2022 GIRL FLOCK PARTY SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: GATHER EVENT BOUTIQUE

This week we are highlighting Gather Event Boutique for their generous 2022 Girl Flock Party sponsorship. They will be providing the open air photo booth at our annual event on March 27th.

At Gather, they aim to provide items and experiences that will make your event unique, without the price tag that makes it out of reach. We thank them for their partnership, helping us to achieve our goals in the community.

ASHLEY BROWNE

Owner/Event Planner at Gather Event Boutique (right)

What is the origin story of Gather Event Boutique?

I have always loved planning, hosting, decorating, ALL things events. It started in college when I would plan our sorority events, which trickled into planning and completely DIY-ing our entire wedding, and now holidays for family, kid’s birthdays, and anything else I can get involved in. 

Gather came about at the beginning of 2021. I knew I wanted to do something, but I was also terrified to fail (insert enneagram 3 here) and wasn't sure if I could make the commitment. I currently have a full-time job in Construction Project Management. Construction does not fill my creative cup, at all, or my need to be around party people! I started with tables, chairs, linens and two photo booths. We have quickly expanded to 3 photo booths, two all-white bounce houses, elaborate treat/snack displays, several amazing backdrops, LED lights, lighting, and boutique balloon decor. It has been such a treat to bring event dreams to life and I have been loving the vast variety of events I have had the opportunity to do so far. 

Explain what your business does.

We provide high quality, boutique event rentals at prices that are aimed to be within budget for any event. We have traveled as far as Buda and have events booked out into Waco. Our clients are families, brides, corporate entities, small businesses, and school districts. 

What is your business niche?

If there is something to celebrate, we have something amazing that can be included there. House parties, birthdays, anniversaries, baby/bridal showers, weddings, and graduations are all events we have serviced. One unique thing about our structure is that our pricing does not fluctuate depending on the event, and neither does the level of service. Our most popular item is our open air photo booth. It is one of the most, if not THE sleekest booth available in the area. Our booth is completely digital, and users can share photos, boomerangs, and GIF's instantly via text, email, or AirDrop. No matter how party trends change, taking photos and sharing them with friends and family is never going to go away. Our clients love its capabilities and its compact design that make it perfect to fit in any space. Your booking also includes a complimentary digital photo album that is shareable with friends 24-48 hours after your event. 

In addition to the photo booth, I have recently started offering balloon decor. Although this is new to my business, it is already taking up a significant amount of our bookings. I have spent several hours investing in training and growth to offer a high-quality product that is both on trend and able to work within any budget. 

How many employees?

I work on the business by myself full-time until we can be busy enough to guarantee enough work to bring someone else on. On occasion I have an attendant that will do events for me, and my sweet husband brings the muscle for events with several components. I also don't love driving with the trailer, so he is great for that too.

What are 3 things people should know about Gather Event Boutique?

1. No request is off the table. One thing I have always done well is work under pressure. If I don't have it, I will find it, or we will create it! So many projects I have done so far have produced items that are now rentals because we were able to make someone's vision come to life. 

2. We don't change pricing depending on the event. A house party has the same pricing as a wedding or corporate event. The amount of work and commitment to the project is going to be the same on my end, and I am aiming to create lifelong repeat clients. I try to be as transparent with our pricing as possible online and on social media so that when you come to a Gather Event Boutique platform, you can find most of the information you need without having to wait to hear back. 

3. We are always expanding! There really is no limit on where I intend to take this company. I have big goals and look forward to continuing to grow both personally and as a business entity.

What are your goals for the business?

2022: We currently have 3 open air photo booths. One goal for this year would be to have one month of all three booths rented out every Saturday of that month, so stay tuned.

2023: Financially able to have one part time employee at the warehouse to prep events and help continue to grow our on-trend rental selection.

Future and Beyond: Be able to provide event services from start to finish by building relationships with other vendors and growing our in-house offerings.

How would you spend an extra $100,000 at Gather Event Boutique?

BUILD A VENUE! My long-term goal is to have a multi-purpose venue to host events of all types. I am looking forward to reaching our 1-year anniversary this year and goal setting for the long term to see when a venue could be a reality. 

Favorite quote?

Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three gather in my name, I am with them"