High school sweethearts Sabena and Isaac Carter take celebrations to the next level. On the couple’s second wedding anniversary, Sabena was looking for a special way to celebrate when she saw luxury picnics all over Pinterest.
Fact
Pronounced like “cubic”, QBIC is a combination of the creators’ initials.
“QB” for Sabena’s nickname, Queen Bean. “IC” for Isaac Carter.
“That would be kind of cute in a Sioux Falls park,” she thought.
With a picnic table already at her disposal, Sabena went thrifting, picked up food from Olive Garden, and told Isaac to meet her at McKennan Park.
The surprise luxury picnic was a success for the couple, and quickly became something they wanted to provide for others in the city.
A self described planner, Sabena has been organizing gatherings for years.
A QBIC Luxury picnic comes with the following assets:
LAP OF LUXURY
Boxed Water
Candles
Charcuterie Board
Custom Letterboard Message Sign
Low Level Picnic Table
Pillows & Blankets
Table Runner
Upscale Dining Ware
ADD ONS
Additional Picnic Hour
Bluetooth Speaker
Cake
Donuts
Facial Kit
Flower Bouquet
Games
Gift Boxes
Kayak or Pedal Boat
Kids Table
“Back in high school I used to throw themed dance parties,” she said, “so I was very complex with my planning, even at that time.”
After graduating from Southeast Technical College with a degree in entrepreneurship and business administration, Sabena was equipped with the skills to start a business of her own.
Isaac’s role in the business? “I’m definitely a support player,” he said. “She’s got a very entrepreneurial spirit, and I assist in any way I can. I’ve always got her back.”
In addition to supporting, Isaac came up with the name for the business by combining two sets of initials.
“I’ve always called her Queen Bean, that’s like my nickname for her,” said Isaac.
Those initials, Q.B., combined with Isaac’s own initials, I.C., forms QBIC.
Local Picnic Partners
– Blush Bakery
– Cultivated in Love
– Chef Ellen
– Face Foundrié
– Flyboy Donuts
– Flow and Paddle
– Wonderfully Made Co.
Together, the Carters form a team to personalize every picnic. Clients get their own colors, letterboard message, tablescape, and charcuterie board. There is no singular template for a picnic, so the results are always different and customized to the picnickers.
During one picnic, Isaac remembered, a yellow rose was significant to a couple celebrating 49 years together, so the Carters included the rose and other special touches.
“No two picnics have ever been the same.” – Sabena Carter
In their first year of business, QBIC organized around 100 picnics for the Sioux Falls area.
Though the majority of the picnics are for couples, birthdays, surprise parties, anniversaries, and date nights, all special occasions are welcome
Isaac and Sabena both have other jobs, but they agree that QBIC is a fulfilling side hustle and make sure they are available to provide as many picnics as possible.
“We make it available for anyone to have a picnic from 5-10 p.m. on weekdays and noon-10 p.m. on weekends,” said Sabena.
The Carters find that it is a very gratifying service to provide.
“You can see the excitement in their eyes,” Sabena said of her clients. The picnics are often a surprise for one or more of the guests.
“I love the relationships we’ve built.” – Sabena Carter
Isaac agrees: he loves to see guest’s reactions to “the excitement, the happiness, and the unique memory we brought them.”
The Carters always offer to take a photo for their clients before cleaning up the picnic, and have had the ability to witness more than a few proposals.
“It just makes me happy,” said Sabena.
With a successful first year under their belts, QBIC looks forward to expanding into more complex dinner party services and rentals.
For more information, visit QBICLUXURYPICNICS.COM.
