Bridal Show Information For A Newbie...
Business By hsmomma Updated 25 Jul 2007 , 7:20pm by michellenj
I've never done a bridal show before and am debating signing up. I need to register by the end of the week if I am going to do it.
I just wonder if it is really worth the money? The booth is 325.00 (which sounds cheap compared to other cities). Last year they had 200 Brides with a total of 500 people attending. They had 1 other cake person there. She was an independent baker, with prices starting higher than mine, though she looks like she has more wedding experience. (I did my research..lol)
This show is out of my city but, within my delivery range. There are many more bakers in the area. Though many of them are in a much higher price range. What do you think?
Or, am I better off spending the money on advertising?
What is something you wish you knew before you did your first show? Any tricks or advice?
How many (I know this all depends...but, for curiousity...) Brides do you typically book at a show? Do you actually book them there (as in you take a deposit) or do you pencil them in and get back with them to book? What is your standard procedure? What should I expect?
Do you take your albums and idea books (of cakes you haven't done)? How do you figure out how many sample peices of cake to have? 1 per person? How do you serve your samples? I bought the mini cupcake tins and thought about making those. Good idea or no? Do you take a "helper" with you?
Any other advice? I'm really new at this and would LOVE to learn from your experience.
TIA Kristen
Kristen, I would love to do a bridal show. My goal is to do on this fall, hopefully by the end of the year.
My sister and I did go to a bridal show a couple of weeks ago and had the most fun. I've been married for almost 8 years and she's been married 6, but it was still alot of fun. The food was incredible from all of the caterers.
We mainly went to see how everyone set up their tables, what kind of linens they use, how many cakes they brought and what their samples were like. There was only one cake place there.
Good luck, if any this will give you another bump and maybe someone else can respond with some experience.
Just did my first bridal show...
booth was over $1000, but I think it was worth it just for the exposure!
I would say, try to book consultations, and then before the appointment, call to confirm, to avoid "no-shows".
Yes! Bring a helper to pass out your samples, so you may talk with brides.
I would make 500 mini cupcakes; it won't take too long to make them, and I think you'll be glad you did!
You don't need to bring books/magazines for ideas, just pictures of your own work, and fake cakes to display, if you can!
Also bring literature you can pass out to people... info/flavor/current price list is great; make sure you have enough. And business cards. 
Good luck!!
Buttercup~
Thank you so much for the help. Your information was great! I'm getting so excited but, so nervous!
I'm thinking I might skip being a vendor at the show I mentioned and just go and see everyone's set ups. That way maybe I will be better prepared for the next show this fall.
Thanks again, glad to hear from somebody who has done it. I'm taking notes.....LOL
Michelle,
I think that is what my sister (who is a photographer...semi newbie like me) are going to do! Go and check it out. I really wanted to be a vendor but, I'm afraid I won't be prepared until I actually go and see a show. It's been a little while since I've been to one myself as a bride. My dh and I have been married too for 8 years. My baby sister (different sister) is getting married next month so, it's been nice having a "bride" around to bounce ideas off!
Kristen
Kristen,
If you are ready for business, I would say go for it this year!! Don't underestimate yourself....I looked at your photos and you do beautiful cakes!
I haven't done any trade shows as a cake designer, but I have done a few as a stylist and let me assure you...you've seen one, you've seen them all.
I'm sure you would come up with an awesome presentation if you really wanted to go for it, and judging by your work, I'm sure you would get alot of bookings also.
Good luck!
I went to a bridal show about two years ago, as the bride to be, and there were only three cake boothes there, two with prices so high, I was amazed, (15.00 a slice and higher) and a smaller home based business. All had samples and a book with photos, the smaller home based lady, took down the date and phone number, and then did the all the money and design talk one on one a few days later.
Just a note the lady that did my cake came from that show and we have become friends, she never had a quite moment at the show, she was surrounded by people the entire show, had to turn business away, and is still getting brides recommending her off that on show she did, two almost three years ago.
Hope that helps.
Gotta jump on the "just do it" bandwagon. If you're like me, you will never dive in if you don't stick your toe in the water! If you sign up & pay your good money to participate, it will force you to pull the booth together, make some great display (fake) cakes, and probably polish up some rough edges of your business.
I did my first large wedding show last year, and it literally booked me for the entire season! I'm still taking orders & getting referrals from that one 2-day event. In a 5X10' space, I had 4 display cakes, some nice postcards & biz cards (no brochures, no fancy albums!) & a kinda swanky looking booth.
