Events With Excellence

Standards of Excellence: Making It Right For the Client

2012-01-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

Providing a good customer service experience prior to the purchase, during the purchase, and even after the purchase impacts the growth of your company along with the perception of your organization. Sometimes we focus only on the initial experience a customer has in the first encounter with us. What happens if mistakes or missteps are made? How do you handle those situations? How well can you deliver excellent service even when the customer is dissatisfied? Do you understand them and admit to the mistake that was made? Do you embrace their frustration and try to make it right? This is a challenge, but it is possible to still make it right. I experienced a challenging situation that I learned a great deal from. For the first time, I had customer partially satisfied and partially dissatisfied. I was devastated by the situation because I pride myself on delivering my best and always aiming to supersede expectations. During this experience, I did not loose my desire to provide excellence. I thought it through and came up with a solution to satisfy the customer to the best of my ability. Keep in mind that every situation is different. Solutions are not always cookie cutter. Evaluate the current situation and tailor the solution to best fit your customer. The next step was to present the solution to the customer, they agreed to the solution, and we moved forward to take action.

In business, we typically share the wins or the great experiences and rarely share our missteps. The reality is that mistakes will happen. The key is how do you as a Company respond to it! Do you have a Customer Resolution Plan in place? If not, today is the day to begin developing your process to ensure the entire experience of working with you and your company is excellent!

The Dress Fitting Experience

2012-01-17T15:00:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I spent a couple hours at a Bridal Fitting for one of my Brides and her Bridesmaids. We actually had a really good time with one another. The Bride, Four of the Bridesmaids, one Jr. Bridesmaid, Three Friends, plus the Wedding Planner were present for the fitting. A big group right. If you watch "Say Yes to the Dress", one of my favorite shows, the Consultants are always concerned about the number of family and friends in attendance along with how they will respond every time the Bride presents each dress. Normally I do too! Amazingly, we had a great time and everything went smoothly. It made me think, why? How did 10 women enjoy the experience with each other? Here is what I assessed regarding the experience. Whether you are the Bride, Bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride, or friends of the Bride, you may find this helpful.

1. The Bride carefully selected her Bridesmaids. She selected women who she has a strong bond and relationship with. Women who really wanted to be apart of the journey with her.

2. The Bride also selected very close friends to attend who have the capability to be honest, but honest in a loving way. Each one watched her facial expression and asked the Bride "How do you feel in it?" before they gave their opinions.

3. The Bride already knew the style of the dress she was looking for. Everyone in attendance understood her style was HER style and they saw the dress from the Bride's Eye and not their own.

4. The energy of the ladies was up lifting and excitable. I could tell that everyone was happy for the Bride and wanted to see her happy.

5. The Wedding Planner - I've heard several times on "Say Yes to the Dress" how annoyed the Consultants are with the Wedding Planner trying to take over. I've seen how over bearing they can be on the show. My purpose for attending was to help assist where ever needed, take notes, and make the Consultants life easier. Prior to the fitting, the Bride selected a series of dresses for her self and the her Bridesmaids. I copied and paste the pictures in a Word Document along with the item numbers and presented the document to the Consultant. She was grateful that we knew what we were looking for and had everything organized! We also welcomed her opinions and ideas in the appointment.

Overall, we had a great experience and the Bride did say "Yes the Dress"!

Need Help Choosing Your Wedding Colors?

2012-01-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Recently working with one of my Brides, she was having challenges finalizing her wedding colors. I thought about a few ways to help her narrow down her color theme. Just in case you are looking for some additional guidance, here are some ideas to help you too!

Your Favorites: Simply think about your favorite color. What colors do you love the most? It's okay if you have more than one. If you do have more than one, create two color themes you can select from.
The Venue: Think about the your Reception Venue or the Venue you would like to book. How will your colors work with design of the venue? Test your color scheme. Schedule a site visit. Bring table linens in your colors and place it over the table to begin to envision the space and determine the best color scheme.

Color Matching: Purchase individual swatch of your colors and see how the colors compliment each other. You may even want to look at various Bridesmaids Dresses to have a larger view of the color and even place the second color next to it to see how well the colors look together.
Google Search: Take the time to do a Google Search for photographs of your colors. This will help you get an additional view of how the colors work with different venues.

