Alaina Kearney: [00:00:00] Welcome to follow our lead, the podcast that dives deep into the stories of leadership excellence and the people who define it. In today’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Renee Patrone Reinhardt, the founder of events by Renee and party host helpers. Renee has carved out a unique space in the event planning industry, offering a blend of creativity, logistical expertise, and a knack for turning any occasion into a memorable experience.

Alaina Kearney: Renee discusses the challenges and triumphs she [00:00:30] encountered along her career journey. Including the innovative strategy she employed to scale her operations nationwide. We’ll explore her insights on networking, the power of social media, and the importance of having a solid team to support her vision.

Alaina Kearney: This podcast is proudly brought to you by Bars, Gowey, Amon Foltz, a Pennsylvania based accounting firm that exemplifies leadership in tax, audit, and advisory services for businesses. Renee, thank you so [00:01:00] much for joining us on the follow our lead podcast.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Thanks for having me.  

Alaina Kearney: I’m so excited.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Me too.

Alaina Kearney:  I mean, who doesn’t want to talk about parties, events?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Tis the season. Too

Alaina Kearney: Oh, I’m really excited. So tell us a little bit about your businesses and how you got into like party planning, event planning, party host helpers, everything in between.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: It’s been a wild ride. So,  you know, my first job was at Mainline Today Magazine after I graduated and that totally set me on the path of, you know, [00:01:30] the area, marketing.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And then just falling in love with event planning and back then I feel like it was hard to break into working for an event planner. A lot of the big ones were in New York. There was a lot of florists and designers in Philly at the time, but to find a spot working for an event planner was really difficult.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So when I left mainline today, I started events by Renee. over 17 years ago. Uh, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs and all arounds and I’ve had jobs in between, but I always tell people when they’re [00:02:00] starting a business, the minute you sign that paperwork, you’re a business owner. So I’ve had events by Rene that long and it’s been so much fun.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, and then 11 years ago I started party host helpers. So that’s been an interesting journey too. So tell us a little bit about that. Yeah. So, you know, I was doing weddings, corporate events, social events for my events by Rene clients. And then they were coming back to me saying, I know you just planned my daughter’s huge wedding, but I am hosting a dinner party and I really need an extra hand.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: You know anyone? And of course being [00:02:30] well connected and in the business, I knew people and I’ve always been a fan of people who like to hustle cause I’m always that person. I’ve always been that person. So for me to give, you know, a friend an opportunity to go work, a party, make some extra money. Great.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And then I thought there’s gotta be an opportunity for this, especially on the main line and, uh, surrounding areas. So, you know, I was getting a little bit older and I thought to like, I don’t know if I want to work a wedding every weekend of my life. Is this totally lucrative? So, I mean, it [00:03:00] is, but your feet start to hurt after a while.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, so I started Partyhouse and Again, I thought it would just be this area. I would pull friends in to help. Thanksgiving turned out to be a huge day for us because people love, and it still is a big day, they love to cook but they don’t want to set up or carve the turkey or clean up. So we quickly in, I would say, less than 24 months started branching out in other territories.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, I have a funny story about that. I [00:03:30] was It’s on a work trip in Dallas for events by Renee. I got a phone call from this woman. When I started Party of Suppers, something inside of me said, get a 1 800 number so you can scale eventually versus 215 or 610, 484. Old school numbers. Uh huh. Oh yeah. Local.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Local. So. This woman called her 1 800 number. She’s like, I’m really desperate. My boss is throwing a party this weekend. I need someone to make mojitos. Can you help? And I’m like, sure. Where are you located? She said, I’m in Hollywood. I like, sure [00:04:00] I can help. So I looked on Facebook. I found a guy who I knew from my previous PR world and he had just moved there.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I said, Tom, do you know anyone that can bartend this weekend for me? I’ll pay them well. I promise it’ll be worth their time. And he’s like, yeah, I can do it, Renee. And he went out, got the Mojito stuff, and made it happen. The Philly Inquirer put me on the front cover of their, um, business section in 2018, and they included a picture of him.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Because that was really the turning point of when we [00:04:30] grew outside of this area. And we’ve been non stop ever since.

Alaina Kearney: That’s amazing. So I remember reading somewhere like, so you initially started your first business events by Renee at 26 mm-Hmm. . Yeah. When did you start party host helpers? How long after

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: a, uh, so I started at 2007 events by Renee and then 2013 party host helpers.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Is that right? Okay. Something that’s, we were 10 years in 23. Yeah. Mm-Hmm. . Okay. Wow. Yeah. That is [00:05:00] amazing. So I was, how old was I? Uh, in 20, I was 32. Yeah, okay. That is pretty amazing. Yeah, I’m 43. I just turned 43.

Alaina Kearney: Listen,  I don’t know how old I am half the time either. So

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: like what year is it?

Alaina Kearney: I know I feel the same way.

Alaina Kearney: So you started the initial business at 26. So how were you initially able to kind of build? your client base and get people to, you know, lean into you when you didn’t have a lot of clients to start with. I mean, being that young,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: one party at a time. And I’m really thankful for the people that [00:05:30] took a chance.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah, for sure. The beginning, um, a ton of networking and it was hard to like social media at that point was just, you know, Facebook was just starting. Um, when you’re not a florist or a decorator or a musician, like you don’t have anything to show, right? Sure. Like, I mean, I could show pictures of a party I coordinated, but for me it was showing that I was out and about on social media, um, that I was at a networking event and I think that’s where my PR brain kind of works into [00:06:00] this or here I’m at a florist having a meeting with a client, just kind of.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m trying to get validity from my community and people that were, that I was networking with that were much older than me that like, Hey, I’m doing this. I’m not just sitting home twiddling my thumbs. I’m meeting people in our Philadelphia event industry and I’m working hard. Yeah.

Alaina Kearney: And it’s so interesting because now, you know, you have such a big social media presence.

Alaina Kearney: You have a background in PR, which I know, and you just mentioned that. And then also you’re on the news all the [00:06:30] time. You’re always giving party tips and tricks. So how did your PR background really kind of continuously help you advance your, your businesses. I’m

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: so thankful for the PR background. Um, I mean, a part of me says, I wish you had an accounting background because that’s a weak point for a business owner like myself who’s creative.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, I know. So for me, the PR background is just kind of doing what I did for clients for a handful of years. And. I [00:07:00] try not to do it. You know, it’s like a weird line because the whole influencer and just like putting yourself out there that didn’t really become socially acceptable until I don’t know, eight years ago, nine years ago, it used to be awkward to be like, here I am at an event, but you just have to lean in and do it.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And for me, this, the PR part was just always pushing what I was working on in a way that wasn’t. I hope not conceded or, or, um, in your face. It was kind of like, Hey, here I am at this charity event. Events by Renee sponsored [00:07:30] it. We were happy to, you know, donate our time or here’s party host helpers. Um, You know, just, well, especially with the PR stuff and the, not the PR stuff, the TV stuff.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: That definitely helps me kind of knowing what TV producers are looking for and what makes sense. But also just in communication. I feel like having a PR background and the degree, it, it helps me be a little bit more concise and to the point when I’m on an Um, communicating verbally and written and in emails.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And when you’re an event planner and a business owner, you gotta get like stuff [00:08:00] done. Absolutely. And you have so many. I don’t have time to read a four paragraph email from anyone, so I don’t want to give those back.

Alaina Kearney: All right. I’m definitely never sending you one of those. Right. Thank you. But you have so many clients.

Alaina Kearney: You have so many staffers. You have all these businesses. It’s, I mean, there’s so much you have to manage on any given time. So, I totally understand and see how. A communications background, um, could be helpful. But I would assume that some unexpected problems would arise with these events. No event is perfect.

Alaina Kearney: So how are you able to [00:08:30] juggle all of these things and kind of smooth over anything unexpected that might pop up your way?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah. So for events by our name, things do happen. I mean, we deal with rain on wedding days. Brides crying, vendors that we’re working with that we’re not getting along with because of them, not us of course.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah, I have a great director of events named Eric so he handles a lot of our events by Rene business, um, but over the years in that regard you just take it in stride and I know this is so corny, but one of my [00:09:00] first jobs was at TD Bank, which was commerce. And like, they had, they had values. And one of them was to err, to error is, err is human, but to recover is divine.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And I think I’ve always had that, like, You’re going to make mistakes as a business owner, as an event planner. My party who’s helpers are going to make mistakes. I mean, just this week I had to reimburse a client because they burnt a table.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. It happens. So,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: yeah, like the Sterno and nothing’s done on purpose, of course.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Sure. So, as a business owner, I have [00:09:30] to eat that cost, but also smooth it over with the client. Right. I have a great COO who is my number one. I have amazing regional directors in each territory and they’re Um, leaders amongst their groups, um, that they manage. So it’s really just having the right people in place to support this growth and the problems that occur.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: But it’s like every week it’s a new problem. I feel like I’m just constantly solving problems. By Friday I’m like, I don’t know what to say.

Alaina Kearney: I feel like that’s a theme though. I feel like around here on this, on this yellow couch here, I feel like a lot of [00:10:00] people have been saying that. All right. Well

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: good.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m not alone. You’re not alone.

Alaina Kearney: Definitely not. I’m not alone in that. Um, so. You have all these parties. How do you come up with unique and clever ideas? Because I see you online, and I see all your tips and tricks, and I see all the Oscar parties and all these things that you have going on. I’m like, how does she think of these things?

Alaina Kearney: I would never think to put two and two together. It’s

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: so fun. And you know, that’s totally different than sometimes things my clients are doing. Because I just have a scrappy budget to go on Fox and show different tips. But I thank God for [00:10:30] Pinterest, and then There’s so many other, um, event planners I, that I admire and I love watching their tips and tricks, but it’s kind of like knowing what I think the audience will like and also things that are easy and affordable, right?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m not going to go on Fox and show some crazy idea that’s not achievable. And then for my events that, you know, with my clients, it’s just, it’s keeping up with the trends. I mean. Right now we’re in grad season, so it’s candy trucks, ice cream trucks, beautiful [00:11:00] balloons. It’s kind of like once you get the, uh, blueprint down for certain types of events, and then it’s just like, okay,

Alaina Kearney: what’s hot this year?

Alaina Kearney: What’s new?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah.

Alaina Kearney: And then you’re, you must be really great at making relationships because you have all these vendors and all these different areas that you have to utilize and make friends with.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah.

Alaina Kearney: Um, so I feel like that must have been, that’s a whole nother skill

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: set And that’s what I really worked on from the beginning.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I mean, there’s vendors that I still work with that have known me since I was in my 20s. So, and especially a lot of vendors that I met working at Mainline [00:11:30] today. So, um, that’s kind of fun. They’re like, you’ve come so far. Like, I know, it’s crazy. See

Alaina Kearney: what I can do. Yeah.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: The relationships are huge. And when you’re an event planner, though, you have to understand you’re in a cool position because vendors are constantly wanting you to refer them where really we need to make sure that the vendors will work well with us and we want to be nice to them so then they can negotiate costs and all that stuff.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yes.

