San Francisco Bay Area Chair Covers and Chivari Chairs: February 2013

Dear “EY”:

Happy Birthday Especially Yours! Wow! Can you believe we made it to Nine years together? I can’t believe it myself. It feels like yesterday when I had the conversation with Bernie with Creative Floral Designs in Los Angeles about starting my own business. I was 24 years old and had a full time medical sales career going. I had so much fun traveling from State to States, having my weekends free, having all my expenses paid for and life was great!

Nine year later, I am a small business owner and still love every minute of it. Yes, there are days when I look back and think how much it was easier when I had a 9-5PM job, but I don't have any regrets. Happy Happy 9th Birthday, EY!

Honestly, I never thought this would be full time career. I knew nothing of the wedding industry. Most of my friends worked in the corporate world, and I only knew Bernie in LA, who helped me so much in the beginning.

My first wedding was at Yank Sing, but luckily that day, we had 3 weddings on the first day of this company. The second wedding was at Palace Hotel where I met my very good friend Karen Miyanaga. The third event was a baby shower. We started with 500 Chair Covers from the first wedding. Today we have over 4,000 chair covers and also extended our inventory to include: Linens and Chivari Chairs.

Venue: Marines Memorial Club

Back then, I remember going to all the events, taking the chair covers to a laundry mat with Daddy and then ironing them at night. It was so much work! And I still had a full time job!

Since then all my little cousins and best friends (every boyfriend! ha!) also pitched in to help setting up weddings w/ me. Hehe. I feel so lucky to have the support of my family and close loved ones. Today, I have an amazing set up crew, logistics manager and warehouse manager who helps me run the company :)

We exhibited at bridal faire where we met brides and grooms, and soon we started working with hotels, golf courses and restaurants. I became the Program’s Chairsperson and Co-chairperson for NACE which really helped us in the events industry. That’s where I got to meet a lot of event professionals and so blessed they became clients and friends.

Since 2004 and in less than 2 years, I gave up my full time medical sales career and ran EY full time. From my small in-law apartment, we moved to a 800 square foot warehouse and today, we occupy a 4,500 space in the Mission District.

We’ve done some amazing events and worked with the best wedding planners in the country. Our chair covers have been featured in magazines, television and even made a debut at the 2010 World Series Championship Game in San Francisco. That was one of my most memorable moments.

We have 105 Yelp Reviews with a 5 Star Rating! Feels great to know our clients appreciates us!

People tell me all the time how great it must feel to be a Small business owner. But it’s not easy. It’s never easy. You have to work harder than you ever did, but it’s achievable and attainable.

I’m just a girl – just like you and me who has a vision of early retirement and enjoying life with your love ones and family. Don’t ever take your eyes off your goals. You’ll get there.

To all my EY Brides and Grooms, Venues, Clients, Mentors, friends and love ones who supported me and Especially Yours Chair Covers – THANK YOU from the Bottom of my Heart. I can’t believe nine years went by so fast. I am truly grateful for all the business referrals and friendships we made all these years.