Day in the Life: Office Day
Are you curious as to what goes on behind the scenes? I’m not sure about you but I’m always fascinated as to how businesses actually function (especially small businesses) on an average day. It’s like getting an inside scoop as to how they tick. Perhaps it’s nothing extraordinary but perhaps that’s relatable. So I thought maybe you too are curious as to what all goes on when it’s an average office day.
Off the bat if you’re interacting with us (the office ) as if right now ( March 2022) you are interacting with Ashley (the owner, founder & lead stylist). I am very hands on & while I like automation in some ways (payment reminders for instance) there are some things that just need personalization so I’m still deep in the bulk of it.
First thing in the morning after taking care of the needs of the fur babies is breakfast. Yes, I am a breakfast person even on wedding days. Ironically even though weddings start relatively early I love a slow, “lazy” morning when I get the chance. Since I know that’s not the case on a wedding day you better believe I enjoy my coffee & breakfast on an office day with a dash of the Today Show.
Log on to the computer at 8 am to get to work! Start off by check emails & eliminating any junk or spam that’s clogging the scene. Then depending on the day of the week if there is anything from first glance that seems like an emergency for an impending wedding those emails are priority. After those (or assuming those don’t exist) I address each email in the order of which it came in. Emails could consist of everything from new couple inquiries, communication with couples about practically anything ( wedding, trial, hairstyle, makeup look, accessories, extensions, logistics, timeline, payment, etc), other vendors, etc. Each one is carefully absorbed & addressed.
Next up is blogging & social media. Some may scoff that this is a wicket on the list but considering that 40-60% of our bookings come from social media (depending which region) it’s something we take seriously. Blogging allows you to get an insight into more of the business beyond just pretty pictures & rates. Obviously you must care a LITTLE about our blog since here you are. Social media could consist of anything from prepping Pinterest pins, instagram posts, reels, tiktok , scouring facebook groups for ISO requests, etc.
Every day ( typically morning ) we also work with contracts & timelines. Creating & sending contracts as well as following up to make sure all the necessary items are received from clients. Timelines are roughly created a few weeks after the official booking but as time goes on & more details develop we adjust, add names & even color code for ease of other vendors & individuals who may be looking at the timeline.
Then with a good work life balance there’s a mid day break for a pup walk/play time & lunch. If it’s nice enough we may even move the work “desk” outside post lunch.
After lunch our day is fulled with more emails. It’s important to respond in a timely manner so we make sure to check multiple times of the day . I know you have a busy life & don’t want to keep you waiting on a response.
We also take this time (especially on Thursdays & Fridays) to take stock of our supplies. Supplies in our kit to complete the looks. Supplies regarding touch up kits, thank you cards, freebies & extras. This gives us a chance to see what we have, need to order or need to prepare & send out.
During the day we also take the time to write thank you notes to clients who recently booked & follow up with those who we’re recently had weddings with regarding reviews & photos. Reviews & photos are such a viable part of our business as it gives potential clients the chance to have a first hand account of what it’s like to work with us.
Other random things during the day may includes calls (clients, stylists or vendors), team meetings, education, updates to anything representative of the brand. These are all items that fill out the more unique aspects of our “office days”.
The most boring part of the “office day” is by far anything nitty gritty business. Accounting, taxes, forms & the like. While this is not a daily occurrence it’s still a hat that small business owners wear.
FINALLY after a full day of work it’s time to shut down that computer. When the clock hits 5pm officially hours are over & we value our work life balance. We will have our email near us beyond office hours but truly only for emergencies. While I will glance to make sure nothing needs to be address in the moment we also make sure to not be answering regular emails at 9 pm. Our couples understand that being a small business owner is a busy task that can easily consume one’s time so while it may sound firm to have dedicated office hours we’re fortunate in the fact that our clients understand.
So is our “office day” what you expected? Each day is a bit different & we love that but perhaps this gives a bit of a peak behind the curtain as to what it takes to make this company thrive.
