Meet Beth Beeson of La Jolie Fête

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Beeson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Everyone deserves to be celebrated! I’ve always felt that to be true and now I’m making it happen every day through my small business, La Jolie Fête. As a child I had an entrepreneurial streak that just wouldn’t quit, early on I found ways to make my own money selling lemonade and bringing aluminum cans to the local recycling center.

When I turned 14, my mom took me to a local job fair and I became a swim instructor during the summer at my local community pool. It was my first real job and receiving my first paycheck was exciting, it wasn’t much but it felt good to earn my own money. From then on, I worked throughout high school and into adulthood, building my knowledge and skill set along the way.

After high school, I worked as a barista for a few years before joining the United States Marine Corps shortly before my 19th birthday. The time I spent in the Marine Corps allowed me to fully mature as I started to plan out my steps to one day owning and operating my own business. Throughout my time in the military, I met and married my business partner and husband, Nolan and had our two children, Sophia and Max. As entrepreneurs, we wear many hats and in today’s society, there is pressure to do and be perfect in every area of life, home and family.

I struggled with PPD after the birth of my second child and for a while it was the unconditional love and support from my husband, family and friends that helped me find myself again, push myself out of my comfort zone and get the help I need in order to be the best version of myself. I’ve felt so many times that I was failing at everything and yet I still managed to find time to plan the kids birthdays, travel around our beautiful state, make and meet so many fellow business owners killing the game and collaborate more than focusing on competing. It’s a great time to be alive as an entrepreneur!

I officially launched La Jolie Fête last August after my son’s 4th birthday party. I find inspiration for my business everywhere I look but most of it comes from experiences that I have with the kids. When I launched, we also debuted a signature luxury party goods collection, available online at our shop as well as several local stores in the Long Beach, Bixby Knolls and Los Alamitos area. We have been busier than ever this summer and are looking to expand from our home party studio into a retail and event space in the upcoming year!

Once I have my own space, I want to create a place for the boss babe community of like-minded women I love surrounding myself with, especially fellow moms who love to celebrate and create! I have expressed my creativity through many different mediums in my life; playing the violin, refurbishing antique furniture, becoming a marriage proposal planner and now my job today where I plan parties and special events daily.

Has it been a smooth road?
I was a few years into my contract with the United States Marine Corps before I decided that I was really going to take the next step in my plans to become an entrepreneur. By that time in my life, I had already accomplished the goals I had set for myself to meet and I was ready and eager for the next challenge. I was 20 years old, stationed in Okinawa, Japan when I became pregnant with my daughter.

While I was not expecting my life to change so drastically, I found myself taking a different route as a single mother and wanting to celebrate every precious moment of motherhood that I could. I began obsessing over creating the perfect parties to throw throughout her first year and the party planning business idea just stemmed organically from those experiences I had as a young mother.

While I was transitioning out of the Marine Corps, I met my amazing husband Nolan and we started to build a family of our own. I worked as a government contractor during the day and started college courses at Virginia State University three days after our son was born. When we moved from Virginia to California, I opted to take online classes at American Military University so I could continue my work without having to stop the momentum I had built going back to school later in life. I continued to complete my A.A. in Communications and eventually my B.A. in Entrepreneurship while my kids took naps and once they were down for the night.

I stressed, cried and worried daily that I wouldn’t succeed in my classes and it took a lot of time management to ensure that all of my assignments were completed on time but I did it with an unstoppable will and continued support and encouragement from my husband and family! In the last year of my classes (August 2017) I officially launched La Jolie Fête and I’ve been riding the wave of my startup journey ever since. In my first year, I’ve learned many things that weren’t taught to me in school and those times have been the best life lessons that no money could ever pay for.

The military taught me many skills that I use in my daily life and out of those disciplines, time management and a no-nonsense attitude about business have helped me excel in my first year. One of the pearls of wisdom that I like to share most with other women in business is there is enough for everyone to go around and the more we work together to collaborate instead of focusing on competing, the higher we can rise together. I’m looking forward to seeing what year two has in store for my business, I am ready to take on whatever challenges and successes head on!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with La Jolie Fête – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
La Jolie Fête is an always-evolving party studio here in the heart of California! We are party gurus, glitter enthusiasts and balloon aficionados creating unique designs all around the SoCal area, one party at a time! We have a signature collection of luxury party goods sold in our online shop and in several local stores in the local area.

As Veterans, we understand the importance of providing a professional, dependable service to all of our clients. Our team is made up of my husband and I, as we continue to grow we hope to hire other Veterans and give back to the military community.

Our services range from a DIY party-in-a-box to varying levels of event and party planning along with our most popular service at the moment, balloon installations. From grand openings and celebrity events to weddings and birthdays, our balloon arches and organic balloon designs have dazzled our clients each and every time! Although I am the more recognizable face of the brand, Nolan is a very important part of the day-to-day small business lifestyle.

He has been a constant supporter and source for lovingly grounding me and reminding me that I can accomplish anything I want for La Jolie Fête. With year one coming to an end soon we are ready to take on year two with big plans in mind! I’m ready to expand out of our home office and into a retail storefront with enough space to host events, sell and promote local party products and create original content for our website, social media and upcoming YouTube channel.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
One of my favorite things about Los Angeles is the fact that no two neighborhoods are the same. You can go from luxury living to the real streets in a matter of seconds, I love the energy and grind of the city and how it makes me feel alive each time I go whether it be for an event or quality time with my family.

Ugh. I’m sure it is repeated time and time again but the traffic! I was raised in the Midwest, have lived on both Coasts and overseas and no matter where I’ve been the traffic has never been as bad as it is in Los Angeles! I remember when we first moved here in 2014 and I cried when I saw how crazy the drivers and the traffic can be and now I’m one of them!

Contact Info:

• Address: 3520 Lemon Ave., Long Beach CA 90807
• Website: www.lajoliefete.com
• Phone: 815-904-2360
• Email: lajoliefete@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Stephanie Fashempour Photography (@stephfashphotog)

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