Event Planner and Content Creator: Melanie Turner

Event Planner Melanie Turner Shares her Journey of Creation and Design

Event planner, educator, content creator, designer: Melanie Turner lives in the creative space 24/7! Melanie has had a designer’s heart since childhood, and her dream has come to fruition with the creation of her own party planning agency and event space: Luxe Studio. She is well in-tune with social media, using it to showcase her own brand and also create content for sponsorships that match well with her audience. To date she’s worked with Mally Beauty, Yankee Candle and Fox Entertainment, amongst others.

Q: Tell us about your decision to start your own event and decor business.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve planned weddings and events in my mind. Throughout high school and college, I kept spiral bound notebooks and filled them with wedding ideas for every season. As my college friends got married, I pitched them wedding themes off the pages of these well worn notebook. Planning and designing high-end looking weddings for my family and friends on a humble budget was all the inspiration that I needed. The pure joy on their faces when they walked into their spaces gave me the confirmation and affirmation that I needed to pursue my purpose on purpose.

“Brand sponsorships are becoming less about follower count, and more about knowing how to build a great community and add value to the everyday lives of your community.” @livingluxuriouslyforless

Q: At what point did you start sharing your business online through social media?

I started to share my work online with friends and family simultaneously and others began to inquire about my services. Social media single handedly catapulted my business in more ways that I could have ever imagined. One post (that I almost didn’t make) totally changed the trajectory of my life!

Q: What part do brands or sponsorships play in your content creation process?

Brand sponsorships are an integral part of my business as they have challenged me to create content that I would have never deemed imaginable. As content creation continues to blossom, brand sponsorships are becoming less about follower count, and more about knowing how to build a great community, having practical business knowledge and work ethic and the know-how as it relates to adding value to the everyday lives of your community.

Q: What was your favorite campaign that you have worked on with Social Native and why?

My favorite campaign with Social Native to date was definitely “The Cleaning Lady Campaign” as it allowed me to perfectly blend my brand with this tv show! I loved creating this type of content.

Q: What’s the most difficult thing you’ve encountered as you grew your business as an event planner?

The most difficult challenge that I’ve had to overcome on my journey of being a female entrepreneur was accessing funding to scale my business. In fact, this is often cited as one of the reasons for the disproportionally high failure rate among women-owned businesses. Taking on debt or becoming an equity partner requires courage, and successful women entrepreneurs recognize this and move forward with grace and determination.

Q: Has there been a moment in your career when you felt you made an impact?

Absolutely, every single time that I receive a message, comment or email from another female thanking me for being a beacon of hope, light and love.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you would like to give aspiring businesswomen?

Confidence is the key to success. This not only applies to how you present yourself, but also how you present your prices. Have the confidence to stand behind your prices, even when they were higher than the market rate!

Q: What do you want your niece to learn about women’s equality in the workforce and the world?

Women’s equality in the workforce is essential for economic prosperity. Societies that value women and men as equal are safer and healthier. Gender equality is a human right and she deserves it. Hopefully my entrepreneurial journey will inspire my niece to reign on her mountain of influence free from fear, negative influences and financial restraints.