7 Tips To Surviving The Bridal Expo Jungle!

Do you remember that scene in "Mean Girls" when Lindsay Lohan is daydreaming about the high school girls as if they were animals fighting in the wild? (It was hilarious!) Well, I can tell you... that scene reminds me of the chaos at the Bridal Expo!

Bridal shows can be completely OVERWHELMING for a bride. There are so many other brides, so many booths, everyone is trying to get from point to point and it can really get crazy. I'm going to give you some savvy tips and tricks for hitting the bridal expo with style and sass!!

Tip # 1: Wear comfy shoes! -

You're going to be walking a mile on a hard tradeshow floor. Yes, it's lovely to look fashionable but the brides in stilettos never last long at the bridal fair. If you really want to see everything and be comfortable think about your feet first! (But be a little elegant and leave the stinky gym sneakers at home... opt for some cute supportive flats).

Tip #2: 1000 Brides Gather In 1 Place -

You think it might be a bit of a mob scene? Well then you're absolutely right! If you really want to get some valuable one on one time with the exhibitors I recommend planning the timing of your visit to the Expo. When the fashion show is taking place the booths slow down significantly. This is a great time to chat with an exhibitor or try on dresses at the gown sale. I also recommend first thing in the morning (especially if you want your pick of all those frugally priced gowns).

Tip #3: Your Hand Will Cramp -

Many exhibitors will be offering prizes at their booths and you'll be asked to fill out a ballot form. You waste valuable time writing out your contact info again and AGAIN. So print off a couple sheets of labels that include your name, your groom's name, your wedding date, your address, phone number and email. Then it will be easy to just peel and stick your info to the ballots. Then you can spend quality time checking out all the cool stuff on display!

Tip #4: Watch Out For Bridezilla! -

I often see the dreaded bridezilla at the Bridal Expo. You know her... she's the girl that pushes your Mom aside so she can get a better look at the booth, she criticizes your wedding colors when she overhears you gushing about them, she muscles her way to the prize box while telling the exhibitor she doesn't want any information (just the prize!) and she complains loudly about how expensive everything is.... Oh yes... Bridezilla always makes an appearance at the Bridal Expo. But don't let this kind of bride ruin your good time! She has a bunch of BAD karma surrounding her so just IGNORE HER and have some fun!

Tip #5: Be Patient & Be Nice –

Be the opposite of bridezilla. The exhibitors at the show have brought some really great deals with them... some that you won't even know about unless you talk to them! It's true! This kind of mentality will get you far with exhibitors. I find myself giving extra nice brides FREE advice! I know other exhibitors do too!! (because we all want to work with nice brides).

Tip #6: Hydrate! –

The Round Up Centre with over 1000 people in it at any given time can heat up pretty quick. And you can bet the water ain't cheap! So bring along some water for your journey. You don't want to get a headache!!

Tip #7: One Step at a Time –

Okay, the truth is that there are going to be A LOT of booths, people, and noise at the Bridal Expo. But it doesn't have to be overwhelming. YES, there are a lot of choices but you don't have to choose EVERYTHING or choose ANYTHING right there and then. Here are a couple of TIPS within my TIPS to dealing with all the choices:

Seek And Ye Shall Find – Know what you are looking for and enjoy the rest. Don't feel like you have to choose ALL your vendors from the Bridal Expo. This is just a sampling of your city's finest. You may connect with some vendors, you may not. This is a great opportunity to meet people face to face and figure out if they should be part of your wedding day.

One by One - Approach each vendor calmly, ready to hear the sales pitch (yes- the sales pitch). The exhibitors are there to sell to you. You're there to buy right? So if someone is overwhelming you just ask them politely to SLOW DOWN. You don't need the info dump! Ask the questions you want answered.

Thanks But No Thanks - If you're not interested thank them and walk away. Don't take the flyer and load up your bridal bag. Guess what? You'll quickly rifle through that bag ONCE after the fair, pulling out the vendors you connected with... and then it'll sit in your closet to be found on your 2 year wedding anniversary!

Follow these tips so you can enjoy planning for your big day. Good luck!

Ciara Daykin is Calgary's premiere Wedding Choreographer. Brides wanting a dazzling, dashing, dream-filled wedding turn to Ciara for all their wedding planning needs.

Ciara is a proud member of the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Sign up for Tips & Tricks for the Vibrant & Stylish Bride and Party Host at: http://www.fireflyoccasions.com

Email: info@fireflyoccasions.com

Wedding Flowers: Defining Your Expectations

The wedding flowers that decorate the church will go a long way toward setting the mood for your wedding. Done right, a selection of well placed wedding flowers can give your event the sense of joy, expectation, solemnity, or pageantry you and your intended anticipate for your wedding. Done poorly… well, your wedding flowers will set the wrong mood for your wedding at best. At worst, your wedding flowers will make it appear that your wedding happened in a tacky looking facility or several decades earlier (actually, it can get worse, but we won’t talk about that – The point is to make sure we stay on the top of the scale with our wedding flowers, not the bottom).

The success of your wedding flower arrangements and decorations depends on your florist’s attention to detail, sense of style, flair, expertise, and the connection that the two of you achieve. Don’t assume that because a particular florist is highly respected you will get the wedding flower arrangement of your dreams. If there is no meeting of your minds, if you don’t feel like they are grasping what you are trying to communicate about your wedding flowers, theme, or both, keep looking. In most cases your wedding flowers will be more to your liking with your second choice that fully understands the theme and mood you are trying to set than with the reputed best florist in the city who isn’t listening or just isn’t managing to understand what you want from your wedding flowers.

Finding the right wedding flower specialist is easy if you begin your search prepared and know what to look for and what to stay away from: Being prepared means doing some dreaming about your wedding flowers. Doodle. Search bridal magazines. Look at wedding flower schemes in books and dream. Go to bridal shows. Go to weddings, if you can get an invitation, and dream. Collect pictures of wedding flower arrangements that you think will fit into the theme that you want to design your wedding flowers around. In short, have a pretty clear idea of what you want in your wedding flowers before you ever start visiting florists and bring the pictures with you. This will help them understand your vision for your floral arrangement.

The second step is like the first: Don’t even think of going to a florist without swatches of the material from your dress, the bridesmaid’s dresses, and any other fabric that might affect the wedding color scheme (this is true of your cake decorator too). This is most especially true of your dress. White wedding dresses come in a wide variety of shades of white, so to ensure that the wedding flowers will properly accent your dress bring a swatch. A professional florist will know how to set it off so that the wedding flowers draw the attention to you in just the right way.

Once you have done your homework it is time to start actually looking for a florist to provide your wedding flowers. As in every other discipline, your first move should be to talk to people who have recently gotten married and get referrals from them. There is no shame in learning from the success and failures of others and doing so will generally save you a lot of grief. In the process, no doubt, you will discover that while most any florist can provide wedding flowers, some are more skilled, gifted, and experienced than others. Your goal is to identify these people and choose one of them to take the stress of your wedding flower needs off your hands.

Remember, wedding flowers work or don’t work on the florist’s attention to detail, creativity, and their ability to match your style. But part of their ability to perform depends on you communicating what you want and providing pictures and swatches. It’s your wedding; make sure it goes right by taking the time to prepare before you go shopping for those wedding flowers.

