Hi everyone!

In another post, I offered to pm some notes I had taken on what I did at a couple recent bridal fairs, things I would do again, and things I would change *hopefully* for the better. I would be more than happy to pass along these notes to you if you would like a copy. The only problem is that the site has been having some issues, and I can't get into my private messages to send them out.

So, if you would like me to email a copy of my notes, please send me a regular email with the request and I will get it out as soon as I can. At least this way I know I will get your messages.

Thanks everyone for the interest. I hope there is something in there that will be of some help to you! Good luck to all with the bridal fairs!

Michelle
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Would it be possible to create a thread and post them there or maybe here? They way everyone would benefit and you won't have to be bothered with emailing so many people.

I've tried posting the notes before and end up with all kinds of messages--cannot find server and other error pages. I'll try it again and hopefully one of these times it works. They're rather lengthy--2 pages of works notes. So maybe I'll try to post them a little at a time. I was actually surprised I was able to start this thread!

Here goes!

Hi!

This is a really long list of some things that I do at my bridal fairs. Some is things I learned from experience, and some things I saw other vendors doing and would like to try. It may seem really lengthy, but I hope you can get a few good things out of here. Most importantly, have fun with it. Attitude is everything. Your love of the business will show and people will see that before you even say a word. Enjoy yourself and good luck!

Michelle

Make an extensive list of what you think you will need to take along with you. Check things off as you pack. This way you can't forget anything.

Take a camera! Your displays can go in your portfolio!

Ask someone to go with you. If you forget something, send them back to get it. If you serve samples, they can serve, you can meet and greet with people. And an extra set of hands will make set up and clean up go much faster.

I had an 8' table to use. The whole space was about 8' x 6'. There was plenty of room to walk in front, so I utilized that when talking to customers. And people don't have to look over tall displays to see you. If you can't walk in front, put tall displays to the side, so you can stand behind the shorter stuff. I covered the table with a plain white tablecloth, and stacked my extra boxes under the table, so it didn't look messy and cluttered behind my display.

I made flyers that I handed out to anyone who wanted one, with a lot of "general" price info. It had what sizes of round, heart, and squares were available, and a price range, but not anything specific. It also had info on rentals, dummy options, flavors that I offer, as well as bdays and special occasions so people knew I didn't just do weddings. It also had ph number and website.

I had 2 displays. One was a showstopper in the center of the table. Cake was decorated simply, but I had stairs and fountain there to jazz it up. The other had lots of frosting ruffles, etc, but was smaller in size and simply tiered. I had silk flowers on both. But maybe you could talk to a florist who is going to be there and offer to put a sign with their name on it in exchange for free or cheap flowers for your displays.

My DH came along and served pieces of sheet cake so I was free to talk. Sheet cake was choc marbled with vanilla caramel with plain bc on top. I just put on a few roses and wrote Bridal Fair 2007 to keep it simple. The 2 displays and the sheet cake and plates took up pretty much the whole table. (I practiced the basic setup on my kitchen table with the leaves put in to make it 8)

I did squeeze my laptop into the displays though. I made a slide show of all the cakes that I thought were my personal best, along with a few that friends and relatives insisted had to be in there. I ran the slide show all night long and it got lots of attention. I will definately do that again.

Ask how many people they are expecting and have enough cake sample/business cards along to accomodate. I cut my sheets into 70 pcs, and that seemed to be a good size for my crowd. Almost everyone took a piece, and some came back for seconds--especially the guys!

Take extension cords and lots of them! You just never know. If you use ext cords, take masking or duct tape and tack them to the floor so you don't trip. Just trust me on this one.

Go a little early and talk to some of the other vendors when you are through setting up. This is a great way to pass out your business cards and get some connections. You can also learn of other bridal shows that way. You never know when that acquaintance will become your best business ally. Even if you dont talk to anyone else, its good to be early in case something goes wrong you have time to fix it. One of the vendors at our show came late due to bad weather. The show was just starting, and by the time they got done setting up, some people were starting to leave. They couldnt help it, but it sure didnt help their business.

Dress like a professional! Neat, clean, no blue jeans. Tie your hair back or up if it is long.