Tis the Season: What time of the year will you have your wedding? Some Brides will decide to go with colors that match the current season. Remember it's your day, so don't be afraid to go with your favorite colors!
NEW YORK FASHION WEEK PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT · SPRING 2012 Visit the this link to see the Colors for 2012 http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20910&ca=4

Planning Your Wedding Budget?

2012-01-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

Wedding Budget Notes:

(1) Know that Budget Breakdowns are guidelines and will vary per region and per vendor.

(2) Many vendors typically offer a variety of package selections at different price structures. Options can be customized as well.

(3) Service fees can also vary based on experience and professional certifications.

(4) The season of the year can effect pricing. Peak season pricing may be higher than non-peak season.

(5) Be clear if your budget is your absolute actual amount you can spend or if there is room for overage.

*Basic Wedding Budget Breakdown:

45-55% Wedding Reception (site fee, music, rentals, food, beverages, cake)

2-3% Ceremony (location, officiant, marriage license)

8-10% Wedding Attire

5-10% Flowers and Décor

8-12% Photography & Videography

4-10% Music (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception)

2-3% Transportation (limo, vintage car,)

2-4% Gifts

2-5% Wedding Bands

2-4% Stationary (invitations, programs, thank you cards)

8-10% Misc and unexpected costs

15-20% Wedding Planner

It's also important to establish a budget and revisit your budget in the early stages as you can begin to determine the services you need to create your wedding. You will find that you may be making adjustments often through out the wedding planning process to stay on target with your budget. This is okay and very common. The key is understanding that there are several variables that effect the "basic wedding budget breakdown" you may find in your research versus the actual services you may select for your wedding. For an additional website to evaluate fee ranges per area, click the link below.

http://www.costofwedding.com/index.cfm/action/costest.index

Brandy & Drew's Wedding

2011-12-23T13:37:00.001-08:00

"The Proposal"

2011-12-20T07:39:00.000-08:00

I love watching movies all the time. Especially movies like "The Proposal". If you seen this comedy love story, I'm sure you enjoyed it too. Sandra Bullocks character "Margaret" plays the lead as the editor in chief of a publishing company. Her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) works tirelessly for her. To keep her job and keep from being deported she shocks Andrew with a wedding proposal and blackmails him in order to keep her job. Things take a turn when they travel to visit his family in Alaska. During that one trip they actually fell in love and in the end he proposed to her and it was a yes!

Your story may or may not be as dramatic as this one, but you have a story or you will have a story to tell! Tis the season for Christmas, but also the season for Proposals. Gentlemen, think about your relationship with the one you love. Think about the those special moments and unique connection points on "your" journey together. Use those moments in your Proposal. Whether it's a public proposal or private one, those unique moments in your relationship will prove to be a special day she will always remember.

Wende & Muhammad's Wedding

2011-11-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

Tia & Jeromy's Wedding

2011-11-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Lauren & Micah's Wedding

2011-11-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

Value of the RSVP - Part II - Anyway you have too!

2011-10-06T03:42:00.001-07:00

Recently one of my Brides was sharing her frustration when it comes to family and friends not sending in their RSVP. It is definitely a common challenge across the board. Check out the importance of the RSVP from the previous blog.

Two creative ways two sets of guests decided to RSVP. One via Facebook and the other via text. Even though the request is to mail the reply card back to the Bride (especially if postage has been provided), any way you have too...get your RSVP in as soon as possible!

Value of the RSVP

2011-10-04T11:31:00.001-07:00

When planning an event, one of the biggest challenges is determining how many people to plan for. Host and Hostess send guests invitations requesting your presence and confirmation of your attendance. Many times guests feel they will offend the host or hostess if they can not attend. In fact, your response to the reply is critical to the guest count and menu.

Guests...take the time to reply and send the response back in a timely manner. It is truly greatly appreciated by the host!

