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The Industry Hub

Catch up on the latest news in the party supplier and wedding industry world. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDUSTRY NEWS: 

 

The National Wedding Show - tickets are on sale now! 

 

As a star company and a key player in the wedding industry you'll want your

customers to know that you're in the know! 

 

We're doing some research for you so that you dont' have to. 

 

The National Wedding Show will be opening their doors on Saturday 7th and 8th of February 2015 in Manchester and Friday 20th and Sunday 22nd February 2015 in Olympia, London, and Friday 27th February andSunday 1st March 2015 at the NEC in Birmingham.

 

 

What does this mean for you? 

 

Well, as the largest and original wedding event in the UK, each of the wedding shows offers you an opportunity meet face-to-face with 6,000 brides to be from across the whole country at a central location.

 

Don't miss out on a valuable opportunity to promote your product and services directly to thousands of potential customers, get bookings, build relationships and make a long lasting impression. 

 

The Statistics: 

 

  • 70% of visitors are between 25- 34 years old

  • 6,000  visitors to the National Wedding Show are brides

  • Average joint income of £58,000

  • 88% are in ABC1 socio- economic band

  • 63% of visitors marry in a venue as opposed to a church

  • Average wedding budget of £16k

  • 50% of visitors come with the bridesmaids

  • 77% of brides are getting married in the next 7-18 months

 

 

Visit http://www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/ for more details.

 

For those of you who are not computer savvy or just purely do not have the time to be sitting for ages making an application to exhibit, contact us, and we'll do it for you to save you time and effort. 

 

Contact: mrandmrsweddingpr@outlook.com

 

 

Planning a Christmas Razzle Dazzle?

 

Showcasing your services and products at Christmas time can be exciting but equally exhausting.

 

All your customers will be looking for the best, and with so many competitors around, you'll want your product and services to shine. 

 

It shouldn't be a laborious process. One tip is to plan early! So if you're in need of Christmas material, website revamps, snowflake signage or themed markering literature, or if you simply need an extra helping hand, then get in touch.

 

 

 

Don’t Finish for Christmas before Reading This

By Anna Nixon-Smith  

SOURCE: WWW.WEDDINGINDUSTRYEXPERTS.COM

 

Here are 5 tips to help you get your 2014 marketing off to a great start:

 

 

 

 

 

1. Determine where you currently stand. 

What were the results of your 2013 marketing efforts? What worked and what didn’t? Can you measure the ROI for most of your marketing activities? Are you reaching your target market? Are you spending too little or too much? If the answer to any of these questions is “No” or “I don’t know,” it’s time to do an audit. Identify areas for improvement and look at what to keep and what to change.

 

2. Write down key dates. 

Are you rolling out a new product or service in 2014? Having an anniversary or annual sale? Will you be closed for any part of the year? Put these events into a timeline and think about what marketing activities should take place around them to keep your customers informed.

 

3. Identify major goals. 

What are your major business goals for the coming year? How can your marketing efforts help achieve those goals? Will you create a new website or improve your old one? Do you want to find new ways to connect with customers through email or direct mail? Do you want to start a referral program or improve customer loyalty through social media? You won’t grow and build your business without identifying where you want to go first.

 

4.Create a marketing outline for 2014. 

Once you’ve determined your goals and key dates for the year, establishing a marketing plan is key. Of course, you’re bound to make changes as the year progresses, but take the time now to sketch out what activities need to take place when. Create a calendar and write in a timeline for website updates, email newsletters and promotions, sales events, marketing materials, etc.

 

5. Determine who will do what. 

Who will be responsible for your marketing efforts? If you have in-house marketing staff, the answer to this question may be easy, but there may be other employees who will play important roles in executing your plan. For instance, creating new content, especially for your website, which helps with your Google ranking — is something that can many of your staff may help with. However, if your goals and ideas are bigger than your staff capabilities, it may be time to consider bringing in some additional help to outsource some or all of your projects.

 

Then when you’ve done all this, you can relax and enjoy the Christmas holidays!

 

 

It's all about the dress!

 

From Enzoani to Ben de Lisi, are we talking your language?

 

What's in a dress - everything! The dress is what makes a wedding and

we know all too well that style is what it's all about.

 

The latest style to hit the catwalk is The Daisy Playsuit by Maria Senvo.

A daring concept where the bride is encouraged to release her inner

uniqueness and individuality in a relaxed and comfortable way where anything goes! Take a look at the style here: http://www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/blog/ 

 

If you've have a sparkling collection of bridal dresses that you want to show off but don't know how to get the customers through your doors, or if you're looking to sell online but need an e-commerce website to get you started, get in touch with us so we can help you out.

 

Latest Bridal Dress News: 

 

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is hosting an exhibition until March 2015. 