Take along your calendar or planner. You can check if you have a bride's date open, as well as book consultations.

If you have a website, put it on your bus cards and flyers. Bring it to their attention when you hand them out. I put a counter on my home page so I could monitor hits. My hits went up a lot the week after the fair, and Im still getting some people looking.

I took a binder with a complete price list (and a calculator) so I can do a quick quote to give someone an idea of what their cake may cost. I make sure they know it is just a quick guess and not a final quote. I also have in there a copy of my federal id paperwork, sales tax permit, and any other legal info. I have never had to get it out, but you never know when a jealous competitor may start asking questions to try get you in trouble. Be able to slam a door closed on them quickly, but politely. Especially if a potential bride is listening--Courtesy will go a long way.

Our bridal shows ask you to donate a door prize or two. Mine was free delivery within 50 miles. Later, I also considered a certificate for a free 6" anniv cake to be baked fresh for their 1st anniv instead of eating a freezer burned one. Might try that next time.

Some of the booths had signs up that if you booked that night you got a free item--tux shop offered one free with a rental of 5 others; hair shop did the flower girl or MOBs hair free if you booked the bride and bridesmaids. I was thinking next time of putting up a nice sign that says if you book a consultation today you get free delivery upon booking your cake. I thought that may encourage a consult, and thus be harder to tell me no later after theyve seen in detail what I can do for them. ???

Be honest about your short tenure in the business. I tell people I have been hobby decorating for over 6 years, but just recently decided to go into the business since it has grown beyond my family and close friends, and this is why I don't have a lot of wedding cakes in my portfolio yet. People have been very understanding about this explanation, and feel reassured at the same time that I didn't just pick this idea out of thin air. You'll be able to read their faces.

Most importantly, keep breathing and enjoy talking to people. Keep a smile on your face and look people in the eye. If you look nervous, people will be nervous about talking to you. If you are relaxed and greet people well, they will be much more comfortable with you. I have also noticed that if you smile, people smile back and keep walking. If you smile and say hello, how are you, they will say hello and pause a step. Great opportunity to take a step toward them with one of your flyers and ask if they have their cake booked already. If the answer is yes, say Thats alright, I also do cakes for .. Offer a business card anyway, and tell them you do anniversaries, birthdays, baptisms--they will be starting a family after all and will need more than just that wedding cake. (And by the way, would they like to have a sample?)

Sorry this got so long. I hope you can at least use one or two of these ideas. I had no clue what I was doing at the first show, but I learned a lot and took notes and made them count the second time around. Experience is a great teacher, so if things don't go exactly like you want, do try another one. I'm glad I did.

Go for it! And good luck!

wow, this is GREAT!

Thanks for posting all of this!

Thanks a lot for the info... Very nice of you share with us!!! I put the thread in my favs to keep it from getting lost!

Thankyou for all of the great tips elvisb!!

You're all so welcome! I'm just glad you find them useful!

I have found sooooo much information on this site and everyone has been so nice to me when I have asked for advice and ideas. With all the questions recently about people being entered in bridal fairs, I felt this was the perfect way for me to give back. So I hope you can all use my experiences and really take their breath away when they come to your booth.

Good luck to all!

On a lighter note, there's a funny story that goes along with the masking tape. Well, not then, but it is kinda comical now. I almost took a whole display off a table when I caught the cord on my fountain. I nearly had heart failure!!!! You know that frozen look kids get when playing red light, green light and they're just stuck in mid-air trying not to fall over. That was me--toes hanging on the cord, water sloshing over the table, cake stopping inches from my face, fake flowers flying everywhere. Please don't do that to yourself. Heehee! So easy to laugh about it now, but I guarantee I'll never, ever forget my duct tape!

Mthiberge,

You aren't allowed to use these tips next weekend!! Because I was going to Hehehehe.

Elvisb - Thank you so much for the info!

Claudine1976 - How did you put the thread in your favorites? I would like to keep this thread also. Do you put it in with your photos?

Elaine

Hi! I just "pin" the page in to my favorites like you do with any web address you want to keep.. click "favorites" at the top of the screen and you can keep it in a folder..

Thanks Claudine1976!