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

Hi Karen, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Hello, thank you for having me! If I had to boil it down to one factor, it would be consistency. Consistency in our brand identity and consistency in the level of service we provide our clients has allowed us to build our brand exponentially throughout the last six years. Making calculated changes along the way like changing our logo and updating our service offerings has allowed us to grow as we go and ultimately, fine-tune our process to be as mutually beneficial as possible between us and our client. To me, consistency and adaptability go hand-in-hand in building and maintaining a brand that outlasts trends and can stand on its own.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more about your business?
Pop + Fizz is a destination wedding and event planning firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. I’d say we are most known for our thorough planning process, easy-to-navigate systems, and unparalleled customer service. We truly believe in putting our clients first, highly valuing our vendor relationships, and designing events that are in a class of their own: elevated and logistically flawless. Our brand centers around treating everyone we interact with like family. We want everyone to feel loved, valued, and appreciated, always. Examples of how we achieve that are exceptional communication, timeliness, the output of exceptional quality products, and most importantly, kindness and grace. We meet people where they are and seek to help them as much as we can.

Could we insert another question here to make this transition feel a bit more seamless? Something like: What’s your advice to anyone looking to start their own business? Or was the road to where you are today a smooth one?

What’s your advice to anyone looking to start their own business? Was the road to where you are today a smooth one?
Any small business owner who tells you it was an easy or smooth ride to where they are now is leaving something out or forgetting something! Owning a business is hard work and more importantly, it is constant work. You will always have challenges. But that isn’t a bad thing! Challenges teach you invaluable lessons and teach you how to adapt and grow. My biggest advice to anyone starting is to change your mindset to embrace challenges and to not get discouraged by them. You’re going to have people say ‘no’ to you. Opportunities you wanted may not end up panning out. The dream client you feel like you connected with may not end up choosing you. I’m not saying you shouldn’t mourn the loss of these things because feeling hurt/upset/discouraged is natural. I’m saying mourn for no more than one hour and then get back on the horse and keep it moving. If it didn’t work out, I promise there’s a reason. Better is waiting! But don’t expect anything to magically fall in your lap. You have to keep pushing and stay consistent.

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

Oh, I love a good itinerary! Here is my dream plan for a week of funtivities in ATL.

Saturday – Dinner at Lure followed by a Show at the Fox Theater

Sunday – Brunch at Sean’s Harvest Market and Bike Ride in Piedmont Park

Monday – Ponce City Market Food Hall and Rooftop for Games

Tuesday – Dinner at Ammazza and Comedy Show (Dad’s Garage, Village Theater, The Laughing Skull)

Wednesday – Spa Date at Exhale Spa

Thursday – Shopping in Downtown Decatur and Dinner at No. 246 (my favorite restaurant ever)

Friday – Beltline Breweries, Dinner at Two Urban Licks, Dancing at MJQ

Who deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents deserve all the credit for where I am in my life today. So, my shoutout goes to my mom and dad! They came to America with a dream of infinite opportunities for my sister and me. As we grew up and tested the waters, figuring out who and what we wanted to be, they never let us believe any goal was too far out of reach. Their philosophy is as long as you work hard and stay true to who you are, success will come your way. I remember every milestone was a big celebration in our house. Looking back, I realize the way they celebrated and appreciated us is what inspired me to pursue a career in celebrating and appreciating others. Maybe that’s why they weren’t as surprised as I thought they’d be when I diverted from my dream of becoming a dentist to open a wedding planning business instead. They are my biggest source of inspiration and everything I have done up to this point has been in honor of them.

Website: https://popandfizz.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popandfizz/?hl=en

Image Credits
Carrie Joy Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.