Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Johnson.
Hi Nikki, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, I first took interest in preparing food as a child for my grandfather. He was a diabetic that required specific dietary needs.
At that time is also the age I started preparing meals for our very large family. By the age of 14, I worked in a floral shop in Fairbanks, AK. And after high school, I worked in corporate America for 20 years and used my passion as a hobby.
Eventually, I left the corporate sector and pursued my passion and my calling for catering and event planning. Truly this is God’s given talent provided with the help of my beloved family.
Without my amazing daughter, husband, mother, aunts, and other close friends, A Family Affair wouldn’t even exist. They are the heart of my business, and it truly shows when we host our clients at their events.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting from scratch we faced several challenges. Building a new company without having a footprint in the area was our biggest challenge. After growing up in Fairbanks, AL, I decided it was time to move back home (Georgia) to be closer to other relatives and mainly to escape the cold.
Moving back, I literally knew no one except my family. Fast forwarding after I exited the corporate sector, I took a step on faith in starting AFAC as my full-time job. It was very difficult to build a clientele that was confident in our capabilities because we were a new business! Thankfully, we now have all wonderful clients we consider family.
Trying to make it as a self-employed entrepreneur isn’t easy for anybody, therefore I had a few bumps in the road but nothing as significant as the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, we all know the world felt like it completely stopped, and as for our business, our events significantly decreased in numbers.
Even with the events held during the pandemic, we’ve done things completely different compared to pre-pandemic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
A Family Affair Catering and Events is a full-service corporation specializing in food, florals, decor, and most importantly hospitality. We’re very diverse in the different types of events we host, but recently weddings have been the majority of our events, which is great because we’re considered a “One-Stop-Shop.”
In addition to all of the catering (cocktail hour, dinner buffet, china plates, cutlery, glassware), florals & decor (linen, floral centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony decor), we also fulfill many other vendor roles such as a DJ, bartending, day-of-coordination, cake/bakery services, pipe and drape, and anything else your heart desires.
We even have a recommended photography & videographer list that we give clients who haven’t had any luck in fulfilling those roles. The goal for our clients is to show up dressed and ready to have a good time!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Our faith is the main star of the show when keeping us motivated and determined to get through each event.
It’s customary that we say three prayers throughout the event day: one before we take off for departure, one before we serve our guests, and one at the end of the night to be grateful that the day went amazing and that our clients are happy.
Oh, Pinterest is also an honorable mention.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.afamilyaffaircaterer.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/afamilyaffair.ga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nikki.prosserjohnson
Image Credits
Birdsong Louis Photography, Precious T Photography, Sierra Dykes Photography, and Audrey Herron Photography
