A Professional Organiser Specialising in Wedding Courses

www.weddingcourses.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

A Professional Organiser Specialising in Wedding Courses is a unique small business in Australia. Many wedding courses are available for wedding planners but very few for brides and grooms. Our vision is to assist brides and grooms to embrace the simple, logical approach to planning a wedding and to give them the skills to control their wedding budget – whatever the amount. The basic philosophy being ‘that every decision a couple makes about a wedding should be a logical, informed decision while keeping the big picture in mind’. Organisational skills, along with ‘working with others’ can be greatly enhanced by utilising some simple principles and guidance. Complementing our courses is the amazing My Wedding Book: A step-by-step guide on how to plan a wedding! which is basically is a ‘one stop shop’ to consolidate the often overwhelming overload of fragmented wedding information that is now available.

2. When and why did you start your business?

In 2008 in search of a new project, I placed pen to paper and began the journey of writing my first book titled My Wedding Book: A step-by-step guide on how to plan a wedding! Having had my two sons married that year; weddings were foremost in my mind. My research, combined with my facilitation/mediation/teaching background, lead me towards wanting to educate brides so they understood that 'with logical and detailed planning, wedding preparation and a wedding day can be a time of happiness, relationship-building and the realisation of dreams'. To further achieve my goal, I developed a concise, logical wedding course for brides followed closely by a self-paced Online Wedding Course to accommodate the fast paced IT world in which we live. All courses focus on the 'process' of planning and the organisational skills learnt can be applied across other facets of life.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with your business?

I never set out to start a small business but the development of my business has lead to five key satisfactions: 1. Create an income 2. I am passionate about my business 3. Contribute to helping others to develop their organisational skills and to making informed decisions 4. Assist people to ‘work with others’ and avoid disputes 5. Keeping wedding traditions alive and it has given me the ‘real life’ material for my other project which I am working on, book number 2 ‘My Business Book: A step-by-step guide on how to start or review a small business!

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

My personality – it is challenging to ‘get out there’ if you are the type of person who prefers to stay in the background. Therefore, promotion of my business has taken me out of my comfort zone, but I do relish a challenge.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

The internet definitely goes to the top of the list. My websites, wedding websites and Pay Per Click ads have given me many leads. However, I say this only because these avenues are measurable. Bridal Expos have also been fabulous as ‘my business goes to the market as opposed to trying to get the market to my business’

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

The benefit of newspapers, magazines, car advertising… although I have not seen an immediate, measurable response that does not mean that they are not working quietly to build my ‘brand or concept’.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

The beauty of weddings as a ‘magical start to marriage’…

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

Any small business owner or manager that perseveres against all odds, to succeed.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

To follow and adjust my business plan to meet the market and specifically the ever changing needs of my clients and myself. Continue to write, to share my knowledge and organisational ability to assist people to better use their precious time.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Visit the following three aspects of your business regularly to keep the ‘big picture’ happening – don’t work in a day- to-day crisis mode. 1. Fundamental Focus Identifying what you hope to achieve and understand your commitment. Always work with a Business Plan and understand budgeting. 2. Power Planning Understand the importance for success of logical, detailed planning and ‘doing’ (guided by a detailed Business Directory and Office/Departmental Manuals or the like), use management strategies and have an active marketing plan. 3. Proactive Participation Regularly monitor and review your workplace systems, management practices, marketing and bank balance to ensure all are working effectively, and continually aim to make improvements.

Visit us at: www.weddingcourses.com.au