A WOMAN BRINGING BEAUTY TO OAHU ONE GORGEOUS PICNIC AT A TIME
AN INTERVIEW WITH SAMAI SAECHANG OF ALOHA PICNICS
Imagine this... the perfect charcuterie board, a tropical paradise backdrop, gorgeous place settings, delicate florals... Ok let's be honest, I was sold at charcuterie board. But these are all just a few of the magical pieces that make up one of my favorite companies of all time. Aloha Picnics is a relatively new company on the Oahu Events scene but it is taking this island by storm. And it isn't difficult to see why!! Having been lucky enough to not only meet and work with the owner Samai, but to have experienced her fantastic take on picnics firsthand, I can tell you... There is truly nothing else like it here in Hawaii!
THE PERFECT PICNIC
Oahu’s first picnic pop-up service. Aloha Picnics specializes in custom styled picnics. They take on a fresh approach when it comes to planning an intimate celebration. Their unique services are perfect for anniversary celebrations, birthdays, marriage proposals, elopement, a military spouse returning from deployment, baby and bridal showers. Their designers have a combined 20 years experience in planning and designing events. With their passion to all things beautiful, every picnic occasion is meticulously designed with their clients in mind. They love combining a feeling of elegance with a casual, relaxed environment.
And one of the best parts of their company? They are very mindful of our local surroundings and have a deep love for the island of Oahu. For these reasons, they strive to always source local and seasonal supplies. This will ensure that you will have the best picnic experience!
In fact we love Aloha Picnics SO much... we partnered with them for one of my all time favorite brunches to date! Our May 2019 Mother’s Day brunch was an incredible success and I attribute so very much of that to the gorgeous, genius mind behind Aloha Picnics, Samai! This is an interview we had right before that event and I love it so much that I had to share it with you guys! Please read below to learn more about one of my all-time favorite business owners and Hawaii residents and all the fun projects she has!
SAMAI
My full name is Samai Saechang. But I go by Mai for short. I was born in Laos, a country that holds the record for being the most heavily bombed country in the world. Millions of bombs that were dropped over 40 years ago, are still killing and injuring the villagers in Laos currently.
I started my career in the corporate world in the finance industry. I’ve worked as a financial advisor, tax specialist, purchasing agent, and an accountant for 10 years. However, my passion has always peaked for a more creative career in special events and designing. I kept my 9-5 during the weekdays and hustled on the weekends coordinating special events, such as weddings and floral designing.
I love everything about weddings. To be part of someone’s very special day and being able to bring their vision to life is rewarding. In the last 15 years, I have coordinated and designed approximately 200 weddings and special events. My favorite types are small intimate events. I feel the connection is so much stronger when the setting is small and intimate.
INTERVIEW
1. What inspired you to create your business and how did you motivate yourself to keep going when things were difficult?
Answer: My 9-5 career in the finance world didn’t spark joy anymore. I needed a creative outlet and couldn’t be contained in a cubicle all day for the rest of my life. Plus, supporting and following my husband’s military career for the last 20 years affected my career as well. Due to the military moving our family often, I had to leave many amazing jobs. Finding new jobs can be challenging in a new city, state, and country. I’ve decided to be my own boss and create a business that I love, and take it wherever the military sends my family. My son is my motivation. I wanted to set an example for him, that no matter our situation or environment, it is always possible to live out our dreams and create the life/career we want by taking risks and just going for it.
2. When did you start your business?
Answer: I took the leap and started my own business in 2011 and left the corporate world
3. How many hours a week do you work?
Answer: Every week is different, but I average between 30-50 hrs per week.
4. What’s the most profitable aspect of your business, why do you think this is and how can others apply this to what they are doing?
Answer: Since my picnic business is fairly new, I’m still testing out what will be profitable
5. What is your work day like? (Do you wake up early, work late, communicate, what jobs do you do yourself, who do you talk to etc)?
Answer: My work day usually starts at 6:00am. I respond to emails, messages from IG, FB, and texts. Write contracts and invoices. I work on my calendar and squeeze in a morning yoga session in my backyard. I currently work and operate from home. I’m pretty much hands on with all aspect of my business. I have hired an assistant who is helping with prep work and picnic set ups. I recently hired a part-time designer to help with my new website. She also advises me on branding, marketing , and social media. I believe these are all important to run a business.
6. When did you realize you were creating a unique and sustainable business and how did you feel/celebrate?
Answer: After moving to Oahu 8 months ago, I spent a few months observing the needs of my niche. I felt that the wedding industry was already saturated with wedding planners, coordinators, and floral designers on the island. I’ve always been obsessed with picnics. I also wanted to concentrate more on small, intimate gatherings. That’s when Aloha Picnics was born!
Hawaii is the perfect market for picnics. I’m able to cater to the military couples, the locals, and the tourists. My picnic service is perfect for anniversary celebration, birthday, marriage proposal, elopements, honeymooners, baby/bridal showers, day dates, and so many other special celebrations. As soon as I officially launched Aloha Picnics in January, we have been receiving an average of 5-10 inquiries a day!
The feedback and support from the community has been wonderful. I was greeted with the sweetest aloha spirit from fellow entrepreneurs. Many of them have reached out to collaborate and work together. It’s heartwarming to live in a place where there’s a strong sense of support for each other’s businesses.
