Here comes the bride...dum, dum, dah, dum...
I've had a lot of business from brides lately. A lot of brides plan for fall weddings. They want to find the perfect wedding favor for the least amount of money. I love to deal with these ladies, as their needs are completely different from the customer who wants to promote their business or event. They seem to have more stress on their plate (or show it more). They also have their emotions on their sleeves. I can feel their pain and want to help them through the process with as little difficulty as possible. Many brides are starting blogs to share how they walked through the process.
Events and promotionals are stressful, that is true. But, when you include the family element in a wedding, it always becomes bigger and tougher.
The best advise when dealing with the bride or her appointed representative is patience. Understand that they are feeling a tremendous amount of responsibility for every detail--they want it to be perfect. And we want it to be perfect for them.
Some tips for dealing with the frustrated bride:
- First of all, be very patient and upbeat in your attitude. Understand that she is feeling a tremendous amount of responsibility for every detail--she wants it to be perfect. And you should want it to be perfect for them. Don't forget to congratulate your bride!
- You should be realistic about what you can and cannot do for them. If you cannot make the dates in plenty of time, you should be completely honest. Remember, our business is all about making dates.
- You should remember that cost is almost always a very important issue. Brides are usually dealing with a very tight budget and that should be kept as close as possible to their first expectations. Do not try to stray from it, just to make a larger sale.
- Listen to what the bride wants and give a FEW selections. She will not be able to process too many different ideas--keep is simple. You know, the K.I.S.S. solution...
- After you have taken the order, keep in touch by phone or emails to “touch base“ occasionally. It will help to keep your customer calm. Don't forget to let her know the shipment is on its way and give her tracking numbers to watch the progress of her shipment--that will make her day!
- Make sure you set your delivery for the products as early as possible without tacking on unnecessary rush charges. Giving the bride the product ahead of time makes for a happier bride. And if the bride is happy--everyone is happy...
Putting on a wedding is not just another day or another “party“. A wedding should be one of the greatest highlights of a person's life. With a little patience and professionalism, we can assure that it will be.
LP