Alaina Kearney: Yes. So it’s a, it’s definitely a, a mutually beneficial arrangement there. [00:12:00] So a lot of people dream of starting a business, but not everybody takes the leap. So you, we talked about, you started this business really young, then party host helpers came around to solve a problem that you found in the industry.

Alaina Kearney: How did you go about starting that and like, where did you get the idea and then how did you come up with the blueprint for it? So I

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: think having, being a business owner a few years with events by Rene, Helped with that because I had already done it and I mean I remember sitting in like a Barnes and Noble creating the first party Who’s hoppers [00:12:30] website, which is really embarrassing?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: compared to where we are now and Just the way I thought it out and I just took the time and I was strategic about it But I also around that time in my life. I was surrounding myself with with people who I admired and people that I, that were other good business owners. So I kind of like learned from them.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I would run ideas by some friends husbands who had businesses, some friends who had businesses, some friends dads. There you go. Um, and that’s kind of how I came [00:13:00] up with the concept and, you know, things have been tweaked along the way. Sure. If I look back at some of the way, some of the things that I did in the beginning versus now, we’ve become a lot more streamlined.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Technology is a huge part of our business and it’s also a huge pain point. It’s, it’s hard. Um, but there’s no way that I would have been able to launch this company to where we are now without technology. I mean, I would be doing this on an Excel spreadsheet, like 30, 000 helpers, no way. So how do you typically do it?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Like, are you using certain softwares to help you kind of? We have our [00:13:30] own, um, software. The helpers have an app so they can see jobs, they can apply for the jobs. they have all the information there. So we send proposals through our website to clients and you know, we have a database of all these clients and also helpers in our system.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Oh, that is so awesome. So cool. And I’m sure too, like there’s days that it doesn’t work the way I want it to. So that’s a stressor.

Alaina Kearney: I’m sure. I’m sure. So like, did you have to develop

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: the app yourself? So originally I developed it with my first, my, I guess most my legit [00:14:00] website was I used a web developer around here and then we kind of outgrew them So I had to find a SAS program which is service As a software.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Mm hmm. And it was a template, but they really customized it for us. That is

Alaina Kearney: so cool. Yeah. I don’t know that I would have ever thought to, I didn’t even know you used an app for your um, that makes so much sense. For the helpers, yeah. Not the clients, because it’s just

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: easy to throw in their information. Oh, great.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And we have 1 800 num, we have, you know, phone numbers if anyone needs talk to anyone about their party. So we have regional directors. So that’s how I manage everyone [00:14:30] nationwide is I have someone in Texas. I have someone in DC and they manage the business and their

Alaina Kearney: team there. So for party host helpers, how did you scale that?

Alaina Kearney: I mean, and how did it, so did it initially start? Where did it initially start and then, you know, how were you able to scale it? So I started here.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Okay. And this is still a large percentage of the business, but I would just see what was naturally coming into my website. Mm-Hmm. and build from there. Because if I’m getting inquiries for, uh, north Jersey Mm-Hmm.[00:15:00]

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: then that’s my next natural growth spot, right. And I would just make it happen. So some years there’s. a ton of events in one territory, but you know, we have great people in place and they have goals and we have repeat clients. I never thought that we would have so many corporate clients though that we do now.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Like we’re in high luxury, you know, Bloomingdale’s hires us around the country. Veronica Beard, we’re in every one of their stores nationwide for a long stretch. Um, just helping serve champagne for a shopping event. So [00:15:30] festivals, like we just did a huge, um, luxury car. Italian luxury car festival in Nashville.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: It was over four days. We had tons of people every day working. So I think our customers like that if they hire us, they can use us in different territories versus hiring a new agency every place they go. So like, for example, visit Savannah, um, the agency that they use, they have a booth set up in seven different locations this summer to sample honey and talk about how great Savannah is.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So [00:16:00] instead of finding five of me. They’re using me for every territory that they’re in, every location they’re in. That makes so much sense. Yeah. Oh, that is so cool. I know. And we still have such a strong residential presence too. I mean people are still hiring us for their graduation parties, their holidays.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I mean we have so much repeat business and word of mouth and it’s just, it’s fun. I mean my goal is to make it a household name and when I’m out and about recently people meet me for the first time and they’re like, Oh, I used you five years ago for my kids christening. Yeah. So I think [00:16:30] it’s, you know, it’s neat.

Alaina Kearney: It’s neat. Absolutely. And then on the flip side, too, like how awesome that you’re able to create job opportunities for all these

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: people in the

Alaina Kearney: area. It’s amazing.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And that’s one of the, you know, obviously. What I, why I do what I do is twofold. It’s making sure the clients can enjoy a special occasion without the stress, but then also giving so many people an opportunity to make money on their own terms.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Absolutely.

Alaina Kearney: And I, I’ll never forget. I had a professor, um, When I was getting my master’s degree and she [00:17:00] loved being a professor, but she had an infatuation with Wegmans. Okay. She loved Wegmans. So she’s like, I think I’m going to work at Wegmans just like one, one day a week on the weekend. I mean, she’s like, the pay isn’t great, but I love being at Wegmans.

