July 2013                                                                                                                                              Copyright 2013
Bridal Shows, Inc. Newsletter                                                                                                    by Naomi Butler, CEM, Bridal Shows, Inc.

Greetings!

 

Let's begin by giving a BIG THANK YOU to all of the wonderful companies that participated in our recent bridal shows. We've had many comments about how exhibitors are really "stepping it up" with their booth design to create an aesthetically pleasing and professional looking show. This makes quite an impact on the brides to show that you mean business and will work to make their wedding beautiful as well!
  
Never, ever, ever forget the importance of following up on those leads you receive from a bridal show! Do not be afraid of the "no's" you get as they will only lead you to many "yes"es! Brides are busy and overwhelmed; they need your help! So call, email, mail, stay in touch throughout the year and you will reap the rewards of your hard work.
  
We are just days away from our next big bridal show, the Dallas Bridal Show, July 27-28, at Dallas Market Hall. There are limited spaces remaining so call us today to learn how to become an exhibitor!
  
  
Bridal Shows, Inc.
972.713.9920
  
Like us on Facebook 

 

Exciting Promotions for the Dallas Bridal Show - July 2013

 

  
General Motors at the Dallas Bridal Show
General Motors will host "Weddings and Wheels Ride & Drive" for attendees at the Dallas Bridal Show to take free test drives of GM's newest vehicles, get their beauty shot in a Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and relax in the Chevy Man Cave. Every Bride, groom and guest who test drives a GM vehicle will be entered to win $1,000 toward a wedding gown. Attendees will have a chance to test drive the Chevy Volt, all-new 2014 Impala and Cadillac XTS, among others. Brides, grab a veil, bow tie or bouquet and practice your smile for the big day at the GM photo booth. Guys, stop by the Chevy Man Cave to escape some from wedding planning, grab some free food samples, have fun playing ping pong and other games, and relax while enjoying the view of a new 2014 Chevy Silverado decked out with a big screen TV. 
  
Are YOU a Bridezilla?!?
Bridezilla: noun. Formed from blending of the words bride and Godzilla (Japanese movie monster).

This term is used to describe a woman whose behavior becomes outrageously bad in the course of planning for her wedding. We've all known women engaged to be married, and BOOM ... out of the blue she turns into a "control freek" or someone that has to constantly have their own way!  Bridezillas are a new breed of soon-to-wed women who abuse the idea that weddings are their "day." They sometimes unintentionally terrorize their bridal party and family members, make greedy demands and break all rules of etiquette, to insure that they are the single most important person on the planet from the time they are engaged to the time they are married.

Would you, or someone you, know fit into this category?  The Dallas Bridal Show, along with KISS FM & NOW Radio is searching for the "Self Proclaimed Bridezilla" that knows she has these issues and is not ashamed to admit it! The Dallas Bridal Show Bridezillas will have to register online with the radio stations to become a finalist in the contest and then will be presented at the show. Celebrity Wedding Planner, Donnie Brown (from Whose Wedding Is it Anyway) will MC this event and the audience will participate in choosing the final winner of the contest.

 

 

Voncierge at the Dallas Bridal Show

Voncierge (www.voncierge.com),

formerly Little Dress Book, is a virtual wedding planning website that lets brides book appointments online with wedding vendors. Voncierge was built to make it easy for brides and vendors to connect. Voncierge allows vendors to receive appointments from brides and couples 24/7 and frees up their staff from having to make phone calls all day. Voncierge is excited to exhibit with Dallas Bridal Show to provide all exhibitors and attendees our services. 

 

Exhibitors at the Dallas Bridal Show will be provided free appointment booking services for one month with a setup fee of $35 and no obligation to continue after the free period. You may opt to continue using the services for a fee of $2 - $10 per completed appointment (price varies depending on type of appointment). You do not incur any listing fees, and there is no change if the appointment is canceled.

 

Dallas Bridal Show exhibitors can review more about this in the exhibitor kit.

 

Contact Mee-Jun (MJ) Jang at [email protected] for more information

  

 

Exhibitor Referral Contest Information
CLICK HERE to view a video about a new opportunity for exhibitors to win $$$ towards booth space in the January 2014 Dallas Bridal Show!

 

 

Testimonials

        

Naomi,

We are so excited to participate in this year's Dallas and Ft. Worth Bridal shows! We had such wonderful success in 2011, in only 2 days we garnered 16 weddings and receptions that brought over $65,000 to Cowboys Golf Club! For various reasons we did not participate in the 2012 shows and it really affected our bottom line! We are back this year and look forward to participating in all the years to come!

