While you’re planning weddings, brides will undoubtedly ask you for help selecting invitations, favors, and bridal accessories so consider selling them yourself. Learn more about how to do it in this Q&A.
Question
In addition to selling wedding planning services, I would also like to sell wedding accessories. Is this a good idea? Do you have any tips on how to do this?
Answer
Yes, it’s a great idea. Selling wedding-related items is a great way to give your brides the convenience of working with one vendor and give you some extra income. Also, you can sell not only to your wedding planning clients but if you set up links to products on your website or blog, you can sell to anyone anywhere in the world.
Some products you can offer – save-the-date cards, invitations, personalized stationery (for the bride’s new name), wedding favors, bridal accessories, gifts for attendants and wedding websites. Do an Internet search for “wedding affiliate programs” and you will find many companies who will allow you to sell their products and teach you how to do it.
Here are the DO’s and DON’Ts of selling wedding products:
DO think about the brides in your niche before you decide on the products you want to sell. For example, you might not want to carry extensive lines of invitations or favors that are not eco-friendly if your brides live environmentally friendly lifestyles.
DON’T push your products on a bride if another vendor’s products would be more suitable.
DO select high quality products that reflect well on your company and that you would enjoy selling. You’ll be the most successful selling things that you believe in and like.
DON’T blindly sign up to be an affiliate for every wedding product company you come across, select a few products first and see how your brides respond.
DO take the time to learn about your products. For example, if you decide to sell invitations, you’ll need to understand different types of fonts, paper styles and quality. You’ll also need to learn correct etiquette for writing invitations.
DON’T decide to make your own products, such as welcome bags, place cards, and favors, unless they can be of the highest quality and unless you know you have the time to make them along with planning weddings.
DO make sure the companies whose products you sell are reputable, can deliver products on time and give you and your brides good customer service.
DON’T spend so a lot of time working on product sales when the bulk of your income comes from planning weddings. Allocate your time wisely.
By offering products, you can save your bride the time and energy of running around looking for the things she needs to complete her wedding. Just make sure you offer quality items and always keep your bride’s needs and budget in mind.
And you can learn more about starting and running your wedding planning business in my Free Special Report “7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner.” You can get it here.
