Exhibiting in an upcoming consumer trade show? Whether it is a bridal show or business show, Exhibiting 101 can give you essential tips to gain the most success out of exhibiting. For both new exhibitors as well as experienced exhibitors, everyone can learn something from this class.

Reservations are still available for the upcoming seminar on Thursday, November 9, at Hilton Park Cities.

Please visit our website for more information and RSVP today!!

The Dallas Bridal Show coming up on January 27-28, 2007, is already over 65 % booked! For 18 years, this show has helped wedding businesses build and sustain their business. But don't take our word for it! Listen to your peers!

Being a part of the Dallas Bridal Show has been one of the most positive experiences for my business. After doing the Dallas Bridal Show, I had a continuous flow of business from brides that I had met at the show. Within a 6-month period, I had a bride almost every week contact me for my services.

The staff of Bridal Shows, Inc. has been professional and positive and great to work with. I had clear communication in every area.

I will say that I have loved being able to build relationships with the girls and be a part of their special day. I love being a part of the bridal industry, and Bridal Shows Inc. has definitely played a part in my success.

I am blessed to know the brides and be a part of Bridal Shows, Inc.

Melody Ginn

If you would like to receive a complete testimonial packet please request one by emailing info@bridalshowsinc.com.

Would you drive your car without insurance? No.

Why would you operate a business without Liability Coverage that insures within your place of business and at shows?

Having Liability Coverage protects you and your business.

Picture this: A bride and her group are in your booth and someone trips and falls into your display resulting in multiple cuts and bruises. That person will file a suit against you. Do you have protection? Or are you being old fashioned thinking it will never happen to me?!

Stop and think. Be logical and protect yourself, your business, your clients, and be professional.

If you are a real business owner then you should have insurance. If you say "Oh I can't afford it" then cut back on something else.

~Cheri Rubin Crown Collection Veils and Tiaras

As wedding professionals we’ve all experienced the pain of rejection. It would certainly be nice if every bride we spoke to or made contact with decided to take advantage of our products or services. However it simply doesn’t work that way. The truth is that most of the brides we chase will not use our services. This is why it is imperative that we consistently and persistently fill our sales funnel with prospective brides. We must be diligent in our efforts to introduce our businesses to every bride available. This means we have to call her and/or e-mail her until she responds one way or the other. We can not be put off by the idea that we are bothering, upsetting, or harassing the bride. We must remember that she is planning a wedding therefore very likely in the market for our products and services. It should be easier for us to believe that we are advising, consulting, and assisting the bride with the many decisions that must be made.

To put this in perspective I would like to share the experience of a local wedding professional that has engaged in a very aggressive e-mail marketing campaign for the last 8 months. They make e-mail contact EVERY week with every available bride. As a result the interest in this business from the brides of Dallas has more than tripled. They of course receive replies to their e-mails that request to be taken off of the list, and those names are immediately deleted. However, this is a very small percentage of the brides on the list. This is the “small stuff” that can scare us away from the task of persistent marketing. The fact is that the majority of the brides are very responsive to the persistent marketing. They say things like “thank you so much for the e-mails, I forgot that I meant to call you.” Some of the brides on the list that are getting married late next year have received as many as 50 e-mail marketing messages and just responding as though they just got the first message.

The point is, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”. The growth of your business is buried in the list of brides made available to you. Don’t let a few keep you from marketing to the majority.

And no matter what don’t quit until they tell you to!!

Good Luck.

Jonathan W. Bostick, Pro Touch Sales Agency

Naomi's Notes is on hiatus this month as Naomi takes her one vacation of the year to tropical Hawaii! This year was even more exciting as she and her family experienced the earthquake on Sunday, October 15. Everyone was fine and still had a fantastic time. Naomi will try to give more details of their seismic adventure in the next newsletter.

The tragedy of 9-11-01 was difficult enough for all of us to absorb; try being a bride who was getting married that weekend. I'm sure that just as many that decided to cancel their wedding also decided to go on with it.

I have to admire the bride I had that weekend who decided to go on with her wedding--even though all of her family was in Canada. Within one hour of the tragedy, the bride's parents had a sense of urgency to get into their car and cross the border before it was closed. The parents were successful, but the rest of her family were not as lucky.

By noon that dreadful day, I called the bride and told her that if she decided to cancel, we would understand and not impose the penalty specified in the contract. She said that Saturday she was marrying her best friend and nothing could stop it. If something could stop them from being married, then she would have to rethink if they were ready to be husband and wife. She hoped her friends and family could witness the ceremony and have fun at her reception, but the wedding was not for their friends and family; it was for the couple. Wow, I was impressed by her attitude!

The bride told me her only regret was that her brother could not give the traditional family toast because he was not able to cross the Canadian border. I felt as though I wanted to do something special for this special couple. So, I connected a speaker phone to our ballroom sound system. Then I called her brother in Canada and told him to gather the family at his house and open a bottle of champagne precisely at 8:00pm.

When it was time for the toast, the bride addressed the group (with a tear in her eye) and asked if anyone would like to give a toast in her brother's place. At that moment, I dialed her brother and connected the loud speaker. He said, "Sis, it's me. I made it!" The bride's jaw dropped and she started to shake. He said, "I made it here by phone to give my toast after all." Well, there wasn't a dry eye in the room, including mine. She was the happiest bride I've ever seen--in spite of a national disaster.

article submitted by:

Teri Kinsey
Catering Manager/Wedding Specialist
Sheraton Grand Hotel

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