I have always ‘loved a good show’ and when Bridal Fairs started becoming popular that was all the excuse I needed to put on . . .

 A Show of my Own

. . . ‘no point in doing this at all if you are not going to CREATE AN IMPACT and get yourself noticed’ I reasoned!

The Organisers

There is nothing more DISAPPOINTING than turning up for a show that you have put your Heart and Soul into and experiencing

                                     ‘Low Attendance Figures’.

Some show organisers-;

. . . .  put ‘more resources into ADVERTISING’ than others.  I soon learned WHICH shows to support and which ones not to.

Some show organisers -;

 . . . .  ‘Gave More Support’ than others on the day – not a problem once I got to know the VENUE . . . and the organiser!

 One ‘direct’ clarification phone call beforehand, and I knew that I was going to be left alone to ‘get my set up done’!

SETTING UP my STAND!

• Table DRAPES
• ‘Under drape’ height variation display boxes
• Artificial bouquets (popular at the time)
•  FRESH bridal and ‘Venue FLOWERS!’
• Boxed ‘Tiaras’
• ADVERTISING -Banner, business cards, leaflets
• Stationary - enquiry pad & pen, price list.

I had already negotiated my ‘position’

            – as near the entrance as possible, my argument?

. . . “no one else will provide you with such a

                             SPECTACULAR ENTRANCE as I will” 😉

Knowing the venue I would have already have - identified the ‘highest point’ . . . . that I would be able to take my display to

 – in order to facilitate ‘all-round VISUALS’😊 . . . maybe even dragging my husband along complete with step ladder!

‘Starting the Conversation’

Once the people started to come through it was very

   TEMPTING to ‘sit back and let the flowers do the talking’,

                                                                     but I soon realised that

I still hadn’t done enough - if I didn’t START the CONVERSATION’                                                                                         . - people would just look, smile and walk by!

So I made sure that I had . . . . ‘Business Cards’ and/or a LEAFLET in my hand

                                             - SOMETHING to ‘give people’ to ENGAGE them in conversation!

 . . . by the end of the event I had ‘jaw-ache’- he he!

FREQUENCY

There were TWO ‘Bridal Fair’ organisers that I wanted to work with and they would each put on two shows a year, so I decided that I would do                                          FOUR SHOWS a YEAR   -  two in the ‘Spring’ and two in the ‘Autumn’.

Two of the shows were held ‘one evening during the week’, the others on a Sunday  . . . creeping to the whole weekend! 

Success Rate

Shorter shows worked better for me at the time because -;

• We seemed to get the ‘Same Amount of People’ through no matter how long the show
• If there was a ‘Dress Show’ people would turn up for the catwalk and then leave.
• A ‘BUSIER SHOW had a ‘better atmosphere’!
• People were more ‘motivated’ at a shorter show and it was more likely to lead to results.

BRIDAL FAIRS did get me work although I often had to wait a long time for confirmation!

‘Conclusion’

The cost of Bridal Fairs seemed to spiral out of control.

Taking the above into consideration along with . . .

               The COST of the  FLOWERS and

      the time I spent ‘preparing and setting-up BEFORE the event’,

                         the TIME I spent AT the event,

and the ‘time’ I spent AFTER  the event sorting everything out

• I could no longer justify it.

I finally stopped doing Bridal Fairs when I stopped enjoying them.

. . . but I had a BLOOMING good run! 😊x