Jeanette Shinn is the co-owner of Your Exciting Wedding Favors http://www.ExcitingWeddingFavors.com a website dedicated to helping brides realize their wedding day dreams with tons of tips, ideas, and the latest wedding news stories from across the country, as well as offering wedding favors, and accessories to enhance the entire wedding experience. Jeanette is also the founder and edible design artist behind Layer By Layer, http://www.frostingonthecake.com, a special order bakery serving weddings and other special occasion needs of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

Promotional Items For Trade Shows

Even companies that seldom do marketing and fulfillment often buy promotional items for trade shows. Trade shows, where industries go to show off their newest and brightest ideas, are also the place where most companies spend big dollars on promotional items because the people they impress at trade shows are the people who can make or break a new product or product line.

Promotional gifts at trade shows fall into three different categories:

Attention getters
Every trade show stand has to have something to give away that is inexpensive, easy to carry and very visible. That something should, of course, have the name of your company and/or product on it. It should be something that is useful enough that those who take one with take them home at the end of the show and continue to use them, therefore increasing the visibility of your brand name and product.

The problem is that most companies presenting at trade shows and home shows and bridal shows and other types of shows where promotional items are an expected thing never get past the “inexpensive” part of the suggestion. They happily order up hundreds of cheap plastic key rings or pens and put them out on the table at their booth, then wonder whether they ever really got their money’s worth.

Of course they didn’t! Think about it. What do you do with a pen when it’s handed to you as you’re walking around? Most people… tuck it into a pocket. Where no one else will see it. Plastic pens are great promotional gifts, but they’re generally hot effective as attention getters at trade shows. One of the very best trade show takeaways is – believe it or not – the lowly carrier bag. Think about it again – if everyone around you is handing you key rings and pens and little gimcracks, what are you going to be most thankful for? There you go. Everyone else’s carefully planned promotional items will get dropped right into yours – and your name will be all over the show.

Incentive gifts
The second category of promotional items at a trade show or exhibition is incentive gifts. You’re handing out your attention getters willy nilly to anyone that walks by… but people have to earn your incentive promotional items by doing something – preferably something that will lead to a sale of your products or services. These promotional items should be more valuable than your attention getters, but not so expensive that they break your advertising budget. A good rule of thumb is to figure out how much you’re willing to pay to make a sale, then divide it by the number of prospects you usually need to pitch to before you make a sale. Basically, your incentive gifts are “payment” to people to listen to your sales pitch or sign up for your contact list.

Thank you gifts
The final category of promotional items you should have on hand at your trade show is thank you gifts. As opposed to incentive gifts, which are meant to entice people into listening to your sales pitch or setting up an appointment with your sales staff, thank you gifts are for those who actually commit to a purchase, as well as for those people who have the potential to bring in really big orders. These are the most valuable tier of promotional items, meant to impress and solidify business relationships.

For additional information on promotional items, business gifts and marketing promotional products why not check out the market leading online suppliers where you will find a massive range of items to choose from and also get exceptionally low prices combined with highly professional fast service levels.

Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK's leading online promotional items and promotional products company based in the north of England. Established in 2001, he has taken the UK gift market by storm by the application of modern business thinking and the latest search engine marketing techniques. For more details visit www.ideasbynet.com

Creating Trade Show Displays that Work!

Designing a trade show booth design takes experience and an understanding of your specific expo. A local craft trade show display will be different to a gift trade show to a medical trade show to a computer trade show because of the different audiences and products.

So consider if it is worth having the advice of others when designs trade show booths. You can get a professional designer who knows the industry but I think starting with your research is the best thing to do.

Explore the trade show expos you are interested in to see who is doing what and how. You will start getting ideas. My friend does a wholesale jewelry trade show and had made up beautiful jewelry display stands for her new range and had a great result with an increase of orders being placed as well as a lot of compliments for her initiative. Her investment in quality trade show displays has paid off and came about because of her experience and open mind.

By walking your target trade shows you'll get a good idea about what sort of display booth designs, tones and standards are used and how they can be challenged while still attracting positive attention from customers.

I've helped friends with their IT trade show booth and found it amazing the difference between a craft trade show and the computer expo booth display. It is about how different audiences see things differently. For women details matter - to women if the details aren't looked after they doubt how well run the business is. Just look at how women will doubt the credibility of a bank that allows graffiti to stay on the walls because if the bank can't look after its own property then how will it look after their customer's interests? Now men think differently to this.

For men the finer points of display rate lower than the whiz-bang gadgets. But a display targeted for men that is slick and reflects the product enhances the impact of the gadgets.

So yes, there is psychology behind it all but what really matters is knowing your audience and understanding what's important to them.

Testing the design of a trade show booth can make all the difference. At a recent bridal expo I was at I put two signs up saying the jewelry could be bought and taken home from the wedding expo and this doubled my show sales (giving me much joy). So the testing of the signs worked and will become a normal part of my display. So you need to give things a go, to test ideas and see what happens.

If you feel you haven't got time to spend researching a number of trade shows and have the money for a professional trade show display booth designer then write out your expectations and requirements so your expo designer knows exactly what you expect and can achieve your goals more easily for you.

It is often a balance between trade show rental costs, staff costs, stock investment, display stands and posters, trade show promotional material and gifts costs as well as any costs in designing the booth itself. So a constant testing and tweaking of the display and efforts will give you the best results.

Belinda Stinson is the designer and owner of http://CreativelyBelle.com - a popular and successful jewelry and jewelry display stand gift idea store. Belinda also offers a range of business and marketing articles online published in the monthly email newsletter to help other businesses success.

Find out more about building a prosperous business with Belinda's free resources. The free email newsletter keeps you informed about new resources as well as jewelry designs and sales.

You can also see Belinda's designs at the Creatively Belle online store.

(c) Copyright - Belinda Stinson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Finding and Hiring the Perfect Wedding Photographer

You have spent a lot of time and money planning your special day. You have taken great pride in the kind of wedding you are going to have. One thing you will want is your special day recorded for all time.

Pictures of your wedding and reception are something you will treasure for the rest of your life. You want someone taking those pictures who know what they are doing, and how to get the memorable shots.

Professional vs a Friend?

Most brides and grooms face this decision. They have a friend who loves to take pictures as a hobby and offers to take their wedding pictures as a gift. Saving money is something everyone wants to do, but there are some places you shouldn't scrimp on. Your wedding photographs are one of those things. Unless your friend has a job as a photographer, hiring a professional is the best choice. Professionals will have the best equipment and have the knowledge to get the right shots.

When should you start looking for a photographer?

Your best bet is to hire one in plenty of time, preferable a year prior to your wedding date. Many photographers are booked far in advance, especially the really good ones.

How do I find a good one?

Finding a good photographer is not very hard. Wedding and bridal shows are wonderful places to get names and pricing information. Bridal magazines are another good place to look. Asking a friend who has had a wedding recently is an excellent way to not only find a photographer, but get a referral as well. You can also find listings for photographers in the yellow pages, but use this only to get a listing. Never hire someone without checking them out first.

Researching your choices

There are numerous ways to check out the photographers on your list. Most professionals have a web site. While you must remember the photographer put all that information on their site, it is still a good place to begin. They should have examples of their work, along with photo packages and pricing. You will also want to contact the Better Business Bureau in your area to see if the photographer has been reported. Most BBB's have web sites, so checking is easy.

References

Any photographer in business should be able to give a list of past customers. When you call, be sure to ask the following questions:

1. Was the photographer on time?
2. Was the cost reasonable?
3. Did you get the pictures you wanted?
4. Did you get them in the time frame you were quoted?
5. Did you have any problems with the photographers, or their staff?

Past clients are more inclined to be honest with a potential customer than with the photographer themselves.

