The Dallas Bridal Show on January 27-28, 2007 is right around the corner! There are still spaces available but many of the categories are closing out. For example, the facility category closed out one week before the Dallas January 2006 show. That same category will most likely close out by this week- -one month before the Dallas January 2007 show. We limit all categories to make sure we have a well- balanced show and everyone is successful. Please call today to find out if your category is still open.

We are excited to see the January Dallas Bridal Show grow every year and plan on seeing over 3,000 brides out of over 10,000 attendees. In addition to that we are looking forward to an appearance by Dr. Laura, sponsored by The Word 100.7 FM.

Don't miss out on the wonderful opportunity to meet brides face to face and gain a rich lead source to work throughout the year.

For information regarding exhibiting in the Dallas Bridal Show please call 972-713-9920 or email us at info@bridalshowsinc.com.

Our e-newsletter has now seen it's year anniversary and has grown in subscriptions and interest this past year. We now have nearly 650 wedding businesses subscribing to the monthly newsletter.

Thank you to all of our subscribers for making this format for information and networking such a success.

Some companies have inquired about advertising on the newsletter and we have determined the following:

• Companies currently exhibiting in any of our bridal shows have the opportunity to advertise through our newsletter for free! (limited number for each issue)
• Any other company currently not exhibiting in the shows has the option to advertise in the newsletter (limited number for each issue) at $100 per issue.

Advertisements may include any or all of the following:

• Company Logo (or one photo)
• Up to 50 word description/commercial
• Link to company website
• Company contact info

Please remember, this newsletter is NOT sent to brides! The subscribers are fellow wedding businesses. (Wedding Coordinators, Country Clubs, Photographers, Hotels, Florists, Boutiques, Bakeries, etc.) Networking is so important in the bridal industry so this is a great way to let others know about you.

Many of you know Ruthie Stivers as the owner of Delicious Cakes. But long before Ruthie was selling cakes she has been part of the Bridal Shows, Inc. team currently as our Media Representative. In fact as of this month, Ruthie has been working with Bridal Shows, Inc. for 18 years!

Ruthie has helped build the bridal shows by working together with Naomi to create our effective mass media radio and television campaigns to ensure a high attendance at all of our shows to bring brides and bridal businesses together!

Ruthie, thank you for 18 years of hard work, dedication, and loyalty. We love you!

Last year we began requiring all exhibitors in our bridal shows to present a certificate of insurance naming Bridal Shows, Inc. as additional insured to confirm that all companies currently hold business general liability insurance. We understood that this new rule would take some time for everyone to get their insurance in order and gave them a year to work out all of the kinks.

Starting with the Dallas Bridal Show on January 27- 28, 2007, the insurance certificate will be required of all show exhibitors before they set-up for the show.

We are very pleased with the majority of exhibitors that already have an certificate of insurance in for upcoming shows. For those few still remaining, please make sure your certificate of insurance is on file with our office before you set-up for the show.

Sometimes, there can be a waiting period, so check with your agent to make sure you have everything done ahead of time so that your effective date is before you show up to set-up.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact your Account Executive or Naomi at 972-713-9920.

What do these numbers represent? They are the main timeframes of when a bride is getting married from when she attends a bridal show.

It used to be consistently 6-12 months and maybe some would stretch to 18, but after tracking the registered brides for some time now, we have seen this trend change.

There is now a certain percentage of brides that are planning way ahead--24 months out, and a few even farther than that. Take a look at the following statistics:

• 1-6 months : 27-35%
• 7-12 months: 48-53%
• 13-18 months: 11-15%
• 19-24 months: 1-3 %
• 25 + months: 1%

When you exhibit in a bridal show, keep in mind that your leads will first start turning into sales approximately 6 months after a show up to 2 years. That means if you wait until the July 2007 show before exhibiting, it will be about a year from now before you start seeing results. The key is to jump start your business as soon as you can and to keep the bride leads coming in on a consistent basis.

Exhibiting in the January Dallas Bridal Show will put you in front of 3,000 brides. That's just brides, not even counting the friends and parents that attend with the bride. The July Dallas Bridal Show will put you in face-to-face contact with 2,000 brides. The Fort Worth Bridal Show will produce 700 to 1,000 brides each show, and the Plano Bridal Show will bring 400-500 brides each show.

Can you imagine the opportunity of working approximately 8,000 bride leads per year consistently? Plus the additional possible business of all of the other attendees (additional 15,000)? Also keep in mind that one sale can produce other leads.

Plan your success by when you start focusing on thousands of leads and by how you work those leads. Those who try to make contact only 3-4 times will never get the result of someone who really works their leads. The brides are getting married--you are in the bridal business and can help them! Don't give up on your leads.

If a bride really wants you to stop contacting them, they will let you know. In talking with companies that don't give up on working their leads, I am told there is a very small percentage that actually tell you to go away.

Meet our newest team member, Leah Fitch!

Account Executive, Maria Donaldson, recently moved with her family to Fort Worth. Maria was with Bridal Shows, Inc. for a little over a year and will be missed. She wishes everyone she worked with through the bridal shows the best of luck in everything they do.

Those who worked with Maria will now have the pleasure of working with our new Account Executive, Leah Fitch. Leah will be working with existing and potential customers to help build their businesses through the bridal shows. Welcome aboard Leah!

Leah can be reached at 972-713-9920 ext. 106 or email at leah@bridalshowsinc.com.

Attention all PWG, AWP, and JWI members:

Starting with the 2008 shows, the following discounts will apply for members of these three associations: (only one association discount applies per show)

$75.00 discount per company for Dallas and Fort Worth Bridal Shows

$50.00 discount per company for Plano Bridal Shows

We are privileged to be able to work with so many wonderful companies through our bridal shows. Starting in the January 2007 newsletter we will begin recognizing one of the current exhibitors in our show through the newsletter each month.

Vendors of the Month will be companies that have successfully learned how to market their business through the bridal shows and will win a gift certificate to a local restaurant as well as the opportunity to "toot their own horn" in our newsletter!

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know in one of our bridal shows, please send information regarding what you are doing to market to the brides, how you are working your leads, how many brides you have talked to this month, how many you met face-to-face this month, networking opportunities you are involved with how many wedding businesses have you met with this month and how many other wedding business you currently refer and bring business to, in other words, brag about yourself!

We will choose one winner each month from the nominations we receive.

We hope hearing success stories from fellow business owners will motivate everyone to do their best and achieve all their goals and more.

Thank you Tim with Perfect Wedding Guide for sharing your daughters' memorable Christmas experience!!