Alaina Kearney: I like the people. It’s great for me to discount. I get the discount. She’s like, I get to socialize. I love it. But when I think about that, I’m like, Like, how fun would it be, like, on a weekend, you, you sign up to be, that’s what I mean, how fun would that be? To work a party. In your local area. Yeah, and our clients tip well, too.

Alaina Kearney: [00:17:30] Yeah, so it’s like a great thing. On top of a nice

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: hourly rate, so. Absolutely, and you can

Alaina Kearney: just, you know, I’m assuming you can probably just kind of like do it as you. Yeah. It’s like Uber, but for, for parties. Uber party. That’s what I said. I

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: want to be like Uber for parties. Oh, see? You’re good. We’re speaking the same language here.

Alaina Kearney: But that’s exactly, I just feel like it’s such a cool thing to do, so you might see me at one of these parties. I would love

Laughter: it. It

Alaina Kearney: would be great. It would be so much fun. Um, okay, so there’s all different types of events. We talked about this. You had mentioned it [00:18:00] too. backyard barbecues to the christenings to everything in between.

Alaina Kearney: Um, so how do you balance all these different types of events?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah. So, I mean, in our staff, and again, this is our regional director’s responsibility, knowing their team, knowing what they’re good at. Um, for party host helpers, it’s like, you know, we might have a team that’s really great at catering events.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: They can work 12 hour shifts, carry big trays, no problem, load the truck in and out for the caterer, but then I might have. Some women who are retired who love [00:18:30] working a home party who love washing dishes who you know really find joy in that So it’s a matter of just making sure that our team is diverse enough to fit every

Alaina Kearney: I love that.

Alaina Kearney: So, how do you ensure quality and consistency amongst all these parties and then on the flip side with party host helpers, making sure that everybody is kind of on the same page and aligned with what your mission and goals are?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: It’s hard. It’s hard, especially because they’re contractors. But you know the values.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: We when they when they’re on board it I do a quick [00:19:00] video like hey, welcome to party with suffers Um, I think a lot of them follow us on social media so they know that we have a very professional presence Um, and then it should be communicated from their leader and it’s really important for me to keep the culture Good for my executive team.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So we meet every other week, um, on zoom cause everyone’s all over. I brought 20 of our team members together, executive team members in January or early February to DC, flew them all over the place in from everywhere and we had a [00:19:30] couple day retreat which was great. So I think that kicks the year off. So

Alaina Kearney: absolutely.

Alaina Kearney: And feeling connected to the brand makes you want to do better. Yeah. At least that’s how I feel. I’m like, I just, you’ll do anything for something that you believe in. And I feel like once you can get people to buy into you, then you’re gold. Then they like to work for us. Yeah. Oh, that is so, I’m so glad that you did that.

Alaina Kearney: So nice. Thanks. I’m sure they really appreciated that too. Um, okay. So how are you able to, how do you feel like you as a leader have had to adapt with [00:20:00] people in all different areas? So the retreat is super helpful, but how do you feel like your leadership style has changed as you’ve grown? It’s hard,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: especially as I grow the company, I’m getting further and further away from Which I think that’s a good thing.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m working more on the business versus in the business. I’m doing a lot of podcasts. I’m doing TV. You know, I am the brand and I’m pushing the brand and I’m having higher level meetings that affect the whole company. Um, so my COO is great. She’s a great leader [00:20:30] to the whole team. Um, but you know, it is hard.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m like, should I be talking to them more? Should I be, um, you know, communicating with them. We do like wrap up, quarterly wrap ups and things like that, but I will say it’s really difficult not having everyone in the same office. Yeah, for sure. But that’s the beauty of the job too, is that they have flexibility on their end.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Exactly. So, I’ll take any pointers in that. Yeah,

Alaina Kearney: okay. So, in terms of stress, I’m assuming that you probably [00:21:00] feel quite a bit of that, um, at times because of all, everything you’re juggling. Yes. Um, and then I also think too, you’ve got some pretty high stakes events going on, um, Um, not that every event isn’t important, but I’m sure that some are more stressful than others.

Alaina Kearney: So how have you kind of been able to manage that?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: When I’m working an event for Events by Renee, I’ve always, I could be the clumsiest person you’d meet with a glass of wine in her hand, but when I’m working an event for Events by Renee, I feel like I have this calmness that [00:21:30] comes over me and I can really focus.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I shine as day of. Like I’m. I have so much going on now that if I’m planning an event, that’s why it’s great that I have my events bar and a team, um, and they focus on all the details. But if you hand me that timeline, I can run it like, and I can, And you know, I’m great at putting out fires on site. I don’t know.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: It’s just something within me that I think I’m just meant to do this. Um, and I think knowing my purpose in life helps me just look at the positives of the role that I’m in in [00:22:00] this life. Um, but yeah, I mean it’s stressful being a business owner for both sides, the financial stress, the, you know, worrying about business development and worrying that your team’s not happy.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So I just try to be the best I can. I mean, I. I try to be the most ethical leader. I think that’s important. Sure. And I try to do what’s right for the company and them. Sometimes I’m a little too generous with certain things, but I pray a lot I feel like when I’m stressed. It’s

Alaina Kearney: good. Listen, whatever works.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. I, I think any [00:22:30] tips and tricks, I always ask something similar, um, to my guests because I think managing stress is such a huge part of being a leader and not letting them feel that. Yeah. You are stressed. It’s