The Brand Effect

2011-05-11T04:06:00.000-07:00

I am really intrigued by the concept of "Branding". I've read a few books on it. Read several blogs on it. Seen posting on facebook about it. It is amazing that Branding has evolved into more than just the a business logo, other graphics, or have your business is packaged. All this things are apart of your Brand. But, the Brand encompasses the value the organization offers through the entire experience of the customer or your target market. Seth Godin says that your Brand is the "promise the company makes." Lisa Fortini-Campbell, PH.D. says "A Brand is a lot bigger than creating a thematic name or color scheme or logo design for any product or service. A Brand is ultimately an impression that you leave on someone's mind." She also stated in an article that you can say that an event is innovative, but if the experience is not innovative, then that could have a negative impact on your Brand. The entire experience of your product or service is important and each touch point with the customer impacts your Brand.

Have you identified the following for your business?
1. What is your Brand or your perceived Brand?
2. Does everything you do center around your Brand?
3. Has anything happened within your business that is impacting your business in a negative way and what did you do to correct it?

Is Your Style in the Venue?

2011-05-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

When planning your special event, two of the most important items to determine is your budget and venue. These two typically drive the rest of the decision making of all the to do's of the event. Identify your theme for your special event and select a venue that matches your style. If you have a beach theme, look for a venue with a lake or beach. If you are going for a modern appeal, look for an art gallery or an upscale venue with a non-traditional look. Maybe you want a venue with a royal appeal. Search for a venue with beautiful large chandeliers with a grand appearance. The key is to match your style to the venue!

Now you have finalized the venue, revisit your budget to determine how you want to spend the rest of your budget i.e., Catering (type of food), Cake, Decorations, DJ or Band, Photographer, Lighting, Videography, Invitations, Rentals, and more.

If you need an brief consultation on how to define the rest of your budget, email me at nproctor@eventswithexcellence.com.

Wedding Budget Trends for 2011

2010-12-30T10:13:00.000-08:00

For all Brides, prepare your self for increases for Wedding Services from various vendors for 2011. Increases are ranging from 10% to 20% over 2010. As you are preparing to think about your wedding plans, it's important to determine your budget. Identify the top 3-5 items that is the most important to you for your Wedding and focus the majority of the dollars towards those items. Of course, include a Wedding Planner in your budget. A Planner will be one of the most essential resources you will need to assist you through the entire Wedding Planning process.

The second most important item to finalize is your wedding venue! Find out more in the next blog.

*On average, couples that live in or travel to Greensboro, NC spend between $14,854 and $24,756 total for Average Cost. Prices vary per city and state.

5 Ways to Attract Attendance for Your Grand Opening!

2010-11-13T03:11:00.000-08:00

Hosting a Grand Opening or Open House Event can be a great way to build brand awareness and generate new business. There are more than 50 ways to get the word out, but today I will share 5 effective strategies you can use immediately to ensure great attendance to your Opening.

1. Ribbon Cutting by the Chamber of Commerce. This is one of many great benefits to having a membership with the Chamber of Commerce is a official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. If you are not a member of your local Chamber, visit their website, checkout all the great benefits, and join today. Chamber Ambassadors are invited by the Chamber to attend and your event is posted on the Chamber Website.

2. Publicize it! Create a email campaign announcing your Ribbon Cutting, Grand Opening, or Open House event. Share it on Facebook, Linked in, and other Social Media Tools. Ask your friends on Social Media to share it with their friends.
*Special Bonus Tip ~ Provide light refreshments, OFFER some type of Coupon with a start and end date, and have at least one-two giveaways!

3. Personal Invitations - Send a hand invitation or make a phone call to special guests you want to attend your celebration. A personal touch makes a great difference more than we know!

4. Media Release - Select an excellent writer to create your Media Release to send to the local TV Stations, Radio, and Print Media.

5. Networking & Resource Groups - Make a list of all the groups in your area and invite them to attend. We like to make connections and attending different events is a great way to meet new people.

Upcoming Event ~ Ribbon Cutting & Open House for some special friends of mine next Friday, November 19th! I'll be there! I hope you can too!

ANNOUNCING Lindy's Goodies GF Bakery Ribbon Cutting and OPEN HOUSE!
Free Samples-and give aways. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce at 10:00am on Friday, November 19, 2010. The Open House will conclude at 6pm.

