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Jasna Burza 0:00
On Facebook me, Welcome to the Business Spotlight. Hi, thank you for having me. Such a pleasure. We have many connections in common. And we have our paths have crossed, and especially through the through our common friend, Jenna, but she has had the most tremendous experience with your work. And what is so beautiful about Business Spotlight is where we feature incredible service providers and entrepreneurs creating amazing things in our community is all of our of these spotlights come through recommendations, like you have to talk to this person, I love this person. That’s precisely what we want, so people can work with you, and find a way to support you and your business. Now, you are a serial entrepreneur, which is really beautiful. So we’re gonna talk about two really big adventures that you are heading in CO heading. And the first one is revel and flourish an entire event planning operation and you really youtell your you know, we talked about your Moto is like we exceed the expectations of those that we work with. So how did you get started in the event planning and tell us a little bit more about what revel and flourish does for the community?

Emmy Ross 1:25
Sure, yeah. So I’ve been in the event industry for going on 15 years now, primarily in the wedding space, but then also through my other company that’s kind of a part of Roland flourish on called Alta doing trade shows and conferences and social events and things like that. So I’ve been doing that for quite a long time. And I actually had my own wedding planning business, called poses employees where I operated by myself. And then I had a couple of contractors with me. And then in 2018, I was going to open a venue space. And I got connected to a mutual friend to my business partner, Jody, who owns Cornerstone studios. So we met to just talk about different venue things. And we instantly I had a connection. This really caring about our clients, she actually comes from the hair and makeup industry, and then had opened Cornerstone studios to create a space for entrepreneurs to come in and not have to pay a ton of rent money, to have a community to support them really network off of each other and help generate leads and that kind of things. But it was just a really nice place to come and connect with other entrepreneurs. And so we met instantly hit it off, we came across a business opportunity to buy an existing businesses inventory. So we decided having known each other for probably six weeks, we decided to take the plunge and we bought this previous business business owners inventory, and decided to kind of revamp what we wanted rebel and flourish to be. So I kind of come with the planning side, you know, kind of the Type A making the list, doing the reports, all that kind of fun stuff. And Jody really comes with a design background. So in addition to adding design services, where we do a lot of custom elements for our clients, things like personalized menus, and name cards and seating charts, and really anything you can imagine, we also both have a little bit of floral experience. So we added floral as a part of our business at that time. And now floral is probably kind of the leading driver of our business for Revlon flourish on the event side. So we do planning, decor, design, floral, and then we also do floral delivery. So for everyday occasions and things like that. So that’s

Jasna Burza 3:59
like this whole golden service is just growing as the funny star something and just grows.

Emmy Ross 4:05
It just grows. And we’ve I mean, we’ve been growing exponentially. We just passed our third year anniversary and we can’t not be cannot believe where we’re at, especially having gone through COVID. And luckily, in 2020, we had so many good clients that stuck with us to have their weddings postponed for later dates. And so that was really great. We were able to do some really beautiful intimate stuff. And yeah,

Jasna Burza 4:30
I love that. So let me just for a second you there’s a reflection on your glasses. I can barely see your eyes. Would you just move like in like left or right just so I can see you a little bit better because it’s so bright and over here. Maybe I’ll just take my glasses off. I don’t think I can see your face at all. So what is it about what makes a great event we often talk about, you know doing new things in the community and launching an app When I’m putting on an event, are there like is there like a two or three ingredients that are, would say, these are the things that you need to have to create incredible event?

Emmy Ross 5:11
Sure. So we really pride ourselves in taking time to get to know our clients and get to know their stories and their backgrounds. And, you know, whether it’s a wedding where it’s, you know, one of the most important days of their lives. And so we, you know, meet our couples, we interview them, you know, what’s important to you? What are you all about? How did you meet, really have that personal connection to their wedding so that it’s truly theirs? It’s truly unique. It’s not a cookie cutter wedding that we’re doing, you know, every single weekend, it’s something beautiful and exquisite for them. And then our other events, you know, we do corporate events and other nonprofit events and things like that. The same sort of thing we like to meet with our clients like, what’s your vision? What is your passion? What is this event supposed to be about? What are the senses that you want people to feel when they come in? Do you want it to be cozy? Do you want it to be really clean and sleek and elegant? And you’re coming in to learn things? Or are you coming to network and have a good time and feel warm and those kinds of things. So we kind of play on the senses of, you know, visual, sensory, everything like that, to really kind of bring our events together and make it make it personal to each one of our clients.

Jasna Burza 6:21
Okay, so it’s just very important. Let’s, what are the things I like to do in these conversations, especially with services that many businesses don’t take advantage of, because of the preconceived notions event planning being one of them. So if we’re doing a business or personal event, I want to have a book launch, you know, in the early next year, or a launch for any kind of service in your business, or just whatever it is people feel, especially business owners, that they shouldn’t invest it, or they cannot afford it. And one of the things that I learned from talking to you and Jody, is that it doesn’t matter we’ll we will create that we will work with the budget that you have, we may not be able to give you whatever your vision is, but everyone should it’s kind of the things everyone should invest if that is your desire, and you can afford it no matter what your budget is, yes. Am I right in saying that

