Education
Here are three vimeos filmed and edited by Memory Lane Video for the Las Vegas Wedding Network featuring Bridal Show Preparation tips from Debra Hansen and Andy Ebon. Debra Hansen, show producer for The Bridal Spectacular concentrated on the following categories:
- Pre-show Preparation
- Pre-show Promotion
- Training your booth Sales Staff
- Your Exhibit Booth and What it Says About You
Andy Ebon, The Wedding Marketing Authority focused on:
- Design Tips for Your Print Materials
- After Show Follow-up
Please enjoy these free tools that will help you have a more successful exhibiting experience.
Hope to see you at The Bridal Spectacular Jan 29 & 30 at Cashman Convention Center.
Now here are the Video’s:
Video #1 – Debra Hansen – Pre-Show Promotion – Training Your Staff
LVWN pt1 from Memory Lane Video on Vimeo.
Video #2 Debra Hansen – Designing Your booth
The Las Vegas WEdding Network – Part 2 from Memory Lane Video on Vimeo.
Video #3 Andy Ebon – Print Design, Follow-up After The Show, E-mailing Your Leads
The Las Vegas Wedding Network – Part 3 from Memory Lane Video on Vimeo.
Andy Ebon appears on “Coffee with Ricky” and offers up marketing advice for social networking, blogging, print, and bridal show participation. Watch this educational video produced by Memory Lane Video.
Episode 2: “Coffee with Ricky” – Andy Ebon from Memory Lane Video!
Preparing for Bridal Shows! 
You want brides and a bridal show is where you will find them, now how can you be sure they will not only find you but remember you?
The ultimate success of your exhibiting in a trade show lies entirely on you! The show manager is responsible for attendance, but sheer attendance has nothing to do with success. There are several key elements you must be aware of and prepare for.
- Pre-show promotion (by you)
- Your booth or exhibit display at the show
- Your salesmanship at the show
- Follow-up after the show
- Pre-show promotion is insurance for smart marketers! When you connect with your target audience before the show, the chances of getting on their “must see” list is increased. Do things that will build traffic to your booth. Do a pre-show mailing letting your brides know what booth you will be in. Call your propects and let them know you will be there and encourage them to purchase tickets on line to save them money. Include your booth number in all pre show advertising. Put a message on your answering machine talking about your participation. There is nothing more likely to bring you a new bride than for her to hear you talking to a happy customer at the show. This is an instant word of mouth referral! Don’t get caught up thinking you don’t want to invite your brides because you might lose them to someone else. They will more than likely attend the show no matter what, but you increase your value to them if they know you invited them.
- Factors effecting a prospects decision to stop and look. The main purpose of your display is to attract the prospect to you so that you can talk to them, you only have about 5 seconds to do this before they walk on! Your display needs to attract attention, build interest, create desire and demand attention. Exhibit size is also a factor. The larger your space, the more salespeople you can have in your booth, the more salespeople….the more brides you can talk to. Brides won’t stop and talk to you if they can’t get to your booth. Effective graphics are very important. Keep them short and creative. You must get a banner! While shows generally provide some type of small indentification sign, don’t use it. If you want the bride to walk away and remember who you are, you need effective signage.
- Salesmanship at a show is different than in your place of business. The salesperson is the single most important ingredient in obtainling leads at a bridal show. You need to look professional, arrive early and be prepared, use open body language and have an effective opening line ready to use. An effective opening line must break the brides preoccupation with what is going on around her, focus on the individual, create a bond between you and her and should allow you to have a little fun with the bride. Practice a 30 second commercial with all your staffers. Bring well trained people and if you are not your best salesperson, recognize that and bring people who are.
- Follow up after the show! Now that you have done all this work and spent the money to be at the show, why would you not follow up? If you collect hot leads at the show, start with those and e-mail them right away. Then follow up with a post card mailing. Your show leads will be available usually within 2 weeks of the event and you should also e-mail and mail to them. Experts recommend that you contact each bride from 3 to 7 times for her to remember you. Brides in general prefer e-mail and mail to phone calls. Only 15% of vendors in a show use any type of follow up, you can increase your chances of being the brides choice if you do!
Learn more about all these topics at the Bridal Show Bootcamp being held at Canyon Gate July 1.
Source: Debra Hansen, The Bridal Spectacular Las Vegas’ largest and most trusted bridal show.
EDUCATIONAL TOPIC From MARCH 4TH EVENT:
“Following up on Your Leads” by Andy Ebon
Notes can be found at this link:
Mining Bridal Show Gold was the first educational presentation, held on Monday, December 29th at Aliante Station Hotel & Casino.
Some of the key topics covered included:
* Reasons for exhibiting
* Setting Goals
* Pre-show promotion
* Booth layout and design
* Staffing
* Attire
* Trade Show Etiquette
* What you should give out….. if anything
* Follow up
* Networking with fellow exhibitors
* Getting set up
* The Trade Show supply checklist
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