Category Archives: Sales & Strategy

Bring Your A-Game to the 2017 Winter Bridal Show

It’s that time again! Show time is just a couple of weeks away where you will have the opportunity to meet with more quality brides than at any other bridal show in Las Vegas. Whether you are new to Bridal Spectacular or have been with us for years, we have a couple tips and reminders for a successful show!

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Bridal Spectacular Educational Program

We understand that it can be difficult to get out of the office to join us for one of our show seminars. So, this year we are introducing a new educational program, created by outside expert Rick Brewer, to help prepare you for the upcoming bridal show.

Whether you are preparing for your first show or your fiftieth, these are fantastic tools for you to utilize. We will cover subjects such as effective displays, salesmanship as well as pre-show preparation and follow-up! Contact us at 702.368.0088 to get your link to access two audio programs and four videos.


Pre-Show Communications

You still have time to connect with brides before the show begins. Consider implementing a few pre-show promotions to drive brides directly to your booth and give them an incentive to book with you. Some great ideas include:

  • Post announcements on your social media channels asking your followers to visit you at the show. You can also run a social media contest or provide a special social media offer for those who stop by.
  • Send out a pre-show email blast asking brides to stop by to see you. You can also email personal invites with an exclusive message or promotion you will be offering at the show.
  • Share the Bridal Spectacular show schedule on your website and social media sites with a link to sign-up for a one-on-one consultation.
  • Remember to include your booth number on all your pre-show communications, including emails, direct mail, ads, social media and your website.

BrideScan

BrideScan is the ultimate free mobile app that helps connect brides and wedding professionals during the bridal show. Brides will no longer misplace your business cards or handouts, as all of your information can easily be saved directly to a bride’s phone through the app. Simply follow these steps before the show:

  1. Encourage brides to download the FREE BrideScan App on their phone.
  2. When speaking with them at the show, be sure they scan your vendor badge so they can easily follow-up with you afterward.
  3. Order your BrideScan Exhibitor Marketing Kit from Bridal Spectacular by January 13 and we will provide you with two BrideScan Lanyards, a BrideScan sign and a packet to keep it all together for use from show to show. The cost is $29. We will set you up in the BrideScan system and you will receive an email with the information you need to fill out your profile and any special offers you want the engaged couples to see. Call 702-368-0088 for more information.

Make Your Booth “Pop”

Having a professional and exciting looking booth with branded signage and handouts is vital to help you stand out at the show. Be sure to create and order any booth materials in advance, including banners, business cards, brochures/handouts, signage, as well as a way to track your booth visitors.

For more tips on how to set up your booth, please view the videos below:

Bring Your A-Team

When couples visit your booth, you want to ensure you have the best team available to promote your company and answer questions. Keep the following in mind to prepare your team:

  • Arrive early and dress professionally. Allow more time than you think you need for your booth set-up.
  • Give yourself time before the show begins to network with the other exhibitors so you can refer attendees back-and-forth.
  • Have enough team members on-hand so you can speak to as many brides as possible.
  • Bring team members who are eager to be there and engage with the couples.
  • Give your team regular breaks so they don’t burn out and be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
  • Don’t hide in your booth or behind the tables! Stand (not sit) near the aisle to gain more foot traffic and appear more accessible.
  • Consider holding a contest to reward the team members who bring in the most qualified leads.
  • DO NOT start breaking down your booth until the show is over! The show will end at 5pm on Saturday and couples will stay until the very end. If you start breaking down early, you will deter the couples that stay until the end.

