Meet Mary Ann Meyer of Concept Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ann Meyer.

Hi Mary Ann, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We saw a need in our downtown area for a place for people to host parties, weddings, business meetings, and other events where people could style gatherings in a way that would match their vision, and the venue would be a beautiful backdrop. We searched for months for just the right place, knowing that the location and the “vibe” would be essential to what we were trying to convey. When we did come across just the right place (almost the same day that they put up the “for rent” sign), we immediately knew we had found the right space. Three months later, after adding a new floor, lighting, restroom and kitchen setup, we were open for business. Our venue has a cool modern but classic look, and our clients always bring in fresh ideas for decorating and hosting their events.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey has been pretty smooth, but not without some pitfalls. Besides COVID, our biggest struggle has been with the rededication of our downtown area and all the construction that has gone along with that. Our main street, which runs right in front of our building, was closed for seven to eight months. Traffic and parking were almost non-existent, and it took some creative planning and accommodating to get all of our events to a successful completion. Last year we had a major building explosion downtown, which closed streets and businesses for several days. The cleanup and removal of the destruction took months, which, when added to the road construction, really turned people away from our downtown area. But we persisted with our plan and did whatever it took to make every client happy.
I am involved with several downtown business groups that are heavily focused on getting our community back to shopping, enjoying restaurants, and participating in community events to the downtown area.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Concept Studio?
Concept Studio is a unique, intimate event space in downtown Youngstown, Ohio. We opened for business in 2019. Our clients host showers, weddings, graduations, business events, art shows, small-business vendors markets. Anything that brings people together. With a maximum guest count of 70 guests, we offer tables, chairs, linens, and a prep kitchen for caterers to use. Our guests are free to bring in their own food and beverages rather than being limited to what a standard venue with catering offers.
The building that we rent is over 120 years old, and our space has the original brick walls on the inside with a 14′ high ceiling, industrial style chandelier, ceiling lights, and new flooring, giving the space a unique feel that sets us apart from the typical event venue. It’s a real change from painted walls and fluorescent lighting.
We pride ourselves on our impeccable customer service, as evidenced from our 5-star ratings across social media and our website. There is always a coordinator on hand for the day of each event, and careful pre-planning and communication with each client ensures that everything is exactly as the client envisions. If a last-minute problem should arise, we make sure it is handled with no disruption to the guests or the event plan. Over half of our bookings come from customer referrals.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I graduated from college with a teaching degree, then spent 42 years in the automotive industry starting in sales and working up to managing an automobile wrecking yard. This is where I learned a most important lesson–there are lots of businesses that do what you do, but to be successful you need to set yourself apart with customer service that is second to none.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.conceptstudioevents.com
• Instagram: @con.ceptstudio
• Facebook: /Con.ceptStudioEvents