{"id":32547,"date":"2023-01-20T09:34:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T20:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nzie.ac.nz\/?p=32547"},"modified":"2023-01-23T10:36:30","modified_gmt":"2023-01-22T21:36:30","slug":"success-story-chantelle-my-secret-picnic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nzie.ac.nz\/success-story-chantelle-my-secret-picnic\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Marketing Diploma Perfect Match for Business Owner"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Digital Marketing Diploma<\/a> allows business owner Chantelle to close her “skill gap” and equip her business for long-term success. Read her story here.\u00a0<\/em><\/p> Chantelle was seeking a creative job. She tried her hand at hairdressing then switched to a factory job at Fonterra \u201cbecause it paid three times more.\u201d After achieving her goal of buying a house with her factory salary, she began to wonder what was next. Chantelle completed a business Diploma over 4 years, then began brainstorming a business that would be best suited to her.<\/p> \u201cI started seeing all these picnic businesses pop up all around the world, but not in New Zealand. About to move to Queenstown, a town full of amazing landscapes and tourism had me wondering, ‘Why hasn’t this been done yet?’ So I flew over to Byron Bay, the hub of all things textiles and boho. That’s where I decided – this is what I’m going to do.\u201d<\/p> With\u00a0My Secret Picnic,<\/a>\u00a0Chantelle creates \u201cstress-free, eco-friendly and bespoke experiences that will be treasured forever.\u201d Common occasions for her one-of-a-kind picnics include proposals, anniversaries, elopements, and bridal and baby showers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The COVID \u201ccurveball\u201d hit Chantelle\u2019s picnic business shortly after it began. However, she was able to see the positive side. \u201cIt gave me the time to breathe, do my study, and upskill in different areas that I wasn\u2019t skilled in.\u201d<\/p> As New Zealand\u2019s borders were closed to tourists, and therefore Chantelle\u2019s clients, this was the perfect opportunity to study a topic she \u201calways wanted to\u201d. \u201cI noticed I had a skill gap. When trying to do paid ads – I had no clue. Not to mention, I didn’t even know what SEO was, I just knew I had to write a blog. So all these terminologies were coming at me. And I was paying big money in the mix of COVID to try and get my business up and running.\u201d<\/p> Online classes were a perfect fit for Chantelle, allowing her to study full-time. NZIE’s Diploma in Digital Marketing<\/a> gave Chantelle the chance to tick some business must-haves off her to-do list. For example, brand guidelines and creating a logo.<\/p> \u201c[The course] gave me an understanding of many things. Such as, how to do colour palettes; what I wanted my website to look like; and what are the best practices for a website. It’s created more consistency throughout my brand.\u201d<\/p> It also helped Chantelle when working with contractors. For example, when employing someone to design her website \u2013 she was able to clearly understand the vision that she wanted and communicate with the designer.\u00a0<\/p> \u201cThat first step is to figure out what you want and it does make it hard. Because I’ve got a vision of what I want something to look like, it can be hard to explain that vision to someone who works with terminology and coding. Now I can speak her lingo. And she can understand my vision.\u201d<\/p> The Diploma in Digital Marketing<\/a> was a surprising networking opportunity for Chantelle, who met her website developer – Wild Willow Design Collective<\/a> – whilst studying.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Although she has graduated from the course, Chantelle still puts her study notes to good use. Her tutors gave her a trove of resources to carry with her into her future as a business owner.<\/p> \u201cI’ve got all my notebooks that I can go back and have a look at. I’ve even got Word documents of blogs that my teacher recommended. I saw that my tutors are passionate about what they do. Now that I’m in – what I would call – the real world, putting everything into practice, I remember \u201cThis is what my tutor said. I can do it like this.\u201d<\/p> While her work looks picture-perfect, in stunning setups with breathtaking views, it\u2019s not always as glamorous as it seems.<\/p> \u201cIt can be extremely challenging. For example, the weather. I remember setting up a video. I put a cabana up and there was no wind at all. And then this gust of wind came up under the cabana, picked up the table and threw it over a rock. As much as it looks glamorous, there are always bloopers.”<\/p> Working in the business of romance has exposed Chantelle to some heartwarming moments.<\/p> \u201cI had a proposal last week, and it was a complete surprise. [The fianc\u00e9] brought her nail polish so that when she gets her photo taken, she’ll have pretty nails. He had six different colours because he was unsure. He even got the wipes and nail polish removers. Those little moments are so adorable!\u201d<\/p>My Secret Picnic is born<\/h3>
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Turning Negative to Positive<\/h3>
She chose to study NZIE\u2019s\u00a0Diploma in Digital Marketing<\/a>\u00a0and equip her business for success.<\/p>
\u201cI was hoping and praying by the time I finished, the borders were open. It’s all worked out, which I’m very thankful for. [The Diploma has] given me the ability to do everything and know everything myself. Of course, I’m not a specialist. But if I need to dive deep into an agency, I’m going to know what I’m talking about. And I’m going to know what I want.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Upskilling creatively<\/h3>
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Passionate tutors<\/h3>
Challenges of the business<\/h3>
Heart-warming moments<\/h3>
Running a business solo<\/h3>