: _auradecor
Image Credits
ShotByHendrix
