Tips or advice for a wedding festival?

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TessaE

TessaE

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Aug 12, 2006
Posts
402
Loc
Asheville, NC
I have signed up to be an exhibitor at the local wedding festival in September. Has anyone else done this and what is your experience or advice regarding this type of thing? I was also considering doing a home show next spring a bit more expensive, but might be worth it? opinions and/or advice wanted. :) thanks!
 
Maybe...

Maybe display in your booth:

framed wedding photo with signed mat

framed wedding flowers, maybe oval with domed glass

framed invitation with other wedding junk

framed veil

sample gift certificates (for bride to give to bridesmaids)

framed cake slice, framed shotgun (can you tell I'm running out of ideas?)

Also, memorize the prices that you would charge for each for when they will inevitably ask "how much".
 
framed veil
good idea! I was looking for something to go with the flowers.

sample gift certificates (for bride to give to bridesmaids)
did not think of that good idea

framed cake slice, framed shotgun (can you tell I'm running out of ideas?)
hehe
Also, memorize the prices that you would charge for each for when they will inevitably ask "how much"
very good point, i would have forgotten.
 
Maybe have a give away that they have to register for. In order to be eligible for drawing they have to give complete information. If you make it winner will only be notified by email, then you have collected emails for further marketing attempts.
 
We basically have 2 marketing methods - for existing customers, we do newsletters and yearly calendars. For "getting the word out" we do shows.

We usually do 2 "craft-type" shows (probably will cut one of those out this year) and 2 "home and garden-type" shows (these generate MUCH more response.)

Gotta have a great brochure and other marketing tools to hand out.
 
B. Newman said:
For "getting the word out" we do shows.

"... and 2 "home and garden-type" shows (these generate MUCH more response.)

Gotta have a great brochure and other marketing tools to hand out.
Click to expand...

I went to the home show one year and it had a HUGE crowd. I think I might give it a go atleast once and see what kind of response we would get.
Do you think a brochure and business cards would be enough?
I was also thinking of making merchandising signs of some sort to point out ideas, options, services, etc...?

JPaul:
I was thinking of doing a giveaway, but I think we have to have the drawing during the show. What would I give away that would be worth it for the brides and me? An album, a gift certificate for $50? $100?
 
Tessa, why don't you make up a signature mat for a 5x7 or 8x10 photo and put that in a nice frame as your give away. Offer to put the glass and finish backing on it when they bring it into your store after it is signed. You'll get the winner into your store that way.Even if the drawing is held at the show, I would make email a qualification for the drawing.
 
PPFA slideshow presentation

When we attend these venues, we bring a laptop and play the PPFA slideshow presentation. It's presented elegantly and gives so many ideas.

Susan
 
If you get Decor magazine check out page 67 in the May issue. There is an example of a bridal display there that shows the wine glasses, ring barer pillow, floral display, grooms tie, and the brides garter on it. I have also made one with wine flutes, cake knife and spatula, and the top of the wedding cake. You can also put a picture of the bride and groom in a small frame in the same display, or the champagn bottle and cork. Good luck.
 
My mantra lately has been "think big". I'm not disagreeing with anything said here. Show off some nice things.

I wouldn't entertain to many ideas for things to give away. Giving away stuff is easy and shouldn’t take more than 4 minutes of thought. Think much bigger than that.

When we go to trade shows how many booths do you see not selling? I'm sure there is a few and TruVue comes to mind. I don't recall a trade special on glass! But 99% of the booths you see there will be selling.

At a bridal show, DJs and bands will be booking dates, florists will be taking deposits on flowers and I think framers should be selling frames (or something related). Now I know somebody will refuse to think big and suggest the people aren't going to book a framer or prepay for custom framing. Of coarse they won't. If that is as broad as our thoughts go, then we probably won't benefit from a show like this anyway.

We are always begging for more foot traffic. You will have plenty there.
 
Jay H, I was thinking along the same lines, I think. I had the idea to offer some sort of wedding show package deal. for instance: get 6 portraits framed for the price of 5 or get a free photo albumn or get 50% off the sixth one(haven't thought it out completely yet) or something along those lines. Maybe do a deposit of $30 on show specials to make sure they come in.

I will collect e-mail address. I was also thinking of bringing my digital frame with the PPFA's slide show running.
thanks Pat! I just ordered your ez-tach tool so I am looking forward to finding out what I can do with it, it should get here today.
 
I think Jay's suggestion was right on. We do lots of bridal shows, but we are phtography business as well. We sell lots of framed 16x20's to these brides as well as suggesting they do the frmed sig. mats for the reception with their engagement photo. They bring it back when they pick up their pictures and we put in the glass.


We also network with a florist, host of a wedding reception center, formal wear rental shop, and caterer. We do some advertising together. But like I said, weddings are a big part of our business & lots of this wouldn't apply to a frame shop only.

Maybe only give them the sale price if they commit to you that day (and pay you a small deposit of sorts, like you said). That would guarantee they would come in. And you have introduced them to custom framing & might just gain a customer for life.
 
What about offering gift cards or gift certificates? Our credit card vendor supplied us with a stash of free gift cards (small fee to activate and redeem).

You could activate some for $100 each and sell them at the show and offer a discount especially for the brides (or mother's of the brides) to redeem them in your shop.

Or if you have paper gift certificates you could do the same thing...but the cards, if you can get them, are classy and up-to-date.

Angela :)
 
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