Wedding Dress 1775-2014

The development of the fashionable white wedding dress and its treatment by key fashion designers such as Charles Frederick Worth, Norman Hartnell, Charles James, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang offering a panorama of fashion over the last two centuries.

Click here to view and book tickets: http://www.vam.ac.uk/

 

 

Flowers for every occassion, right on your doorstep!

 

It's true, online flower purchases are becoming ever more popular as the

first choice for consumers.  

 

Next day delivery for special occasions are high on the list of needs. 

 

The £1.5 billion market consists of independent florists and relay companies.

It is becoming increasingly difficult for independent florists to compete and

sustain growth in current times.

 

Still, the walk-in flower shop offers that special hands-on touch which online flower companies cannot achieve as efficiently . 

 

The business involves sole-traders, high street retailers while others operate from a purpose-built premises within their own homes. 

 

Latest Floristry News:

 

It's International Poinsettia Day on Friday 12th December! There is still plenty of time to prepare.

 

Nationwide Online Directory Launches for Independent Florists to Avoid Paying Hefty Relay Fees

3rd March 2014: An online directory has launched for independent florists, allowing them to create a nationwide presence without having to pay third party fees on orders. Thefloristsdirectory.co.uk is a viable alternative to relay companies, with its main objective to promote the benefits of the local, independent florist. Florists signing up to the database will no longer have to pay any fees on orders placed through the website, and all liaison will be direct with the consumer, meaning no restrictions on prices or products offered.

 

Cato Choi, founder of thefloristsdirectory.co.uk commented: “We understand the pressures faced by small, local and independent florists, and we want to give them a voice against the dominant relay companies that are strangling not only the budgets, but the creativity of small florist businesses. By removing the need for third party suppliers, we are bringing back the power into consumers’ hands, making it easier for them to shop around for a supplier of their choice, and direct liaison with the florist. They will also benefit by being able to get more bang for their buck, as all the money they hand over will be going to the florist direct”. The team behind the site are all experienced marketing professionals, and therefore, they are encouraging visitors to use the site as a community, and giving them the chance to rate and review all members of the directory. In addition, marketing support will also be provided to all members to help boost their social media presence, to encourage each florist to create and upkeep a Facebook and Twitter profile, which will help to boost their offering to a nationwide audience. Cato Choi continued: “We originally come from a small community where the high street was the focus, and we passionately believe in keeping, and promoting this sentiment. There are so many benefits for both the consumer and the florist for building and maintaining a direct, and hopefully, long lasting relationship, and believe this has been strangled by the introduction of relay companies, and also the lower quality products on offer from supermarkets and other online companies”.

 

SOURCE: THE FLORISTRY DIRECTORY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have your cake and eat it!

 

The Cake International (http://www.cakeinternational.co.uk/) has released their dates for their forthcoming events. If you're a wedding cake maker, ensure that these dates are in your diary! 

 

Birmingham NEC 7-9 November 2014 9:30am - 5:30pm Fri and Sat, and 9:00am - 5pm Sun

Manchester EventCity 6-8 February 2015 10am - 4:30pm

London ExCel 27-29 March 2015 9:30am-5:30pm daily

 

 

Cake International – The Sugarcraft, Cake Decorating & Baking Show is the largest show of its kind in the world, with over 70,000 people expected to attend in 2015 across three venues. 

 

Latest Cake News:

 

Shortlisted for a national award

A cake maker from Harpenden has been shortlisted in a national wedding award scheme.

 

Liz Thompson, 48, who runs Queen of Herts Cakes of Manland Road has been chosen from hundreds of entries and is now in the final ten of her category; wedding cake designer of the hitched.co.uk Breakthrough Awards.

 

 

A delighted Liz said: "Diagnosed with MS in 2009 and no longer able to continue with my corporate career with Burberry by 2011, I decided to fundraise for the MS Trust.

 

"As a passionate cake maker, a Cupcake Garden Fete was the obvious answer, introducing me to cake decorating which I absolutely loved.

 

"My husband and family encouraged me with cake decorating books and a sugar craft course and I discovered a talent for cake decorating that I never knew existed.

 

"Since then I have completed several training courses and set up Queen of Herts Cakes in April 2012."

She added: "Since developing a passion for cake design the world looks entirely different and I love the challenges the brides ask me to do.

 

" I even got to provide a birthday cake to one of the team working on Brad Pitt’s latest blockbuster ‘Fury’."

The hitched.co.uk Breakthrough Awards (recognise new talent in the wedding industry.

 

Sixty people (ten in each category) have been shortlisted by judges in six categories: wedding cake design, wedding floristry, wedding stationery, wedding photography, wedding hair styling and honeymoon hotels.

