With summer upon us, many enjoy their days soaking up the sunshine with outdoor activities such as cookouts, time at the beach, or hanging out at the local parks. Local business owner Valerie Kelley has turned one of her favorite family traditions into a cool new business venture benefitting those looking to have fun in the sun.
Kelley recently opened
Swanky Spreads, an event planning business that allows individuals to enjoy a themed indoor or outdoor picnic set up at one of many predetermined public locations, or one of their choosing.
“A big thing I enjoy doing is going down by the Blue Water Bridge with my children or one of our many local parks, seeing the pure joy on my kid's faces is what sparked the idea for me. I really wanted to take that simple pleasure and make it into something truly special, not just for my family but for everyone in Port Huron and the surrounding areas,” says Kelley.
Swanky Spreads also does anniversaries and birthday parties for children with a four-person limit. While serving mostly those in the Blue Water area, the business is willing to set up elegant picnics for clients within one hour of Port Huron.
“It’s basically a more upscale and sophisticated version of the traditional picnic. We really focus on a high-end aesthetically pleasing setup that includes a low-rise table, elegant table settings, comfortable seating, and decorative floral arrangements. We also include a tepee with rugs, pillows, a Bluetooth speaker, and a basket of games that our customers can play while enjoying their outing,” Kelley says.
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Swanky Spreads outdoor picnic setup.
But being a new business owner comes with its challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges I have faced living here in Michigan is the weather. The weather is so unpredictable as it is, but this year we have been having lots of rain so it's definitely been one of the bigger issues,” Kelley says.
There are also rewards for venturing out and creating something unique for the enjoyment of herself and others.
“My favorite part of running my own business is creating these really nice experiences for people and being a part of their memorable moments,” says Kelley.
Kelley plans to grow her business to accommodate larger parties and the capacity to cater to more people than just the current maximum of four.
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