The rain didn't keep the brides away this past Sunday, September 17, at the Plano Bridal Show! Despite the much needed rain pour, we still continued to have an excellent show bring in over 400 brides out of over 1,350 attendees.

The show completely closed out with 102 vendors. Due to limited space at the Plano Centre we even had some companies on a waiting list for space. This show has grown to be so popular we are now booking far in advance up to September 2007. Exhibitors, don't forget to send in your commitment forms for next year to secure your space!

Congratulations!!

The tallies are in and we have the winners from the coupon contest at the Plano Bridal Show! (Prizes will be awarded on the Plano Bridal Show in March of 2007.)

1. First place: Perfect Wedding Guide--FREE 10 x 10 booth space
2. Second Place: Stardust Celebrations--$300 off
3. Third Place: Paper Moods--$150 off

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest. You are all winners because you helped bring more brides to your booth at the show!

Thank you!!

Thank you to Gerry with Roe & White Photography for taking pictures at the Fort Worth Bridal Show.

Thank you to Ruthie with Delicious Cakes for coordinating and sponsoring the Grooms Cake Decorating Contest!

...Then search no further than the Dallas Bridal Show!

Although the Plano Bridal Show has been credited for bringing in high-end business, upscale brides are in attendance at the Dallas Bridal Show as well!

Read the following testimonials from three exhibitors at the last Dallas Bridal Show regarding the high-end business they've received.

I do want to build my businesses.

If you agreed with all of these statements then you are a wise business owner/manager. Bridal Shows, Inc. brings the results to you through thousands of brides each year. With an extensive multi-media campaign that includes major newspaper & print media, network television stations, many radio stations, billboards, wedding publications, posters, direct mail, email notices, website exposure and TV shows, we are drawing the qualified attendee for your business.

Plan now to budget these quality shows into your marketing plan. As with any advertising, you will see more results by repetition of utilizing the same source if it is targeting your specific audience.

The importance of continued follow-up needs to be stressed throughout all businesses big and small. Most business owners are aware of the need for phone calls, mail-outs, email campaigns, etc. Bridal Shows, Inc. offers an easy way to ensure a pipeline of business throughout the year, but it does involve some effort.

Unfortunately, many businesses judge the success of a bridal show based on the weekend of the show alone. While many businesses do achieve sales and bookings at the show, the ultimate benefit of a show is the long-term success. Brides can be planning their wedding up to two-years in advance so you want to make sure they don't forget you in those two years!

Meeting the brides face-to-face at the bridal show helps you to get your foot in the door starting the courting process. Denise of Cheryl Denise Designs recently told us how implementing a follow-up plan has really changed her business. Read her testimonial below:

"We have been involved in Bridal Shows since the very beginning of our business. The best thing about being in the shows is that they hit our target-- brides. It gave us the opportunity to get face to face with people who are interested in our services and want to hear from us. While we had good success with the shows, we wanted to take our business to the next level. Earlier this year, we began working the lead list given to us at the end of every show. We have had tremendous results and have had a constant flow of brides in our business ever since."

Follow some of these ideas using your leads from the bridal show to achieve greater success:

• Gather leads at the show labeling them A, B, and C from hottest to coldest.
• Purchase a lead list from Bridal Shows, Inc. to hit the brides that may not have stopped at your booth.
• Send out a thank-you card after the show thanking the brides for visiting your booth.
• Make contact every one-two months via phone, email, or mail.
• Create a newsletter to continually offer new information to your leads.
• Send out seasonaly greetings, "Happy Thanksgiving, "Happy Fourth of July," etc...Keep your name in front of the bride!
• Track every single bride that comes to you and record how many brides have come from the bridal shows.
• Exhibit consistently in the bridal shows. Many times brides will attend 1-3 shows before their wedding and they will look for the same companies each time.

These are just a few ways to implement a follow-up plan. Companies that continually follow-up (more than just a few times) will have ten times more success than someone that does not.

Call us to learn more about how you can achieve the most success from exhibiting in the bridal shows!

Ruthie Stivers, of Bridal Shows Inc. and Delicious Cakes, lost her mother last week. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

We love you Ruthie and you are such a blessing to all of us.

James Nutt is the newest team member of Bridal Shows, Inc. James is an Account Executive with 15 years personal experience exhibiting with Bridal Shows, Inc. Now he is helping other companies achieve the success he found through the bridal shows. He is also working on building the Wedding Industry Trade Show to be a fun and informative event for all wedding businesses to attend! Welcome aboard James, we are happy to have you.

Bonnie Crumpton, Account Executive and Newsletter Editor, celebrated her four years with Bridal Shows, Inc. on September 17, 2007. She is excited about the growth she has seen in the company in the past four years and even more excited about the growth to come.

Listed below are some of the contributions Bonnie has made to Bridal Shows, Inc. in the past four years to improve our communication with our customers.

• Monthly Newsletters
• Updated User Friendly Forms
• Constant Contact Email Campaigns
• Construction and upkeep of various websites: Wedding Industry Trade Show, Exhibiting 101, Bridal Show Photo Pages, Newsletter Archives, etc.
• Help with the design and productions of several projects including the Bridal Shows, Inc. brochure, postcards, Exhibiting 101 workbooks, Informative Flyers, etc.

Congratulations Bonnie on your four years of hard work and dedication to Bridal Shows, Inc.

Tune in next month for the following articles:

"Business Insurance, why should I?"
by: Cheri Rubin, Crown Collection Veils and Tiaras and Jack Brown with Jack Brown Insurance.

"Dont Sweat the Small Stuff"
by: Jonathan Bostick, Pro Touch Sales Agency

If you have any requests or ideas for articles in future newsletters or would like to contribute a testimonial, please contact us at news@bridalshowsinc.com.

Bonnie Crumpton
Newsletter Editor