Chantelle Lamoureux started her business, Lamoureux Events, in February of 2017. She offers a wide range of services including event planning, plan-assisting, event execution, event decor & design, marketing creation, social media marketing, and so much more. Lamoureux Events is BIG into Canadian Tire – most of their clients are various individual Canadian Tire stores that hire us to create, design, promote, market, plan and execute their in-store events. Chantelle has organised many a corporate day out, and the testimonies from her clients speak for themselves. Aside from corporate events, they also coordinate and run fashion shows, weddings, and many other social events! Their theme: “we inspire creativity!”
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I have always been self-motivated and passionate about my work. I love to go above and beyond the limits for clients, and I was not able to do so working for other people.
Tell us about your business.
My business is very versatile. We have planned weddings, fashion shows, corporate events, Canadian Tire in-store events, etc. Our social media marketing is also very large. We run various clients’ Facebook pages. We also take high pride in all of our creative marketing for any advertisements needed. We basically create, design, plan, promote, and execute every single event! We do it all for the client to make their lives easier.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- I am a George Brown College graduate of the Special Events Management Program. I received the CHCA Leadership Initiative Award from George Brown College
- I was actually an esthetician before my event planning career and graduated from Sheridan College for Aesthetics, where I worked in a spa for 5 years.
Where is your business based?
My business is based out of Toronto, but I travel all over the country servicing events in all provinces. We hope that next year, we can go outside into the United States as well.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
Last year, I created a website and social media handles. Created, designed, planned, promoted, and executed my first event. I had that event taped and spread it throughout social media. Grew a following and clientele and now this year (as I am registered in 2017), I was able to quit my part time job and fully support myself within Lamoureux Events.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Word of mouth! I have gained clientele through simply networking and people who I have worked with passing along my information.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Hiring people – I normally have volunteers at events. I need to start looking to hire, since I am getting very busy now.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I have hired someone to help out just at events. This way when there is downtime, the person is not expected to be at the office with me.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I simply love what I do, and I am so passionate about events that I remind myself that I am one of the lucky few that actually LOVE their career!
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
There really isn’t anyone else like me out there for the Canadian Tire side of events. But, it is definitely difficult within weddings, concerts, and any other social events. I definitely keep my business at a high level. We set ourselves apart by doing EVERYTHING for the client. They do not have to go to multiple people – we do the coordinating of every detail of the event.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
“Not everything is going to be perfect… you need to know how to roll with the punches and not try to perfect every detail”. This advice is great. I always want everything to be perfect and go smoothly. Instead of wanting to be upset or angry about something going wrong, I just think about how to fix it instantly. It has been working great!
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Keep moving! It is so easy to settle and glide by. Never turn away clients, always make time for them!
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
Wave Apps for my accounting. It is SO simple and easy to use. They make my administrative process painless.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Not to do with business, but I am currently reading “It Takes Two” by Nicholas Sparks! Because you have to take a break sometimes ;).
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
Currently learning a LOT of administrative roles and responsibilities (accounting, receipts, etc). Also, I have been researching a lot on the world of Canadian Tire, so that I know more about my clients and how they think/work.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
I have a lot of events coming up in the next few months. My goals are to have successful events and to please my clients with the utmost level of customer service. I want to have a larger following on social media – both Instagram and Facebook. That is my biggest step, building up a social media following!
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @lamoureuxevents
Twitter @lamoureuxevents
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lamoureuxevents
Website www.lamoureuxevents.com
Email info@lamoureuxevents.com
Hashtags #lamoureuxevents #chantellelamoureux