Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Lucia Richardson.
Hi Anna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Fresh out of college, I started my career as an Assistant Buyer for Bealls Department Stores and I had zero experience in the fashion/retail sector.
I first interviewed with Ralph Lauren and (at the time) Burdines (now Macy’s) and was rejected by both, but then landed a $26,000-a-year salary with Bealls and thought I finally made it at the age of 22. I was very grateful for that job though as it was right after 9/11 (I graduated in 2002) and the economy was very fragile. That first job taught me a lot about business infrastructure, as I had to work in various departments before I could become an Assistant Buyer. Within one year, I worked in the warehouse and distribution center, as an Assistant General Manager in a store, as well as in the corporate buying offices as an Assistant to a Senior Buyer. While it was hard work, and the people I worked with were wonderful, it taught me that I didn’t want this for my career path.
After one year there, I left and was hired as a Marketing Assistant to the Director of Marketing of a Florida-based real estate development firm, where I worked my way up to eventually becoming a Construction Project Manager. During that time, and even though it wasn’t part of the job description, I was asked to help plan a lot of the company’s internal and external events and found it to be my creative outlet. In 2007, when the real estate market collapsed, I was let go from my position and decided to start my own company in a completely different field than I first started in. And that’s when I took a giant leap of faith and started my first company in Ann Arbor, Michigan called Exceptional Events.
Since then, it’s morphed into my namesake, Anna Lucia. Our events range from weddings to social to corporate events (including large art activations) and in the last few years, we have expanded into an international brand that inspires us to bring more customized experiences to our clients and their guests. Our best work is built on personal connection. This allows us to run with concepts carefully tailored to each client.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would be lying if I said it was easy. Owning your own business is not for the faint of heart.
While the end reward is well worth it (and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world), the ebbs and flows of the economy, retaining/losing employees, juggling a work-life balance and family, managing and growing a company, pandemics, etc., all cause their list of challenges along the way.
One day you feel like you have it all together and the next day, everything might feel like it is falling apart – but that’s the lifecycle of the event industry because it is ever-changing. And that ever-changing piece is what I love the most about it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Anna Lucia curates milestone events, from weddings to social events to corporate events and beyond.
First established as a premier event planning and design company, Anna Lucia is now a multifaceted global brand that defines boutique excellence and smart curation across the event, art, lifestyle, and design spheres. Anna Lucia is driven by thoughtful service and the joy of intimate, elevated environments. From life-defining events to inspired insights, we strive to deliver sensory experiences with every offering.
Our Mission: Outstanding detail, service, and execution.
Anna Lucia commemorates life’s milestones with design solutions uniquely curated for each client. From the endearing balance of Anna’s welcoming nature and discerning taste, our events redefine the celebratory space — and unlock a world of new possibilities.
As the Anna Lucia brand evolves, its founding mission remains a touchstone. We exist to distill the feeling and promise of our events across all platforms, from innovative activations to personalized solutions for everyday life.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Be patient. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Real success and growth require time and a lot of experience. And until you have a lot of experience under your belt, you cannot truly call yourself an expert. Do the work, say yes to the truly beneficial opportunities, know that it’s okay to say no to something that does not serve you or your overall growth plan, and surround yourself with people who refuse to let you settle. The success will come.
I wish someone would have pulled my younger self aside and told me exactly that. In our current world of “early success is the only success” culture (the American way), you feel like you have to achieve everything by the time you are 30 and that’s simply not true.
While there might be a one-off overnight success story, that’s simply not the norm – and social media outlets do not help, as they paint a picture that typically is not realistic. So, do not set your career growth path on those types of mythical standards – I promise success will come in due time, even if it is well after that 30-year mark!
Contact Info:
- Website: annaluciaevents.com
- Instagram: @annaluciaevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaLuciaEvents/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10123767/admin/feed/posts/
Image Credits
KT Merry, Jacqui Cole, and Hunter Ryan
