{"id":296844,"date":"2024-09-02T20:03:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T10:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/?post_type=au-pro-education&p=296844"},"modified":"2024-09-03T14:59:29","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T04:59:29","slug":"wedding-businesses-strategy-economy-cost-of-living-crisis","status":"publish","type":"au-pro-education","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/pro-education\/wedding-businesses-strategy-economy-cost-of-living-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"How Wedding Businesses Are Staying Ahead in Tough Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despoite rising cost of living pressures, wedding businesses must adapt and innovate to maintain success. But how?<\/p>\n

As part of the sales panel at the Evolve wedding industry event series, Australia\u2019s leading wedding venues and vendors shared their strategies for helping businesses navigate these economic and social challenges. Here\u2019s what we learned.<\/p>\n

\"Evolve
Evolve 2024 Brisbane panel: (From left) Darcy Allen of Easy Weddings & Venue Crew, Rob McMullan of Elevation Band, and Katrina Plant of The Fresh Collective. Image: DMS Photography<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amanda Appel, Co-owner of the Makki Group of venues that founded The Bower Estate<\/strong><\/a> and Kwila Lodge<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,<\/strong> emphasised the importance of not letting a couple\u2019s cost-of-living pressures become your<\/em> own.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe industry goes up and down like a pendulum, so do your budget so you understand your financial standing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As business will ebb and flow, Amanda encouraged approaching each year as a new opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon’t be afraid to try things that haven’t worked previously, as the business landscape evolves.\u201d<\/p>\n

– Amanda Appel, Co-owner of the Makki Group<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tailoring Your Offer to The Couple\u2019s Needs<\/h2>\n

Katrina Plant is Head of Sales and Events at catering and venue group The Fresh Collective, which includes Brisbane’s Waters Edge<\/strong><\/a>. Her advice to wedding businesses is to tailor your packages<\/em> to fit couples\u2019 budgets, rather than sacrificing profit margins to meet<\/em> their budgets<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the advantage of having multiple venues that can cater to all types of budgets, including more economical weddings that we can offer those budget-conscious couples,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Nick Read, of Nick Read Entertainment,<\/a><\/strong> agreed that he also customised his offer to meet each couple\u2019s needs. His advice was to start by having a detailed discussion with them about their wedding vision, then propose a package that aligns with what they are looking for.\u00a0He said this approach enhances their overall experience and increases the likelihood of booking.<\/p>\n

Rather than discounting his services, Rob McMullan, of Elevation Band<\/a><\/strong>, aligns with couples\u2019 budgets by offering solo packages, as an alternative to a duo or band.<\/p>\n

Natasha\u00a0Hill, of Hills Celebrant Services<\/strong><\/a>, also advised against discounting services. Instead, she offers discounted rates for weekday weddings, while maintaining the same high customer service standards she would for a Saturday wedding.<\/p>\n

\"Evolve
Evolve 2024 Sydney panellists, photographer Ben Newnam (left) and musician Nick Read. Image: Coco Celebrations<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Take Every Opportunity and Leverage Networks<\/h2>\n

Being hungry for gigs helps build your reputation and client base. Rob\u00a0encouraged new businesses to take any opportunity to get established, even if the pay is minimal. Make the most of each event to leave a lasting impression.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery gig is an opportunity to showcase your brand to a room of 200 people.\u201d<\/p>\n

– Darcy Allen, Easy Weddings & Venue Crew B2C Manager\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Amanda emphasised the importance of networking and promoting your value proposition. She said visiting venues and literally knocking on doors can lead to more opportunities and business growth.<\/p>\n

Natasha agreed that networking and collaboration helped her secure jobs, particularly last-minute bookings. She often receives bookings with a turnaround time of as little as four to six weeks!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Evolve 2024 Brisbane Panellists: Natasha Hill of Hills Celebrant Services (left), and Amanda Appel of the Makki Group. Image: DMS Photography<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Provide Clear and Concise Information<\/h2>\n

Jasmin Barbuto, Wedding & Social Sales Manager at Ovolo Woolloomooloo<\/a>,<\/strong> pointed out that fewer enquiries can lead to higher conversion rates if you provide clear and concise information about your services. This helps couples make informed decisions quickly without feeling overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

Amanda shared her experience using chatbots staffed by real people.\u00a0\u201cCouples are enquiring less but asking more questions and prequalifying themselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Quick responses are essential to retain potential clients, but they are easier to convert once they visit the venue.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Evolve 2024 Melbourne Panel: (From left) Darcy Allen of Easy Weddings & Venue Crew, Alice Hall of Showtime Event Group, Louise Larkin of Lavish Photo Booths, Tim Barnes Celebrant, and Natasha Wright of Mobile Makeovers. Image: Feature Weddings<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Focusing on Business Success<\/h2>\n

Confidence and a positive mindset can drive your business forward, Natasha said. \u201cFocus energy on what’s working and believe in yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katrina\u00a0stressed the importance of a strong social presence and using third-party providers like Easy Weddings, which played a crucial role in the early success of her business.<\/p>\n

Catch up on more insights from the Evolve 2024 sales panel here: ‘The Wedding Businesses Thriving in a Challenging Market’.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To learn how your wedding venue or business can\u00a0increase its visibility to engaged couples planning their weddings,\u00a0<\/em>submit an online enquiry form here<\/em><\/a>, and the Easy Weddings team will contact you<\/em><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more wedding business tips here<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":296854,"template":"","au_pro_edu_tags":[],"class_list":["post-296844","au-pro-education","type-au-pro-education","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","au_pro_edu_categories-sales-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-pro-education\/296844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-pro-education"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/au-pro-education"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/296854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=296844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"au_pro_edu_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_pro_edu_tags?post=296844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}