Interview with Lesley-Anne Henderson

Lesley-Anne launched Hen-Do Events in June 2019 with the mission to create stress-free events with the freedom for you to have a day filled with everything you love and no judgement.

”When I launched, there was a huge gap in the market for Hen Party days in Edinburgh a little different to the usual offers which has proven to be a great success and most recently added a travel section so now you can have the most fun, anywhere in the world! Disco, festivals & tons of fun are the main ingredients in your events along with hours, if not days spent putting careful consideration into creating days which are unique to both you and your party. I equally believe in transparency and taking a realistic approach to your planning so you’re not left with any unwanted surprises and this mixed with your main ingredients make for a pretty sweet day!”

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What inspired you to start your own business, and what challenges did you face in the initial stages of entrepreneurship?

I've coordinated events for over 15 years which were mainly corporate events which involved very repetitive days and working in pretty toxic environments which eventually took it's toll on me and I had to leave due to stress. I didn't want to give up events altogether and spent time thinking what kind of events I'd love to do that I could bring something new and exciting to - and the answer was Hen Parties & Girls’ Days! Edinburgh was crying out for activities a little different and so the process began!

Challenges I faced initially were getting other suppliers on board. Since there was nothing to measure the success against, it was a case of them putting their trust in me to deliver, which I did.

How do you maintain a work-life balance while running a successful business?

Every Sunday off. Without fail, I need to take that 1 day to spend recharging the batteries, reviewing my week and spending some proper time with my fiancé which is always so worth it at the end of the working week!

Can you share a significant milestone or achievement that you are particularly proud of in your entrepreneurial journey?

I would say being recognised enough to win a few awards which has been a little surreal but equally really very lovely to be recognised for the work I've put into the business over the last 5 years.

Have you experienced any gender-related obstacles or biases since starting your own business?

My service is aimed at women so I don't have that problem although I'm always open minded enough to welcome any of the men who want to join in the fun!

How do you empower and support other women in business?

I've always been a huge believer in supporting your fellow women and when I have the time will always make sure to share other female led business' posts to help them be more visible. There's no point winning the race alone when we all started at the same place.

What role has mentorship played in your career, and how has it influenced your growth as a business owner?

Feel it's only right to give a huge shout out to my mentor Orlaith Brogan who has played a huge part in me running a successful business. Not only does she teach you the best skills you could ever learn as a business woman, she is an abundance of support and makes you feel like a brand new woman after every interaction. Thank you Orlaith!

How have you found marketing your business – has it been easy for you, or have you found it quite difficult?

I love the marketing side! I thrive on learning about people, what makes them tick, what triggers them to buy and what influences them. It's fascinating and has helped me find marketing extremely easy.

What are your main marketing activities, and what do you find works best for you?

Social media plays a huge part in my marketing. Although recent algorithm changes make it a little more difficult to reach your ideal audience, I feel it pushes you to make better content. I do have a blog running in the background although it's not been updated for a while so I should really add that to the never ending to-do list...

Can you discuss a time when you had to pivot or adapt your business strategy?

Most likely the same answer for many small businesses but Covid forced a huge pivot! There was only so much sitting around indoors you could manage before you went insane and not one to sit still for very long, I wanted people to still have some kind of fun during a miserable period in our lives. So I made the decision to bring the indoors out and offered garden parties to people with a few limited activities and it ended up being a huge success! Then when venues opened back up again, I did a huge drive to encourage people to book into bars and restaurants again which was equally successful so I always feel proud I was able to help somehow during that time.

Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations for your business?

Going forward, destination hens & girls trips are top of the list! I've recently added a travel section where people can book package holidays to popular European destinations with some activities thrown in to save them the headache of planning this for a group of girls. So do make sure you keep an eye on my socials for recommendations, destination inspiration and special deals available to followers only :)