Wedding Fayre - What Draws You In?

[Pegasus928]

My wife has been invited to present her business at a local wedding fayre
This is the first time we have ever done anything like this - we have never even been to one ourselves so don't really know what to expect. As such we are struggling to know what to do to best promote her business so wondered if any of you guys have any experience in this sort of thing.
What would it take for a wedding cake supplier to draw you in for a closer look at their stall?
Feel free to elaborate on your choice and you are allowed to choose more than one option. The more information we can get at this stage the better.
Many thanks

 

[Chilly]

All of those for me!

When I went to the National Wedding Fayre they had some cake stands and they only seemed to be displaying massive, over the top, likely to be way out of anyones price range cakes which although made you look didn't really give you a lot of info.

I thought they'd offer cake samples but they didn't, maybe because of the cost and quantity needed but at a local fayre hopefully you'll be able to do that.

What about some sort of competition to win a wedding cake? It could be quite a basic cake so doesn't cost too much but with the option to pay to upgrade later so that you still made some money out of it.

Obviously it would be quite difficult to take a lot of cakes to display so photos would help to show as many designs as possible. If you could blow up some photos that would look good and then maybe a folder or laptop displaying as many cakes as possible.

A discount if you book there and then would be a good idea. Also maybe a leaflet you could take away that offers a smaller discount if you take the flyer with you when you order. This will also help you know how many orders the wedding fayre brings in.

 

[Pegasus928]

All of those for me!

When I went to the National Wedding Fayre they had some cake stands and they only seemed to be displaying massive, over the top, likely to be way out of anyones price range cakes which although made you look didn't really give you a lot of info.

Thanks Claire
We had already thought that we didn't want to go too over the top - but also be honest and upfront about our prices. People come to these things to gather information and we want them to go away from us knowing everything they need to know.

I thought they'd offer cake samples but they didn't, maybe because of the cost and quantity needed but at a local fayre hopefully you'll be able to do that.

Cake samples are on our list. We don't intend taking boxes full and it will be a case of once it's gone, it's gone

What about some sort of competition to win a wedding cake? It could be quite a basic cake so doesn't cost too much but with the option to pay to upgrade later so that you still made some money out of it.

Obviously it would be quite difficult to take a lot of cakes to display so photos would help to show as many designs as possible. If you could blow up some photos that would look good and then maybe a folder or laptop displaying as many cakes as possible.

We will look at all of these options and see what will look best. As far as we know we will have access to a power supply so all of these should be a possibility

A discount if you book there and then would be a good idea. Also maybe a leaflet you could take away that offers a smaller discount if you take the flyer with you when you order. This will also help you know how many orders the wedding fayre brings in.

The only downside with this that we can see is that we don't think anyone - brides especially - will want to be pushed into making a decision on something as important as their wedding cake on the day. Would you have another angle on that? Would you have booked there and then if you saw what you wanted and felt comfortable with the people you were talking to?

 

[Chilly]

The only downside with this that we can see is that we don't think anyone - brides especially - will want to be pushed into making a decision on something as important as their wedding cake on the day. Would you have another angle on that? Would you have booked there and then if you saw what you wanted and felt comfortable with the people you were talking to?

I think if I had all the info, price, T&Cs, photos and had tasted it then I wouldn't have been against it if I was getting a big discount. It depends if the groom has gone as well and how much input he is having if he isn't there. And also how much prep the couple have done, if they already know what cake they want then they might order one.

Had another thought, testimonials! Written ones but even better would be filmed ones playing on a laptop with a photo of them with their wedding cake.

 

[Chilly]

Cake toppers might be something you could sell as a sideline?

 

[peachiepie]

We got married earlier this year so have been to quite a few wedding fairs over the past 2 years!

I think having little samples of cake is always a good way to draw people in. I never booked anything straight away at a wedding fair, I always liked to get lots of information and leaflets the compare them all when I got home. A straight forward pricing list is always handy (several I saw just had price on application on them, I'm from the school of thought that if you have to ask you can't afford so instantly discounted those sellers, even though for all I know they could have been in my price range).

I did have some very mixed experiences with the stallholders though...some as soon as you even glanced at their stall from a distance were all over you like a rash whilst some others I was practically jumping up and down in front of them before they would acknowledge me, so I guess there is a fine line!

Hope it all goes well for you!

 

[tinks_1989]

Last year when I went to all our wedding fayre I just wanted to be people upfront and honest about prices. Not offering discount if you order this many many and and more discount if you order this many just a clear price easy for every one to under stand. If I felt that people were trying to offer me amazing discounts I always thought it was too good to be true and knew I wouldn't be able to afford it on a small budget.