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: hard. It’s hard and it’s hard to. Turn off. Mm hmm. So I have a two and a half year old now, you know when I started the company I was companies.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I was single I was living my life. It was just me that I had to worry about but now I have You know, a home and versus an apartment in the city. I have a home and a husband and a, and a daughter. So [00:23:00] my responsibilities have shifted, which is working now with where we are in our growth mode that, um, you know, I don’t have to be in the business as much, but you know, it’s hard at five 30 to put my phone down.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah, definitely. It’s hard to not sit on the laptop at eight o’clock, but I also enjoy the flexibility that my life has. You know, I could have, I was. at an event all day yesterday. I mean, it was great networking, but it was also fun where I might take a half day and go visit an old friend, but then I have to sit on my laptop a few hours at night.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And I mean, I know a lot more people [00:23:30] experience flexibility now post COVID without being a business owner. But when I started the, when I said, I want to be a business owner, it was for the pure fact that. I knew I wanted to be a mom one day and I wanted the flexibility of taking her to school and you know, as she gets older, getting involved in field trips and so,

Alaina Kearney: yeah,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: that’s all another side to me.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. No, but I think it’s, it is really difficult, especially with you. Not only do you have your one business, but you have two businesses and your home life. So I feel like it’s also really hard to keep everything straight because you’re jumping from thing to thing. thing to thing [00:24:00] to thing from person to person.

Alaina Kearney: Like, I feel like if I were you, I wouldn’t even know what person goes where. I mean, there’s some days where I’m like a chicken with my head cut off, but

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I don’t know that I’m just good at, or I’m, I’m great at organizing people, not things like

Alaina Kearney: my house, a little messy. Sometimes I think it comes to the territory.

Alaina Kearney: Cause mine is. Yeah. But I feel like I’m like you. But I can keep my calendar. Like, I’m good on that stuff. Me too. Me too. So you mentioned a little bit, um, before about your passion. When did you know that this was your passion? Like did you grow up thinking you were going to be an event planner or how did that come That’s a good question.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: [00:24:30] My high school friends, middle school friends that I’m still friends with tell me that I said I always want to be a wedding planner. Oh my gosh. But back then, I didn’t know. In the late nineties, it wasn’t a thing. It wasn’t easily achieved. Um, I guess I could have gone to school for hospitality, but I didn’t, no one ever presented those options to me.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So I, I’ve always had a passion for people and events. Um, you know, in high school I volunteered for like charity fashion shows and I was always the connector, always the social director of [00:25:00] the friends. So

Alaina Kearney: it turned into a career for me. That is amazing and so much fun. And I feel like now everybody wants to be an event planner.

Alaina Kearney: And it’s such a competitive space, I feel like now. So how do you, how are you able to take your passion, do what you love, but while also in this really competitive space?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah. So I’m just trucking along every day. Um, Events by Rene, we have such a nice client base and I’d love to grow, especially because I’m building the team.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So we have the capacity. Um, and then party as helpers. It’s like, [00:25:30] It’s crazy some of the events that we’ve been able to assist with. So, you know, both passions combined here. And

Alaina Kearney: yeah. Did you always think you would grow to the level that you’ve grown to?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: No.

Alaina Kearney: When, what was the turning point for you when you were like, okay, I really think we’re going to scale at this point.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Probably year, the year that I grew from six to eight. Like I started documenting things not right away, right? Because it was kind of like a part of my other, it was like a DBA. And then I finally got more official. [00:26:00] Um, I think the year I grew from 70, 000 to like 250, 000 felt like a big jump to me. Yeah, for sure.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, and then I went from like two something to four something. And I mean the, the rapid growth, um, and then COVID, I lost everything and had to start over. So, um, Um, but then we, we propelled significantly in 21 and 22 and then 23 and 4 have been sort of evening out. So I think that that like once I started looking at the [00:26:30] numbers, um, that was what excited me and I realized the scalability and you know, when you do your forecast, you’re like, Oh wow.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. Okay. That’s so exciting. Yeah. Especially after the, the challenges, you know, with COVID and for you being in such a, you know, forward facing. How are you able to bounce back from that? Like, did you think you were going to be able to bounce back from it?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I knew I would. And everyone told me that, like, I, people are going to have parties again.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Don’t worry. And I just tried to stay positive about it. I was newly married. Uh, we were trying to get [00:27:00] pregnant, um, living in a 900 square foot little condo with my husband. Uh, I actually went out and got a couple jobs, so make some money and take me out of the house. Yeah. Through that time because, so really the only thing I could do, I consulted my old PR boss.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m like, what, what message should I be sending to our clients? We’re not going anywhere. And this was it. And that’s the thing is like, I didn’t have an over, you know, I didn’t have a lot of overhead. Um, you know, the, the helpers get paid when there’s an event. If there’s no events, they’re not getting paid.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: My regional directors were straight [00:27:30] commissioned sales people. So I was okay there, but I’m like, what message should I be giving out? And she said, That party was helpers is not going anywhere and we’re here when you’re ready to party. And that’s really love that. So we would push out like, um, cocktail making contests.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And we would have on our social media, have people submit their submissions. And then I’d give them, you know, party was helper swag. And I tried to keep up with social media and just messaging and. Floating. Just like everyone else.

Alaina Kearney: Now was, [00:28:00] would you say that COVID was the most challenging point in your business?

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. So far. Yeah. Okay. Um, yeah, because I

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: feel like just then everyone was, was going through it, right? So then there’s other challenges where you feel so alone on a mountain.

Alaina Kearney: Exactly. Yeah. So I don’t know. It’s hard to compare. Yeah. It’s super, super hard. So in terms of challenges, so you had the COVID challenge.

