HER STORY ⟡ Christina Elsass
Hello! I’m Christina Elsass, owner of Mojave East!
WHAT IS MOJAVE EAST:
Mojave East is a unique event space in Cincinnati designed for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and any creative experience. I grew up in California, and the concept/vibe was inspired by time I spent on the west coast and escapes to the inspiring and tranquil desert. My business partner/husband (who has worked in the event/wedding industry for 13 yrs) and I also saw an opportunity to bring a modernized venue and unique gathering space to the area. The idea is to feel like you’ve escaped to a destination far away in a matter of minutes. When we found the nearly abandoned and very run down 1950s warehouse in Newtown, we knew it was the one! We had to really reach into our imaginations to bring it to life.
BEING A FIRST TIME BUSINESS OWNER:
With a heavy history of working in corporate environments, I had to completely change my way of excelling outside of 'the structure'. As the business owner, no one is going to help train or teach you anything new, and so you have to actively seek information out (sometimes just Google it!). I've learned to better balance short term and long term goals, and be strategically ready for any business challenges. I have become tenfold more confident in my leadership skills and the ability to make a decision for the business, knowing there is always a risk. I now see risk as a positive.
ADVICE TO NEW ENTREPRENEURS:
Be prepared to constantly reimagine/rework your business. Things will never go exactly as you expect, and what you put on paper may evolve into something completely different in real life. Embrace where it takes you and also find that inner grit to keep persevering. Your business will never feel 'settled', that's the exciting part if you can see it that way.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU:
I’m inspired by travel and social experiences that help me to think creatively about the business and the space, when it comes to creating an environment for special moments and creative gatherings. I’m also lucky enough to have many women business owners in my life to bounce ideas off of. We are all experiencing growth and challenges in our small businesses. I am inspired by my husband, who was the first entrepreneur in the family, and who has run his business successfully for 13 years. Whenever I meet someone new that has that ‘it’ energy and is passionate about what they do, that inspires me to keep moving forward and reimagine.
CONNECT WITH US:
Website: https://mojaveeast.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mojaveeast/
Email: hello@mojaveeast.com
