Meet Amber Staples | CEO and Creative Director of Stapled, LLC

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

Hi Amber, how do you think about risk?
My mantra is that nothing worth having comes easy. Life is full of risks that you’re taking every single day. No matter how small the risk is, we are constantly making risky decisions to bring us to the next stage in our lives and careers.

When I started my business, Stapled Events, I was working a full time job with a Fortune 100 company. I worked my way to the top of the company and demanded a 6-figure salary. In my corporate career I faced discrimination and unfair treatment, as a minority woman. I did not let this stop me and I continued to fight against the odds, to be at the highest level possible.

Growing Stapled Events while maintaining my corporate life proved to be almost impossible. There was a very specific moment where I had to choose between my corporate job or my business. This was probably the most difficult and riskiest decision that I’ve ever had to make. I was faced with giving up my career and the comfort of my corporate salary or giving up my passion. I worked so hard for my career and I wasn’t sure that my small business was worth the risk of walking away from everything I worked for. After months of going back and forth on the decision, I chose to take the leap of faith and in January 2020, I quit my corporate job.

When I initially quit my job, it was extremely frightening. Though I had grown my company very quickly, I was nowhere near making 6 figures. I questioned if I made the right decision every single day. Rather than letting the unknown deter me, I allowed it to push me to work harder. I worked 7 days a week and continued to fight for my business. In less than a year, the business became profitable and I was able to open my own Event Venue Space. I now currently have a team of 6 people on payroll and I’m searching for a second Venue location.

If I hadn’t taken the risk and left my corporate job, there’s no way that I’d be where I am today with my business. I stumbled more than a few times, cried a lot and consistently considered quitting. We are constantly faced with decisions to remain in our comfort zone. It’s so much easier to stick to what you know and avoid having to take any risks. However, it is when you choose to take risks and take a leap of faith that you truly grow.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I created the concept of Stapled Events after planning my own 200 person wedding. I started Stapled, LLC in 2018 and I just let it sit there. I was so afraid of failure that I didn’t even take the leap of faith.

Once I overcame the fear of failure, I gave Stapled Events everything the I had. Failure was not an option. I used the tools that I learned along my corporate journey and applied those processes to my business. If I had to attribute my success to one thing, it is the fact that I am consistently open to learn. I know that I do not know everything and that there is always room for growth. I listen to the advice that I am given and I value my relationships with strategic partners and other business owners.

What sets Stapled Events apart from other brands is our business aspect. We have built a repeatable process which focuses on client satisfaction, brand loyalty and customer service. This process has helped us scale quickly and more than triple our client base in such a short time. When I started the business, we averaged 2-5 events per month. We are now planning 3-6 events per week, including weddings, conferences and trade shows.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Chicago is a vibrant city, full of culture, diversity and great food!

If I were planning a getaway for a friend, I would suggest that they stay in the downtown area, either off of Michigan Ave. or in the West Loop area. Some amazing hotels, which are extremely walkable, include the Nobu Hotel, the Gwen Hotel, The Langham Hotel and the Sofitel.

I would encourage my friend to check out a festival or museum and to do some shopping damage on Michigan Ave. We could also charter a boat and join the fun of the Chicago Boat Scene.

Some must have restaurants include Giordanno’s Pizza, Tao Chicago, Tavern on Rush (you must sit on the patio), and RPM Italian.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In 2018, my CEO took a huge risk on me and promoted me to the Business Development Director of his company. This was a position that he previously held and entrusted to me. In a small business environment, the sales team is the heartbeat of the company and can truly make or break the business. I was trusted to manage the entire sales team and sales division for the company.

I learned a lot from my CEO and he taught me the tools that I needed to grow a business very quickly. He took me under his wing and showed me how to create a 7 figure company.

I would like to shoutout Joe Brannon of TL Connects. I learned so much from him and used those tools to grow the business that I have today.

Website: www.stapledevents.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stapledevents/

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