The 60 shortlisted have been narrowed down from hundreds of entries from all over the country with Jenny Royle, Editor of the Wedding Cakes Magazine selecting the ten cake finalists.

 

Following the success of the Cupcake Garden Fete, Liz still supports the MS Trust and hosts a Charity Garden Party at her home every year in September. It is now in their fourth year and welcomes more than 200 guests. She has raised in excess of £5000 for MS Trust, Help for Heroes and Parkinsons UK.

 

SOURCE: WWW.STALBANSREVIEW.CO.UK

 

Kates Cakes hit Tesco Shelves

 

Cake brand Kate’s Cakes has launched its new square cake product range into Tesco stores nationwide.

 

The ‘Cake Squares’ range is aimed at women, and is sold as individually wrapped pieces in packs of five.

The range includes three flavours: chocolate fudge cake, lemon drizzle cake and millionaire shortbread.

Stacey Moore, product manager for Kate’s Cakes, said: “We are investing in the premium sector of the cake market with our high-quality product, which will boost the sector as a result of an increase in demand.

 

“The small cakes market experienced a 4.3% increase year-on-year [Kantar], clearly demonstrating the strength of the sector and we feel there’s a real opportunity to grow the market even further and fill a gap for premium small cakes.

 

“The three variants mean there’s something for everyone and they suit a number of occasions, from lunchtime to the perfect accompaniment to relaxing at home with a cup of tea.”

 

The range is currently at £1.99 RRP, and Tesco will stock the chocolate fudge and lemon drizzle flavours.

Kate’s Cakes was bought by Danish food giant CSM in 2007 in a £32.5m deal. 

 

- See more at: http://www.bakeryinfo.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/13339/Kate_92s_Cakes_hit_Tesco_shelves.html#sthash.SRKTY6bB.dpuf

SOURCE: WWW.BAKERYINFO.CO.UK

 

9 pro tips for first-time wedding photographers

Source: Digital Camera World http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 1. Turn off the beep

 

Opinion is somewhat divided on the focus confirmation beep for everyday shooting, but if you’re at a wedding you should definitely turn it off.

 

There are at least three good reasons for this. Firstly, you want to blend into some scenes as much as possible, so you don’t want the beep drawing attention to the fact that you’re about to take a photograph.

 

Also, if you’re allowed to shoot in the church during the ceremony, you don’t want the beep to interrupt the flow of events or be recorded on any video that’s being shot.

 

And finally, the bride and groom expect you to know when the subject is in focus and not rely on an audible beep to say it’s okay to take the shot.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 2. Be smart but comfortable

 

Our professional photographer's recommended gear: bum bags

 

Most weddings are pretty fancy affairs and you don’t want to let the side down by turning up looking like a pile of washing.

 

Equally, they tend to be long days and you have lots of kit to carry around so you should probably avoid a constricting, stiff collar, heavy suit and new, tight shoes.

 

Wear clothes that are smart, but comfortable – especially the shoes.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 3. Take a friend

 

Look for neutral backgrounds

 

A friend who can double-up as a second shooter at a wedding is a real bonus if you can rope someone in.

 

They can shoot some of the candid moments that happen while you are taking the formal shots, or get a few images of the details in the church while you are photographing the bride’s arrival.

 

They can also be useful assistants, handing you kit as you need it, making sure your gear is safe and holding diffusers, reflectors or off-camera flashguns.

 

Should the need arise, they can even be pressed into umbrella-holding service.

 

Having a little friendly back-up can also give you a confidence boost as well as giving you someone to chat too while everyone else is eating dinner.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 4. Get a full schedule

 

In our first-timer’s guide to wedding photography we recommended meeting with the bride and groom to discuss what type of shots they want and drawing up a list of the photographs that you need to take.

 

It’s also a good idea to get a fully-detailed schedule for the day so as well as knowing the timing for key events like the bride arriving at the church, you know at what time the cake will be cut, the first dance will take place and when the bride and groom are planning to leave (if they are).

 

This will enable you to plan your day much more effectively and give you an idea how long you have to shoot each stage.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 5. Be firm but friendly

 

Reportage wedding photography tips

 

With lots of groups to organise (often with lots of people who aren’t especially comfortable in front of the camera) and weather and exposure concerns, a wedding can be a pretty tense experience for a first-timer.

 

However, it’s important to remember that it’s a happy occasion. You’ll get much better expressions from your subjects if you have a smile on your face.

 

Be firm and confident when you’re directing people, but be friendly and try to make the shoots fun for everyone. Try to make people think that they are looking good.

 

SEE MORE: Wedding photography – how much do you charge your first time?

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 6. Stay calm

 

If you’ve prepared properly and found shooting locations for all weather conditions and doubled-up on your kit so that you don’t need to stop shooting if something seizes up or get’s dropped, you should be ready for all eventualities and able to take things in your stride.

