Marketing, Culture, and the Power of Saying No | The Venue RX

On this week’s episode of the Venue Rx Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Meredith Schwartz, CEO of Here Comes the Guide, for a conversation packed with insight on venue marketing, leadership, and sustainable growth. Meredith shares the story behind building and scaling Here Comes the Guide into an all-women, values-driven company, while reflecting on the evolution from print to digital and the unique ways their team continues to serve venues across the industry.Meredith shares insight on managing remote teams, maintaining company culture, and why Here Comes the Guide has remained committed to a non-commissioned sales approach. She also gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and strategy behind the popular “Marketing the Murder Barn” educational series and how storytelling can become a powerful marketing tool for venues. Meredith also discusses time management, setting boundaries as a business owner, and practical advice for venue owners navigating difficult decisions and seasons of growth.About Our Guest: Meredith Schwartz is the CEO of Here Comes the Guide, a leading wedding venue resource that helps couples discover venues and helps venue owners grow their businesses through marketing and education. Having joined the company in 1997 as one of its earliest employees, Meredith has played a major role in transforming the business from a print publication into a nationally recognized digital platform serving thousands of venues and engaged couples across the country.Known for her people-first leadership style, Meredith leads Here Comes the Guide as an employee-owned, all-women company focused on strong culture, flexible work policies, and sustainable growth. She is passionate about creating a workplace that supports both meaningful careers and balanced lives, while pioneering remote work strategies long before they became mainstream.In addition to leading Here Comes the Guide, Meredith is the creator behind educational resources like Venue Business Boot Camp and the “Marketing the Murder Barn” series, where she shares practical marketing strategies and business insights for venue owners. She is also the co-host of the popular Currently Reading podcast, where she combines her love of books, storytelling, and conversation.Find Her Here: Here Comes The Guide:Website: https://www.herecomestheguide.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herecomestheguide/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/8554093942/Venue Business Boot CampWebsite: https://venuebusinessbootcamp.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venuebusinessbootcamp/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Venue-Business-Boot-Camp-61579734955499/