Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra (Serenity) Mercadante.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Originally from Southern California, I have made my home here in Jacksonville, FL. After over a decade of immersing myself in Jacksonville’s culture, I have grown to love this community and claimed it as my own. When it comes to event décor, I started working in corporate America. I noticed that some employees were showered with gifts, flowers, and balloons on their birthdays while others were passed over without a second thought. This broke my heart. I decided to take on the task of managing all birthdays in my department and surrounding departments. I found my love for the creativity behind making a unique and exciting experience customized to each person. During the pandemic, I decided to take a risk and launch my business, creating backdrops and balloon décor on a much larger scale than decorating the cubicles I was accustomed to. I have been embraced with love by the city of Jacksonville since day 1 of launching, and my business has increased exponentially yearly.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The event industry has its challenges, that is for sure. The first year of business is filled with so many learning curves, from fighting against the Florida heat and humidity for outdoor events to dealing with unforeseen curve balls on a time crunch and coming up with creative solutions on the fly. Running a business will show you what you are capable of and how amazing you are because it will push you to your limits. One of my favorite stories for “that didn’t go as planned” is about my early morning Thanksgiving job from 2021. It was a holiday, so I wore my sparkly new sneakers and walked down the concrete stairs to the Uhaul to load all of my balloons and event décor into the truck. I have a bad habit of dragging my feet, and these shoes had an amazing grip. I went to take my first step, and my foot didn’t move, but the rest of me did. Before I knew it, I was tumbling down the stairs and made a “graceful” landing at the bottom of the stairs on my face. It was not a pretty sight. My eyes were black, and my lip was swollen, but I had an event that depended on me. Thankfully all the damage was superficial, and there were no broken bones, so I patched myself up, finished packing up the truck, and made it to the event to set up as if nothing had happened. I never knew how amazing or resilient I could be until I put myself out there and started this business. But the show must go on, and one thing these moments teach me over and over is that “I got this.”
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in balloon décor and backdrops. Although I dabble in many other event décor options, these are the areas where I shine. I have friends who love to have extravagant Instagram backdrops for their events to take pictures and make memories that will last a lifetime. The only issue is that blowing up balloons or ordering backdrops makes them nauseous. When planning an event, you already have so much on your plate. Food to make or cater, drinks, guest lists, cleaning, gift bags, activities, etc. It can be overwhelming and exhausting. I make the décor side of things super simple. Pick a theme and color scheme, give me an idea of your budget, and I will give you multiple options to choose from that will make a big impact on the vibe at the events. You will have a statement piece that everyone will be talking about and posting about. The best part is we come in to set up quickly and return at the end of your event, break down everything, and take it away. You don’t have to lift a finger or deal with a thing. Whether it is a baby shower, adult or kids birthday, engagement party, or anything else, everyone can appreciate taking something this big off their shoulders. The best part is we are good at what we do, so you already know that you will receive something amazing that exceeds your expectations.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
I have never been a risk taker. I am very well known amongst my friends as the person who will play it safe. Not only do I play it safe, but I will always analyze absolutely every possible way something can go wrong in everything I do. This exact part of my personality makes me amazing at what I do. I am prepared for anything that could go wrong and any unexpected variants that may come my way. That said, starting my business in the first place was a risk. I am naturally very introverted and private, and being a business owner requires me to expand beyond my comfort zone more than ever. I am grateful for this fact because the amount of personal growth I have experienced since I took this risk is more than I ever could have hoped. I love this journey I am on, and I have learned that sometimes you have to feel fear and do it anyways. If I had not pushed through that fear, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.serenityproductsonline.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenityproductsballoons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/products.serenity
Image Credits
THIRD EYE PHOTOGRAPHY LLC