The pictures you have posted of your wives cakes though speak for themselves they are beautiful! x

 

[joolz1910]

My SIL is getting married next year, so we have done some Wedding Fayres. She chose her cake because:

She liked the cakes displayed - real cakes and photos
The woman was offering a discount if you paid a deposit on the day
The prices were displayed - she didn't need to ask and face the embarrassment if they were out of her price-range

BTW, I would buy one of your wife's wedding cakes - they look amazing.

 

[Pegasus928]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Sounds like transparency of prices is important to a lot of you so we will make sure we don't appear cagey. It is sometimes difficult to quote a price without having all the finer details of what is required but I am sure we will be able to give a reasonable estimate.

We also don't want to appear too pushy, or unapproachable, so I guess we will have to find that fine line.

Lots for us to think about but you have given us some really good starting points.

 

[pixiepower04]

Well this I can definitely help you with this from a suppliers point of view!

I do between 4 and 8 wedding fairs a year and a big exhibition at The Caird Hall once a year.

I have 10 cakes on display plus all my cake samples for tasting. I take portfolios of all my work and leaflets and business cards. All my cakes on display have prices and portion sizes listed.

My display cakes are usually all 4 tiers because it looks better on display but none are over the top because I want people to choose me not run away from me!

I do not offer discounts, did once, didn't work, never done it since although I do have a winter offer on the website.

It's a long day so take plenty of tea and snacks, especially if the venue isn't supplying them, talking to many people will make your mouth go dry.

When there get to know other suppliers and take their info, give them yours and build a rapport.

Although wedding fairs are usually 12-4pm remember the day is much longer and prepare accordingly, don't wear heels until youre set up and ready to go (not you of course!). It takes us an hour to set up my display, half an hour getting it all in the car and then up to half an hour driving to the venue, by the time it's over and i'm back home it's after 6pm. It's a long day, hence the flasks of tea!

It's a good thing to do but don't jump to do all of them, especially if the cost varies a great deal between venues, you'll get to know in time what will work for you better.

If there's anything else I can help you with just holler!

Good luck!

PJ xxx

 

[Chilly]

Well this I can definitely help you with this from a suppliers point of view!

I do between 4 and 8 wedding fairs a year and a big exhibition at The Caird Hall once a year.

I have 10 cakes on display plus all my cake samples for tasting. I take portfolios of all my work and leaflets and business cards. All my cakes on display have prices and portion sizes listed.

My display cakes are usually all 4 tiers because it looks better on display but none are over the top because I want people to choose me not run away from me!

I do not offer discounts, did once, didn't work, never done it since although I do have a winter offer on the website.

It's a long day so take plenty of tea and snacks, especially if the venue isn't supplying them, talking to many people will make your mouth go dry.

When there get to know other suppliers and take their info, give them yours and build a rapport.

Although wedding fairs are usually 12-4pm remember the day is much longer and prepare accordingly, don't wear heels until youre set up and ready to go (not you of course!). It takes us an hour to set up my display, half an hour getting it all in the car and then up to half an hour driving to the venue, by the time it's over and i'm back home it's after 6pm. It's a long day, hence the flasks of tea!

It's a good thing to do but don't jump to do all of them, especially if the cost varies a great deal between venues, you'll get to know in time what will work for you better.

If there's anything else I can help you with just holler!

Good luck!

PJ xxx

Sound advice

 

[irongirlof12]

Deffo samples people attend these things and some expect freebies, show some interest in thier big day as well gey them talking as they have to be ablemto relate to you and feele they can explain what they want.

And have fun

 

[Pegasus928]

Well this I can definitely help you with this from a suppliers point of view!

I do between 4 and 8 wedding fairs a year and a big exhibition at The Caird Hall once a year.

I have 10 cakes on display plus all my cake samples for tasting. I take portfolios of all my work and leaflets and business cards. All my cakes on display have prices and portion sizes listed.

My display cakes are usually all 4 tiers because it looks better on display but none are over the top because I want people to choose me not run away from me!

I do not offer discounts, did once, didn't work, never done it since although I do have a winter offer on the website.

It's a long day so take plenty of tea and snacks, especially if the venue isn't supplying them, talking to many people will make your mouth go dry.

When there get to know other suppliers and take their info, give them yours and build a rapport.

Although wedding fairs are usually 12-4pm remember the day is much longer and prepare accordingly, don't wear heels until youre set up and ready to go (not you of course!). It takes us an hour to set up my display, half an hour getting it all in the car and then up to half an hour driving to the venue, by the time it's over and i'm back home it's after 6pm. It's a long day, hence the flasks of tea!

It's a good thing to do but don't jump to do all of them, especially if the cost varies a great deal between venues, you'll get to know in time what will work for you better.

If there's anything else I can help you with just holler!

Good luck!