 

We enjoy the show's format, the incredible turnouts and all that you do to create bridals shows that truly help our industry! Cowboys Golf Club is very particular in who they partner with and we so appreciate your level of excellence!

 

Thank you again for all you do and here's to a fantastic show!!!!!!

 

Regards,

Erin Lucia, Cowboys Golf Club

 

 

Good Morning Naomi,

 

Sending a BIG round of applause for another FABULOUS Bridal Show! We had over 250 Brides stop by our booth and many solid leads for honeymoons.

 

This was my 6th show, and they get better each time!  I thought the quality of vendors was excellent, and we enjoyed meeting many of our "booth neighbors." We also liked the shorter show hours for January (10 - 5)--- I don't feel I missed out on any leads by losing the 5pm - 6pm time frame.  Hopefully the 10 - 5 schedule will continue for both July '13 and January '14... just my vote!

 

As a home based business owner, your Bridal Show allows me to have a "storefront" 4 days each year-and I'm so grateful for that opportunity--- THANK YOU!

 

Already looking forward to the Summer Bridal Show--- until then, all the very best!

 

Stephanie Hopper Medina

Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist

 

 

Just wanted to thank Naomi and everyone at the Dallas Bridal Show for the most amazing January show ever!  This is our 5th consecutive year and we couldn't be happier with the amount of traffic through and in front of our booth!  Sometimes it was difficult to maneuver in our booth with several brides and their entourages at the same time but that's a good problem to have! 
 

Randy Roberson

Randy Ro Entertainment

 

Hi Naomi,
I want you to know that I thought your bridal show was a first-class operation! You exceeded my expectations.


Thanks,
Jim Rode, Photographer

 

 

Thanks for a great January show!!!

 

Lisa A. Stengel, Mary Kay

 

 

We learned so much and are so excited to break into this exciting business and create new opportunities.....thank you so much again for all of your help!

Evelyn Coffman
Sfuzzi Las Colinas
 

I would like to thank you all, on behalf of Light In The Box, Tony and myself, for your hard work and professionalism in making our first presence at the Dallas Bridal Show such a great success! Naomi, this won't be such an amazing show without you and your great team of show planners! Thank you so much! ..... Thank you all again! We'll be in contact with you for other business opportunities in the future! Keep in touch!

 

Regards,

Isabelle Shi

Light in The Box

 

 

I made all of my money back from the bridal show and more! And still have people interested in our video work! We have been working those leads and it's paying off. Thank you so much and I look forward to the July Show! 

Christopher M. Harmon, Jr.
Harmland Visions

 

 New to Bridal Shows, Inc.
  

 

Deni Flores

Deni Flores is a current student at Richland College where she is pursuing Certification in Event Management specializing in Special Event Design, and also advancing towards her degree in design. At Richland, she had the opportunity to learn from professors who are currently in the event planning industry and have hands-on experience giving her the inside scoop. Also through Richland, she met Marla Watson, CSEP who offered Deni an internship with PeaPod Group, a brand management company. After completing her internship, Deni was hired and is now the head of the wedding department at PeaPod Group. It was also at Richland that Deni learned more about Bridal Shows Inc. and had the chance to meet Naomi Butler which led to a job opportunity. Deni was presented with the Richland Student Success Award in 2013, and is an active member of Richland's Travel, Exhibition and Meeting Management (TEMM) Organization.
  
Lucy Brito
Lucy Brito is currently a student at Richland College where she is pursuing her degree in Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management and Certification in Event Planning.  She also received her Certificate in Weddings this past May. It was during her Weddings class that she had the opportunity to meet Naomi Butler, which led to a job opportunity.  Attending Richland gives her the upper-hand in learning from instructors who are leaders in the industry. At Richland, she had the opportunity to meet Marla Watson, CSEP, her Special Events Class and Wedding Class teacher, which led her to an internship at PeaPod Group, a brand management company.  Upon completion of the internship, Lucy was hired at PeaPod Group and is now head of the Social Events and Video Department.  Lucy was also presented with the Richland Student Success Award in 2013.
  
Congratulations Sondra!
  
Recognition is the goal of the Emerging Scholars ceremony at Collin College. Each year, professors identify students who excel and show outstanding scholarship potential and advocate them for recognition as Emerging Scholars. The achievements of students who are acknowledged as Emerging Scholars serve as benchmarks for a leadership role. Collin College Emerging Scholars have gone on to become solid examples of academic excellence. In the past, selected Emerging Scholars have received scholarships to attend The University of Texas at Dallas or to continue their education at Collin College. Sondra (from Bridal Shows, Inc.) was awarded this distinguished title on April 18, 2013.