Emmy Ross 7:15
you’re spot on? I mean, we we really try to work with anybody’s budget to make the event special for them. And when you’re coming to us, and you’re, you’re like, hey, I want to do a book lunch, you know, like you said, people have misconceived notions like, Okay, I just get a menu, and it’ll come together, and I’ll get some food from Costco, and it’ll be great. And sometimes those are great. And, you know, sometimes we can pull that together for you. But one thing that you get from us is that, you know, we have the connections within the industry. We know the vendors, we know, the venues, we’re able to, again, communicate with you like, what do you want to get from this event? Do you want to connect with your readership? Do you want to sell books, you know, what do you want to do? And you know, what’s your budget, this is how we can make it happen. And so we really have the resources to make an event special. And even if it is on a smaller budget, you know, we can work with you and we want to make an impact for you. So it’s, it’s definitely worth it to get an A planner who has experience who has the resources to help you because there’s a lot of things that go on go Miss missing, because people don’t know, like, Oh, I’m having a bar, maybe I should do a specialty cocktail. Or, you know, these are some cool things that I can do with my food that matches the theme of my book kind of deal. Like really doing a whole design theme to go along with your event that makes everything cohesive that makes people remember your event

Jasna Burza 8:43
every I love that you make it I think so intimate is the little things like I remember you have seen pictures of you creating a picnic in the backyard, and like, oh my gosh, like that’s Pinterest worthy or so beautiful. So we’re gonna have to find a way to of course work with you when it’s time for my launch, because I don’t. I know very many things. But event planning and being a host is not something I enjoy. It’s the most incredible thing. It’s like, I just don’t it my sister can I will go to her house, just a random array visit for my sister and she will have the most incredible table setting and the flour and rage man like other fine qualities, thank you.

Emmy Ross 9:30
But you remember it every time right? Because it’s

Jasna Burza 9:34
so beautiful and so impactful. It does matter. Maybe it’s one of the things that in my after my kids, you know, flight and asked if I’m going to invest in becoming a better host, but I could work that revelant flourish.

Emmy Ross 9:46
Yeah. And so the other thing to keep in mind too, is like when you’re having these events. If you don’t have an event planner or a day of person. You don’t get to enjoy the event as much like when we’re on site. We’re making sure that Food is replenished, the drinks are stocked. People know where the bathroom is, what’s the Wi Fi code, that’s all covered, you get to go and you get to mingle and talk to the people and do everything that you want to do for your event, not worry about all the logistics that come with it. Oh, that’s

Jasna Burza 10:15
just so amazing. I just love that. So another effort or another business that has really taken off and I have been in visited the space and huge investment that you made in is the Revell room. And so Dallas wood or Velvet Room is and why people should know about it.

Emmy Ross 10:34
Absolutely. So the rubble room was created a bit out of necessity, I would say. So like I said, Jodie owns Cornerstone studios, it’s on Central and 22nd in Northeast Minneapolis. She started in a middle space of the building, and moved into another space. And then we got kicked out in the first place. And the corner space opened up and we were able to completely tear it apart. It used to be a dentist office, brought it down to the studs. But in the original flooring, put the original 10 ceiling on really brought out the life of this historic building. And now it’s an event venue, we host weddings, book launches, we did the Twin Cities Collective conference last year. It’s just a really gorgeous kind of industrial rustic, chic kind of venue. And then in addition to having the event space, we now have corner coffee in our front space, so that they’re there during the day, as a little coffee shop. And then they’re, you know, out in the evenings and on the weekends so that we can use the entire space for events and things like that,

Jasna Burza 11:44
which I love that. And I think that it ranges from book launches or conferences. And then also I think that there was a beautiful spiritual group gathering on Sundays.

Emmy Ross 11:57
Yes, yep. Yeah, so that’s part of the corner coffee group. They do. church on Sunday mornings.

Jasna Burza 12:04
Incredible. They do get to really, you know, conditioned space with all these vivid variety of people, but it’s the weddings and photoshoots and conferences, and all of those things. And again, this is another resource for our fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, this incredible space ran by brilliant women who really care about the environment. And also if you want to put up an event, you have this entire event planning side, so it’s not just a space, you can have everything in one and really make it make it as as wonderful and beautiful as you wanted. I remember walking down into the basement and seeing all those props like yeah, this is gorgeous and personable as you want.

Emmy Ross 12:51
Yep, yep. So we keep ever all of our decor items in the basement and out in our garage. And then we have our floral Studio also downstairs. So we just keep everything in house. And the great thing about partnering with corner coffee is that we can also hire private baristas to come in and serve coffee drinks or any kind of beverage service for your events. We have a small prep kitchen so people can bring in their caterer any caterers are welcome. As long as they’re licensed. It’s just a it’s a very versatile space to host a lot of different events. And

Jasna Burza 13:26
I love that so now how can we get in touch with you in terms of and I just realized earlier I was mispronouncing is Ravel not Eastern European accent this is like my husband always like you don’t say that way. I’m like, I’ll just let it go. So what I want is revel. Tell me about, you know, how do we get a hold of you for event planning and also for for the space? And how the result?

Emmy Ross 13:55
Our website is just rebel and flourish.com. And you can find us on Instagram, or Facebook at just rebel and flourish. And then the rebel room is the rebel Room M n.com. And on Instagram, it is a rebel room, amen.

Jasna Burza 14:13
Okay, and we’re going to have these links above below to the side wherever you find this beautiful piece of content later on me. I thank you so much for coming to talk to me about your work about your services and for doing such, I think really fabulous work in our community.

Emmy Ross 14:32
Noah, thank you so much for having me. It’s been so great talking with you.

Jasna Burza 14:35
That’s your pleasure. We’ll be in touch I hooray. Thank you. Bye