Other cake vendors at the show did book orders there - I just had people sign my guest book & then followed up with them over the next 2 weeks.
Don't plan on serving samples unless you have a helper there - you will be too bombarded with info-seeking brides! I really, strongly recommend having an assistant if you can.
Best of luck if you choose to do it!
What to do, what to do??? LOL
Do you think it would be too overwhelming for somebody like me who is just starting out in Wedding Cakes after a long (like 10 year) break? I'm picturing a bunch of brides, with lots of questions and me totally fumbling over the answers. I know I shouldn't worry... I'm just by nature a shy quieter person. Though I don't have problems talking to people....
One more question....Would it look unprofessional, in your opinions, to have a teenage helper. She is very mature and I wouldn't worry about how she would come across. Except...would people think that I wasn't professional enough to have an adult assistant? You know what I mean?
P.s. Thanks for all your help. I'm writing down all the info. you have given me. You can't believe what a help it has been! Thanks!!!
O.k. ... The obvious answer is go for it!
Teenage helper: Don't worry about it, just make sure that she wears a white top, newer black pants, a hat/hair control (whichever your state requires in the kitchen), and gloves. Sort of like the uniform they have all the people who do demos in the grocery store wearing. That way she sort of "blends" better. Also, have her prepared with the basic answer questions like "what do you start at per slice" and "what flavor is this?".
As for doing the show, I've got to be honest and say the time to do a show is at the beginning of the year because all the brides are on their cloud nine high from just getting engaged over the holidays. OTOH, you're primarily going to simply get exposure by doing the show. It's something like the person needs to see a company's name out there 3-7 times before they will recognize it.
As for tips for doing the show. Mini cupcakes with a rotating cupcake pillar or dummy/board stand. That way you don't handle the samples very much, other than your second person standing behind the table rotating the stand and filling it from behind (aka out of the way), you can bring some "take home boxes" and send other vendors home with some samples at the end of the show without worrying about cake drying out because it sat while you were waiting for the next group of brides to come through.
Make sure to bring along with you things like a roll of paper towels, extra brochures, business cards, cake servers, gloves (you don't want to get sticky before shaking hands with brides or just picking up their hand to see the "bling" (great intro "let's see the bling!" and they suddenly perceive you as caring about THEM), DUMMIES!!!!, photos of work you've done (if you've got a computer and can just let it scroll through the pics that works better), copy of your license(s) just in case, rolling cart to haul supplies (it's a lot longer walk than you think it will be in most cases), Something to act as a table skirt if its not provided (aisle runner was the most creative yet cheap idea I've seen)
Good luck and have fun!
YAY! I'm so excited for you! I wish I could be there, handing out cake samples or something. 
...you know all of us cc'ers are there with you in spirit for support 
...don't forget that if you get nervous!
If someone asks you a question- you know the answer! 
DON'T PANIC! You will be great! 
I just helped a friend this weekend do a show here in Houston. She had a clever idea to do a give-away. She is giving away 2 bridal shower (10" basic decor) cakes each day (Sat and Sun). So basically it gets the brides to give you their information so you can contact them later.
It's a thought!
I do them all the time, and yes they get expensive but, I do get business out of them. Usually not right away, but they tend to call you. I always bring mini cup cakes decorated with a tiny flower on them so everyone can taste them. You need an eye catcher, so do 1 or 2 dummy cakes along showing your talent. Also bring tons and tons of business cards, brochures, anything that has your business name and phone number. At most of these shows you also have to bring an item for a give away. I give a cake knfe set along with a 10% coupon for my business and a brochure and info on where and when I will be showing my talent again. Also I have a small form for each bride to fill out, it consists of her name, grooms name, date of wedding, place of wedding, and her address and -phone number. I tell each bride to fill one out and drop it in a drawing box I have to win a $100.00 coupon from my business. Of course they need to spend at least $500.00 to redeem the coupon. This way you have all their info and you can send them reminders of who you are. Even if they don't use you for their wedding cake, they might call for a different occasion. Oh yeah, bring someone with you it tends to get very crowded.
Another thread with a similar theme:
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-416413-.html
HTH
Very good information! I never thought about a give away. LOVE the cake knife idea!
The show I registered with (Brides to Be) gives you all the brides information from when they come in the door within 3 days of the show. Like name, wedding date, address, email address, phone number. So, would I really need to do my own "drawing" at my booth to get their information?
It's not necessary to do a giveaway, but I have seen people offer incentives to book on the spot, like a $20% discount if they book that day. Just a thought.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%