We know…we’re normally here talking to brides. But DC Centre has a long history of hosting business events and our popular bridal shows! So this post is going to be all about the benefits of the cost benefit to participate in a bridal show. We have been hosting bridal shows for almost 15 years. We see and experience all the great things that can come from being in one and want to share those with you in case your on the fence.
Understanding the Cost
The initial sticker shock to have a booth at a bridal show can be enough to say you’re going to pass. We get it! It can always feel like you can use that money for other things, especially if you own a small business. The thing about participating in a show though is that you should research it just as if you were paying for advertising space. What’s the cost? What is the potential reach? With just those two numbers, you can figure out the dollar per potential new client.
The other way you can calculate cost is relative to what your product costs. If the cost to participate in a bridal show equates to selling one or two clients on your service, your odds of just breaking even are very high. Anything more than that is profit for you and is nothing but a benefit.
Face-to-Face Interaction
Passive lead acquisition through social media posts, your website, online ad space or print magazine is great. You don’t have to do much, you set it up once generally and then you let the rest do the work. Your cost is generally whatever you want it to be and the result will vary based on that cost. But there is something to be said for having the opportunity to meet potential clients face-to-face. To truly have the chance to speak with someone in person while they’re making decisions. It’s so rare nowadays that we feel it’s hard to pass it up! Sometimes the internet doesn’t do your personality and passion for your business justice.
Contact Information
It’s widely known that brides will provide their contact information in order to get tickets to attend a bridal show. This is absolutely a huge selling point for a vendor participating at the show. This is your reach! Along with the hundreds or thousands that attend the show, if you miss anyone or they got their ticket but maybe weren’t able to attend, you still have the opportunity to reach out to them and offer your services.
**We have to put a little note here about how we handle this. DC Centre does not charge attendees to be at the show, we only ask for contact information. This contact information is never recycled from show to show. It is only given to businesses who are scheduled to be at the show the bride signed up for.**
It’s All About the Numbers
If you can do the research, ask the right questions, it should be pretty easy for you to determine if a show is going to be the right fit for you. It’s completely fair to ask what the previous attendee numbers have been. You should also ask what current costs are and what’s included with that. If you do you’re due diligence, you could participate in a bridal show with good quality leads which lead to amazing clients.
If you’re interested in being a vendor at one of DC Centre’s Bridal Shows, you can visit our bridal show website here.