Inspiring Conversations with Alexis Reardon of Fanfaire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Reardon.

Hi Alexis, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I actually came into the event décor world from two directions at once. On one side, I was a balloon artist running my own business, experiencing first-hand how time-consuming and frustrating it could be to book clients, create visuals, and handle all the back-and-forth that comes with custom work. On the other side, I’d spent over a decade in the tech world, solving complex problems for companies that relied on software to simplify their operations and scale.

It was when I put those two experiences together that Fanfaire was born. I realized that what was missing in our industry wasn’t just another CRM or invoicing tool—it was a way to actually sell visually. Event décor is inherently visual, yet most of the tools available to decorators were built for photographers, planners, or generic service providers. None of them solved the problem of showing clients what something will look like and keeping pricing clear and consistent in real time.

So I built Fanfaire: the first and only platform designed for event professionals to sell their custom services online. Today, businesses use it to publish their designs in a digital storefront, collaborate with clients in real time, and manage everything behind the scenes. My story has really been about taking the struggles I lived through as a decorator, combining them with my background in tech, and creating a platform that makes life easier for thousands of other event pros trying to grow their business.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all—it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Technically, it was very challenging. I had the vision and created our initial prototypes and user experience, but bringing that to life required a tremendous amount of technical execution. That’s where Ryan, our CTO, came in—he’s been the one turning the complex systems and features into something that actually works at scale.

Beyond the technical hurdles, there’s also been the human side of change. We were introducing something brand new to an industry that had never sold visually before. Convincing decorators to shift their process, trust technology, and see the upside took time and persistence. Like most startups, there were also the realities of limited resources and wearing every hat just to keep momentum going.

One big breakthrough was the introduction of the Design Studio. It gave business owners a way to start with a familiar, Canva-like experience—only tailored for event stylists, with a rich image catalog, built-in pricing, and an easy way to fold it into their existing workflow. It’s both a valuable standalone tool and a natural first step toward modernizing their entire selling process with the full platform.

In the end, those struggles have shaped Fanfaire into what it is today—a platform that’s not only innovative, but also built hand-in-hand with the people it serves.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fanfaire?
Fanfaire is the first and only platform built specifically for event décor professionals to sell their custom services visually. We offer both front office tools—like our Digital Storefront and Collaboration Mode—and back office tools—like our Design Studio and Command Center. The front office is what truly sets us apart: client-facing experiences that allow customers to browse, design, customize, and even book on their own, all with real-time pricing that keeps everyone on the same page.

We’re best known for the Digital Storefront, which revolutionizes the way event pros sell. Instead of endless back-and-forth with screenshots, texts, and price lists, the storefront makes it simple for businesses to show clients what’s possible while protecting their margins and professionalism. Our recently launched Design Studio (U.S. July 2025) adds even more value on the back end—giving decorators a Canva-like way to create and publish designs, powered by a huge image catalog and integrated pricing. Together with our Command Center and Collaboration Mode, the platform covers everything from design to booking to payment.

Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that Fanfaire isn’t just software—it’s a movement. We’re helping small business owners modernize, look more professional, and grow with tools designed specifically for them, in an industry that’s been largely overlooked by tech.

If there’s one thing I’d want your readers to know, it’s this: Fanfaire isn’t just about saving time. It’s about unlocking new sales opportunities and giving event pros the power to sell more, book faster, and run their business all in one place.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
My perspective on risk is that it’s the price of innovation. Playing it safe keeps you stuck where you are. Taking smart, intentional risks is what moves you—and your business—forward.

When I built Fanfaire, I took a big risk leaving the security of a tech career because I knew, firsthand as a decorator, that our industry was missing something essential. The endless back-and-forth with clients, the screenshots, the spreadsheets, the old clunky systems—it was all slowing us down and keeping us from looking as professional as the work we actually create.

That’s why we led with the Digital Storefront. It was a risk to ask decorators to sell in a whole new way, but it’s also what sets Fanfaire apart: giving your clients a modern, visual store where they can browse, customize, and book—with real-time pricing keeping you in control. The result? Less back-and-forth, more bookings, and a brand presence that finally matches the quality of your designs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fanfaire.io
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fanfaire.io/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090825616809
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fanfaire
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fanfaire.software
• Other: https://skool.com/fanfaire