When most restaurants were closed or offered limited services due to COVID-19 lockdowns, Hollie Mitchell, like many others, turned to the outdoors for special occasions with friends and family.
Now Mitchell works with customers to take the experience of a day at the park to the next level through her pop-up luxury picnic rental business Newport Picnic Co.
“We’re really trying to give people an easy way to spend a perfect day at the park without any cleanup or the hassle of bringing all their stuff out,” Mitchell said.
A rental package includes blankets, tables, dishes and silverware, along with decor and a personal stylist to tailor the outing’s aesthetic.
Customers can bring their own food or coordinate with Newport Picnic for delivery from a partnering business.
The business most commonly caters to micro-events such as bachelorette parties, birthdays, date nights and proposals.
Mitchell didn’t expect much fanfare when she launched the company ahead of summer 2021. A full-time special education teacher, she thought it could be “a nice summer gig” and attract a handful of bookings.
Instead, she had more than 100 bookings in her first summer in business.