Once you have narrowed the list down to your favorites, it is time to start calling them for quotes. Remember to always get a quote in writing. It makes it easier later on to remember what the photographer promised. Here are eleven questions you should ask any potential photographer.

1. Are you licensed?
2. How long have you been a photographer?
3. Will you be taking my pictures, or will one of your staff?
4. If one of your staff will be taking the pictures, will I get a chance to meet them ahead of time?
5. Do you have set packages available, and what are the costs for each of them?
6. How long will I have to wait for my pictures?
7. Do you do wedding albums too, or do I have to supply my own?
8. How much time will you spend at my wedding? At my reception?
9. is there a charge for overtime, should there are problems or it takes longer than you originally quoted?
10. Do you do the traditional poses, as well as your own unique ones?
11. Will my photos be available online for family and friends to order for themselves, or must I do all my ordering through your directly?

You will have more event related questions to ask your potential photographer. One question you should ask yourself is if you are comfortable with this photographer. A professional photographer will strive to make your special day run smooth. A professional photographer won't be pushy, rude, rushed, or annoyed. If the photographer you are interviewing seems to be any of these things, do not hire him. You will be stressed enough before, during and after your wedding; you don't need your photographer to make it worse.

A wedding is a special even and deserves to be remembered. Photographs are an excellent way to show the beauty of the day and hiring the right photographer will make your memories all the more special.

Dawn Arkin is a writer who loves to plan and attend weddings. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

Finding Frugal Wedding Gowns

Weddings are very expensive. It is easy to see how people can spend thousands of dollars on a single wedding. When you consider the cost of the cake, the rings, reception food and entertainment, the wedding dress, invitations and flowers, you soon begin to wonder where you can cut corners. Many women would not dream of cutting corners on her wedding dress. The wedding dress is an important part of any wedding ceremony. If you choose the right shop, you can certainly save hundreds of dollars on wedding gowns.

If you pick up any bridal magazine, you will find hundreds of beautiful designer wedding gowns. These designer wedding gowns are gorgeous, but they are expensive, too. Some designer wedding gowns can costs well into the thousands of dollars. When you think about it, why should you spend so much money on a dress that you will only wear for a few hours? Chances are that dress will be stored in a box or hang in the back of your closet for years to come. While it is important to look your best on your wedding, do you want to start out your married life in debt over for a dress. Take the time to shop around and consider other options when shopping for wedding gowns.

Wholesale Wedding Gowns

One of the easiest ways that you can save money on wedding gowns is to shop for wholesale wedding gowns. Many stores sell designer wedding gowns for as much as 50% off the regular price. Many of these stores also sell designer look-alikes. When you get right down to it, who of your guests will actually know that you did not spend thousands of dollars on your wedding dress?

These dresses are just as beautiful as the ones you find in the bridal magazines, but will cost you a fraction of the price. To find these stores, look at local phone book or check online. Some of these stores are only open certain hours, so make sure you check into this before you go. It is a good idea to take along heels similar to the one that you will wear on your wedding day and the right undergarments. This will allow you to try on wedding gowns and get a good idea of the true fit.

Used Wedding Gowns

There are actually different types of used wedding gowns. When you buy a used wedding gown, you can get a dress for as little as $200. Consignment and thrift stores are ideal places to look for used wedding gowns. While you may shudder at the idea of buying your dress at a thrift store, consider this: many of the wedding gowns you will find have only been worn one time. They are donated because they are taking up room in someone's closet. Rather than sell the dress, many people think it is easier to donate it. That is an excellent deal for you. Another type of use wedding gown that you may not know about are display gowns that have been used for display at bridal shows, bridal shops, and even florists. Many of these types of stores display beautiful gowns, and then sell them at rock-bottom prices.

You can also find more info on Wedding Photographer and Wedding Rings .Dreamweddingplanning.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about dream wedding planning.

7 Trade Show Marketing Ideas to Make Money

To make your expo, convention and trade show season a financial success you must pay attention to a marketing plan, whether it be one just in your head or a carefully planned out and written down strategy. When you are investing in trade show display booths you need to know where the money is and how you are going to get it.

So you need to have a marketing plan that has these seven marketing initiatives that are intelligently and creatively designed:

1. Offer a special discount offer for all orders placed at the show. I have seen offers like 10 per cent off for all orders placed and paid for at the expo. This encourages orders to be placed straight away as well as getting paid immediately - a big bonus. Have a look at what others are doing with discounts and special offers to get ideas on different methods, explore where the money is and what works best for your business as well as your customers.

2. Simple flyer with pictures of your products with your website, contact details, trade show exhibit booth stand number and call to action such as a trade show promotional product or discount are affordable to print and really valuable for communicating what you are about. I have a basic flyer template that has all the key information I want to give directly to customers. I can tailor it for specific expos and seasonal events and it is tested and regularly improved. I have color pictures of my jewelry designs, jewelry display stands and credit card logos so people know with a glance what I am all about. Yes, they can read all the information and my website address and locations are there but the pictures are vital.

3. Gather contact details of visitors who are potential customers by running a competition with prizes that your customers want. I run a jewelry gift voucher competition during wedding expo season where I give away three gift vouchers. This way I build my customer list for my email newsletter. So I get increase sales through out the year and make my bridal expo display booth rental expenses into an investment.

4. Invite your existing customers by sending out a post card showing your products so you are part of their spending budget. Make sure you have your website, contact details and stand location on the post card. Design the card with reuse in mind so it can be handed out at the expo so you can get the bulk printing discount benefits. You can make up stamps with your stand numbers on them so the printed post cards can be used at different shows.

5. The big glossy brochures and detailed price lists should be available for customers who are placing orders so the marketing budget pays for itself with the trade show orders. Do not give these costly investments to just potential customers, give them the flyer with your product and business contact details. Get everyone to go in the email newsletter competition.

6. Trade show giveaways can be great value as they keep moving around for years after the event with your marketing message all over them. Design the promotional giveaways so they are timeless and can be used at various shows. If there is a big show that is a corner stone to your marketing initiatives and you want to associate your business name (and contact details) with it then an investment in freebies for it should avoid having a year on them as that dates and seriously limits your use of them. Make your designs work for you in multiple places. So if you have a pen with your business name on it make sure it has your website address. This way you can use it in the shop as well as at expos as well as being able to send it out to customers as a thank you present with orders. Get your value out of your marketing budget.

7. Ask your customers what they want. Customer surveys can give you great ideas and insights with creative marketing initiatives. By implementing what customers suggest you can also build profitable business relationships with customers feeling valued and listen to. Customer loyalty comes from feeling a strong connection to the business and surveys are great for building this relationship.

Trade show marketing and promotional work is about building customer relationships, getting good orders, building your customer list and increasing your business profile. With some investment in time and money you can have a really effective marketing plan with affordable marketing tools that pay for themselves quickly and often.

Belinda Stinson is the designer and owner of http://CreativelyBelle.com - a popular and successful jewelry and earring holder gift idea store. Belinda also offers a range of business and marketing articles online published in the monthly email newsletter to help other businesses success.

Find out more about building a prosperous business with Belinda's free resources Signup today for the free email newsletter to keep you informed about new resources as well as jewelry designs and sales.

You can also see Belinda's designs and jewelry display stands at the Creatively Belle online store:http://CreativelyBelle.com/design

(c) Copyright - Belinda Stinson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

How You Can Best Show Off Your Handmade Lampwork Beaded Earrings

How to display jewelry for the greatest effect is a question all jewelry businesses have, especially if you have handmade lamp work beaded jewelry. For the expo trade shows I do I need trade show portable jewelry display kits that show off my designs, look great, attract customers and are easy to setup and pack-up.

