Start Me Up! - Part 4

Hi there! This week I’d like to chat about getting out there and meeting vendors, who will likely prove to be your most valuable resource. I have found that my most steady work has been as a result of referrals from other vendors and other industry professionals. Additionally, your clients will look to you for recommendations of solid vendors to meet with and hire – you should be armed and ready with contacts from your vendor network. To create this network, you will not only need to make outreach calls, but also pound the pavement.

There are countless wedding vendors out there; one might argue that there are too many to keep track of! I find this to be true to an extent. You do not need to have a personal relationship with all the vendors in your area, but it is great to have heard of most, have quality relationships with a few, and have as many as possible know your name. This is all about getting the word out, and establishing a buzz around your brand. Even if it is literally a result of you popping into local businesses (try to make appointments!), it’s vital to get people talking about you and the fact that you are on the scene.

I will be honest; this is no easy task - at first. You may feel that they think you don’t know what you are talking about or that they will not take you seriously. All I can say is that if you do not believe in yourself, then how can you expect anyone else to? You MUST have confidence in yourself and your goals, and believe that you have every right to be where you are and to do what you do. And please, if you do not have this confidence, just “fake it ‘til you make it”. You may be surprised at how quickly genuine confidence will follow.

When you begin to make your rounds, be prepared to speak about who you are, what you do, and ideally, what makes you different from the other planners out there. Be yourself, be honest and know your worth.

Do your homework: if the vendor you are approaching has a website, then read it. There is nothing more frustrating than someone who has not taken the time to familiarize themselves with a business they are calling upon.

Speak to all vendors with respect and professionalism, ask them questions about what they do, how they work, and listen to what they have to say. Some vendors may only have five minutes to chat with you, some may have an hour. Always leave a card and hopefully they will inquire further. If this does happen, you must make sure you are able to support the inquiry. 9 out of 10 times vendors have asked if I have a website. While you can say that it is “under construction”, or “not at the moment,” it is much more powerful if you can say, “yes I do” (the site should also be listed on your business card). Even if your website is a simple one-page storefront, it can still speak volumes about you and your business. If you need a few tips and some general info about how to get started, next week’s post will share helpful information on this vital tool.

Also very important, there some very specific questions you will want to ask the different vendors. In an effort to spare you from the world’s longest blog post, I will break these down and share some of my favorite go-to questions over several posts.

More to come ladies and gents!

xx,
Belle

Comments

[Rhonda]

Another great way to meet a lot of vendors is go to a wedding show. There are tons of vendors with booths set up. You don't have to buy a booth yourself if you don't want to. Just walk around and network, hand out business cards and get business cards. They are there to talk to people so you won't feel like your imposing.

I've been able to meet numerous vendors in a few hours. Very beneficial.