PJ xxx

Thank you Paula. Lots of fantastic advice there that we will definitely be taking on board. We won't be able to go with as many display cakes as you though as we only have a limited amount of table space, but what we do go with will be designed to show what Elaine is capable of doing
Hopefully this will go well for us and we will be better prepared, and look foward to, the next one a little more.
Oh - and I must remember coffee

Deffo samples people attend these things and some expect freebies, show some interest in thier big day as well gey them talking as they have to be ablemto relate to you and feele they can explain what they want.

And have fun

Thank you

We have decided to take samples with us, and will remember what you said about showing an interest. It will be nice to join in their excitement and, hopefully, add something to their day.

 

[pixiepower04]

No worries.

I only get a 6ft table to display my cakes on but I do have my own display unit that sits behind the table to display eight of the cakes (just an Ikea display unit), two cakes, the samples, portfolios and leaflets all sit on the table.

I hate pushy sales pitches and am one of these people that walk out of a shop if i'm jumped on in 20 seconds with a 'can I help you' so I do tend to just say 'can I give you a leaflet' and then tell them to help themselves to the samples and then I just stand back, i'm there if they need me but don't ever push them. Over time you get a feel for who you can chat to and who is just passing time and not really interested and who is just stuffing their prams with cake samples to take home for tea!

If there are any fairs on elsewhere before you do yours you should just pop along to have a nosey and see what it's like and what to expect.

Yes, must remember coffee! We're usually so knackered afterwards that we just go out to dinner straight afterwards and then fall in to bed for an early night.

I hope Elaine has a great time doing her first one, looking back on my first 6 years ago I laugh with shame!

Also, I have had many many bizarre requests for things in the past that when someone asks me for something weird now I always say 'yeah of course - no worries', and then I worry about how to do it afterwards. Be the superhero to the client, you can do anything for them, it's their cake etc, they will feel like they're in good capable hands and more likely to book you.

Just a side note, I rarely book anyone on the day because people like to go away with all the info and have a think about it. I want them to have a look at my website and compare it to others and then get back to me if i'm the best choice for what they want. I do take order forms with me because some people have already decided to choose me and then hand the forms over on the day but sometimes I don't get them for a year or so and when I ask them how they found me they'll say that they saw me at such and such wedding fair last year or two years ago so even if you get nothing now, do not fret because the cake is usually the last thing booked.

Have fun!

PJ x

 

[pixiepower04]

Deffo samples people attend these things and some expect freebies, show some interest in thier big day as well gey them talking as they have to be ablemto relate to you and feele they can explain what they want.

And have fun

I agree about showing an interest to a certain degree but it works both ways, some people are so jaded because they've been to so many wedding fairs getting them talking about their wedding is like pulling teeth but I don't jump on them and start a heavy sales pitch.

If the client is showing an interest then I will ask them where they are getting married and who their other suppliers are and pass on my recommendations or suggestions. There are a lot of things people don't know about cakes - like you don't have to have fruit cake on the bottom - which always surprises them so telling them these snippets of info really makes them feel like you know what you're doing.

I do hate it when a supplier standing at the next table starts encroaching on the area in front of my stand hyperly extolling the virtues of their product, you can see the client's distress so I tend to stand off to the side of my table but where they can't be hijacked before i'm able to chat to them.

Being on the supplier side I'm glad I never had to go through it, the stress of so much choice would kill me!

 

[Pegasus928]

Wow. Again lots of valuable information Paula and we will definitly be taking it all on board in the hope it will make our first event run smoothly.
I hadn't thought about taking an extra cabinet to display things on, and it might be too late now to organise that, but I will email the guy who is arranging things today and ask if that is possible. The more things people get to see the better it is from our point of view.
I can also see it is going to be a fine line between waiting for any potential clients to approach us and not appearing to be pushy. I guess as long as we have a happy and friendly demeanour they will see us as none threatening and be more inclined to come and chat. Also the display will hopefully draw them in as well.
Lots for us to think about, but also lots to get excited about

 

[Pegasus928]

Many thanks to everyone that gave us their opinions reference the wedding fayre. We took it all on board and attended our first one today and have to say the response was brilliant.
We took around 300 samples and all of them went
We got some amazing feedback, got a booking that they paid for there and then, a few consultations booked in and got invited to attend 2 more fayres in the coming months.
All the visitors were also really pleased to see the prices on display. It definitley made people stop and speak to us who may otherwise have thought that we were beyond their budget and walked away.
Below is a pic of our set up and if anyone else fancies seeing a couple more pics of how it looked on the day then follow [URL="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.236729126383194.59116.214275478628559&type=1&l=13cf2e8bba"]THIS[/URL] link.

Thanks again guys

 

[pixiepower04]

You guys did a great job, it looks great and so very happy for your booking. Good luck with the next few x

 

[Pegasus928]

Thank Paula
We ended up having a great day, despite the stresses and nerves in the build up, but we are really looking forward to the next one

 

[PJB71]

Really pleased to hear things went well for you and Elaine