Tag: business growth

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 122: Diana Ganz on Her Approach to Growing a Successful Business

By Erin Giberson on

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If you think your business isn’t big enough to create change, then catch the lessons from today’s guest. With her business partner, she disrupted an industry and brought in over 20  million dollars in revenue last year.

Diana Ganz is the Co-founder of SuitShop, the premiere destination for affordable, size-and gender-inclusive, and yours-to-keep suiting. A graduate of MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Diana teamed up with her childhood friend and fashion design guru Jeanne Foley to give couples a better option for their wedding attire. Launched as The Groomsman Suit in 2016, they rebranded as SuitShop to also include non-binary and women’s suits. Ultimately, SuitShop lets consumers purchase a quality, well-fitting suit for a price that’s less, or at least comparable, to the costs of traditional tux rentals. With virtual appointments as well as five showrooms, SuitShop is revolutionizing the purchase of suits and tuxedos for everyone. 

In this episode, Diana shares how SuitShop grew from an apartment launch to a multi-million dollar business. Specifically, she breaks down the business approach that has fueled SuitShop’s success.

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Wedding Industry Biz

Is It Time to Branch Out? 5 Tips for Entering a New Market

By Nora Sheils on

When running an event business, diversifying your customer base can make a big difference in your bottom line. While it’s beneficial for many entrepreneurs to niche down, you may find more success by expanding your reach. For instance, if you specialize in wedding photography but want to maintain a steady income during slow seasons, branching out to family shoots, headshots, or brand photography can help.

However, entering a new market is not a one-and-done solution. Before you jump into rebranding mode, you’ll want to ensure you have the means to support this pivot in your business. From reviewing your finances to assessing your bandwidth, reflecting on your foundation will help you determine if entering a new market is the right move.

Review these five tips to clarify your next steps and prepare for a seamless transition in reaching a new audience.

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Wedding Industry Biz

How to be a Great CMO for Your Business

By Tayler Cusick Hollman on

Before we dive in, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. You know, the “running a wedding business is hard work because you’re pulled in 50 directions at any moment in time” one? 

Okay—I said it, and now we can move on. 

But here’s why that’s so important to acknowledge: it’s hard to objectively wear all the hats you do and be responsible for so many things when it comes to your business. Because the hat you wear as “wedding planner” for your couples is just as important as the “bookkeeper” hat you wear for your business. But swapping hats all the time is tricky—one of them is bound to fall off your head at some point!

And one of the hats that falls off for a lot of wedding pros is the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) hat. But it’s a super important one to pick back up when you’ve figured out you’ve misplaced it. So it’s time to step into your role as CMO.

Read on to learn about the impact you can have on your business when you become its CMO.

Read More “How to be a Great CMO for Your Business” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 119: Insights from Rob Farrow for Wedding Industry Professionals

By Erin Giberson on

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Ready to embrace the spirit of collaboration and tech in the wed-space? Then tune in for success tips from this well-known wed-tech entrepreneur and industry expert!

Rob Farrow is the CEO of Aisle Planner, which he founded with his wife, Christina. For the past decade, they have grown Aisle Planner into an established industry leader. As an all-in-one platform, it is the software solution offering marketing, client, and planning + project management for event professionals. 

Rob himself was the former Global VP of Marketing for SurfTech, and he has over 20 years of experience in product development, marketing, communications, and all aspects of events management. 

In this episode, Rob talks about building a service-based company as well as how you can leverage the principles that guided Aisle Planner’s success.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 112: Andrea Eppolito On How to Define Yourself as the Best for Your Ideal Client

By Erin Giberson on

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When she decided to reposition her business, she scrapped everything that wasn’t what she wanted. Because she knew what she wanted it to become.

At first, the changes only brought in two clients, but she invested everything in them. Then, she used the photos and videos from those events to build her new portfolio, which ultimately landed 1M clients.

Today, as a highly-sought wedding planner and lifestyle expert, she provides a signature experience for select luxury weddings and events.

Andrea Eppolito is the owner of Andrea Eppolito Events, an award-winning event planning company based in Las Vegas, NV. Additionally, she is a leading industry speaker, educator, and coach. She is also the host of the podcast, “Andrea Eppolito | Celebrating Life, Luxury, & Above All Else Love.” Her work has been recognized in WEDLUXE, INSIDE Weddings, WEDLUXE, Grace Ormonde, Brides, ELLE, GLAMOUR, and Town & Country, among others.

In this episode, Andrea talks about presenting your business as the best choice for your ideal client and creating the experience that proves it. 

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 110: Add Online Wedding Rentals to Offer Your Clients More – with Marie Kubin

By Erin Giberson on

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Do you love wedding décor? Or enjoy creating both the layout and the look of floor plans? If your answer is yes, then don’t miss this episode! Because today’s guest is all about rentals, especially in terms of what it means for your event planning business. 

Marie Kubin is the owner of Rent My Wedding, a nationwide wedding rental company. A former attorney, Marie launched Rent My Wedding in 2011 after struggling to find affordable, convenient, and easy décor items for her own wedding. Since then, Rent My Wedding has grown to offer packages including everything from lighting and uplighting to backdrops, photo booths, and more. Now the largest online event rental company in the U.S., it has also earned the most 5-star reviews in the event industry.

In this episode, Marie details how she started her business and shares practices that can help you grow yours. In particular, she offers an opportunity for you to stand out as a planner and earn additional income through Rent My Wedding.

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Wedding Industry Biz

How to Use Technology to Create a Better Brand Experience

By Elizabeth Sheils on

Creating a better brand experience is at the forefront of most business operations. After all, clients who enjoy working with you are more likely to leave five-star reviews and send referrals your way. With the event industry continuously changing, it’s essential to stay on top of the experience you provide clients and use tools that will allow you to do so.

The one thing you need to stay ahead of the curve? Technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an even greater shift into the digital world, with events taking place over Zoom and client communication remaining completely online. As a result, being tech-savvy is no longer a bonus for those looking to work with an event professional. Now, it’s a must-have.

Luckily, you can use technology to create an outstanding brand experience for your clients, from booking to onboarding.

Here are five ways your tech solutions will help you stand out.
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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 106: Gain Control of Your Business One SOP at a Time, with Irene Tyndale

By Erin Giberson on

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To gain control of your business, you need to map out your standard operating procedures (SOPs). Today’s guest explains where you can start.

Irene Tyndale is the Founder and CEO of Irene Tyndale Weddings & Events, an award-winning and full-service boutique event planning firm based in Atlanta. With a background in corporate event planning, Irene has over 20 years of industry experience. Her work has been featured in publications such as Modern Luxury and B Collective. Additionally, she is a leading industry speaker, author, coach, and educator.

In this episode, Irene challenges you to gain control of your business. Specifically, she highlights the importance of building relationships that later yield invaluable referrals, getting clear about the details of your procedures, and knowing your goals.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 105: Nikki Begg On Why You Should Be Kinder to Yourself

By Erin Giberson on

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Where’s the whiskey? Where’s the Oreos? 

At the height of lockdown in Bermuda, Nikki Begg found herself refunding previously booked clients over a quarter of a million dollars when they canceled their destination weddings due to COVID-19. Cue skipping fresh produce in favor of liquor and cookies.

But, ultimately, that challenging time helped her discover what she wants moving forward. It includes a career change as well as prioritizing her own happiness.

Now, Nikki is the owner of The Intentional Coach, where she provides coaching services for women who want a reboot. She is also the founder of Bermuda Bride, the premier wedding planning company in Bermuda. With over 23 years of experience, she’s a renowned industry speaker and is featured as an A-List Planner by Destination Weddings & Honeymoons.

In this episode, Nikki talks about how she used her experience during the pandemic to launch a new chapter of her career. Specifically, she shares the lessons that help her not only achieve success but also feel content.

Read More “WII 105: Nikki Begg On Why You Should Be Kinder to Yourself” →