Bridal Show promotion suggestion

[LeesaB]

I'm still in the building phase of our business, in Jan I'll be doing a bridal expo and we were trying to think of a promo that would get people talking about us:

we thought:

Of offering a raffle for a free wedding shoot, or

the 5th person who signs up gets a free wedding shoot.

Both of these would just include us taking the pictures and online gallery...everything else would be purchased.

But, I felt like this would really get people to talk about us and to hopefully hire us.

Last year we did a free engagement raffle, that was ok, but really did not bring much business.

We also thought of raffling off several wedding items.

Suggestions, Comments?

[stathunter]

What about offering a free upgrade to everyone who books at the show. Dunno maybe a showit video------ $500 in prints ------------- ?????
The idea is to get them to commit the day of the show. Everyone wins.

[LeesaB]

That is a good idea also...

[Toogy]

I personally don't think offering a complete wedding shoot for free is a good idea. But I'd rather offer some sort of free item like an album like Scott suggested.

[LeesaB]

Thanks Jeff.

That's why I bring my thoughts here, there are plenty of greater minds at work then mine!

I know a few people on the board that do free weddings just to do them a year. I think that is a great way to give back. So, I thought of incorporating it into a promo.

I like Scotts idea also...we offer the slide show, but the free prints we may go with.

we could even add pages to the wedding album

[liza]

If you use Graphi, offer a "free" second parent album or pocket book with the purchase of an album. They aren't prohibitively expensive and would be a good way to generate additional income for your studio.

[gheesom]

oops I put my thoughts in the general chat thread.

[LeesaB]

If you use Graphi, offer a "free" second parent album or pocket book with the purchase of an album. They aren't prohibitively expensive and would be a good way to generate additional income for your studio.

I use Asuka, but I was thinking of offering 10 more pages..just checking that out now as far as costs goes
oops I put my thoughts in the general chat thread.
That's ok, I started it there, but thought I would get better response out here..

[liza]

I use Asuka, but I was thinking of offering 10 more pages..just checking that out now as far as costs goes



That's a good idea. There's very little difference in price between 20 and 30 pages.

[tnicol]

I just did a wedding expo two weeks ago - my second. For the first I offered a reduced rate package (about $250 less) and for the second a free image CD for signing on the day of the show. Truthfully I was disappointed by both shows. They seem like a great idea, but I don't find the contacts to be very solid. For the most recent show they advertised that over 320 brides had pre-registered, but in the end only about 130 actually showed. Probably all went to the Bears game! In any case, neither of my promotion ideas did much good. I'd have done just as well without. My impression is that by the time brides get to your booth they're so shell-shocked and overwhelmed you're lucky if they even stop to talk. Just me experience...yours could be different.

[LeesaB]

Hey Tom,

I did this last year for the first time also, I got one booking that day, 3 later, it was worth the money. We get about 600 brides signed up, I gave out about 250 packets, BUT, I was stuck in a very dark cold corner. I got to pick my spot this year, this will most likely be out last year, I am hoping not to have to go this route again, it's alot of work and time.

Last year we did a raffle for a free engagement, I gave out 10, called about 30 and only got 2 to acutally do it. So, that won't be our promotion this year.

I think I am going with a book by end of Jan, give them a "coupon" with a choice of Deals. Then see what happens. It's too crazy of a day to get a booking that day, I was surprised when I did.

It is overwhelming, for the brides and family and for us. But it's a great way to get our names out there.

[tnicol]

Your experience sounds a lot better than mine so that's good. There seem to be a lot of these shows in the Chicago suburbs. I wonder if there might be too many...don't know. I think it'll be a while until I do another though.

[LeesaB]

Hi Tom

I want to do one in a town near me, It's big and major, but also 900.00 to committ to it, I just don't think I'm there yet, I rather get a lens for the 900, but one year I may just put myself there..we will see

[liza]

I'm not doing many of them because of the cost vs. the income to be realized. The majority (not all, but most) of the brides who attend these shows tend to be the low budget type. I'm going to be very selective of the shows I plan to attend. And I'm getting a lot of ideas elsewhere about presentation of images and overall booth setup.

[LeesaB]

Are you gonna share with us, your ideas? LOL

I think the one that I do is more middle class..the big one is definetly high class, but not for me just yet.

I need to get a lap top to start my presentations at the reception, but, it's coming, everything in time.

[liza]

I've been browsing DWF for ideas for the upcoming season. I think I'm going to have some sort of carpeting or large area rug, a coffee table for albums, and either a few chairs or a loveseat. Then I'm planning to use the John Michael Cooper setup for images. You mount them on 30x30 (I think) squares of gatorboard, put grommets in the corners, and hang them together six across and six down (more or less depending on space) from a backdrop frame with chain. There are all sorts of cool ways to set one up, so I'm open for suggestions.

[LeesaB]

OO I love the image idea...GREAT idea...

My friend is making me a banner, out of material...decorated..It's going to be awesome...we started already..it's exciting...

I just have a 10x10 area, but I'm bringing a black table cover..using glass block and christmas lights...not sure I'm going to do the moniter display, not many took time to view it...I think I will go with just the albums and images set up and around. We will see..

[liza]

Oh, I'm definitely doing a monitor display. I've been eyeing an LCD TV with a built-in DVD player for a Pro Show slideshow.

You should go over to DWF and do a search for bridal show booths. There are so many wonderful ideas (with photos) shared there.

[liza]

HEY! I just found a link to a company that sells trade show signage:

http://www.signdisplay.biz/

One of these years, I'm gonna get one of those big curved pop up walls. I think they're absolutely obscene. Right up my alley. :lol: