HSM: You started a company called All About Brooklyn Concierge that offers customized concierge and lifestyle management services to assist people in meeting the demands of their personal and professional lives. What was the inspiration to launch this type of business?
SHARON BEASON: I started All About Brooklyn Concierge because I no longer wanted to be a part of the extremely demanding corporate world. If I was going to give anything my blood, sweat and tears it would be my own company. Brooklyn runs through my blood and I saw right under my very nose how Brooklyn began going upscale: luxury condo developments, major hotel chains, upscale restaurants and clothing boutiques. After some research I realized there was a "need" to be fulfilled with the new wave of individuals moving to Brooklyn; and I haven't looked back since! I love what I do; there's always something new, I learn so much and it keeps me busy. It's great developing and fostering relations with both clients and vendor affiliates and I love the rush of fulfilling a last minute request! And there's nothing like building trust and integrity with those you do business with.
SHARON BEASON: The idea for Brooklyn Perks came about around October 2008 - the economy was weakening and I wanted to give back to the Brooklyn community any way I could. There are so many wonderful shopping and dining venues Brooklyn-wide but most often individuals think nothing exciting exists beyond the downtown Brooklyn areas - Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, DUMBO,etc. But, I wanted the entire Brooklyn to be able to receive access to exclusive discounts and valuable savings - henceforth the birth of Brooklyn Perks. It's also a great way to encourage individuals to dine/shop in Brooklyn - one participant told me so many people were flabbergasted to know there was such great shopping/dining in Brooklyn - but unfortunately they only realized it during the last Transit strike!
HSM: What are some of the more ordinary ( & extraordinary) concierge services your clients would hire you for and what areas do you service?
SHARON BEASON: We do any and everything (providing it's legal/ethical) to allow extremely busy individuals to enjoy life's biggest luxury - time! You can check out a listing listing of our services (non-all inclusive) at: http://www.allaboutbrooklyn.
The majority of our clients exist in Brooklyn, but we also have clients in Manhattan, California, the South. Some of our requests (ordinary and extraordinary):
Ordinary requests
- Bi-coastal clients: arrange car service, dinner reservations, theater reservations, gift shopping, stocking refrigerator
- Brooklyn/Manhattan clients: arranging/accepting vendor appointments, vendor referrals, collecting mail/papers, providing wait-staff service for those who entertain at home, travel planning/coordination, small-scale event planning, sporting and concert tickets, handyman appointments, stocking refrigerator, dry cleaning drop-off and pick up.
- Ex-Brooklyn clients: gift shopping/delivery for their relatives who still reside in Brooklyn - cakes, flowers, food, chocolate
Extraordinary requests:
- Extraordinary: well...just the other day a client lost her ring in her backyard garden...took me an an employee an hour and a half to find it amongst the grass and shrubs...but it's always extremely rewarding fulfilling some one's needs!
- arranged the stuffing of a deceased pet cat (i was kinda grossed out, but i learned quite a bit about the pet stuffing business!)
- arranged for the shipment of crabcakes from Maryland for a client's anniversary dinner
- an executive client forgot her shoes for a very important meeting: omg...i literally couldn't get myself or an employee to the city in time...so an employee's friend went to Aerosole's...we were literally emailing my client pics of diff shoes...hilarious!
- See this link for really extraordinary requests: http://www.allaboutbrooklyn.
com/samplerequests.htm - See the Daily News article for an extraordinary request from a bi-coastal client: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_
local/brooklyn/2008/01/27/ 2008-01-27_brooklyns_very_own_ concierge_does_banner.html
Prices/Special Savings:
- 15% off concierge services to HSM readers if they mention HSM: offer expires March 30th email: info@allaboutbrooklyn.com or call 718-859-0229
- The Brooklyn Perks Savings Card cost $19.95 - but willing to offer it for $14.95 until the end of February (will send a Paypal invoice to those interested) by sending an email to: bkperks@allaboutbrooklyn.com or calling 718-859-0229
Downtown Women's Club (www.downtownwomensclub)
- Sharon Beason also is the Director of the newly launched Downtown Women's Club-Brooklyn Chapter. If any one's interested in attending our Feb 24th launch event, they can rsvp at: http://www.downtownwomensclub.
com/boscal/event.php?calendar= 5&category=&event=1266&date= 2009-02-24 - If they're interested in becoming a DWC+ premium member, they can mention "Brooklyn" and save $10 off the annual $49 fee!
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