7. Looking back, what could you have done sooner to have gotten to that point quicker?
Answer: I am thrilled that my picnic service makes people happy. If I knew sooner that there was an audience for it, I wished I could have invested properly on a functional website. I worked with a designer who didn’t deliver and am now starting my website project from scratch again. Besides the website mishap, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at with my business goals. Considering, I’ve only been living in Oahu for 8 months and starting a fresh new business since my move. Its picking up a good momentum.
8. What should other entrepreneurs reading this interview – be focusing on to expand their business (e.g. outsource, get a team, monetization, traffic generation etc)?
Answer: I have always been a one woman show, but I’ve learned through the years that it is okay and very important to build a team and hire help. It’s one of the best investments. I’m guilty of trying to do it all – run a business, mom life, wife life , being a daughter, sister, and friend. If we overwork ourselves and try to do everything ourselves, how can we expand and be successful, if we are constantly feeling burnt out? I can’t stress enough, please ask for help or delegate out your duties. Our mind, heart, and body will thank us!
9. What's the best piece of business advice you have ever been given?
Answer: Entrepreneurship, just like motherhood, is not a 9-5 job. Some days you might be up until 3am working and then have to tend to your child at 6am and drop him off at school. Be kind to yourself. Make time for you even if it’s just to breathe and smell the fresh air. Kids will make messes, your dogs might chew up your reports, or you might accidentally download a virus to your computer. Your best weapon is your sense of humor. Enjoy the mompreneuer life, wear the title proudly. We are basically super heroes.
10. What’s the most common rookie mistake when it comes to starting a business?
Answer: Thinking we can do it all. Bite off more than we can chew. When starting a business, many tend to focus on how much money we can make and how fast we can grow the business.
11. What has been your biggest business mistake and what did you learn from it? (If you don’t mind sharing.)
Answer: My biggest business mistake is not knowing when to say no. I wanted to please every client and customer. Some clients didn’t have the budget but I would bend over backwards and adjust my prices, just to serve them. I’ve learned that not all customers are created equally and that not all customers are meant for me. Now I pick and choose my customers, to make sure we are a right fit for one another.
12. Comparing your business from when you started to now, what has been the main thing that allowed you to expand your business?
Answer: My business journey is a unique one. Due to our military lifestyle, our family has uprooted and moved 10 times within the last 15 years. It was a challenge to expand my business. Every time my business would get ready to expand, that’s when the military decides to move us to a new city, state or country. I am happy to say that Oahu is our final duty station with the military, before my husband retires. I’m so thrilled, I will finally get to watch my business grow and expand to it’s full potential!
13. What advice would you give other entrepreneurs starting out?
Answer: Don’t forget to have fun. Pace yourself, entrepreneurship can make you feel burnt out fast. Network and join groups in your community that are likeminded.
FUN STUFF
What Book Are You Currently Reading?
A few books I am currently reading are: You are a badass by Jen Sincero, Four Seasons: The story of a business philosophy by Isadore Sharp, and I am also re-reading The Secret. I love reading personal development books. There’s always room for growth and learning
What Has Been Your Best Business Purchase?
I’m a simple person and didn’t want to splurge on an expensive iphone. I couldn’t wrap my mind around, to spend $1000 on a phone. But it’s honestly the best investment for my business. My business will not function without a reliable phone with lots of storage space. It is responsible for my day to day operation. I’m able to manage my calendar, communicate with my clients and provide my services through my social media outlets
What are your favorite business resources?
My favorite business resource is Instagram and Facebook. Both are the perfect hub for resources and networking. It’s also where 90% of my clients come from. Most of my bookings are from IG and FB.
Who is your Biggest Inspiration?
My biggest inspiration would have to be my mom and dad. I admire and respect them so much for risking their lives to escape a war-torn country (my mom was 7 months pregnant with my little sister). We hopped on a make shift canoe in the middle of the night to cross the Mekong River from Laos to Thailand. It’s amazing to witness them raise 3 daughters in America with zero knowledge of the English language and worked so hard to provide for our family. They really are a perfect example of living the American Dream. They’ve worked so hard, helped out around their community, provided a safe and happy environment for their children to grow, paid off their mortgage on their own, and both are able to take an early retirement because of their perseverance & determination.
Samai is beyond an inspiration and we are so blessed to have her here on our island. She has been so incredibly kind since the moment that I met her. I for one, am forever grateful that we have had the opportunity to meet. I look forward to having a long working relationship and friendship with her and the entire Aloha Picnics team. And since our community of Mama's deserve the best... We knew that there would be no one better to design and cater our Mother's Day brunch in 2019! We had a beautiful farm to table inspired picnic event that was truly like no other!
And now Samai has launched two additional endeavors that are as incredible as her first, with a new beautiful floral tub and vintage VW Bus she has turned her own yard into the perfect photography oasis that we all dream of!! You can check out a little preview of both in the photos of the kids and I above! In fact I am so excited to share more, we are going to have a follow up to this interview and find out exactly what she has been up to since our last chat so be sure to stay tuned for that soon!!
Thanks so much for joining us and I hope you have a fantastic and Aloha filled day!!
CONTACT ALOHA PICNICS
To learn more about Samai and Aloha Picnics you can reach them via their Social Channels: