Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Karen Eastwood, Owner of TSE Staffing & Events, located in Suwanee, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
TSE Staffing & Events provides Talent and Staffing services for the Event Industry nationwide. We bring over 25 years of experience in corporate & event planning with our meeting planners along with entertainment, floral, and catering services. We are a leader in the event industry.
TSE Staffing & Events has worked with a variety of large companies assisting with their conference needs, event needs, promotional needs, and more. We have worked with Apple, Microsoft, Tough Mudder, BET Hip Hop Awards, Country Music Awards, significant corporate events, and year-long meeting tours & conferences. We accommodate all industries nationwide.
Tell us about yourself
I have a Fashion & Business Degree and have worked in the fashion world for many years. I was in NYC during fashion week when I realized many showrooms and exhibitors were looking for help writing orders for the upcoming season apparel.
It was then I knew I could help provide temporary staff during shows, events, conventions, and more on a national level. I opened TSE in July 1998, and it went nationwide within 3-4 months. I was helping companies. I was helping people with supplemental income. I loved it!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is many. I worked with Microsoft and successfully provided a Disco Theme make-up studio for 8500 of their global staff. Very exciting! I worked with Costco's Vendors Road Show program and provided teams for 635 locations within 6 months in 5 time zones, successfully increasing the Vendor's sales.
I helped launch and staffed all of Tough Mudder's live events nationwide. TSE Staffing & Events was awarded a sizeable Corporate Client managing 150 client meeting programs per month nationally for 12 years. Most importantly, we have people who have worked with TSE Staffing & Events nationally for the past 18 years. I am honored to continue to work with our ongoing staff nationwide.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There are a few things that are hard while being a business owner. I always care about the well-being of my staff. I want to provide quality work, quality pay, and show respect to everyone. There are times I would have to release a team member or staff, which is always hard to do. There are times we lose a client due to their financial constraints. We worked on a large event for a fortune 500 company, and a small deposit was placed on the event prior to the conference beginning. When it was time to receive full payment, the company issued a Bankruptcy notification to my company instead of full payment. I had over 50 people who worked on the conference and needed to pay for their work for the large event. I cried at first, but knew what I needed to do. I did the right thing and paid my entire staff, regardless if it would hurt me financially.
One week later, I was awarded a large AT&T 3-month job for 55 people on-going. I had someone from above looking out for me and my business. That was very stressful and hard.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My first three tips for anyone looking to start a business:
- Have passion and believe in what you are doing.
- Discipline & Dedication to what you have started.
- Laugh and keep moving forward.
There will be days when it is rough. There will be days when you are excited about your business. There will be days when you think, "what am I doing." Keep moving forward! Learn from your past and bring the lessons forward.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://tsestaffing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSE.Staffing.Events
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tse.staffing.events/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-eastwood-4ab54517/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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