LANCASHIRE WEDDINGS WANTED

All sizes and shapes.

Blackburn, Blackpool or Chorley and beyond.

Church, registry or civil ceremony.

I want to feature your lancashire weddings.

Tell me what was great about your lancashire wedding and share the local suppliers you used for your big day.

Email joanne@simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk.

A Tweeters Guide To Twitter

I'm no expert on social media but here's a few tips I've picked up in my short time on Twitter:



Source: yourseomentor.com



- Always include your website on your bio.  Then tweeters who need you, know where to get hold of you.

- Your bio should also include what you do and what you tweet about then people know what to expect from you.  They're also more likely to follow you.

- Always have a picture.  Followers like to know who they are following.  At a seminar I was told this must be a photo of yourself as followers like to know who you are.  I'm undecided on this.  If its a business account is it not just of good use to include a picture of your work? Thoughts below please.

- At the same seminar I was told not to include more than one hashtag in a tweet.  I'm not sure why but I try and stick to it.  I'm not sure why I try and stick to it either.

- Save the hashtags that are important to you as searches.  I have saved the hastag 'journorequest.'  When searching this hashtag I may see a tweet that relates to me, it may also be an opportunity to promote my business.

- Retweets are important for your 'status.'  Retweet when people ask for help, or promote offers etc and you'll get to be known as a useful and important tweeter.

Source: home-designing.com

- Don't be a salesman.  There's no need to annoy your followers with salesman tweets.  They know where you are if they need you and they will only unfollow you if you do so.

- Be careful what you say.  I've unfollowed several accounts that claim to be professional businesses yet tweet bitchy and unprofessional tweets.  One popular twitterer, who didn't follow me back, once tweeted that if they weren't following you back it was because you were unimportant to me.  That looks very professional to potential clients.  I swiftly unfollowed.

- When I'm looking at a profile to decide whether to follow them or not there is a few things I look at to decide.  I will only follow them if they are local or interested in the same things as me.  I also look at how many followers they have and how many people they are following in return.  Yes they may have 1000 followers but how many people are they following?  If they are following a substantial amount more than they have in followers,  it looks like they went on a following spree.  Some would argue that it gives you an idea of how important they are. For example, Lord Sugar has nearly 1.5million followers but only follows 58 people.



Source: technmarketing.com



And finally keep your tweets interesting and those followers will keep rolling in!



The Wedding Ideas Awards 2012

I am so pleased to announce that Simply Bows and Chair Covers have been nominated for a prestigious Wedding Ideas Award 2012.

The awards, run by the team at Wedding Ideas Magazine, have become the biggest wedding consumer awards in the UK, with thousands voting for their favourite wedding companies.  Here at Simply Bows and Chair Covers we have been nominated in the category of Best Special Touches.  Voting has already started and ends on November 30th so please make your vote count by voting for us here...

http://www.weddingideasmag.com/home/the-awards/vote-in-the-wedding-ideas-awards-2012.html

The top 5 companies from each category will then go in front of a panel of expert judges from the wedding industry to decide who wins. The glamourous awards ceremony takes place in London in January and we would love to be a part of it.

So if Simply Bows and Chair Covers have made your wedding venue come alive or you simply love the work we do then please take the time to vote for us.

I'll keep you all updated! x

A Taste Of Lancashire: Wrapor

I am so happy to be featuring this lady as part of my A Taste of Lancashire feature.  Not only is the idea behind them great but having seen the pieces on a photoshoot, I can vouch for them being absolutely stunning!

Here is Kay, of Wrapor, to tell us a bit about herself and her unique designs.

My name is Kay McEllin, I am 43 and married with two boys aged 13 and 5. My business is Wrapor, it’s a small family business, we make unique bespoke wrap/shrugs and boleros and have been trading online for 4 years

Where did the name Wrapor come from?

Well, this is always a big decision when anyone starts a business. I was half way through a business course and was racking my brains for a suitable name. I wanted to use the word wrap in the name, and because the design is a cross between a wrap and a shrug, I combined the phrase “wrap or shrug” and then I registered Wraporshrug.co.uk as the domain name. I liked the word Wrapor too as I wanted it to suggest excellent customer services and the “rapport” I try my best to build with my customers.

 

How did you get into making your beautiful pieces?

I have over 20 year experience in the bridal retail business, I made my own wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses (20 years ago next year… eek!!) I also worked in several bridal shops, carrying out fittings and alterations on ready made wedding dresses. I loved playing a huge part in making bride’s look and feel their very best. However, I found that although most of the dresses came with a wrap, the customers would often look awkward trying to keep them in place and they would end up tying them in a huge knot at the back to keep them on!

