| Here comes the bride – and boy, has she got | | | | name on the front cover. Voila! You have a very |
| money to spend. Unfortunately, your bridal shop | | | | special bridal gift that will stand out from the pack for |
| isn’t likely to be the only one angling to get her | | | | its utility and style. |
| business. Advertisements and sales are all well and | | | | Little Nothings |
| good, but there are other ways to reach your | | | | That’s what my Gran used to call those little |
| prospective customers, and promotional gifts can play | | | | notions that shops give away when they’re |
| a big part. Here are some uses for promotional | | | | courting your business. They range from a bowl of |
| products that can help your till drawer ring along with | | | | mints at the till to little packets of sewing notions with |
| the wedding bells. | | | | the shop name on them. Giveaways of this type are |
| Wedding Show or Expo Giveaways | | | | great for keeping the mood in your shop and for |
| Wedding shows are one of the biggest draws for | | | | spreading your name outside the shop. Instead of just |
| new customers for bridal shops and other | | | | dumping a bag of wrapped mints into the bowl, though, |
| wedding-based businesses. The problem with taking | | | | fill it with personalized clic clac tins or cards of mints |
| part in a wedding show, though, is that your shop is | | | | with your shop name on them. Other promotional |
| one of dozens that the brides-to-be will see that day. | | | | handouts that will help spread your name include |
| You need a way to stand out from the crowd, and a | | | | emergency repair kits with needle and several colors |
| way for them to recall your shop in particular once | | | | of thread and compact mirror and comb sets. |
| they get home. Promotional products offer you just | | | | Special Thank You Gifts |
| that kind of distinction. | | | | When you outfit an entire wedding party, keep in mind |
| While many other consultants and shops will be | | | | that every single bridesmaid is a potential bride, bringing |
| appealing to the bride-to-be’s dream of a big day, | | | | you even more business. The experience that they |
| you can score points by recognizing what she needs | | | | have with you will determine whether or not they |
| right now. One of the handiest promotional business | | | | return to your shop when it’s their turn to walk |
| gifts you can hand out to a girl in the midst of the | | | | down the aisle. Little touches can make a big |
| planning whirlwind is a personal wedding planner. | | | | difference. One way to make a great impression is to |
| Conference folders with multiple pockets are ideal for | | | | give each member of the wedding party a special |
| this use. All the features that make them ideal for | | | | thank you gift when they come in for their final fitting. |
| note-taking at conferences apply just as well to all the | | | | Remind them of the special pampering they’ll get |
| meetings and decisions that the future bride faces. | | | | with a specially boxed set of incense and candles, or |
| Tuck your own materials into the main pocket where | | | | perfumed bath soaps and spa gelee, with your name |
| they’ll be displayed, and discreetly emboss your | | | | discreetly printed on the gift box, of course. |