Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Sander.
Sam, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have ALWAYS loved to celebrate–especially when there was a holiday or theme involved. When I married and started building our family, I was committed to creating a loving and comfortable home where we celebrated each milestone with special themes and decorations. Celebrating life events has always been an important part of my Hispanic heritage and so it was no surprise when it became my love language and frequently a gift to friends and family who asked me to use my talent to make their occasions special. As a result, I was encouraged to open my own business but life was busy and kids are expensive. A new venture seemed impossible.
The kids got older and more self-sufficient and suddenly I had the time to use my passion, talent and vision to design unique events to launch the business I always dreamed of. I love seeing the “wow” moment when everything comes together and, instead of just a party, I’ve created a lasting memory. With encouragement and the offer of minimal investment, I began to think maybe this was something I could do. I started to research niche opportunities within the event planning industry knowing that I still had to raise a teenager, run a household and maintain my current work schedule. This is where About Last Night was born. I created a party décor rental company where I create custom flower walls and other specially designed backdrops for occasions like weddings, graduation, birthdays and corporate events that provide guests the perfect backdrop for photographs and memories which are so impressive people ask for all the details “About Last Night” and want to incorporate it into their next event. I’m excited to say the business is growing, our customers are delighted and our future looks bright.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Balancing the development of a start-up business with a full-time job certainly required an increased focus on time management. With family, work and long hours, I also found it important to schedule time for exercise and rest to avoid burn-out. It’s tempting to work through the night when creative juices are flowing but not sustainable for the long term. Not surprisingly, money management especially in the initial phases as I worked to store up cash reserves and found professional help with accounting and taxes.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Have you ever been to a wedding or graduation or a corporate event where the party decor is unique and stands apart from the norm? You take pictures and imagine what your event could be. Instead of bubbles on the tables as a party favor, your guests have the opportunity to be part of the memento by taking photographs together in front of the specially designed decorations. That’s what we do at About Last Night. We listen to our clients and provide custom flower walls made with high-quality silk flowers or balloons incorporating other materials like neon signs and marquee numbers. We also do centerpieces and other decorations. About Last Night offers one-stop shopping for the customer who loves the idea of a different party event but doesn’t want the hassle of do-it-yourself. We complete the design, set it up prior to the event, and pick it up all for one fee. No surprises. We’re very proud to have focused our brand on customer satisfaction and fun quality designs that exceed expectations. Thanks to our client’s positive experiences, word-of-mouth advertising has been a continuous source of new business. We want your readers to know if they are looking for someone to deliver a fun or fancy event, they can count on us!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Two years ago, I would have said I am willing to take moderate risks like standing up for a policy I believed was right or wrong at work or speaking out at a school meeting when it could be uncomfortable. That said, when I realized I had the opportunity to start the business I always wanted, did the research, and built the business plan I decided to go for it. Starting a new small business is always a risk but starting one in the middle of a pandemic? Huge risk! I’ve found that risks are positive when there’s a solid plan behind them and as a result, I am more comfortable and stronger as an individual.
Contact Info:
- Email: aboutlastnight04@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.aboutlastnight.org/
- Instagram: @_aboutlastnighttx
- Facebook: @aboutlastnighttx
- TikTok: @aboutlastnighttx
Image Credits
Kendall Paige Photography