During the Show

The show is only two days, so make the most out of it! Be sure to be proactive and you will generate better results. Consider utilizing these strategies to gain more leads:

  • Get social with the Millennials! Post photos to your social media sites with couples and/or stream live videos from the show on Facebook Live or Periscope to build up hype.
  • Hold a raffle, offer a prize, or special show discount to reward brides for visiting you. This will also help draw more attention to your booth!
  • Give your attendees something fun to do, like an interactive demo to keep them more interested.
  • Run presentations or video loops on large video monitors and/or play music to liven up your booth.
  • In addition to giving away literature, also be sure to get the brides contact information so you can follow-up afterward.
  • For more great tips on the Do’s & Don’ts of selling at Bridal Show, please view the video below:

Afrer the Show

  • Follow-Up ASAP– It’s imperative to maintain the energy you built during the show and contact your leads while you are still fresh in their mind. Whether it’s an email, mailer or phone call, following up right away is a great way to help your company stand out from competitors who may take weeks to follow-up.
  • Have Patience- Do not expect all of your bookings to occur right away. Engaged couples come to these shows at all points in their planning process.
  • ROI- Keep in mind that this is an investment, and your return on the investment depends on you.

Remember, if you are proactive, bring your top team and implement just a few these ideas, your show experience will be more successful, and more importantly, will lead to more business. Good luck and we look forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks!

 

 

Tips for Exhibiting at the 2016 Bridal Spectacular “Veils & Vino” Bridal Show

It’s that time again! The 2016 Bridal Spectacular “Veils & Vino” Bridal Show is just around the corner where Las Vegas wedding pros will have the opportunity to meet with more quality brides than at any other bridal show in Las Vegas. Whether you are new or have been exhibiting for years, we have a few tips and reminders to help you get the most out of the show.

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Before the Show

You still have time to connect with brides before the show begins. Consider implementing pre-show promotions to drive brides directly to your booth and give them an incentive to book with you, such as:

  • Send out a pre-show email blast or postcard and ask brides to stop by to see you. You can also email personal invites with a special message or promotion you will be running during the show.
  • Share the Bridal Spectacular show schedule on your website and social media with a link to sign-up for an one-on-one consultation.
  • Post announcements on your social media channels asking your followers to visit you at the show. You can also run a social media contest or provide an exclusive social media offer for those who stop by. Use #BridalSpectacular2016 and #WedPro16 to save your couples $5 off admission.
  • Offer brides a special gift or discount if they come visit your booth.
  • Remember to include your booth number on all your pre-show communications, including emails, direct mail, ads, social media and your website.

Introducing BrideScan

BrideScan is the ultimate free mobile app that helps connect brides and wedding professionals during the bridal show. Brides will no longer misplace your business cards or hand-outs, as all of your information can easily be saved directly to a bride’s phone through the app. Simply follow these steps before the show:

  1. Encourage brides to download the FREE BrideScan App on their phone.
  2. When speaking with them at the show, be sure they scan your vendor badge so they can easily follow-up with you afterwards.
  3. Order your BrideScan Exhibitor Marketing Kit from Bridal Spectacular by August 10, and we will provide you with two BrideScan lanyards, a BrideScan sign and a packet to keep everything together and orgainized for use from show-to-show. Call 702-368-0088 for more information. We will set you up in the BrideScan system and you will receive an email with the information you need to fill out your profile and any special offers you want the engaged couples to see.

Bridescan-App-Ad

Make Your Booth Stand Out

Having a great looking booth with branded signage and handouts is vital to help you look professional and standout to brides. Be sure to create and order any booth materials in advance, including banners, business cards, brochures/handouts, signage, as well as a way to track your booth visitors.

To make it even easier for our exhibitors, Bridal Spectacular has teamed up with local advertising agency, Up All Day Creative Solutions, to provide you with an exclusive discount for custom designed marketing materials to help you get the most out of your show experience. Bridal Spectacular Show exhibitors get up to 50% off on all of your show marketing needs, including:

  • Booth Signage & Backdrops
  • Booth Flyers/Hand-Outs
  • Pre and Post-Show Emails
  • Pre and Post-Show Postcards
  • Social Media Contests

To learn more, please email deidre@upallday.com.