Alaina Kearney: What other challenges would you say came up, you know, along the way that maybe you didn’t think you would bounce back from or that maybe changed the way that you do business or change the way that you [00:28:30] are as a leader?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah. I think, um. I mean, there’s challenges within my industry with state rules for independent contractors.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Okay. Um, so that’s a challenge. Mm hmm. That’s why I’m working with Tina so closely. Yes. You can cut that out if you want. Um, so there’s some industry challenges. There’s also competitive challenges. Yeah, when I first started our biggest competitors were like mom and pop Organizations that would sell out after maybe sending five people on Thanksgiving where we never said no.

Alaina Kearney: Mm [00:29:00]

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: hmm And now there’s a lot of technology companies I won’t say any names, but you know, there’s Silicon Valley money and they have great technology, but there’s not like that in between, like you wouldn’t use that technology for your kid’s birthday party. Right. With us, at least you know that you have more white glove service, so it’s kind of differentiating.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Differentiating ourselves from them and also figuring out where we fit. Yeah. You know, for years we had tons of catering clients. Catering companies were calling us [00:29:30] non stop to supplement their team, especially 21, 22. Now we don’t work with them as much because our rates are a little high for them. They feel like they have their team back hired.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Okay. They don’t, people want to work again, but there was a time where people didn’t want to work. Right. So that was our biggest, you know, ROI was like, Sorry, that was a big, um, Percentage of business was these caterers using us so

Alaina Kearney: now do you feel like is it with party host helpers? Is it harder [00:30:00] to get people to?

Alaina Kearney: become helpers or to get clients to use you?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: It’s probably both but you know we have our teams Set up and it’s a lot of word of mouth

Alaina Kearney: and just finding people So because I feel like it is hard to find people. I know in our space. It’s impossible to find accountants It’s so tricky, but I mean that’s nice.

Alaina Kearney: That’s different. Yeah niche, but but still it is. I feel like there’s just not a lot of um, I feel like on both sides, it feels like there’s not a lot of jobs and there’s not a lot of people to fill those jobs. It’s interesting, isn’t it? So it’s like catch [00:30:30] 22 and I feel like you really feel it in the industry you’re in.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah, I don’t think my team

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: has that much of a problem staffing like we used to, so. We pay well.

Alaina Kearney: Okay, good

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: to know. We’ve had to up that a little bit. I’m sure. Yeah,

Alaina Kearney: and I think, too, again, with this competitive thing, you know, just staying at the top of people’s minds, being competitive. And

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: it’s crazy now, too.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: When I started. There wasn’t any of this stuff, but you know, you could book a, you could say, all right, I guess I could work Saturday. Let me see. Hmm. I don’t know. I don’t want, I [00:31:00] could probably find something else. Oh wait, look, this catering company is offering me a job for this weekend. Oh, or I could drive for Uber or Instacart this weekend.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And do that on my own and not have to deal with people. So there’s more opportunities and options for gig workers

Alaina Kearney: than there was when I started. I see. Now, you had mentioned a little bit earlier, social media, like in the beginning, how it just came out. Now, obviously, there’s a million platforms. I was saying, I don’t know where things are coming from half the time, like, did this come from TikTok?

Alaina Kearney: Like, I saw

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: this on somewhere.

Alaina Kearney: Where is it? TikTok? Instagram? Did I read [00:31:30] it? Like, where did it come from? Um, so how have you had to kind of adapt? With all of these changes, I mean, do you find yourself spending more time on social than you had in the past or? Yeah. And that must be hard because now you’re being everything to everyone.

Alaina Kearney: So not only are you the PR person, you know, helping with that, you’re leading a group, you’re trying to scale and now you have to be a, you know, your own. We have to make sure that our

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: platforms, you know, that everything’s up to date and yeah, I mean that’s why we have agencies for that stuff.

Alaina Kearney: But still.

Alaina Kearney: It’s a lot. Yeah. And [00:32:00] then people are always wanting to see the face. You know, you are the face of your business and it’s hard to constantly like stay, you At the forefront and be present for all these social media things going on. It’s

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: funny though, the posts with our helpers in their aprons doing their job, they do the best on social media.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah, because people probably see themselves too. And I think realizing like, Oh wow, I could do that

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: or

Alaina Kearney: that

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: looks fun. Yeah. I mean, since we started, I’m always like, take pictures at parties, but don’t be awkward and then text them to me so I could use them for social media. But [00:32:30] it’s like hard. You’re working hard.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: You’re not. I’m not thinking about pictures that the boss wants.

Alaina Kearney: I know. Listen, I have to do that too. People see me and they just run because they know I’m about to take their picture and they’re like, please no. I’m like, no, I’m coming for you. Um, okay. So now I have like some fun things to ask you. So what’s your favorite type of event to plan?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So for, I love milestone birthdays. I love that people are celebrating. We do a lot of 50th, 40th, 30th,

Alaina Kearney: yeah. Kids birthday parties. Oh, I feel like that’s so fun. I love that stuff. Um, what about [00:33:00] weddings? Where’s that on? Rank, rank the weddings for me. Gosh, I’m a

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: little burned.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. No, not burned. I mean,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: my team is great at weddings.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I love a beach wedding. Oh yeah, me too. I love when I have a chance to go down the shore to do a wedding. Me too. Any chance to go down the shore. Or a new place, like just working at a different venue that

