Meet Makenzie

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Makenzie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Makenzie below.

Makenzie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

When I was 24 I had an unplanned pregnancy that altered the whole course of my life. Becoming a mother was my undoing and, ultimately, my blossoming. I have a difficult relationship with my mother, and I craved nothing more than to rewrite that narrative with my own daughter. I committed every bit of myself to becoming the most loving, healed, thoughtful, health conscious and well researched mother I could be. I spent the first 2 years of my daughter’s life at home with her, choosing to stay with family and have little money rather than work and be away from her. I learned so much from that experience, and grew the strongest foundation for our relationship. It was the hardest work I’ve ever done, but it was so worth it. When she turned 2, I knew we were both ready for a shift. I went on a trip to the beach and while I was there, I witnessed a luxury picnic happening on the sand. I was deeply fascinated by it, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it and ideas and creativity poured into me all of the sudden. When we returned home, I took a huge leap of faith and put my daughter into a small daycare, knowing that we couldn’t afford it for more than a few months unless I started to bring in a second income. I had always struggled to think of a career that interested me. I have a bachelor’s in creative writing with a minor in fine arts, but I never had any plan for what I may use those skills for. I couldn’t stop thinking about that picnic on the beach, and I had a note in my phone full of ideas I was lit up with excitement about. Within 2 weeks of her starting daycare, I started my luxury picnic company. I didn’t have much money, but this was the perfect small business with low financial investment up front. I gathered enough to start with just one theme for a setup, and I built a flowy backdrop using bamboo and curtains. Right away, I got connected with a popular local photographer who wanted to help me, so we did an Instagram giveaway for a photo session and picnic. I used the photos from that shoot to create my website, and to have content to post to Instagram. Within a few months I was getting consistent bookings, and the business has grown exponentially since then! These have absolutely become my two main purposes — being a mother and using my creativity for this business.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I own Picnic Pop-Up, a luxury picnic company in Asheville NC. We set up intimate beautiful outdoor events for special occasions like proposals, small weddings, and bachelorette parties. It’s a unique business with versatile applications. I’ve gotten to set the scene for many styled photoshoots and events for other companies from high end clothing purveyors, to a dentistry, Airbnb rentals to women’s circles and tarot readings and groups of CEOs. Picnic Pop-Up is here to create space and connection—whether it’s for romance, friendship, or business. I’m all about vibes and memories!
I’ve also recently launched an exciting product: The Luxury Picnic Backpack—A curated selection of goods + wares for your aesthetic pleasure. The goal of the backpacks is to let you create your own luxury pop-up anywhere your heart desires. The backpacks are handwoven exclusive Picnic Pop-Up designs, crafted by small family makers in rural Mexico and filled to the brim with local and regional snacks and picnic wares. These can be purchased on my website.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Faith – following your passion takes so much faith. I’ve had to “hand it over to the universe” and trust that things will continue to work out so many times. If I had not had endless faith, I would have given up years ago. I would tell others to recognize that there is always more going on than we can perceive, so we must surrender to the greater tapestry of what is possible.

Empowerment – I’ve had to rely on my own sense of confidence and power over and over. I had to overcome imposter syndrome over and over and trust that I am a capable queen!

Showing up – this is sort of my mantra or motto when it comes to business as well as patenting and life in general. I just have to keep showing up. Whatever that looks like, at whatever capacity I am currently able to–I just need to show up and the rest will follow.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m always looking for ways to expand and grow my business. I love to collaborate with other businesses and creatives. I see Picnic Pop-Up as a platform from which many things will come. If you’re reading this and you feel we could make some magic together, or you’d like to build something of your own that I could help with, please reach out! You can find me through my website www.AshevilleLuxuryPicnics.com or through Instagram @PicnicPopUpAVL.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.AshevilleLuxuryPicnics.com
• Instagram: PicnicPopUpAVL
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17MDGMB6CX/