For more great tips on how set up your booth, take a look at the videos below:

Prepare Your Team

Once couples arrive to your booth, you will want to ensure you have the best team onsite to promote your company and answer questions. Keep the following in mind to prepare your team:

  • Arrive early and dress professionally. Allow more time than you think you need for your booth set-up.
  • Give yourself time before the show begins to network with the other exhibitors so you can refer attendees back-and-forth.
  • Have enough staffers on-hand so you are able to speak to as many brides as possible.
  • Bring booth staffers who are excited to be there and engage with the couples.
  • Give your staffers regular breaks so they don’t burn out. Also be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
  • Don’t hide in your booth or behind the tables! Stand (not sit) near the aisle to gain more foot traffic and appear more approachable.
  • Consider holding a contest to reward the staffers who bring the most qualified leads.
  • DO NOT start breaking down your booth until the show is over! The show will end on Saturday at 4pm this year and couples will stay until the very end. If you start breaking down early, you will deter the couples that are there until closing.

During the Show

The show is only two days, so be sure to make the most out of it! Of course, you could just hang out in your booth and hope the brides will come to you, but if you are proactive you will achieve better results. Consider implementing these strategies to generate more leads:

  • Get social with the Millennials! Post photos to your social media sites with couples and/or stream live videos from the show on Facebook Live or Periscope to build buzz around your booth.
  • Consider doing a raffle, offer a prize, or special show discount to reward brides for visiting you. This will also help draw more attention to your booth!
  • Give your attendees something enjoyable and fun to do, like an engaging demo to keep them more interested.
  • Run presentations or video loops on large video monitors and/or play music to liven up your booth.
  • In addition to giving away literature, also be sure to get the brides contact information so you can follow-up and send additional information afterward.

For more tips on the Do’s & Don’ts of selling at Bridal Show, please view the video below:

 After the Show

  • Follow-Up ASAP– It’s vital to maintain the momentum you built during the show and contact your leads while you are still fresh in their mind. Whether it’s an email, mailer or phone call, following-up right away is a great way to help your company stand out from competitors who may take weeks to follow-up with couples.
  • Have Patience- Do not expect all of your bookings to occur right away. Engaged couples come to bridal shows at all points in their planning process.
  • ROI- Keep in mind that this is an investment, and your return on your investment depends on you.

Remember, if you are proactive, bring your top team and implement just a few these tips, your show experience will be more successful, and more importantly, will lead to more business. Good luck and we look forward to seeing you all soon!

You Don’t Do Bridal Shows Because They Cost Too Much? Really?

Bridal shows have been a staple for increasing  client base for wedding professionals for many years. Engaged couples from all walks of life planning Las Vegas weddings have been attending The Bridal Spectacular since 1991.  Perhaps you have considered joining a bridal show but have felt they were too expensive. Today we are taking on these objections and hopefully we can give you some new insights as to why you should add exhibiting at a bridal show to your marketing plans.

Bridal shows are too expensive!

Compared to what?  What other forms of marketing do you do?   Radio, TV, Print Ads, and Billboards are all more expensive than the cost of a booth in a bridal show and they won’t get you in front of the engaged couple.  Face to face is where you can have their attention and tell them more about what you have to offer.  This is your chance to start building a relationship with them which is vital to the millennial couple in making a final decision.  Internet advertising might seem more affordable or easier to do, but it does not put you in front of the couple which is a must before they will make a decision.

How are you coming to the conclusion bridal shows are too expensive? How much will it cost you to do nothing?

Make sure you have talked to the show producers about all possible options for participating in their show.  Most show producers have different sized booth options and payment plans depending on how far out you book.  Is your competition at the show?  That gives them the opportunity to meet the couple before you if you are not there.Talk to friends in the industry who ARE at the show (not the ones who don’t do it) find out how much it helps build their business each year.  Find out what you are missing out on if you are not there. Making your decision based on people who don’t do shows (no matter how good of friends they are) could be a costly mistake for you.

If you absolutely don’t have the budget this time, perhaps there is a program where your information can be put in a “shopping bag” the couple receives.

The best marketing products are often more expensive! But setting the price aside, if you have 100 couples in front of you asking questions about your product, how many of them can you get an appointment with? How many of those can you close?

Ask yourself these important questions, multiply the number you can close by your average sale and that will give you some idea of what you might be leaving on the table.  Don’t let price keep you from getting what you really want, to build your business right? 

The Bridal Spectacular is located in Las Vegas, NV and has been the largest bridal show in Nevada since 1991.  For more information, please call 702-368-0088