TALKING BUSINESS
with Jane Pascale
This section of Afrotoronto.com was created with a dual intention:
- provide exposure for community-based businesses
- educate members of the community with an entrepreneurial spirit about different aspects of starting and improving their own businesses.
Each month will feature an interview with a different entrepreneur. It will also hopefully provide readers with some insight, advice, and useful information about businesses.
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The April business focus is on Mez Decor, established by CEO Mesrak Lissanu.
I sat down with Mesrak to discuss both the early days of her business and the current successes and challenges.
Can you describe your business?
Mez Décor provides various services including, event planning and decorations for weddings and corporate affairs. What sets us apart is our passion for decoration and our dedication to make any event memorable (wedding, corporate functions, meetings, bar mitzvahs, anniversary, baby showers…basically anything that you need to plan and organize- we do it all).
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| Where did you get the idea to start this business?
Although I had always enjoyed being creative in various ways, I was always fascinated with weddings. I’ve always designed centerpieces, flowers, outfit, decorated a friend’s new home here and there just as a favour and I always got feedback that I should do it professionally. For years I never really considered even taking those comments seriously although I loved decorating and had a ball planning and creating... until I actually had to plan my own Big Fat Ethiopian Wedding. I believe my own two years of wedding planning and stress gave me the real push into the direction of decorating. So I launched Mez Décor in 2001.
What were your first 3 steps towards making your dream a reality?
I will say passion for creative décor, love for the industry and support from family. I could not have done this without my husband. My husband has been my support and my means of energy and encouragement.
Because the job can be very tiring (mentally and physically), stressful and meeting with clients and vendors and shopping for the right materials can take a lot of time not only from you but from your family; so proper management of your time and multi-tasking skills really are applied. My husband and my family have been very supportive. At every event, my husband works alongside me; my brother and sisters are employed by me so it has been a source of income for them as well.
What did you have to take into consideration because of the nature of the business?
I really had to take into consideration the physical labor, the long hours, the time it takes from my family, most functions are on weekends and long weekends – so when everyone else is off having fun- you are working and building or working on your creative vision. Wedding season in Canada can tend to be seasonal, so obviously constant means of income is a huge consideration, thus understanding the industry the trends to capitalize and strategically plan during your down time through (wedding shows, doing corporate functions, working with hotels as their preferred vendors to generate constant business since Toronto Hotels are always busy).
How did you go about accessing funding?
Start-up is easy, and there's virtually no equipment required. With little more than a personal computer and a telephone, you can get started and get the ball rolling. And whenever a contract is signed, I typically get 30-50% deposit to get started with the purchasing of materials and required resources. Funding was not really a problem because I started as a home base business and I remain as a home based business. I work out of my home; my show room is there and thus no overhead except my workers and my designer.
What is a typical working day like for you?
A typical day would be getting up in the morning, checking emails, replying to emails, reviewing contracts, verifying with vendors if orders I’ve made came in, making sure deadlines have been adhered to, reviewing my bookings for the day, calling on my appointments for the next couple of days to remind/confirm and working on anything I have to finish up (for example designs and silk flowers for a bride’s bouquet). Then around 10 or 11 am meet with a couple of clients (each consultation normally takes 1-2hrs depending on the details we have to cover). I normally see 2-3 clients a day, then I will follow up with calls and checking messages again, call some vendors to discuss options and materials that I need from them.
What (if anything) would you change or do differently if you knew back when you started out what you know now?
So far, Thank God, all things are working out. But one advice I have for any decorator or event planner is to be careful in selecting vendors. The one mandatory step is to get and check the references for the vendor.
Check the references before you start shopping! Use references not as a confirmation of a decision already made, but as a means of identify your options. Ask for references from companies of similar size and market power to your company. Getting references from comparable size companies will provide a better picture of how the vendor will act toward your company. References from large companies often reflect the “power” the larger company has in the relationship.
Where do you see yourself and/or your business in 10 years?
I want to take it to the top (the sky is the limit). I want Mez Décor to be at the top of everyone’s list when planning a wedding or a special event!
Our immediate plan is to land more Hotel contracts and Corporate Events.
Overall goal and mission is to continue to create decorative ideas, strive for innovation and elegance and promote and nurture partnership and relationship that are involved in event planning. In the next 10 years Mez Décor wants to expand the business and be the preferred and main supplier for more hotels and companies in Toronto .
Which government bodies (or other resources) did you find helpful when you first started out?
The best resource for me was word of mouth. Friends and customers who dealt with me have been my Number One source of referrals. Wedding Shows are also a good way to expose and market your business to brides. It is a one stop shop for them but also it gives you and the brides an opportunity to meet you.
Working with banquet halls or hotels as their preferred vendor is also very important because they will promote your services and they can advocate for you on your behalf because they have seen your work and chose you as their preferred vendor.
What advice or piece of wisdom would you like to share with anyone interested in starting their own business?
Here's one business that can be as fun as it is profitable! From corporate retreats, sales meetings to weddings, bar mitzvahs, anniversary and birthday parties, all successful events have one key ingredient: effective planning.
But few people or businesses have the time or skills to do it themselves. As an event planner, people will pay you what they can afford to organize the smallest or the biggest events for them. Start-up is easy, and there's virtually no equipment required. With little more than a personal computer and a telephone, you can make a great income and have a ball doing it if you are passionate.”
For more information about Mez Decor, please visit www.mez-decor.com or call 416.803.8089 .
Jane Pascale is an AfroToronto.com columnist.
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