 

If you do find panic rising, take a deep breath, consult your shooting list and cross-off all the shots that you’ve taken so you can focus on the shots that you have left to do.

 

Also, don’t ignore your photographer’s instincts.

 

If you feel that the shutter speed is falling a bit low, for example, but everything ‘seems’ okay, don’t just shoot on regardless.

 

Check the images for sharpness and push up the sensitivity or use a tripod if necessary.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 7. Use fast lenses

 

What to consider when buying one of these Canon lenses… filter thread

 

Fast lenses are a huge bonus at weddings because they let you use safe hand-holding shutter speeds in low light without pushing the sensitivity up very high.

 

They also have the advantage of allowing you to restrict depth of field to blur backgrounds and draw attention to your subject.

 

Fast prime lenses are also relatively affordable in comparison with fast zoom optics and many weddings can be covered with focal lengths including 24mm, 50mm and 85mm on a full-frame camera.

 

Something a little longer, for example the pro and enthusiast’s favourite 70-200mm f/2.8 can also come in handy for picking out details or shooting candid moments.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 8. Get everyone in

 

If you can find a high vantage point from which you can shoot the whole party, do so because these large groups shots are incredibly popular (especially with happy couples) and they make the guests who didn’t make into one of the close family and friends group shots feel included.

 

A stairwell or balcony can make an idea venue, but you may need some help to round everyone up and get them to squash in close with everyone looking at the camera and preferably raising a glass off bubbly.

 

Pro tips for first time wedding photographers: 9. Keep it simple

 

As it’s your first wedding shoot, try not to be too ambitious and keep everything simple. This is not the time to set-up multiple flash arrangements.

 

Concentrate on getting shots on your list nailed first before moving on to candid or detail shots.

 

Don’t obsess about using all of the lenses you’ve brought if don’t need to, just use what you need to get the best shots you can.

 

50 Easy Marketing Tips for busy Wedding Professionals

Source: Rock n Roll Bride. www.rocknrollbride.com

 

Being the very best at what you do is awesome, but if no one knows you exist then no one is going to book you! January is the busiest month of the whole year for wedding enquiries, so here are some marketing ideas that anyone can employ while more brides and grooms than ever are shopping around for their wedding suppliers. 

 

1. Get a past wedding featured on a wedding blog.

2. Get featured in a magazine.

3. Write a guest post for a blog or an article for a magazine.

4. Run a competition.

5. Offer incentives such as a free X or extra Y if people book you within a certain time frame.

6. Write a helpful wedding planning guide for brides and grooms and publish it on your own site.

7. Post some of your all time favourite work to Instagram.

8. Send thank you cards or little gifts to past clients.

9. Offer discounts or special offers for repeat customers.

10. Offer something in return for people who recommend you to their friends.

11. Have a banner ad on a wedding blog.

12. Carry business cards that showcase your work.

13. Visit venues and ask about getting on their preferred vendor list.

14. Run a series on your blog showcasing your favourite past work.

15. Send handwritten thank you notes when people enquire or book you.

16. Encourage your past clients to share their wedding images on Facebook.

17. Join up with some industry colleagues and start a referral system for when you’re already booked.

18. Read marketing blogs and websites.

19. Send out cute little magnets for people to put on their fridges with your branding and URL

20. Go to wedding events and industry shows.

21. Network with other wedding industry professionals.

22. Exhibit at a wedding fair.

23. Use Facebook ads to target your ideal client.

24. Book a sponsored post on a wedding blog.

25. Promote posts on Facebook.

26. Collaborate with some other wedding industry professionals for a photo shoot or event and then submit the results to a blog or magazine.

27. Work on your website’s searchability (SEO).

28. Donate your time to a charity you support… and then blog about it.

29. Share things that make you weird and different. Like-minded couples will connect with it.

30. Work on organically increasing your Facebook engagement.

31. Run a contest where people need to engage via social media to enter.

32. Update your website with your best work.

33. Re-write your About page.

34. Update the copy on your sales page.

35. Offer something extra that your competitors are not.

36. Do a brand audit.

37. Offer discounts for big orders.

38. Rework your packages.

39. Stay positive. Remember that everything you put out there reflects you and your business.

40. Encourage your past clients to tag themselves in their images on your Facebook page.

41. Always strive to give the best customer experience possible.

42. Reply to enquiries within 24 hours.

43. Enter for an award.

44. Work on your website’s usability and speed.

45. Collaborate with a blogger.

46. Introduce yourself to people.

47. Write a DIY series that promotes your product.

48. Be helpful on Twitter – reply to people’s questions (even if they’re not directed at you).

49. Utilise blog comments.

50. Don’t give up. If something doesn’t work, pick yourself up and try again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07530 597497

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