 

 
Educational Opportunities: Associate of Arts Degree in Meetings and Events Management 
  
 
Collin College's Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Education began offering the
Associate of Arts Degree in Meetings and Events Management in the Fall of 2012 due to the tremendous interest and growth prospects in this dynamic and fast paced segment of the Hospitality industry. This course is offered in addition to its Meetings and Events Management Certificate.
  
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of meeting, convention,
and event planners is expected to grow 44 percent by 2020. With increases in globalization, and the recognition by organizations of the value of professionally planned meetings, this trend is expected to continue. This program is designed to provide knowledge in core aspects of the event management disciplines for those interested in pursuing careers such as corporate and event manager at a hotel, convention manager, destination specialist, incentive planner, or freelance event manager.

Classes are held at the Preston Ridge campus in Frisco. Other programs offered include the AAS degrees and Certificates in Hotel/Restaurant Management, Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts.
  
For more information, call Linda Wee
at 972-377-1702; email [email protected] or visit the website at www.collin.edu/hospitality
  
Preparing the Future
                 

In paying it forward, Naomi has worked with many students who are already in or about to be in the wedding industry to help encourage and train them to be successful. 

 

Naomi is on the Advisory Board with the Institute of Hospitality & Culinary Education at Collin College.  She has had the honor and privilege to also be on the Leadership Panel and speak to the Tradeshow Class there.

 

Naomi also spoke with Marla Watson's college class "Managing Wedding Vendors" in May. 

Editor's Note
 
Would you like to contribute to the Bridal Shows, Inc. Newsletter? We are always looking for informational content in the way of testimonials, press releases, or industry advice. To learn more about how you can be a part of the newsletter,
email me today!
 
Sincerely,
 
Bonnie Crumpton
Newsletter Editor
Bridal Shows, Inc.
Recent Artwork by Naomi
  
Here are some recent works by Naomi including a large piece of the Irving Convention Center.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Take a look at Naomi's work by visiting her website at www.abstractartbynaomi.com.
  
               
  
 The above Heart Series #3 painting is going to be donated to JWI's  July 14th Red Lips Ball.
  
   
In This Issue
 
Dallas Bridal Show Promotions: General Motors, Bridezilla, Vonceierge, Referral Contest
Testimonials
New to Bridal Shows, Inc.
Congratulations Sondra!
Educational Opportunities
Preparing the Future
Recent Artwork
Naomi's Notes
Book of the Month
Job Opportunity
2013-2014 Show Schedule
Working Your Leads Song
Naomi's Notes:
Focus for Results
 
As I write this article, I am having a challenge in doing what I am writing about.  It is now 4:49pm, and I have been trying to find time to write this article all day. 

At the end of the day, you want to feel like you accomplished a lot on your list.  And, more importantly, you want to be able to cross off a good number of to-do items because you actually did get them done. It doesn't just happen. Working on improving your focus is a habit that we all must continue to try for every day.  We don't want to end up "wishing" we had focused more. 

So, at the beginning of the day, know what your top three goals are.  Don't let distractions interfere with those three goals-Get Them Done!

Yes, that is easier said than done sometimes.  No matter what, keep going back to your top three items and keep working on them.

Take 10 minutes to organize the piles.  It is easier to focus if you are not distracted by an unorganized piled up space. Keep everything filed where it goes. Think of it this way-"Everything Has a Home." 
Put it in its home.  If you still need to do something with it, then have a separate place for "Things to Do" and write it on your to-do list.

Jot down how long each task should take.  In Brian Tracy's book, "Eat That Frog," he encourages us to do what is important first.  In business, it is what will create more sales. 

Prioritize each task and work on one task at a time.  Do the most time-consuming things first to get them out of the way, maybe in this order:

1. Top 3 time-consuming

2. Second 3 short tasks

3. Third 3 short tasks

4. Then, start all over.  If you are able to start all over in the same day, that is going to be a very productive day!

Try spending thirty (30) minutes on a task.  Put your concentration and energy into this one task, and get it done before you do anything else.  Then keep going for another 30 minutes (if you can) and see how much you can get done either on that same task or the next one on the "need to get it done" list.

