Since you are a wedding planner, you may have caught the attention of people who sell space at bridal fairs and expos. These can range from small events sponsored by local a local wedding venue to events run by companies that specialize in producing bridal shows. They all may promise wonderful opportunities for exposure to brides but not all shows can deliver as much as their marketing would have you believe.
™
Here are 7 questions to ask show management before you decide to invest the money and time to participate:
1) What brides are in their target market?
Some bridal fairs target brides who are planning high-end weddings, some cater to brides who have an average budget. If the show is not targeting the same brides that you handle, you will not be meeting the qualified brides that you need. Ask to see statistics from previous events and talk to vendors who have exhibited in the past to find out if the show attracted the clients you are looking for and if they were able to close sales. Also ask how and where the event is being advertised and if your name and web address are included in the advertising.
If the event appeals to you but you are unsure of attendance, you can be an exhibitor and take the risk that qualified prospects will be there. It might be a learning experience for you and an opportunity to network with other wedding vendors. Or you can be an attendee, network among others to see if there is interest in what you offer, and decide whether or not you want to participate in the future.
2) Is the fair or expo part of a conference with speakers?
Some wedding events have workshops with speakers giving advice on wedding planning, selecting a caterer, selecting a wedding cake and many other topics that are of interest to brides. If this is the case, you will want to make sure the attendees have plenty of time to visit the exhibit area to meet you. If the event does not dedicate a portion of their schedule just for visiting exhibits, your will be fighting with the speakers to get the attention of the audience, and the speakers usually win.
3) Who are some of the other vendors?
You want to be in the company of high-quality vendors. If the vendors already participating would generally not be the ones you want to network and exchange referrals with, this probably isn't the right show for you. Also, if a number of other wedding planners will be participating, you will need to make sure your booth at the event really stands out.
4) How much is booth space and what do you get for the price?
An exhibit space may just be a six foot table, a "booth" made of pipe and drape with a draped table Palais Garnier wedding and a couple of chairs, or a large space that needs a freestanding booth that you buy or rent. Find out what you get and, if you need electricity and/or wireless Internet to show your website, make sure these items are included in the price.
While you are thinking of your budget, don't forget to factor in the cost of any marketing materials you want to distribute at the fair, your travel, and your time. Ask yourself, "Will it be worth taking the time away from my office to do this?"
5) Can you select your booth location?
Members of the organization hosting the event, past exhibitors and people buying the largest booth spaces usually get to select first. Highly trafficked areas are at the front, near the entrances.
6) How many hours will you have to stay in the booth?
If you are a one person business, you will have to decide whether or not it would be worth your time to be in a booth versus working with clients or marketing your wedding planning business elsewhere. If the hours are such that you will need to hire people to help you, figure out if it would be worth it to not only have staff with you but also to adequately train them.
7) Will you have time to follow up on your leads?
It doesn't do any good to get qualified prospects if you don't have the time to follow up after the show. Have a timeline and strategy in place for contacting prospects and potential business partners for follow up before you involve yourself in an event. If you don't, any time and money you spend will have been wasted.
Bridal fairs and expos can be wonderful opportunities for meeting new clients and business partners but review each opportunity closely to make sure participating would be worth your investment of time and money.
Weddings are without a doubt among the happiest moments in a person's life. But, this significant occasion doesn't always come as blissfully as the occurrence itself. Since a great many couples might not have plenty of time to scrutinize everything, they might require assistance from a dependable wedding planner.
Wedding planners are a huge help these days specially to couples who barely have enough time to get the whole thing for the wedding carried out. If you are one of these couples, then you might try browsing the web for websites that offer facts on wedding day planners or browsing the yellow pages for services.
Getting that big help
Indeed, the process of listing and cutting down the whole lot into specific aspects - the wedding date, the venue, the reception, the caterer, the clothes designer of the dress and suit, all the way to the wedding ceremony coverage - are the spheres where stress ordinarily starts.
However, if you acquire aid from a dependable wedding planner, things will be loads easier and stress free. For years, couples entrusted their wedding day planning to wedding day organizers to make their special occasion more special. They do this by supplying full or partial service in terms of planning the event.
Most wedding planners offer their clients established yet fantastic ideas and design to match the individual or couple's character(s). What is fundamental about wedding organizers is that the employees take time to get to know the client initially prior to proposing anything.
Since they want to make certain that their clients, mostly soon-to-be brides and grooms, will have the wedding they warrant, they ask them to arrange a meeting. This is rather advantageous because the pair is presented with time to organize their diary and devote the time they have selected to talk about their dream wedding day particulars. Once the meeting is established, the wedding ceremony planner will gather a little information about what is to be discussed and get some suggestions from the happy couple so they are in a position to prepare packages and other offers for the client.
When it concerns ideas, wedding planners are great as they check that they present the customer individual ideas and conceptions. They can also customize a set up upon the request of the customer. What is good about wedding planners is that they have staff who are very refined and warm. They're very thoughtful when it concerns your ideas and do not advise anything unless their views are called for.
While planners help heaps in the whole wedding day planning operation, they may not address everything required for the event. This is because the bulk of them only focus on specific factors of the wedding. To ensure that the whole thing will be addressed, make the whole thing clear throughout the appointment. Make sure that you get their assurance in providing you with an orderly wedding itinerary in addition to first-rate catering, stunning setting, artistic decorations, and a quality service as assured during your meeting.
For more free tips and guidance on friendship,wedding and relationship, be sure to visit our internet website- wedding information for all kinds of friendship,wedding and relationship information.