Several years later in 2007 a friend asked me to make her something to cover a small tattoo on her shoulder on her wedding day, a wrap was out of the question as it would just fall down. After a few attempts the Wrapor shrug was born. Kelly loved how the creation stayed in place without covering any detail on her dress, she wore it all day and into the evening and she looked and felt fabulous! I had a business idea! I was lucky to attend a short business course NES at MMU and afterwards started trading online as Wrapor.

 

What styles and fabrics do the shrugs come in?

Oooh… any fabric you like! The range on the website includes satin, silk, chiffon, organza, faux fur, taffeta and tulle with or without sheer overlays, in a extensive range of colours and shades of white and ivory. Fabric can also be ordered in especially for each customer if our range of stock fabrics is unsuitable. We provide a fabric sample service so you can match the fabric up with your dress before your place your order. It is also helpful if you can send a fabric sample for us to match up with fabrics from our supplier.
 

 Why wear Wrapor a shrug or bolero on your wedding day?

The designs are ideal to keep the chill off in the cooler months. The faux fur shrug looks fabulous with any dress fabric and they are popular with brides and bridesmaids. We can also use a fleece lining inside the other fabrics for extra warmth.

Many of my customers feel a little exposed in a sleeveless dress, they may want to cover up for a religious ceremony or to cover imperfections due to weight loss etc. Others just like to add a little something to complete their outfit. Standard bolero jackets don’t suit everyone and can sometimes look rather shapeless, or frumpy, customers tell me that the simple elegant styling of the Wrapor is just what they have been looking for.

What has been the most popular design?

The organza and chiffon fabrics are very popular in the summer as they offer semi sheer coverage and will compliment most dress fabrics. The faux fur is very popular for Christmas and winter weddings.

www.joanne-spencer.co.uk

www.joanne-spencer.co.uk

Where can our readers meet you? And do you have a website?

Please visit the website: www.wraporshrug.co.uk to see the range available.

Email: kay@wraporshrug.co.uk, or ring 0161 432 1907 for a chat about our designs, or to request fabric samples.

I am hoping to be able to offer appointments to our clients from Jan 2012 onwards.

Lancashire Bride says: The fur shrugs are the reason why I would want a Winter Wedding, they're stunning and chic but practical at the same time. Wrapor are definitely one to watch.

"Curiosity May Have Killed The Cat...

,
... But lack of curiosity would have killed thousands." James Morrow


A few months ago my curiosity got the better of me and I was sooned signed up for a new project called The Curiosity Project, an idea thought up by wedding planner Tiffany Riley-Grant. The thoughts behind the idea was that we all love receiving exciting gifts and letters in the post and even better when not knowing when they will come or what they will be! So an extensive network of very willing participants was formed.  I was given an anonymous address with strict instructions not to spend more than £20 and I set off seeking exciting finds.

Now I can't show you the box I created as I don't want to give the game away but what I can say is that is is filled bright colours and fun objects to hopefully make my partner smile when they open it.  I only posted mine on Friday and coincidentally my box came the next day! 

 All the goodies came in a very useful photo storage box.

And each gift had a label attached to it with a note on it, including this wholesome quote that in my opinion sums the whole project up!

How fitting is this box of curiosities? Filled with lots of little wonders that I can't wait to put to good use!

Well this is one Curiosity Project participant that would definitely take part in the project again!

Slaidburn Wedding Fayre

11th March 2012

12pm-4pm

EXHIBITORS WANTED!

Having worked very closely with Slaidburn Village Hall I am pleased to announce that they have since asked me to arrange a wedding fayre for them next year.  For my business, wedding fayres are crucial to get my name out there and show off my products and services. This is why I am keen to keep costs down for everyone involved. To exhibit a stall will cost only £40 and this is purely to cover costs.

A bit about the venue...

Slaidburn, situated in the middle of the Hodder Valley, is one of the most picturesque of Lancashire's villages, and is the reason many brides choose to have their wedding reception at Slaidburn Village Hall. The new village hall is built on the edge of the Village Green with breathtaking views over and across the Green and the River Hodder. Slaidburn Village Hall is not your average village hall but a a multi purpose building finished to a far higher standard than normally associated with village halls. Many brides see the hall as a blank canvas that allows them to organise every single aspect of their big day including food, venue décor and entertainment.

If you are interested in exhibiting please email me at joanne@simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk and request an exhibitor pack.

Madeline Gardner Designer Event

Join Glamour Bridal and Prom on Saturday 12th November for this exclusive event.

Madeline Gardner is an internationally recognised bridal designer from New York.  Inspired by era's of classic New York, the gowns portray glamorous sophistication, billowy skirts, predominant bead work, a splash of colour and the fabulous skyline gives this collection a breath of fresh air. And a large collection of these breathtaking dresses will be available at Glamour for one day only.

All brides to be will get 10% off their Madeline Gardner dresses and they'll also be entitled to 10% off their Bridesmaids dresses or buy 2 Bridesmaids dresses and get the third half price!

As always appointments are limited so call Debbie on 01204 388390 to confirm your place.