After a heap of searching round and testing I found the frame with mesh wire setup too hard to use, fussy for customers and had too much of a background to properly highlight the details of my handmade lamp work beaded earrings. So an earring tree idea was more want I wanted so I could display glass jewelry best. I wanted metal jewelry display sets for their durability and easy to use. I also wanted to theme my display with a range of complementary designs. I thought about having the earring stands all the same but I like a bit of variation. So to keep it in the family I got a collection of earring trees that go together and bring cohesion with their format but are also a little different to each other.

I also have my necklace display stands keeping the same theme as the earring holders to bring unity to the trade show display stand.

Having a creative jewelry display makes a huge difference for presentation and sales. Heaps of competitors us boards and frames so my earring holders with my beaded handmade earrings stand out from the crowd and bring customers directly to me. Having decorative and attractive portable jewelry display stands compliments the necklace and earring jewelry designs so they enhance my designs and that is what I want when I am working really hard to build my jewelry business at wedding expos and craft shows.

I also use my portable jewelry display kit for my jewelry party plan business with home shows so get twice the value out of the initial set up of the kit. For me this is important because every dollar I invest in my business has to work hard to sell my jewelry and create a healthy income for me.

So figuring out what best suits your needs is the easiest way how to display beaded jewelry at a craft fair, bridal expo, trade show booth or party plan home party showing. List what your requirements are and then you can easily see what meets your needs. For me it was the ability of the jewelry display stand to make my jewelry look great, attract customers over to look, easy for me and customers to handle, look really good and a simple setup and pack.

I find it much easier for customers to remember me as the lady with the really good earring holders and necklace jewelry bust display stands as well as for my jewelry in such a busy and competitive market place that is a jewelry trade show. It is a really good way to be remembered, build your brand and continually attract customers with displays that compliment your beautiful handcrafted jewelry.

Belinda Stinson is the designer and owner of http://CreativelyBelle.com - a popular and successful jewelry and earring holder gift idea store. Belinda also offers a range of business and marketing articles online published in the monthly email newsletter to help other businesses success.

Find out more about building a prosperous business with Belinda's free resources. Signup today for the free email newsletter to keep you informed about new resources as well as jewelry designs and sales.

You can also see Belinda's designs and jewelry display stands at the Creatively Belle online store:http://CreativelyBelle.com/design

(c) Copyright - Belinda Stinson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Expo Trade Show Marketing Made Quick and Easy

Expos and trade shows can be great for growing a business but it takes care and effort to make the most of the possibilities. Trade show marketing is the key to success.

At most trade shows and expos visitors end up feeling overwhelmed by all the information and even if they shop with you directly or make a booking you'll still want to be able to contact them again after the show to build a healthy business relationship with them.

I find this particularly true for shows where people are usually first time visitors like at a bridal expo or wedding expo. There are so many regular shows where this works for as well like the beauty expo, electronic expo, design expo, baby expo, health and fitness expo, pet expo, computer expo, scrapbook expo, travel expo, womens expo, and of course world expo.

Having trade show promotions can be a great way to to this. I run a competition where I collect names and emails so after the show (within 1 - 2 weeks usually) I email them a newsletter announcing the expo trade show winners. This lets me showcase the business and the different areas such as being able to shop online, the online sale shopping area, jewelry party details and more.

I include lots of pictures of the jewelry so they remember me and become more familiar with the products. I also invite them to come shopping online, explaining how easy it is to home internet shop.

It is the prompt contacting and the calls to action that are powerful and bring the results. So be ready to make this happen by having as much as possible prepared before the expo season so you can just make it happen.

Yes, at expos you want to make sales and take bookings but what usually makes a trade show booth rental pay for itself and have a really profitable show is the follow up sales and bookings that come from being diligent about communicating and customer service with the customer database you build.

In terms of trade show marketing you'll probably need a specific newsletter for each of the different expos you do. So I would have one for bridal expos, gardening expos, wholesale trade shows, craft trade show, fashion jewelry trade show, all the different shows I attend.

Now I have the first email newsletter designed for the initial expo I reuse it for new expos and trade shows simply by editing it with the current details. The product and site details stay constant so I enjoy the benefits of reuse rather than having to reinvent the wheel (newsletter) each time.

It is important to have pictures linked to the specific areas within the website that they represent because readers expect this and get frustrated when it doesn't happen. So keep potential customers happy.

I probably spent about 3 hours making the initial email newsletter and for repeat shows I now spent less than 30 minutes updating it and sending it off. Of course the time for the entering the competition entries varies each show depending on the number of them but the more the merrier!

Belinda Stinson is the designer and owner of http://CreativelyBelle.com - a popular and successful jewelry and jewelry display stand gift idea resource. Belinda also offers a range of business articles online published in the monthly email newsletter to help other businesses success.

Find out more about building a prosperous business with Belinda's free resources The free email newsletter keeps you informed about new resources as well as jewelry designs and sales.

You can always do a bit of online sale shopping for great gift ideas with earring holders, beaded necklaces, freshwater pearl earrings and more.

(c) Copyright - Belinda Stinson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

A Guide to Choose Wedding Vendors

When you are planning for your big day, you will need to come across quite a number of vendors. You need to hire a company to prepare wedding favor, caterer, baker for your wedding cake and so on.

Although it is unavoidable that you have to hire different wedding, most couples have a feeling that it is quite difficult to search for suitable wedding vendors. In fact, a badly chosen vendor can ruin your wedding. You should never overlook the task of searching for the professionals and here are some suggestions when you are searching for them.

No one will deny that a wedding professional with good reputation will be worth trusting. One of the best ways to gather information of the reputation of them is to consult your friends and relatives who have married. Their experiences are certainly invaluable. If your friend had bad experience with a particular wedding vendor, I will suggest you better choose another vendor to help you, no matter how attractive their services are.

You can also go to bridal shows to meet different wedding professionals. One of the advantages of going to a bridal show is that you can meet a lot of the vendors at the same place. You will find nearly all the different trades you need to approach for your wedding. In these shows, the vendors may urge you to join their programs. However, you should allow yourself some time to think about it first. It is in fact not necessary for you to make the decision right the way. Instead you can collect their contact information and call them later if you decide to hire them.

Besides, you may also consult the staff of the wedding venue you choose. They will probably have a list of vendors who constantly working with them. Since these vendors usually have quite a lot of experiences in planning a wedding in the venue. They may be able to provide more suitable services.

You should also check on the internet for different wedding professionals. You can gather a lot of information with Yahoo or Google. You can even take a look at different wedding forums and newsgroups on weddings. Users of these forums and newsgroups will share their experience and you may also ask for their opinions on the wedding vendors.

Local bridal magazines can also be good sources of gathering information. You do not need to buy every bridal magazine but it will be good to buy a few for the sake of gathering information. You can check the advertisements in the magazines and also take a look at the comments by the editors of the magazines. However, you should be always critical about the comments because some of these "comments" are not really comments. They are indeed advertisements.

In conclusion, it is not enough to rely on only one of the above ways to gather information. I will suggest you to use all of the above methods in order to gather the information. When you see an advertisement in bridal magazines, you can ask on the forums for opinions of the wedding professional. At the same time you may also need to ask your friends for opinions so that you will not make a wrong decision.

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer with great interest in Chinese Style Wedding cards. He designs unique Personalized Wedding Invitations. Besides, he runs a blog on weddings to share his ideas on items such as Wedding Cake. You can also find lists of wedding vendors from his Wedding Directory Websites.

