.jpg)
1. What's your 30-second elevator pitch?
Willow Sage Events creates bespoke, beautiful and personal weddings that you can cherish forever.
We're wedding stylists, offering both completely bespoke styling packages as well as more affordable pre-styled reception or ceremony packages.
As we're still only a year old, our packages are very competitively priced and are all-inclusive - our bespoke styling package includes an unlimited number of styling items and you're not just limited to those that are in our existing styling / hire range.
We work closely with each couple to create a day that will be remembered fondly for a lifetime, inspired by their personality, tastes, style, and their story.
2. Who inspires you the most to be the best you can be as a person?
My beautiful 10-month old baby girl, Isabella Rose (AKA Bella)... the love of my life.. followed closely by my amazing husband, Andrew. Also, my late Dad. He was my mentor from when I was a little kid, and we lost him in 2015. I want to make him proud.
3. How do you feel companies should be adapting their marketing budget in the current COVID climate?
Be smart. If you have additional time on your hands, spend your time promoting and marketing your business in ways that don't cost you money (just time - which you have!) Think social media (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube..), SEO, collaborations/ partnerships, events, etc.
Also - spend the time upskilling. The more you know how to do yourself, the more you can achieve with the time and money you have. These skills will help you be more effective with your time and provide a better ROI on your own marketing efforts in the future after COVID (or at least help you keep your agencies and contractors accountable as you know what you're talking about!)
Also, if you are spending money on marketing, be smart about what activities to invest in. Think about 'intent'... for example, if you're using Facebook ads and targeting people that, say, are interested in your field of work, that's great, but that doesn't mean they're in the market to buy at the moment.
WIth Google Ads, however, you're only appearing for people who are actively, in this moment, searching for your product(s) or service(s) - so that's where I'd be investing my money.
If you want to go further than Google Ads in terms of media buying, I'd be using Facebook / Instagram for retargeting - ie advertising to those people who have visited your website recently (eg from your Google ad campaign) to remind them about you and to build trust - as it's these people who are most likely to convert sooner.
Stay positive and use the increased time you have wisely.
4. What type of campaign results are you seeing with your Clients on selling products or services online?
I'm assuming you're referring to my marketing business, Kat Haigh consulting?
Many of my clients are using this time to really push their online marketing, including things like setting up an eCommerce website which they may not have had previously. For those that are taking this strategy, we're still seeing strong results even during COVID with their online sales... even in Melbourne. People seem to still be spending - perhaps even more so being at home and unable (or unwilling) to go out shopping!)
Again, it's about being present and being smart about your marketing efforts.
5. How do you juggle husband, Bella, Lexi, and running your successful business?
With difficulty haha! I'm now only working 3 days a week, and have Bella on Wednesdays and Fridays. I do any work admin etc in the hours she sleeps on these days, but the rest of the time I spend outdoors or on play dates with Bella so we can spend quality time together.
Nights after 7 I try to spend quality time with Andrew, including things like board games, movies, and date nights, and we try to spend at least one day a weekend together as a family doing things like picnics and bushwalks.
Lexi is involved in as much of this as possible so she feels included and not jealous of the new bub!
And I guess it's just made me much more conscious of the time I do have to work, meaning I'm working smarter and faster and achieving more in the hours I have.. which is a great lesson and something I hope to maintain even when my babies are all at school and I'm back to working full time!
6. What’s your favourite thing about working at Motive Coworking?
I have to say the amazing Perry and Jack are at the top of the list! Literally nothing is too difficult for these guys and they make working there not only super productive, but fun! If I need anything (keyboard, mouse, adapter, other problem to be solved) they're literally minutes away from solving it for me.. and they're just the two nicest people! That in itself is enough to keep me at Motive.
Outside of that, I love the community! Everyone is super lovely and there is a perfect balance of letting each other get on with work, and being social.
It certainly beats cabin fever talking to my pup at home haha!
Love the Friday events/barbeques, and I'm just super productive when I'm at Motive. It also makes me enjoy and appreciate my time at home more, because I get out of the house and spend time in a different environment at Motive.
7. What does life look like outside your business profile? What do you like doing for fun?
My passions are rock climbing, snowboarding, trail running, camping and bushwalking! We try to do as much of the camping and bushwalking as we can with Bella - the snowboarding and rock climbing are a little more tricky but I'm working on that haha.
I also love spending time with my family - we're all very close.
8. Is there anything you would like to share? Or anything you’d like to offer help with?
I'm always around if anyone would like any suggestions, help, tips etc when it comes to marketing. I've been marketing my own and other people's businesses basically since I left school so I can usually answer most questions and find a solution to most problems.
I'm also always keen to hear about ideas for collaborating with any of my businesses!
9. Bonus Question: If you were a sandwich, what sort of sandwich would you be and why?
Fairy Bread (haha)! I try to be a pretty sweet/friendly person to others, not to mention my own sweet tooth (haha) - and like to live life in full colour! I love variety and change, and try to find the positive in everything (glass half full). You'll often find me smiling or laughing, and you may not know why (I might not either)... but that's how I like it (and how Bella seems to be too! Win!)
Motive Coworking is now rolling out weekly eNews showcasing our community, want to learn more, or would you like to appear in our next edition, ask Jack or Perry, we’d love you to be involved.