Thursday, 12 July 2012

And there endeth the lesson...


Our final big lesson is definitely one we’re still learning: embrace the ‘competition’. We are working really hard to understand the album market, because we think we can work alongside some traditional offerings. We’re also building a network of partner photographers – we want to sit alongside their album packages rather than be an ‘instead of’ and therefore a threat. We’re lucky, there isn't really anyone else doing what we’re doing, but when we were referred a client by the lovely Emma Woodhouse (@cloggins – I will be honest, I had butterflies when we met, you’re so twitterly famous!) who writes gorgeous wedding reports, we were so delighted at her generosity that we are determined to spread the love too.

So, those were our lessons. We’re still very new, and we’re still learning about this fascinating industry that we’re part of, everyday. And we’re not saying that these are lessons for everyone, just things we’ve observed as we’ve made our way to where we are now. We’d so love to hear other companies’ experiences, tips and hints that got them started or kept them going. Do share!

And just for fun, we thought we'd finish with a few personal ‘learning points’ we've gathered in the eighteen months Illustries has existed (most of it on paper!);

1. We are mutually the only people outside our families that we could share a room with. Not least a room with stained mattresses and a dubious bathroom. And still laugh about it in the morning.

2. Among all the lovely brides and grooms, strange people come to wedding shows. It is not fair to watch your business partner deal with one of these people while audibly choking back giggles and doing Roger Moore eyebrows.

3. Tempers will be frayed. There is no escaping that. We’re lucky that only one of us has ever unravelled at any one time. The other sits quietly until said rage has evaporated. And then takes the mick. Mercilessly…

4. Tequila is an excellent planning tool. It is good to embrace it...

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

An unruffled surface...


...often hides a whirlwind if activity underneath! And that brings us to Lesson Four: it’s important to make like a swan. We are so proud of the stand set that we take to all our wedding fairs – it looks a little bit ‘different’ and we love that. But, our lovely blackboard style table is obviously made of some kind of dark matter because it weighs a ton, our bookshelves need putting together in a flat pack nightmare and every time we load the Illustriesmobile we curse the lamp, the chest, the vase and most particularly the chair (we hate that chair). We get red and sweaty, dusty and dishevelled lugging it all up steps, round too-tight corners and through tiny doors – our knuckles are permanently scarred! When it is all up, it looks great – and the hard work hides beneath a polished veneer. It’s like the ‘choice’ hotels we stay in when we’re at shows far from home – we’re a small business and we have to keep costs down, so Luxury Wedding Show, big tick, we’re there looking the part on the day of the show. Who needs to know we didn’t get to bed in a really bad Travelodge until 11.30?

The table. Bloody heavy...
We also exhibited at the Designer Vintage Bridal Fair last year, and were mighty star-struck that no less than five (count ‘em) of our favourite bloggers were there. We’ll be honest and say that we had to take a deep breath before going to talk to them, and how silly were we?! Kelly of Boho WeddingKat of RockN'RollBrideAmma of Beyond BeyondAnnabel of Love My Dress and Alexis of OMG I'm Getting Married were all lovely and totally mystified at how anyone could be intimidated by them. And you know what, even if they hadn’t been, we reckon you still shouldn’t be afraid to go up and talk to ‘high-profile’ people – they’re running a business or building a brand too, networking is everything. And that was Lesson Five.

Friday, 25 May 2012

Lee Cottey, come on down!

A huge thank you to anyone who completed our survey a few weeks ago. We promised that someone would win a £25 M&S voucher, and indeed they have - Lee Cottey, who we met at the Millennium Centre Wedding Fair in January was our lucky winner.

Thanks again to all of you who replied, we really appreciate your time and feedback.