Prom 2012 - closer than you think!!!

Yesterday I received my first e mail blast from David's Bridal about prom dresses for 2012, yes 2012. Then I looked at my calendar and realized it is not as far away as it sounds. It really is sneaking up on us pretty quickly.

When it comes to prom, I speak and write more about this topic than anything else - Make a Plan, Make a Goal. I really can't stress this enough. NOW, is the time to start working on your plan and your goal for the 2012 prom season.

There are 2 key foundations for this process and you should do them both. First, make your dream list. What are all the things you would like to do and to accomplish for this next prom season. Get your staff and your team together and spend some time dreaming. Write everything down, no matter how far out there the idea is. You can come back later and adjust, but don't be afraid to dream in the biggest way possible.

The second thing to do is to look at what you did last year. Let me challenge you to ask yourself this one question and only this one question. "What did we do right?" This is a much harder question than you realize. It will be difficult for your to focus on this because you will want to drift to things you did wrong, but you will get strongest if you can focus on the question "What did we do right?"

Now put the two lists together. What are you dreams and What did you do right? Now blend them together, set your goal for this next season and then create a plan that will help you and your team to reach that goal.

The old saying "Think outside of the box" has been used so much that many times it gets over looked. But take the time to "think outside of the box" or outside of your comfort zone. What can you do that will be unique, eventful, challenging and creative?

So to wrap up for today - SET A GOAL and CREATE A PLAN for 2012. This will have a major impact on the success of your prom season and I am wishing all of you the best prom season ever.

Until next time........

Confidence

Recently I have spent some time with all levels of our industry. If I have to describe their outlook for our industry, I would sum it up with one word, confidence.

Everyone I am talking to is confident about this spring season. Those who are working are their prom seasons are seeing that confidence show up in the girls ordering corsages.

I think I just wanted to share with you, that is what I am hearing from all parts of the country. Don't feel like you are alone, take your confidence, create a goal, create a plan and go after your prom business with confidence.

Until next time..........

Wedding Selection Guides for Prom Girls

Yes, you did read that right. Here is a great tip for you. When the prom girls come in to your store to look for prom items, be sure to have them look through your wedding selection guides.

First, you want them to look through the wedding guides, because they have photos of beautiful corsages and boutonnieres to help them make a selection for this prom season.

Next, and maybe most impactful, now you have a "future bride" looking at YOUR wedding designs. This is a great way to plant the seed and get the young lady excited about an important day down the road for her, and most of all, she will remember the beautiful flowers she saw in YOUR shop.

What a great way to do two things at the same time; have the girl and maybe her mom or her date, looking through your wedding guides to find the perfect corsage for the prom and also begin to dream about the flowers that will be at her wedding.

We have heard from many florists that they use prom as a key tool to help introduce the girl their store for future weddings, now, take it one step farther and have them look through the wedding flower books while they are there.

Until next time..............

Unique marketing idea

Some of you may have been to the marketing presentations that I do around the country, and to you, you may have heard this idea before.

I like to ask the question; How much money do you think the Marketing Director a certain large dress companies earn in a year? As an example, David's Bridal? or Deb Stores?

Then I follow up with this question; How would you like to have that person on the staff of your flower shop? Of course, everyone says that we would love to have such a talented individual on their staff.

Then I point out that you as a florist can have access to this persons insights for FREE.

The Marketing Manager for these companies have tremendous talent and skill. They also study the markets every detail. They have access to multiple studies and marketing tools that most of us cannot afford.

So here is the secret, sign up for their e mail blasts on their website. In simple, look at the e mail blasts they send you, study them and see if you can do the same thing they are doing? If they are having a coupon sale, maybe you should have a coupon sale. If they are putting photos of dresses in their ad, maybe you should also. If they are running a website promotion; maybe you should do the same.

In short, look at the people who are marketing to you, and study the tools they are using. If they work for the big companies, the same strategies just might work for you.

Until next time........

Connected with the dress companies?

Interesting question? Are you connected with the dress stores? I don't know all the dress companies in your area, but I can speak for 2 here in Ohio. Deb and Davids Bridal.

These companies are agressively marketing prom dressed to the young ladies who are their everyday customers.

The nice thing is that you can sign up to see the same marketing messages your young custtomers are. I recieved another one of these today, from Deb. Well done with beautiful picutres of their spring line of prom dresses. All of this is at your fingertips.

Go to the websites for the dress stores and look for a place to sign up for their everyday e mail updates. This way you are getting the latest information and you are seeing the same styles, colors and looks that the girls are.

After you are done with the dress companies, go to the tuxedo sites and sign up there also.

So, here is the important part. Do it now - before you get busy or are distracted. I think you will be surprised at the effectiveness of their programs.

Until next time...................

See what the girls see....

Now is the time to get out of your store and see what the girls are seeing. On your next trip to the mall go and search out the prom dresses in the stores. Yes you can hit all the major stores in the mall, but also go and look for the kids stores. A couple that we know do a really good job are Deb and David's Bridal. Go and see for yourself the colors, the styles, the textures, are they short, are they long, are they form fitting, are they loose and pouffy? Talk to the clerks in the stores, ask them what is selling, what are the kids saying.

While you are there, ask the clerks if they are doing any Prom Fashion Shows at the local schools. Most of store are doing these events at your local school. Ask if you can participate? Then you can make up beautiful corsages for the girls to wear.

Well, I have gotten off of the theme for today. After you have gone into the dress stores and looked around, then go the costume jewelry stores to see the styles that are attactive to today's student. Use the same questions, what are the colors, styles, textures and even price points?

Now that you are already at the mall, don't forget the guys, go to the tuxedo stores and look around there. Ask them the same questions about what the young man is likely to be wearing at the prom this year. Remember your corsage and boutonniere are your advertising to the other students when your clients are walking around showing off the beautiful flowers that you have created for them.

Remember to have fun while you are doing this - students want to order flowers from people who are having fun helping their prom dream come true. Remember, the student of today is your customer of tomorrow.

Until next time..............

Start to Plan

I know you are completely focused on Valentine's Day, but don't forget prom is right around the corner.

While it may seem distant to us, it is not for the dozens of students, parents, faculty and staff who have been planning for the big day.

Start now thinking about your plans, and this year make a goal for you and your store. Maybe it is to sell as many corsages as you did last year, maybe it is to sell more. Maybe it is to raise the total of your prom sale, corsage, bout and add ons all together.

The new Fitz catalog will be available as an email preview next week, so if you would like a copy, just drop me a note at danfisher@creationsbyfitzdesign.com and let us know. We will be happy to e mail one out for you.

One big change with this years Selection Guide - we will have 3 companies featured this year. Of course, us at Fitz Design and last year's partner Milton Adler and now to the Selection Guide this year is Berwick Offray Ribbon.

I must say this years Selection Guide is gorgeous!! Absolutely gorgeous! It will be a great tool for you to use to show your clients the products you can get for them. I am sure you will enjoy using it and feel free to call us with any questions. Now that the season is upon us, look for me to post more regularly. So...........

Until next time