7 Reasons Why Using Jewelry Display Stands Get You More ExpoTrade Shows Sales

The question of how to sell and display jewelry for the best results is one asked by all of us who attends trade shows, craft fairs, bridal expos, basically any retail or wholesale exhibition where we are selling jewelry.

For me I have found that using creative jewelry display ideas gives the best results for trade show jewelry display efforts. So here are seven reasons why jewelry display sets get you more sales at your trade show display:

1. customers can easily see the earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings and are attracted to them and this is exactly what you want

2. jewelry display bust, jewelry ring finger display and earring holders can be picked up so customers can have a better look at the jewelry designs and getting the customers to handle the jewelry gets you more orders

3. beautiful jewelry display stands attract attention in their own right and you want all the attention you can get for your exhibition stand and the more people you have looking and being in front of your stand the better

4. it is easier to keep track of displayed jewelry because you can quickly see empty holes on the earring tree themselves

5. portable jewelry display stands are quick and easy to set up to make setting up your trade show booth design easier, the same is true for pack up.

6. unusual and attractive jewelry earring stands bring customers over just to check them out and lets you start getting a conversation going easily

7. makes your expo trade show display stand out from the crowd and easily remembered by customers by using creative jewelry display techniques

To display jewelry to the best effect you want jewelry display fixtures that do the work for you, especially with displays that your competitors do not have. This is simply done by getting jewelry display supplies from jewelry display vendors that are outside of your area and your competitors' area.

Belinda Stinson is the designer and owner of http://CreativelyBelle.com - a popular and successful jewelry and earring holder gift idea store. Belinda also offers a range of business and marketing articles online published in the monthly email newsletter to help other businesses success.

Find out more about building a prosperous business with Belinda's free resources. Signup today for the free email newsletter to keep you informed about new resources as well as jewelry designs and sales.

You can also see Belinda's designs at the Creatively Belle online store.

(c) Copyright - Belinda Stinson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

A Career in Wedding Planning

As a wedding planner you can have a rewarding career that lets you use your creativity to organize the happiest day of people's lives.

In our busy society it's no wonder so many couples turn to a professional wedding planner to ensure their wedding is as stress free as possible. With more than 2.5 million weddings taking place in the United States alone last year, there are more opportunities for wedding planners than ever before.

As long as you have the desire, you can become a wedding planner. No special education or experience is necessary to break into this career and succeed. If wedding planning sounds like the career of your dreams, here are ten steps to breaking into this fabulous job, based on the FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner, published by FabJob.com.

1. Develop your skills

Successful wedding planners have a number of traits in common. They are usually creative people with excellent interpersonal skills who love to plan events. While most of these traits come naturally to many wedding planners, an important skill that some need to develop is organizational ability. To help you stay organized, you can create timeline schedules and checklists, and use organizational tools such as a day planner or binder to keep track of all the wedding details and paperwork.

2. Learn about Weddings

There are numerous details involved in planning a wedding -- from selecting the wedding date to choosing the menu for the reception. You can learn how to plan weddings by taking continuing education classes or through self-study. To teach yourself, help out with as many weddings as possible, visit bridal shows, read wedding magazines, and conduct informational interviews with clergy of various faiths, recently married brides and others connected to the wedding business such as florists and caterers.

3. Create a portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of photographs that show people your skill at planning weddings. To develop a portfolio, offer your services to friends and family who are getting married in exchange for pictures for your portfolio. (You can ask them to write reference letters for you as well.) You can also include photographs of table settings or room decorations you have created in your home, or pictures from your own wedding to show your creative side.

4. Find a job in the wedding industry

Even if you plan to start your own business, consider getting a job in the industry first. Besides employment benefits, these positions can be used as a stepping-stone to gain valuable experience and contacts. Wedding coordinators are hired by hotels, country clubs, and churches across the country.

Some of the more exciting options include working as a wedding coordinator at an attraction such as Disney World or at a resort in a location such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, Europe or the Caribbean. Many other job opportunities for "bridal consultants" are available with companies that supply products and services for weddings including bridal shops, department stores with gift registries, florists, and caterers.

5. Set up your own business

Setting up a wedding planning business is not much different than starting any other business, with a few exceptions. You should be able to work from home as long as you set aside an office space free from interruptions from children or pets. This is especially important if you plan on holding meetings with clients there.

Set up costs will be minimal but you will need a computer, fax, business phone line, cell phone, business cards, and marketing materials such as a website. Before setting up your business, take advantage of the free advice offered by agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration.

6. Choose a specialty

Wedding planners offer a variety of services and packages based on their specific skills and interests. For example, you might offer complete wedding planning services, wedding day co-ordination only, or consult with brides and grooms who want to plan their own weddings. Some wedding planners specialize in arranging "destination weddings" at resorts or on cruise ships. Decide which services you would like to offer.

7. Develop relationships with vendors

Vendors are suppliers of any product or service related to weddings, such as limousine companies, musicians, photographers, party supply companies, invitation printers, etc. Vendors can be a valued partner in planning a successful wedding and a great networking ally.

Conduct informational meetings to learn about their services, and what discounts they can offer you as a wedding planner. Before recommending a site for a wedding ceremony or reception, visit and inspect the premises. Take notes on the condition, size, cleanliness and capacity of each venue so you can guide your clients in making suitable choices. Always follow up with vendors after the wedding with a thank you note or to discuss any changes you want for future.

8. Get clients

One of the best ways to get clients is through your relationships with vendors. Supply business cards and brochures to the bridal shops, caterers, florists, photographers and other vendors you work with, and ask them to recommend your services to their customers who are getting married. Other ways to market your services include advertising, networking, participating in bridal shows, or even organizing your own bridal show.

9. Consult with clients

Once you start getting calls from brides and grooms, arrange a client consultation meeting. The purpose of this initial consultation is to learn as much as possible about the couple and what they want, so you can show them how hiring you will help them achieve the wedding of their dreams. Be prepared to ask questions to find out what type of wedding they want, their budget, number of guests, etc.

At this meeting you will discuss your fees, which might be an hourly rate such as $50 per hour or a flat fee. Explain how you can help them have the worry-free wedding of their dreams.

10. Be recognized as a professional

Successful wedding planners are always interested in learning new ideas they can use with their clients. Consider joining a professional association for wedding planners to keep up with new developments in the industry. Clients will be impressed with your affiliation to a professional organization, especially if it certifies you as a professional wedding planner.

Based on the FabJob.com Guide to Become a Wedding Planner. The complete book gives detailed advice on how you can get paid to plan weddings, be hired for a job in the wedding industry, or start your own wedding planning business. It is available online through www.FabJob.com/weddingplanner.asp (NOTE TO EDITORS: This article may be edited for publication in your newsletter or on your website but must include the title of the guide and a live link.)

Planning A Wedding? Tips On How To Attend A Bridal Show

If you’re getting married, a Bridal Show is a great place to get started. Since 1996, I have attended or participated in over 150 Bridal Shows, and I thought I would pass on some tips to you, to make your trip a little easier. You can find local Bridal Shows being held anywhere from malls to hotels, convention centers and wedding facilities. You can expect to see anywhere from 10 to over 100 wedding vendors, and every single one of them is competing for your business. What to do? How to start? What to bring?

If possible, find out which vendors will be participating in the show before you attend. This will help you map out your plan of attack. Knowing who will be there in advance, as well as maybe having a layout of the show itself, you can seek out the vendors you really want to talk to, and those that aren’t so important to you.

