I was situated adjacent to a caterer who prepared some food for the occasion and who, in a stroke of brilliance, brought a grill to the show so that the aroma would waft on the breeze to the surrounding space. Potential customers could smell and taste some hot and delicious samples of what a paying customer could expect at a wedding or other event.

                                                                                                              Photo by Kym Ventola

I noticed that several vendors also got in line to help themselves to a sample.  It sounds harmless enough doesn’t it?  Fellow vendors are a good source of referrals too right?  If the food is great, they will refer paying customers.  The problem was that the caterer had rightly planned for the predicted headcount of brides and their attendants/grooms/mothers. The caterer ultimately ran out of food with about 90 minutes of brides left and it turns out that the predicted headcount would have been perfect. Not only did the extra vendors take food intended for customers, they added to the wait time of those customers and additionally, the caterer was being engaged in conversation by these vendors and that was attention diverted from customers.  

Many bridal shows provide a vendor lounge or a boxed lunch and if not, arrangements should be made for our own food and drink.

The caterer had paid for the food and had paid for the booth. You can bet they didn’t get a refund for the remaining 90 minutes even though the booth became less effective for it’s purpose without the food.  I think most caterers or florists or other vendors would be happy to impart any leftovers AFTER the show had ended, but not before.

More on this subject:

In writing this, I realize that I may have been guilty of the following offense in times past and if so, I apologize.  Each of us should stay in our booth during show hours!  You never know when the “million-dollar” customer/bride is approaching and I’d hate for the opportunity for that contact to be diminished by a fellow vendor talking shop. I’d hate more to be guilty of having diminished the opportunity for my fellow vendor who paid a price for the exposure to that customer.

I always enjoy seeing my industry mates and hearing a few war stories and of their successes and all about some new techniques they are trying, but if those conversations happen at all while customers are on the floor in the given time, they must be restrained to lulls during fashion shows or before or after the show and one must be very conscious of approaching customers and excuse oneself promptly. (Shameless self-promotion ahead– Save the conversation for a WEN meeting!)

I notice that most shows require participating vendors to be set up well in advance of the official start time. This allows for each of our cars/vans/trucks to be moved from the preferred parking spaces, those up close to the venue,  to parking spaces further out before customers arrive.  Side note- some vendors have identifying monikers on the sides of said vehicles and probably would not want to be noted by customers as having taken up the prime parking spaces- happy customers spend money. The point I’m making is that the hour or so before the first customer arrives at a show should be the time to catch up with our industry mates.  

Best regards, Curtis Whipple