Don't let distractions affect getting your goals accomplished.  Distractions can waste our time and hinder our results--they will happen no matter what we plan on.  Some distractions are good and positive, and others are time wasters.  To get things done, we need to only allow a small amount of time in between each task for distractions.

Imagine how good it is going to feel when you are able to start tackling the next set of three things on the list in the same day.

Give yourself a small break every time you check another major item off of your to-do list, even if it is getting up and walking up and down the hallway. Reward yourself with completed major tasks.

How do you stay motivated? Think about how important your work is to you, your company, and the team.  Think about the short-term and long-term effects of not staying motivated or focused.
 
"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus."

Alexander Graham Bell
 
Book of the Month
by Naomi Hulme

 

This month's book selection is:
  
     

 

To Sell is Human

By: Daniel H. Pink

 

You may request a copy of my "Book Suggestions List" at any time.


Happy Reading! 
Job Opportunity at Bridal Shows, Inc.
  

Special Projects Associate

 

Company Info

Bridal Shows, Inc. is a very well-established consumer trade show production company giving brides a one-stop shopping opportunity to plan their complete wedding in one weekend at one location, and providing the wedding businesses the best marketing tool to build their bridal business. The following events are produced by Bridal Shows, Inc.: Dallas Bridal Show (the Largest in North Texas, 3rd largest in U.S.), Plano Bridal Show, Fort Worth Bridal Show, and Las Colinas Bridal Show. Naomi Butler, CEM, President & CEO of Bridal Shows, Inc., has produced over 300 shows since 1988. Naomi's main goal in everything she does is to help people, either to help them build their business or to help them with their personal goals. Naomi sees an opportunity in every challenge and looks for the best in people. Many times she has had to take a stand for what was right, and believes that if you are fair and do things right, be honest, and work hard to do better each day, everything will turn out more positive.

 

Job Description

This position handles special projects for Bridal Shows, Inc.  It includes basic admin skills including (but not limited to) answering phones, checking and sending emails, typing letters, sending faxes, managing promotional material, and managing supplies.  Applicant must be proficient at Microsoft Office; including Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, and Publisher.  This position handles creating, maintaining, and delivery of marketing material.  Therefore, having a basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Acrobat X Pro (PDF), Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign is a must.  One must have a basic understanding of website construction and/or updating.  Also, a knowledge of constructing and sending emails via Constant Contact.  The applicant must have excellent communication and phone skills for Telemarketing, and must be able to communicate and be understood clearly with staff, supplies, vendors, and brides.  Must have good common sense, love working with others in a team environment.  Due to the variety of tasks needed for this position, we need someone who is willing to learn in a fast pace environment. 

 

This position begins at a $12 hourly wage.

 

Desired Skills and Expertise

Must have an expert operating knowledge of:

  • Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Website Navigation
    • Example - Ordering supplies

Would be good to have knowledge of or be willing to learn:

  • Adobe Acrobat X Pro (PDF)
  • Adobe Photoshop (Create Pictures, logos, edit images for ads - .jpg)
  • Adobe Illustrator (Ads, Edit Pictures - .eps)
  • Adobe InDesign (program)
  • Microsoft Publisher (eblasts, press release)
  • Constant Contact (eblast, press release)
  • Website construction/editing (back end of website, eblast)

 Additional bonus knowledge:

  • ACT! by sage
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Dymo Label Making

 

Please submit your resume to [email protected].

2013-2014
Bridal Show Schedule

 

Dallas Bridal Show
**24th year**
July 27-28, 2013
Dallas Market Hall

Plano Bridal Show
**24th year**
September 8, 2013
Plano Centre
  
Las Colinas Bridal Show
**3rd year**
January 5, 2014
Irving Convention Center

 

Dallas Bridal Show
**25th year**
January 25-26, 2014
Dallas Market Hall
Watch for information about our Vendor Appreciation Night at our 25th Annual show!!
 
Fort Worth Bridal Show
** 17th year **
February 23, 2014
Fort Worth Convention Center
  
Plano Bridal Show
**25th year**
March 9, 2014
Plano Centre
  
Dallas Bridal Show
**25th year**
July 26-27, 2014
Dallas Market Hall
  
Plano Bridal Show
**25th year**
September 7, 2014
Plano Centre
  
Working Your Leads Song
  
Don't be a couch potato... make 50 calls a day! Naomi made this song to help motivate others to work their leads!
Working Your Leads Song
Working Your Leads Song
Follow-up Links

 








 

Wedding and Event Professionals of the Mid-Metroplex( WEP )