Alaina Kearney: I haven’t worked at that’s unique. Okay, what about like, Party tips or tricks best one you can think of or like your favorite

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: hire a party host helper Good one.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Okay. Good

Alaina Kearney: one. Good

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: one. I asked for that. I set you up. Nice. You [00:33:30] did. Thank you. Thank you. Don’t stress Mm hmm, but really make a list a couple weeks before so you’re not stressed like get everything in your brain on paper Mm hmm, and just put a plan into action remind yourself Put post it notes. Don’t forget ice.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah. And then I also, you know, when you’re setting up, think about when you’re serving food, what dishes you’re going to do. Like I try to pull out all my,

Laughter: all my

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: dishes, my bowls, my, so when the party host helper arrives and I’ll even sometimes put post it notes, like I want this salad in here [00:34:00] or there’s some parties that I throw personally and I’m like, do whatever you want, make it look good.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I don’t care. I want to do my hair and get, get on with the party.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah. You almost have to have like a really good eye for design. Like I feel like for me, I’m like, Oh gosh, I don’t know that I would have put, you know, I would have made that tablescape. There’s no way. I would never, I don’t have an eye for that.

Alaina Kearney: I

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: don’t as much either. I’m trying. I’m more logistics and the business owner, but then my team is creative. Like my director of events, Eric is super creative this weekend. We’re doing a second birthday party. That’s farm theme. And he has, he was [00:34:30] sending me pictures of these. And just a lot of great things and I can’t wait to see it all come together.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: That’s amazing. The biggest trick we have lately is, um, especially for, well, mainly for our corporate, we have these clear trays and you can put an insert and he’ll get like a logo. Oh, cool. Or a design on the insert. So when you’re having past hors d’oeuvres or past champagne or whatever, the logo’s right there.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Oh, so fancy. So we like to, and this is where the PR marketing brain comes in too for the event world. For sure. You know, we just did a big, [00:35:00] um, anniversary new grand opening for an IT company and we made it creative and, you know, you’re thinking about branding. You want the guests to walk away thinking, wow, that company really has it together and

Alaina Kearney: I want to hire them.

Alaina Kearney: Absolutely. I totally agree with you. Okay, so looking back on your entrepreneurial journey, is there anything you would have done differently? Yes. A

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: few things. Okay. I probably would have leaned into, um, financing sooner. [00:35:30] Okay. Not financing, but like credit lines and things like that. I was scared. I was young.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, and just, I always just wish that I had a little bit more, I guess, maturity over the years and knowledge about accounting. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And we didn’t pay her to say that. She just said that on her own. It’s hard. I’m a creative. It’s not, it’s not. That’s not something that I’m great at. Yeah, absolutely.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I hired a finance guy, so that helps, but still. Yeah, absolutely. He’s not involved in the business in any way, but, you know, I [00:36:00] use his brains sometimes.

Alaina Kearney: Yeah, definitely. Um, so you have a booming business, as we’ve discussed. What does the future look like? How much bigger can you get?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: We definitely have room to grow in a lot of the territories we’re in.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, I do get inquiries from Australia, Canada. So maybe, um, I’ve emailed some lawyers about like, hey, how do I do business in Canada? But that just seems like next level for me and I really want to grow in lucrative [00:36:30] territories much bigger. There’s a lot more room for growth. So. That’s so exciting.

Alaina Kearney: Oh, it’s super, super exciting.

Alaina Kearney: I bet you never probably thought you would get to this point. No. It’s incredible. I mean, once I got my vision. Then, yes, but. Any advice you have for any aspiring entrepreneurs?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah, I mean, my biggest advice is if you open a small business and you’re still having a job, you’re still working a job to put food on your table, don’t be ashamed of that.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: And be strategic and disciplined of the time that [00:37:00] you’re spending on growing the business. You’re still a business owner, you’re still an entrepreneur, you’re, you’re doing it. And the percentage of women that. are growing their businesses to different levels is really impressive lately. I’m on the board for NABO South Jersey.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m going to DC next week for a few days for NABO Days where we learn about some of the issues women are facing from, you know, owning a business and capital and all that stuff. We’ve come such a long way. So especially female small [00:37:30] business

Alaina Kearney: owners, like don’t stop. Absolutely. So for those who don’t know, NABO is National Association of Women Business Owners and we just had the NABO Um, Greater Philadelphia present president on in our last episode, Christina Rieger.

Alaina Kearney: She’s check that out. Um, but yeah, but it does seem like there’s, and I, even around here, I feel like there’s many more women’s networking groups, women in business, entrepreneur, neural groups. Um, so I think it’s just great that. Like minded people can get together, brainstorm, feel the struggle of one another, [00:38:00] and help support each other.

Alaina Kearney: I think it’s so important. It’s huge. To get that network. It’s huge. Um, is there anything else you want to add before we jump into our lightning round? Gosh, I

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: don’t

Alaina Kearney: think so.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I think we covered a lot. We

Alaina Kearney: did. We covered a lot of ground. I feel like I’m going to need a nap after this. Yeah. I haven’t even had coffee yet today.

