YPDaily: Jennifer Perusini

As the Marketing & Events Manager for The Sultan’s Tent & Cafe Moroc and BerBer SOCIAL, Jennifer Perusini admits she rarely has time to turn off her work life. In addition to that, she recently launched her own event planning and design business, All About the Detailz. What advice does she have for other young professionals? Find out in today’s YPDaily..

Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
Well, where to start… First and foremost, I am the Marketing & Events Manager for The Sultan’s Tent & Cafe Moroc and BerBer SOCIAL. I handle all online marketing, social media and some print, including creating content and customer interaction on our social mediums. As a certified planner I am the official event planner for both venues. I help brides and grooms plan their events from start to finish. Not only do I help organize the venue and menus, but also floral, favours and anything our weddings request of us. It’s really a one-stop shop!

Secondly, I own an event planning and design business called All About the Detailz. I plan any social events from engagements to bridal showers, to weddings, to anniversaries, to baby showers. Whatever event you need planned, I will create the most detailed and unique event possible!

Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
Well, BerBer SOCIAL and The Sultan’s Tent & Cafe Moroc are family owned businesses, so I suppose in some ways I have always been part of it. It was very natural for me to want to be professionally and actively involved in the businesses while attending university, and of course on a full time basis once I graduated. The sky is the limit for their potential since both venues are so unique and original, and I want to contribute to their success and grow the brand into the future.

All About the Detailz is my newest venture and has only been in operation for ten months. I have always had a passion for event planning and design. Since high school I tried to be involved in planning as many events as possible, big or small. To this day I still love planning events and creating the most detailed and “out of the box” event I possibly can for each client. I love clients’ reactions when they see how everything ties together! It’s really rewarding to know you can take some ideas, cut and paste them together add some extra details to make it truly unique and fulfill your clients’ every wish for their event. It’s a great feeling!

What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part of my day is being paid to Facebook frequently. Joking aside, coming up with new and innovative ways to get the word out about the restaurants is a challenge, but also something I love to do. And I love the opportunity to plan any event.

The most challenging part of my day is having a constant attachment to social media. Everyone clearly knows social media never stops or sleeps. Social media is a 24/7 job, and regardless of where I am at any time, I can be working. This makes it very difficult to separate my work and home life. As technology allows us to take all our work home, the only time I don’t work is the drive home and when I’m sleeping.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself doing what I love to do: planning, designing and creating marketing campaigns. In 5 years, I see myself planning all events for both restaurants, and increasing the event and catering business for both restaurants by at least 50%. For my personal event planning and design business, I plan to design notable events across the country!

What does success look like to you?
Success is really a matter of perception. To me, success means to have a goal in place and doing everything in your ability to reach that goal. Whether you reached it or not, doing your best is what truly makes you personally successful. In turn, this adds to self-fulfillment and happiness, and without this you will not have true success. 

What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Opening my event planning business last year, and starting the event planning division at both BerBer SOCIAL and The Sultan’s Tent are two significant milestones in my career. For years I wanted to be an event planner, designer or have something to do with events, and I finally took that leap. Organizing and producing two style shoots for a major wedding website, and both shoots being published on the site, was another great accomplishment.

Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
You have to work hard, be committed and show that you mean it! Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box, don’t be afraid to share your ideas, big or small, and you must always be willing to be accountable.

Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
I actually started our “Charity of the Month” program for both BerBer SOCIAL and The Sultan’s Tent & Cafe Moroc. This year we started off January by donating 581 lbs of food, and our time and effort, to the Daily Bread Food Bank. At the Food Bank, we packaged 11,569 lbs of milk and sorted over 900 lbs of food! You honestly feel great after helping out. This month, I am in the process of selling tickets for our All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet in support of the Breakfast Clubs of Canada on February 27th. Our chef created a menu specifically for the event and 100% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to this great cause. I will be planning events, donations, or sponsorships for the rest of the year. Personally, I believe it is extremely important for people to help bring funds and awareness to people less fortunate, or for causes that need help. If we have the time and the resources to create awareness, why shouldn’t we? 

What to you is notable?
People who respect their jobs and employers, and do the best they can at their job and not just coast by. People who still have manners. People who are all in all honest and honourable, who genuinely care about others and don’t need to attach a price tag to that care and who genuinely care.

Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
Apple & only Apple.