Event-Planning Venture Clicks

Graniteville Resident Will Mark 1st Anniversary of Emerald Events
This Summer

Barton Horowitz
Business UpClose

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Robyn Ruehl-Lippert launched Graniteville-based Emerald Events in August 2004, not long after planning and coordinating a memorable birthday bash for a family friend. The party, which catered to some 100 guests aboard a yacht, included a professional DJ, flowers and every amenity necessary to ensure a successful gala.

"We had the whole nine yards," said Mrs. Ruehl-Lippert, who honed her event-planning skills while working as a coordinator for Disney Theaters' VIP services in Manhattan. The Graniteville resident had long-considered owning her own business, but it wasn't until the days following the watercraft gala that her ambition flourished.

On the heels of the successful onboard event, the family that hired Mrs. Ruehl-Lippert for the party enthusiastically encouraged her to pursue her entrepreneurial dream. And conditions seemed right for the creation of her home-based enterprise, she reflected. "It seemed like a very appropriate time because I was already working at home for a Broadway ticket-sales company," she said. "This gave me the opportunity to be at home with my baby."

The convenience of already working at home, Mrs. Ruehl-Lippert said, presented the "perfect opportunity to get my business off the ground."

Emerald Events provides its services for a wide variety of occasions, ranging from graduations to weddings, and just about any other milestone worthy of celebration. "All events, in general, are getting a little more elaborate these days -- and this includes christenings, first-birthday parties, communions, sweet-sixteens," Mrs. Ruehl-Lippert said.

Events that used to be held in the home or backyard, "now require a whole list of venders -- DJs, caterers, special entertainment," she said.

Emerald Events' home-based venue is convenient not only for its owners, but for its clients, as well, Mrs. Ruehl-Lippert said.

"I have a very low overhead because I don't have to pay a huge rent," she explained. "I'm able to give my clients prices that are affordable and work well within their budgets. My prices are lower compared to wedding planners who are based in Manhattan or other high-rent commercial districts."