NEC Wedding Fair

Neil and Nicky visited the NEC Wedding Show on Friday - an annual pilgrimage to see new trends and to catch up with old customers. Unlike the London wedding shows at Earls Court and Olympia the NEC attracts some of the slightly smaller wedding businesses so is a good indication of what is really happening in the industry, and it was a little alarming. Only 2 of our regular customers were there this year, and numbers were down drastically; perhaps 2 companies from each of the smaller sectors such as car hire, and even the photographers section had dwindled to around 16 photographers - most of them new faces. That is less photographers than attended our Oxfordshire Photographers Wedding Fair last year.
It is sad to see such a decline; we have fond memories of exhibiting at the NEC in its heyday, in particular the year we sponsored the back page of the show guide and were one of only 2 companies supplying bags for brides to carry their bumpf around in - the Guides for Brides branding was everywhere.

Keeping solicitors in business

I have spent the weekend puzzling over the sanity of a Wiltshire bridal company who have instructed their solicitors to write to us as we inadvertantly added a "The" to the beginning of their business name for their free listing in the Guide. Yes ... their free listing. A quick search on the internet - it seems Google are guilty of the same misdemeanor, as are many other on line directories. Presumably their solicitor's letters is on the way too.

No doubt they will be seeking compensation for the financial losses they have suffered as a result of the error.

I, personally, look at any complaints that arise, which are thankfully a very rare occurance, and take them very seriously indeed. If you don't listen to every bit of negative feedback you will never attain perfection. On this occasion I may just make an exception.....