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Tips for Professionals

Here are some ideas for improving your business and statistics to put it all in perspective.

We suggest you print these pages for a handy reference!

  • NEW Hot Tips: How to Market Your Business on the Internet!
  • Naming Your Business
  • Tips on designing a business card
  • When advertising...
  • Looking for a store?
  • Wedding Networking Tips
  • Your pricing
  • Wedding Business Strategies
  • Outline of a Newsletter
  • Things Any Business Can Sell The Bride
  • Incorporating your business
  • Own one of these domain names
  • Get To The Point At Bridal Shows
  • Wedding Industry Statistics
  • Marriages by the month
  • Wedding Costs By Category
  • Honeymoon Statistics
  • Off the Charts

Naming Your Business

Try to think of a name that combines a logo and slogan and puts your name to work for you. Also try to use a name that can indicate to the consumer what service you provide.

Examples:

  • On Time Limousines
  • Dynamic DJ's
  • Unique Bridals

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Tips on designing a business card that acts a marketing tool

1) Make it double size and fold in half to get more complete information about your company
2) Make a special offer on the back of your card (Bring this in for ______
3) Build credibility and perceived level of professionalism by including professional affiliations like an association logo (Member of Association ____)
4) Include a guarantee (Guaranteed delivery within one week)
5) List your menu of services as benefits (custom invitations without the customary wait)
6) Accentuate what your competitors are overlooking
7) Have unique artwork of logo and carry it forward on your sales material
8) Add something useful to the card: example: two year calendar, important phone numbers for them to fill in by category of service, phone numbers of airlines

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When advertising, address these challenges for increased response:

1) Define your customer
2) Tell a story in your ad about your customer
3) Use words that will resound in their mind
4) Express how you can benefit them
5) Get to the point
6) Think about the words you choose

Looking for a store?

When looking for a storefront location, find a location that has visibility near a business that is the preceding rung on the planning ladder. A photo studio, or entertainment company would benefit by locating near a caterer and being seen as the prospects leave the facility. A florist or invitation business would benefit being located near a busy bridal shop.

Wedding Networking Tips:

Think of any business that sells to the bride (not just for her wedding) and network with them. They include:

  • furniture stores
  • travel agents
  • make-up artists and hair stylists
  • jewelers
  • realtors
  • insurance agents

Develop relationships with a reputable individual in each category and refer your customers to them. They will refer customers to you and it won't cost you any advertising or commissions.

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Indications your price is too low:

  • You're making the same or lower net profit on higher sales volume.
  • No one complains about your price and customers purchase without haggling.
  • A customer asks if an old quote is still good

Indications your prices are too high:

  • Low closing ratio
  • You receive complaints about what is not included in your price
  • You get calls from clients who want to cancel because they found someone else.
  • You have a tough time explaining your prices

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Wedding Business Strategies

  • Define your niche
  • Fight for the best customers, not all customers
  • Develop great relationships with your suppliers
  • Emphasize service, knowledge and expertise
  • Find out why people didn't buy from you
  • Differentiate from your competition. Look for exclusivity
  • Band together with other non-competing wedding professionals and exchange referrals, leads and joint promotions
  • Think about up-sells and cross sells
  • Look for quality employees and make it worth while for them to stay with you
  • Remember your customer's names
  • Keep in touch with your customers after the wedding and encourage them to refer you
  • Show that you care and have outstanding customer service
  • Accept credit cards
  • Use an integrated marketing approach: Network, mail, telemarket and participate at bridal shows

Outline of a Newsletter you can customize for your brides:

  • Welcome new customers to the towns they live in.
  • Helpful hints
  • New products
  • Talk about customer service
  • Talk about unique wedding customs
  • Time frames required to accomplish services
  • Offer important phone numbers, like for marriage license

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Things Any Business Can Sell The Bride

  • Invitations and Announcements
  • Marriage Certificates
  • Bridal Memory Books
  • Guest Books and Pens
  • Photo Albums
  • Ringbearer Pillows
  • Flowergirl Baskets
  • Cake Tops
  • Toasting Glasses
  • Unity Candles
  • Gloves
  • Garters
  • Wedding CDs and Tapes
  • Dyeable shoes and purses
  • Bridesmaids and Ushers Gifts
  • Reference Books and Planners
  • Wedding Bubbles and Bells
  • Single Use Cameras
  • Favors
  • Jewelry for bride and attendants

For a comprehensive list of suppliers click here

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Incorporating your business.

Every wedding professional that deals with wedding day services should incorporate. In the unlikely possibility that you may be involved in a major lawsuit because of underperformed service or an injury, having corporation protects you from being personally liable. Legally your personal assets are protected. All that can be attached are the assets of your corporation. For businesses that sell only merchandise or invitations, incorporating is not as essential. Here are some websites that will educate you on how to structure your business.

www.courttv.com/legalhelp/business/sites.html
www.lectlaw.com/files/buo06.htm
www.lectlaw.com/files/buo03.htm

Place your bid to own one of these domain names.

www.bridalgownsdirect.com
www.christmascardsdirect.com

Click here for more information

Get To The Point At Bridal Shows

You have very little time to get the bride's attention. Here are some powerless language habits to do away with at shows

1) Words that weaken impact such as somewhat, maybe and perhaps.
2) Hesitation sounds such as mm, uhm, but, you know, and uh.
3) Needless words that are meant to emphasize but do not such as really, very, probably, and kind of.
4) Rhetorical questions such as: This is beautiful isn't it?
5) No phrases that breed lack of confidence such as "I am not sure" and "I don't think".

Get the bride excited and get her into your place of business by being on your best foot.

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Wedding Industry Statistics

 

2006 U.S. Wedding Market Overview

provided by www.theweddingreport.com


The 2006 U.S. Wedding Market is expecting slow growth
with 2,219,000 estimated weddings and an estimated average wedding cost of $26,400.00. The estimated market value for items directly associated with
weddings is expected to reach $58.5 Billion. Including direct and indirect
items the total estimated market value for the U.S. could reach $139.7
Billion. To download a comprehensive report and statistics of the U.S. wedding market click here

For more information about the U.S. and State Wedding Markets; including Wedding Industry Trends, News & Market Research visit: www.theweddingreport.com

 

Bride's Planning Behavior

48% wish they can take a leave of absence from work to be able to plan their wedding on a full time basis.

During an average 13 month engagement, eight hours a week is spent planning.

53% find planning interfering with their work or studies

Top worries:

Going over budget - 65%

Forgetting a crucial detail - 50%

Not having a fun reception - 39%

People not showing up - 25%

Source: Association of Bridal Consultants from Bride's Magazine reader survey

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