Wear comfortable shoes and leave your coat in the car. Many shows do not offer coat check and it can become quite a burden to lug your coat, your purse, your brochures, and everything else around! This is why you need to…see next item!

Bring someone with you! Bring your Mother, a Bridesmaid, and yes, your fiancé may even enjoy himself! They can help you with collecting information and would be happy you included them in the planning process! As for your fiancé? Just tell him that he can win free stuff and eat free cake!

Other than some cake samples, and possibly appetizers, most Bridal Shows will not have food or drink available to purchase. Make sure you eat before you go, and bring a beverage.

Don’t take too many people with you. They’ll wander off and you’ll spend all your time trying to keep everyone together instead of focusing on your goals for the day.

Bring address labels. I recommend printing out labels on your home computer with your name, address, phone number, email address and wedding date. I also recommend opening a free email account that is designated strictly for all the wedding info you will receive and then cancel them email account after you have booked all of your vendors! You can also rent a P.O. Box to handle all the wedding brochures and mailings you will receive, and then cancel the PO Box when you no longer want the mailings. However, just remember, these vendors will use the information you provide for them – if you don’t want sales pitch phone calls or mailings, simply do not give out your phone number or address! You may miss a great deal though!

Bring the following items: pen, notebook, date book, checkbook, credit card and a large tote bag to carry everything in. Many vendors offer special pricing if you book with them and leave a deposit with them the day of the show. Still not sure if this vendor is truly the one you want? Ask if they would be willing to extend the special price to you for any length of time after the show. Most vendors won’t have a problem working with you. If they say no, it makes you wonder why you need to do it RIGHT THERE AND THEN! Say thank you, and pass on by. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.

Before you place that deposit, be 100% sure that you have read and agree to all the details on their contract concerning the description of what it is you are signing up for and their policies. What sounds like a great deal won’t be so great if you later find out the DJ takes an hour break and your cake doesn’t come with a stand!

If you plan on attending the Fashion show portion of the day, make sure you arrive at least an hour early. Seating is often first come, first serve, and if you’ve brought all 12 of your Bridesmaids along, you want to guarantee good seats for everyone!

If attending the Fashion Show isn’t so important to you, then use that time to visit with the vendors. Since the majority of brides will be watching the show, you will have a better chance to actually talk to a vendor and it will be a much quieter atmosphere.

If you are provided with a “Bride” sticker, don’t be embarrassed to wear it! It can become confusing for vendors to identify everyone that attends, and if they know you are the bride, you are more likely to get special treatment!

When filling out any contest entries or door prize drawing slips, print clearly! Who would want to miss out on winning a free limo for their wedding because no one could read your phone number?

The best place to take notes is on the actual brochure handed out by each vendor. That way you connect a face to your notes, to your brochure, and it will be easier to remember when you make your follow up calls.

Most shows will charge a nominal fee for attendance. Make sure you pre-register if the option is available, and don’t be too embarrassed to call the company hosting the show to see if they offer any discounts on admission.

Enjoy yourself! It’s just a bridal show! Nothing HAS to be set in stone that day. Many of the bigger shows will be crowded and noisy – don’t let this deter you! Use this time to gather information and enjoy any of the special offers extended to you. You are the Bride; you make the rules when dealing with vendors. It’s YOUR day, not theirs!

Charity Plaster is the Owner of A Charmed Event, a wedding and event planning company. She is a Certified Wedding Coordinator, creator of a local Wedding Workshop and licensed Officiant who has helped hundreds of couples bring their dream weddings to life.

http://www.acharmedevent.com

Promotional Products For Bridal Shows

Weddings are huge business. While word of mouth and internet advertising are good ways to advertise, many bridal consultants, florists and other wedding related businesses pick up the bulk of their business leads at bridal shows and fairs. Bridal fairs offer wedding related businesses the chance to influence thousands of happy couples in a single afternoon or weekend. Of course, the tradeoff is that you’re also competing with dozens and sometimes hundreds of other businesses who are all trying to grab the attention of the same market that you’re trying to snag.

Promotional products and advertising gifts hold the key to grabbing that attention long enough to pitch your service or products to your intended customers. When choosing promotional products for a trade show, these are the considerations you should keep in mind:

1. You can use promotional products for many different purposes at bridal shows.

   There’s more to promotional products than giveaway business gifts, and most companies that specialize in creating promotional items and corporate gifts can handle all of your promotional needs. The more business you do with a single company, the more likely it is that you’ll be eligible for volume discounts and special pricing on individual parts of your order. Among the things you can order from promotional specialists are:

   1. lead generation incentives
   2. customer appreciation gifts
   3. exhibit displays
   4. presentation materials
   5. informational flyers and leaflets
   6. product carrier bags
   7. staff apparel
2. Use promotional products to attract attention to your display space.

   There are many ways to do this. You might choose, for instance, to offer a “gotta have it” promotional giveaway to those who visit your booth and make an appointment for a consultation. You might use a brightly colored exhibit stand to catch the eye, or create an arresting display of colorful printed balloons. Whatever you choose, remember that you’ll be competing for attention with many other displays. Find ways to make yours unique and outstanding.

3. Use promotional apparel to give your booth attendants a cohesive appearance.

   The people tending your booth are, like it or not, part of the display. One way to make sure that they “fit” your image is to invest in promotional polo shirts, jackets or other matching apparel.

4. Check the prices and ideas for printed materials for handouts at bridal shows and exhibitions.

   A firm that specializes in promotional printing is often expert at designing both booth displays and the promotional materials that you’ll be handing out from your booth. One way to make sure that all of your materials coordinate is to order them all and have them all produced by the same company. Take advantage of the professional design services that most promotional products companies offer at reduced prices or even free when you place an order with them.

5. Put your carry away gifts in eye catching bags or packages.

Many exhibiters at bridal shows and wedding expos put a lot of thought into the colors for their booth, the choice of appreciation gifts and lead generation incentives – and completely miss one of their best opportunities to increase name recognition. I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched booth attendants scrambling for any sort of bag or container for attendees. Invest in generously sized printed carrier bags for your takeaway materials and appreciation gifts. Your exhibit visitors will appreciate the extra room to stow all the stuff they pick up at other booths – but it will be YOUR logo that’s on display. For additional information on advertising gifts, corporate gifts or promotional items then why not check out the leading promotional gift suppliers online today and start to make big savings.

Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK's leading online promotional products, promotional items and business gifts company based in the north of England. Established in 2001, he has taken the UK gift market by storm by the application of modern business thinking and the latest search engine marketing techniques.

Have You Considered to Attend a Bridal Show?

Are yu planning a wedding? Why not attend a bridal show? It offers you a great shopping option as a wedding consumer. At this show, you will be able to meet first hand with local vendors all in one day and in one location. You can take a friend or relative with you or why not bring your future spouse?

Before you take advantage of this great opportunity you should first discuss your needs and expectations for your wedding. Write down all questions you might have, so you can be prepared to ask them right on the spot. Some of the wedding vendors will bring samples; for example, most cake vendors will bring a variety of flavored cakes for you to taste. Tuxedo rental shops will have tuxedos for you to touch and see and that is much more real that just a photo in a brochure. Some catering companies will provide food samples also. You may find jewelry, floral arrangements, videos of real weddings, and even be able to try out a limousine.

So, how can you make the most out of a bridal show? Such shows offer lots of free stuff like for example wedding magazines. Pick up some free wedding stuff at the show. Make your personal cards containing your name, address, telephone number and email address to give to the vendors. This effort will save time from having to write and re-write your personal information at each booth. Normally a fashion show takes place at a bridal show and you don’t want to miss this event. The line for such fashion shows forms quickly, so be there well in advance.