Alaina Kearney: I know. Well, you will after this. Okay. All right. So who is the most famous person you’ve ever planned an event for? So,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, for parties helpers or events by Rene? Both. Okay, so events by Rene, I [00:38:30] was I threw an event for the ambassador of South Africa over 10 years ago when he came over to the New Jersey port.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: In my PR life, I worked on a campaign for South African summer citrus. So I threw a lot of events and he came over to where the aren’t the South African oranges come in over in Gloucester, New Jersey, and I did a whole reception for him. So

Alaina Kearney: that’s cool. That is so cool.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. And then Party as Helpers, we were actually just at Rashida Jones house working a [00:39:00] party under an app called Batch, or Let’s Batch, sorry.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: So there’s all these new bachelorette party planning apps and they have us as a vendor listed. So a lot of times we might be at a famous person’s event and we don’t even know, too, like it might be under the assistant’s name. Bethany Frankel had us booked for Christmas Eve and then canceled. I was devastated.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: No. Christmas Eve in the Hamptons. Yeah. So we too busy traveling and decided to do something low key, but her assistant’s name is in our system now. Hopefully she gets our marketing. If you’re listening, [00:39:30] Bethany, call me. Call me because I’ll also work that event. Yeah. I know. I was ready to say bye family.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I’m going up to the Hanson’s this weekend. I don’t blame you. I’m a big Bethany fan. So, and a lot of athletes that we work with. You know, their agent might book us and we’ll find out

Alaina Kearney: later. Sure, but that makes, that makes sense. I could understand that. Um, okay, what’s the most unusual or memorable request you’ve ever received from a client?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Oh

Alaina Kearney: God. There’s got to be some good ones.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: There are, and they’re weird. Like, can the girls wear French maid [00:40:00] outfits while they’re serving at the guy’s like draft party? No, we’re not a modeling agency. So things like that. Yeah. Okay. All right. Oh, also another weird request that we fulfilled last year was.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Someone was throwing, um, a bridal shower and they kind of hired friends from us because they wanted to look like they had more guests. Oh, I see. So my team went, had a lovely lunch, pretended that they used to work with her at a restaurant. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:40:30] Interesting. Not a bad

Alaina Kearney: day, right? Okay. No, not a bad day.

Alaina Kearney: Not a bad day. Um, okay. If you could have one superpower as an event planner, what would it be?

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Like, so my feet don’t hurt? Listen, this could be your next business. I know, I think about that all the time. Because, I mean, luckily sneakers are cool, and I’ll wear them here and there, but like for years I would wear these black flats, I mean, and they had a little cushion, but my God, my feet hurt the next day so bad all the time.

Alaina Kearney: I [00:41:00] bet, yeah, absolutely. I don’t know, maybe this is, listen, Partyhoose Helpers came out of this, Let’s do it. This need for something. I need, I need some capital. Come on. Okay. Um, what’s your favorite cocktail to serve at an event? That depends on the

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: season. Okay. So the last couple of years, I didn’t do it this year, but before that I did a, I threw a Galentine’s Day party and I would serve Cure Royales, which is just champagne with a splash of Chambord.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Of course, I had a party who’s helper, bartender. I’m [00:41:30] sure. I threw a mother daughter tea party recently. Oh, so fun. For my daughter. My daughter loves tea parties. I mean, she’s only two. But the little girls got dr It was like the cutest thing. Oh, so cute. Um, and I served, I got lemonade syrup on Amazon and served it with champagne and like a squeeze of lemon.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Oh my gosh. So cute. So, wait, did I say lemonade or lavender? Lavender. Lav Okay. Sorry. Prosecco, lavender syrup that you can get on Amazon or at a local lavender farm if you know. And then a splash of lemonade. Yeah. [00:42:00] So that’s great for spring. Yeah. And the winter, I love just like a winter sangria that you can batch up ahead of time for a Christmas party.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Um, my husband loves old fashions. I love dirty martinis. So whenever we’re throwing a party, we make sure we have all the goods for that too. So

Alaina Kearney: how many parties are you throwing yourself? Too many. I was going to say, I’m like, you know what,

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: I got to get on your guest list. Yeah, exactly. So we moved into a home three years ago and it’s a good, it’s very open, so it’s a good entertaining.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Yeah. Space and I can’t help myself. I don’t [00:42:30] blame you. But let me tell you something If you go to my house right now, there’s still tea party decorations out. Because we went to Disney World that same week, and then it’s been crazy, and I need to get my act together this weekend. And you probably need a lot of storage.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: But I do, I keep saying, I need a she shed to put all my entertaining stuff. Oh yeah,

Alaina Kearney: that’s a good way to get it though. You can say like, you know, you need it. my stuff in there.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Right. That’s a good

Alaina Kearney: argument for your husband. Right. I need it.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: But I love throwing my daughter a huge birthday party. I haven’t thought of the theme yet for her third in September.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart: Oh, very fun. We like to throw a good Christmas party. I did a little, [00:43:00] I threw a little Easter egg hunt for her friends in the backyard. So fun. We don’t have a gigantic house. Yeah,

Alaina Kearney: yeah, yeah. But I make it happen. So much fun. Well, this was so awesome. This makes the hard days easier. I hope so. I sure hope so.

Alaina Kearney: I sure hope so. It’s all worth it. Well, thank you for being here. Thank you. In this episode, Renee shared her inspiring entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the creation and growth of events by Renee and party host helpers. From her beginnings in event planning to expanding her services nationwide, [00:43:30] Renee’s story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of networking.

Alaina Kearney: We discuss the critical role of technology in scaling her businesses, the significance of building strong relationships with vendors and clients. and her strategies for maintaining quality and consistency across numerous events. Renee also offered valuable insights into balancing work with personal life, managing stress, and staying adaptable in a rapidly changing industry.

Alaina Kearney: Join us next time as we continue to explore the [00:44:00] principles of leadership with those who have lived it.