Kathryn Garcia is the Founder of Sydney Events Things To Do and today’s Featured Woman in Business
Kathryn Garcia is the Founder of Sydney Events Things To Do. She’s also an event organiser. She ended up working in events due to not finding a job in the media industry when she graduated from university. She has completed a Bachelor of Arts Communications degree with a major in Media from the University of Western Sydney in 2005. She’s passionate about organising events and working with brands. Learn more about her company here: www.sydneyeventsthingstodo.com
This is her interview
Tell us about your business
My business is called Sydney Events Things To Do. It is an extension of my Facebook group which is also called by the same name. I started the Facebook group in February 2018 and launched the website in November 2020. Event organisers can advertise their events on the website and on the Facebook group. My target audience are event organisers and people who are looking for events to attend in Sydney, Australia. I have over 2,300+ members in my Facebook group. The group grows organically, and I wanted to provide another platform for event organisers who are not members of the Facebook group to advertise their events on the website.
Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
I have been working in the events industry since 2003 and I have evolved from working on the front line as customer service to handling the management side of events. I have оvеr ten уеаrѕ оf еxреrіеnсе іn product рrоmоtіоnѕ аnd еvеntѕ. I wanted the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world and whatever time I can do the work. I became an entrepreneur as I wanted to start my own business and I didn’t want to answer to a boss. I wanted a lifestyle and freedom where I scheduled work around my daily activities. I have organised numеrоuѕ еvеntѕ. I was the evеnt coоrdіnаtоr fоr Mumѕ In Buѕіnеѕѕ Aѕѕосіаtіоn, evеnt cо-оrgаnіѕеr fоr Okѕаnа Rоmа Trаіnіng and Cоасhіng, co-organiser for the Lаdіеѕ Sосіаl Nеtwоrkіng Brunсh – Lеt’ѕ Brunсh Wіth Purроѕе and thе cо-оrgаnіѕеr fоr myTIA Women. Othеr еvеntѕ I have also оrgаnіsеd іnсludе – Thе Zеn оf Entrерrеnеurѕhір fоr Y Squаrе Eduсаtіоn, Buѕіnеѕѕ аnd Entrepreneurial Nеtwоrkіng еvеnt fоr the Sуdnеу Buѕіnеѕѕ Nеtwоrk and the International Women’s Day High Tea for Afghan Women On The Move.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
Marie Forleo is such an incredible inspiring successful women entrepreneur. I love the fact that she is a multi-passionate entrepreneur. She is not only a coach but has many facets of businesses at which she is talented at. I aspire to be like her. Not only do I have the business – Sydney Events Things To Do but I am also an event organiser. I also like to venture and try different business ideas. I brainstorm business ideas with my friends who are also business minded.
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?
Start before you’re ready and everything is figure-out-able. Quote by Marie Forleo. With all my business ideas, I test them out. I create surveys and I post on Facebook groups to see if there is any interest out there. I like challenging myself and seeing what is possible and what services are needed. You don’t need to have everything figured out at the start. All it takes is a simple idea to act on that spark.
What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
Posting on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are the social media platforms that have been proven to be effective for my type of business to create brand awareness and reach my target audience. Also providing engaging content about my business to my followers increases the traffic and new quality leads.
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
If you fail, try, and try again. Don’t give up and don’t be afraid to make any mistakes! You learn by failing. You may have to test numerous strategies to grow your business but keep at it. There will be a solution out there. It just takes several attempts till you get the right answer. Also surround yourself with other entrepreneurs as it is a great way to collaborate with other like-minded individuals who can help with your business journey. Be inquisitive to learn new things to help your business. Whether that be learning how to create a website for your business if you don’t have the money to get a website professionally made. Be resourceful and teach yourself. As a business owner and entrepreneur, you wear many hats in your business at the start. You should challenge yourself to become better.
Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you run your business?
Yes. These are the tools that I have embedded on my website and what I use for social media.
https://www.communitybox.co
www.sociablekit.com
https://elfsite.com
https://buffer.com
https://www.canva.com
https://www.site123.com
What is number one business goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
To gain more event organisers advertising their events and more event suppliers listed on the Sydney Events Things To Do website. I would like more customers to look at my website to find things to do in Sydney. I want my website to be as popular as my competitors in the event industry. I would also like to organise more events in different categories.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m offering a One Time Free Trial. Advertise up to three events for free. They can be any size and either free to attend or by paid tickets. Check out the Sydney Events Things To Do website to learn more.
What’s the best way for the readers of WE Magazine for Women to connect with you?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1791542374484117/
https://www.facebook.com/sydeventsthingstodo
https://www.instagram.com/sydeventsthingstodo/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/72029995/admin/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-g-0815aa121/
https://www.instagram.com/socialmediaspotlight2021/
https://www.facebook.com/Social-Media-Spotlight-103558072235251