Most bridal shows arrange contests. Enter as many contests as you can to win bridal packages or maybe a honeymoon. Lots of vendors are waiting to be of service to you and you can have fun even if you don’t win. Bring your calendar or a notebook to make appointments with vendors.

Many vendors at these shows offer discounts for point-of-sale purchases on the exhibit day, so take money or your credit cards with you. At bridal shows you have to walk a lot, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

Terje Brooks Ellingsen is an internet publisher. His website <The-Wedding-Site.net offers valuable free information for all who are planning a wedding or interested in wedding issues, for example find the best wedding vendors. Check out The-Wedding-Site now.

Planning Your Own Wedding

Okay. It’s finally happened. Your honey has popped the question and now you’re officially engaged. What next? Well, if you are like most people, the next step is to set a date and plan for the wedding ceremony and reception. What follows are a few tips to help you plan for your wedding on your own.

Unless it's a good reason to hurry (like an impending military deployment), take the time to discuss this carefully with your groom. Experts agree that firstly, give yourself time (a year or little more is not an unreasonable amount of time) to make sure the plans you make come to fruition. This gives you the necessary buffer you need to make any kind of changes in your original plans that may come up.

Secondly, the busiest times a year to have a wedding falls around Valentine's Day, the month of June, and around Christmas. While it may be cute to plan your nuptials around these times for sentimental or personal reasons, you need to be aware that these are most likely to be the busiest times for a florist, caterer, or even your favorite church when it comes to booking them for their services. Try to choose a wedding date other than these times to allow friends and family to attend more easily.

Next, take into account the amount of money that you are comfortably able to spend on your wedding reception and ceremony. Unfortunately, the hard truth is that that the expense of a wedding is probably one of the biggest outlays of cash you will make in your life, right up there with the cost of a college education or your first home. Depending on your financial resources (are you paying for this yourself or would you get help from one or both sets of parents), you need to take careful stock so that you can adequately plan for the costs that your wedding is going to incur.

Depending on your time schedule, it might be advantageous to attend the annual bridal shows offered in many cities. They are usually very good for new brides. They showcase the different services available like florists, caterers, and bridal shops that are in or near your community. Realize that what they are going to show is, of course, the more expensive things they offer, but it can be a really educational experience both for getting ideas for your own wedding and to give you a more accurate idea of what the true costs can run you.

In conjunction with these bridal shows, many times the brides-to-be are given a copy of a free wedding planning guide to keep track of things. or example, the florists you chose, the kind of flowers you ordered, who you chose as a caterer, the musicians or DJ that you hired for your wedding reception, etc. Sometimes wedding planning guides are offered at the same time of year free from your local newspaper. If you need further help you can use one of these or find books to help you plan from your local bookstore. Thankfully, the internet contains innumerable sites which offer advice, tips, and information on how to plan your own wedding ceremony.

L Hayes is a wedding professional and owner of Wedding Favors Emporium. They carry an extensive line of unique wedding favors. They offer many popular gift ideas such as place card holders, beach favors, and bridesmaid gifts. For more information about discount and cheap wedding favors, wedding planning, or wedding reception ideas, visit their website.

What To Expect From A Bridal Show

Most bridal shows are scheduled in the months of January and August. Tickets are usually between $5.00 and $10.00 with a one or two dollar discount if you purchase your tickets online before the event. Prizes may be offered for the first 100, 200 or 500 brides to attend, which usually includes a copy of a major bridal magazine such as “Modern Bride,” a local bridal guide, a pin that says “Bride to Be,” as well as tickets for drawings and sweepstakes.

The most recent bridal show I attended started at 11:00 and ended at 5:00. They had a mini bridal fashion show that started at noon and showcased about 20 wedding gowns from one of the exhibitors. The “Runway Fashion Show” which included more gowns and tuxedos was scheduled for 3:00. The prize drawings were announced at 2pm and 4pm. Having arrived at 11:00, my guests and I had visited all the exhibitors, watched the mini fashion show, and were done by around 12:30. I recommend going to bridal shows later in the day in order to be there for the main events and giveaways. Also, I noticed that there were plenty of free magazines, buttons, and gifts for people arriving after 12:30.

Expect to see a multitude of local photographers at any bridal show you attend. You will be a little overwhelmed by their displays, but spend a little time looking through their photo albums, which contain some of their most personal and unusual candid shots. You will have fun sampling wedding cakes from all the local bakeries. Even better, is seeing new trends in wedding cakes. I saw rich, brown layered cakes with gold leaf accents, and bold, bright colors such as magenta, purple and hot pink.

Unless you want to be bombarded with phone calls and emails from wedding professionals, be careful about the forms you fill out for the exhibitors. My daughter filled out a form for a free cruise giveaway. She was called after the show and asked for her credit card number over the phone. Remember, that even if you “win” something, it may be a $500 discount off of a $2,000 photography package.

Being able to talk to so many wedding professionals in one place is very beneficial. Looking at companies online, who all claim to be the best at what they do, is impersonal and confusing. The exhibitors are friendly and helpful. You will be able to determine for yourself whether you like the taste and look of their cakes, or the design of their flower arrangements. You may not win a prize, but you will come home with a free magazine, some referrals, and some great new ideas for your wedding.

Kathleen Terrana is the owner of Beautiful Bridal specializing in discount tiaras, veils, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry. Visit our site for additional wedding tips, advice and information.

Promotional Products For Bridal Shows

Weddings are huge business. While word of mouth and internet advertising are good ways to advertise, many bridal consultants, florists and other wedding related businesses pick up the bulk of their business leads at bridal shows and fairs. Bridal fairs offer wedding related businesses the chance to influence thousands of happy couples in a single afternoon or weekend. Of course, the tradeoff is that you’re also competing with dozens and sometimes hundreds of other businesses who are all trying to grab the attention of the same market that you’re trying to snag.

Promotional products and advertising gifts hold the key to grabbing that attention long enough to pitch your service or products to your intended customers. When choosing promotional products for a trade show, these are the considerations you should keep in mind:

1. You can use promotional products for many different purposes at bridal shows.

   There’s more to promotional products than giveaway business gifts, and most companies that specialize in creating promotional items and corporate gifts can handle all of your promotional needs. The more business you do with a single company, the more likely it is that you’ll be eligible for volume discounts and special pricing on individual parts of your order. Among the things you can order from promotional specialists are:

   1. lead generation incentives
   2. customer appreciation gifts
   3. exhibit displays
   4. presentation materials
   5. informational flyers and leaflets
   6. product carrier bags
   7. staff apparel
2. Use promotional products to attract attention to your display space.

   There are many ways to do this. You might choose, for instance, to offer a “gotta have it” promotional giveaway to those who visit your booth and make an appointment for a consultation. You might use a brightly colored exhibit stand to catch the eye, or create an arresting display of colorful printed balloons. Whatever you choose, remember that you’ll be competing for attention with many other displays. Find ways to make yours unique and outstanding.

3. Use promotional apparel to give your booth attendants a cohesive appearance.

   The people tending your booth are, like it or not, part of the display. One way to make sure that they “fit” your image is to invest in promotional polo shirts, jackets or other matching apparel.

4. Check the prices and ideas for printed materials for handouts at bridal shows and exhibitions.

   A firm that specializes in promotional printing is often expert at designing both booth displays and the promotional materials that you’ll be handing out from your booth. One way to make sure that all of your materials coordinate is to order them all and have them all produced by the same company. Take advantage of the professional design services that most promotional products companies offer at reduced prices or even free when you place an order with them.

