Meet Shannon Williams | Event Venue

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I always had this idea of creatively designing a space which could be used for celebratory events, milestones, and the like. A space that was influenced by my creativity but still allowed, and made room, for the client’s vision. Growing up, I preferred not to celebrate my own birthday, but I marveled when witnessing others create memories and celebrate a milestone. Together, my husband and I, own an event venue. Our current event space is really a larger vision which was condensed as a result of Covid. We plan to grow. We want to grow into a larger space which can accommodate larger events — we want to be “your go-to venue for every occasion”.

I had this vision, which consumed me, but the reality was and is — in order for a vision to be successful in business, it needs to solve a problem. I began penning the business plan right before Covid — February of 2020. It rested in my phone’s notepad as Covid took off. I didn’t abandon the vision even during the height of Covid; I saw a way to alter it as a result of the pandemic. I scaled the vision back a bit and marketed it as a smaller space for intimate events.

The population, in our city, began to grow as families were relocating to the southern suburb of McDonough.

October of 2020, I was searching for an event venue to host a baby shower, and I had a vision — a vision that wasn’t a hotel’s conference room. I wanted an intimate space which housed a combination of lounge chairs and banquet tables — a pristine and polished space, modern and luxurious. And I didn’t want to travel north of Atlanta to pay thousands of dollars for this venue. I found one space, in the city, which was booked for months to come. It was a problem — a problem that I’d already had a vision for. I remembered thinking — “this is a problem, and I am going to solve this problem in my community”. The growing population created a great demand for the idea. Fast-forward a year later. January of 2022 — we formed the business. February of 2022 — we started our search for a commercial space. June of 2022 — we found a space. October of 2022 — Heaven on Earth Occasions opened its doors. Here we are stewarding a God-given idea.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Heaven on Earth Occasions provides a high-quality, furnished venue to the public for relatively small, intimate events of 55 guests or less. The venue is fully furnished, and designed, with a combination of lounge seating, chiavari chairs, banquet tables, and modern decor. Our venue provides a luxury, modern-furnished event space, for celebratory milestones, at an affordable rate. We bridge luxury and affordability.

What I’m most excited about is the impact that we have on our community. Every interaction is an opportunity to make a difference in some way. Even the smallest of interactions carry great weight. What’s also rewarding is witnessing the memories that are created in our space.

What got me to where I am today is faith, with works, sacrifice, and perseverance. I studied the business and the demand for it, and continue to study; researched business fundamentals and marketing strategies, and continue to research; prayed and continue to pray. I sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, a lot of time. I am a wife and mother of two, and apart from the business, I am a full-time employee.

The challenges were great in number. The road to launching the business was far from easy. Finding, and securing, capital was a great challenge. I overcame that challenge by paying off personal debt in order to secure a small loan and business credit cards.

A lesson that I’ve learned along the way is to solidify marketing strategies ahead of time. In other words — develop, and solidify, 2024’s marketing strategy in 2023.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d visit:

A few restaurants — Taqueria del Sol, Addiktive, Pappadeaux, Longhorn, & Juicy Crab

The City of Atlanta and it’s attractions —The Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, MLK National Historical Park, Piedmont & Centennial Park, CNN Studios, World of Coca-Cola.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my church — The Potter’s House Dallas, and its leaders, for recognizing their divine assignment and for their unrelenting obedience. They are leaders building leaders, who bridge faith and culture with such grace. Thank you, to the Potter’s House Dallas, for extending your love, your wisdom, your knowledge, your prayers, your experiences, your truths, your time, your lives… to the world.

Website: https://heavenonearthoccasions.com/

Instagram: HeavenOnEarthOccasionsVenue