5. Put your carry away gifts in eye catching bags or packages.

Many exhibiters at bridal shows and wedding expos put a lot of thought into the colors for their booth, the choice of appreciation gifts and lead generation incentives – and completely miss one of their best opportunities to increase name recognition. I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched booth attendants scrambling for any sort of bag or container for attendees. Invest in generously sized printed carrier bags for your takeaway materials and appreciation gifts. Your exhibit visitors will appreciate the extra room to stow all the stuff they pick up at other booths – but it will be YOUR logo that’s on display. For additional information on advertising gifts, corporate gifts or promotional items then why not check out the leading promotional gift suppliers online today and start to make big savings.

Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK's leading online promotional products, promotional items and business gifts company based in the north of England. Established in 2001, he has taken the UK gift market by storm by the application of modern business thinking and the latest search engine marketing techniques.

Bridal Show Savvy - Tips Every Bride Should Know

Planning a wedding is an experience that can be exciting and scary at the same time. There are so many decisions to make while the clock ticks away. Music...dresses...invitations...flowers...these thoughts clutter the mind and leaves little time to enjoy the whole wedding planning experience. One way to help simplify the wedding planning process is to attend a bridal show. A bridal show is basically a one stop shopping experience where local vendors gather under one roof to show their products to potential customers. Florists, photographers, bridal salons and more are available to you to offer their services and expert advice. Visiting with the different bridal vendors in one location makes it easy to compare prices and services and in turn, to save you time and money. There are several do's and don'ts when it comes to bridal show shopping. Here is a list of tips to help you to become a savvy bridal show shopper.

Tip# 1:
Register Before the Show Most
Admission is discounted or free if you register prior to the show.

Tip#2
Wear Comfortable Shoes
You will be doing a lot of walking.

Tip #3
Return Address Labels
Bring along a roll of return address stickers. These are useful for prize drawings. Use the stickers rather than filling out the entry forms.

Tip#4
Bring Pen and Paper
You will need to take notes to remember what the vendors tell you.

Tip#5
Browse but Don't Buy
Meet with the bridal vendors to see what they have to offer but don't be pressured to book their services at the show. Take information with you to go over at home.

Tip#6
Ask Questions
Bring a list of questions to ask the bridal vendors. They are there to help you. Jot down any price quotes or tips they may have to offer.

Tip#7
Create a New E-mail Account
Register for a free e-mail address that you can use when filling out forms. When the wedding is over you can cancel the account and not receive any unwanted wedding information.

Tip#8
Gather Information
Take as much literature home as you can. What you may not be interested in today, you may decide tomorrow that you would like to try.

Tip#9
Rate Bridal Vendor Information
Bring a marker or colored pen to rate the vendor information on a scale of 1-10 (10 being best). Mark the flier or business card of the bridal vendor with your rating so you can remember how interested you are in what they are selling.

Tip#10
Bring Along a Friend
It is fun to have someone to share the experience with and to offer a second opinion.

Tip#11
Bring Your Checkbook
You may want to book a service or give a deposit to hold a date.

Tip#12
Relax and Enjoy
Bridal shows can be hectic but don't get overwhelmed. Decisions take time and do not need to be made in one day.

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7 Tips To Surviving The Bridal Expo Jungle!

Do you remember that scene in "Mean Girls" when Lindsay Lohan is daydreaming about the high school girls as if they were animals fighting in the wild? (It was hilarious!) Well, I can tell you... that scene reminds me of the chaos at the Bridal Expo!

Bridal shows can be completely OVERWHELMING for a bride. There are so many other brides, so many booths, everyone is trying to get from point to point and it can really get crazy. I'm going to give you some savvy tips and tricks for hitting the bridal expo with style and sass!!

Tip # 1: Wear comfy shoes! -

You're going to be walking a mile on a hard tradeshow floor. Yes, it's lovely to look fashionable but the brides in stilettos never last long at the bridal fair. If you really want to see everything and be comfortable think about your feet first! (But be a little elegant and leave the stinky gym sneakers at home... opt for some cute supportive flats).

Tip #2: 1000 Brides Gather In 1 Place -

You think it might be a bit of a mob scene? Well then you're absolutely right! If you really want to get some valuable one on one time with the exhibitors I recommend planning the timing of your visit to the Expo. When the fashion show is taking place the booths slow down significantly. This is a great time to chat with an exhibitor or try on dresses at the gown sale. I also recommend first thing in the morning (especially if you want your pick of all those frugally priced gowns).

Tip #3: Your Hand Will Cramp -

Many exhibitors will be offering prizes at their booths and you'll be asked to fill out a ballot form. You waste valuable time writing out your contact info again and AGAIN. So print off a couple sheets of labels that include your name, your groom's name, your wedding date, your address, phone number and email. Then it will be easy to just peel and stick your info to the ballots. Then you can spend quality time checking out all the cool stuff on display!

Tip #4: Watch Out For Bridezilla! -

I often see the dreaded bridezilla at the Bridal Expo. You know her... she's the girl that pushes your Mom aside so she can get a better look at the booth, she criticizes your wedding colors when she overhears you gushing about them, she muscles her way to the prize box while telling the exhibitor she doesn't want any information (just the prize!) and she complains loudly about how expensive everything is.... Oh yes... Bridezilla always makes an appearance at the Bridal Expo. But don't let this kind of bride ruin your good time! She has a bunch of BAD karma surrounding her so just IGNORE HER and have some fun!

Tip #5: Be Patient & Be Nice –

Be the opposite of bridezilla. The exhibitors at the show have brought some really great deals with them... some that you won't even know about unless you talk to them! It's true! This kind of mentality will get you far with exhibitors. I find myself giving extra nice brides FREE advice! I know other exhibitors do too!! (because we all want to work with nice brides).

Tip #6: Hydrate! –

The Round Up Centre with over 1000 people in it at any given time can heat up pretty quick. And you can bet the water ain't cheap! So bring along some water for your journey. You don't want to get a headache!!

Tip #7: One Step at a Time –

Okay, the truth is that there are going to be A LOT of booths, people, and noise at the Bridal Expo. But it doesn't have to be overwhelming. YES, there are a lot of choices but you don't have to choose EVERYTHING or choose ANYTHING right there and then. Here are a couple of TIPS within my TIPS to dealing with all the choices:

Seek And Ye Shall Find – Know what you are looking for and enjoy the rest. Don't feel like you have to choose ALL your vendors from the Bridal Expo. This is just a sampling of your city's finest. You may connect with some vendors, you may not. This is a great opportunity to meet people face to face and figure out if they should be part of your wedding day.

One by One - Approach each vendor calmly, ready to hear the sales pitch (yes- the sales pitch). The exhibitors are there to sell to you. You're there to buy right? So if someone is overwhelming you just ask them politely to SLOW DOWN. You don't need the info dump! Ask the questions you want answered.

Thanks But No Thanks - If you're not interested thank them and walk away. Don't take the flyer and load up your bridal bag. Guess what? You'll quickly rifle through that bag ONCE after the fair, pulling out the vendors you connected with... and then it'll sit in your closet to be found on your 2 year wedding anniversary!

Follow these tips so you can enjoy planning for your big day. Good luck!

Ciara Daykin is Calgary's premiere Wedding Choreographer. Brides wanting a dazzling, dashing, dream-filled wedding turn to Ciara for all their wedding planning needs.

Ciara is a proud member of the Association of Bridal Consultants.

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