Location:
2823 Spring Garden St.
Greensboro, NC 27403
Phone: 336-790-0267

2010-11-13T03:07:00.000-08:00

What does December 7th mean to you?

For many it was the the attack on Pearl Harbor...Changing American culture, the Technology and Information Age, and so much more! The one huge difference has changed...Women in Business!

NOMINATE Women who you see as successful, doing good deeds or just special to YOU!
*The First 20 Nominees received will be selected for the Recognition at the event. Ticket for Nominee is Complimentary.
Nomination Deadline November 30, 2010
Email nproctor@eventswithexcellence.com to receive a Nomination Form!

Join Eagle Resourcing Networks on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 to
Celebrate Women in Business!

Location: Deep River Event Center
606 Millwood School Road
Greensboro, NC 27409

Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
*Doors Open at 6:30pm

Tickets Donations are $25.00 per person and goes directly to the women's shelters for battered women.

Register to Attend at www.december7th.eventbrite.com Today!

Phenomenal Lifestyle Series: Part I- Falling Back in Love with “YOU”

2010-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Click the link to learn more and register for the event!
http://phenomenallifestyle-efbevent.eventbrite.com/

Event Date: Saturday, November 13, 2010
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Deep River Event Center, Greensboro, NC

What you believe or don't believe...you're right!

2010-07-15T05:23:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day how powerful the mind truly is. Have you ever thought about why some people seem to achieve their dreams and goals and why others do not? Our minds have been conditioned to believe a certain way since childhood. We are the sum total of what we have seen, what we have heard, and we have experienced in life from childhood through our adult lives.

What do you believe about yourself? What do you believe about your possibilities? What do you believe about your future? Can you see past your current circumstances? What limitations have you put on yourself? What limitations have other put on you? Who said you couldn't, wouldn't, and shouldn't?

Do you want to change what you believe about yourself? If so, the first step is self awareness. Understanding some basic truths about you. Knowing who you are, understanding your motives, knowing what makes you tick and tick you off, knowing how you come across to others, and knowing your emotional, physical, and spiritual condition. Self-awareness uncovers the foundation of who you are, which unlocks the door to discovering what you want to change about you and what you believe. Self-awareness is a journey and a process of questions that you must ask yourself in order to begin to truly change what you believe about your self.

What YOU BELIEVE or DON'T BELIEVE...you're right!

6 Points on the Road Map

2010-07-02T05:02:00.000-07:00

Before you decide to just get on the road and start driving, review the milestones on the map to your destination!

Here are 6-Points on the Road Map You Should Know.

Point #1 What?
Event type? Will you host a Grand Opening, Open House, Social Event, Conference, Appreciation Event, etc.

Point #2 Why?
Identify your clear purpose for why you want to host this event. What is the benefit to your target audience, you, your organization.

Point #3 Who?
Who is your target market? Demographics? Who is on your team? What are the roles and responsibilities? Who will be your service providers?

Point #4 When?
Think about the seasonal events when selecting a date. Check other organizations event calendar to make sure there is no overlap when setting the date.

Point #5 Where?
Make sure the type of event matches the location for the event. Location is important.

Point #6 How?
How Much? Establish a budget by researching the cost of all items needed for the event. "Wish List vs. Realistic List" Do you have upfront funds to cover initial expenses? Will registration cover the expenses? Do you need sponsors?
Also, start thinking about the process to getting to the end in mind. How will you communicate your event to your target audience? How do you envision the event day!

Mile marker #6 has many more details in the process. We will expand point 6 in our next blog!

Have a great 4th of July!

Attention to Details

2010-06-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever used a checklist when planning an event? Did you get stressed out along the way and almost wanted to give up? Having the vision for an event is one aspect. The ability to plan, organize, and manage the execution of the vision is another.

There are several steps in the process of organizing an event. Guess what? Every event is different, so the steps in the process will be different. But, there are 6 Points on the Road Map that starts the journey. I'll share the 6 Points on tomorrow.

The focus today is to know that you must have a strong awareness of the details. It's the little things that make the difference. Besides confirming all your service providers set up schedule, it's having the hand sanitizer available at the registration table, a host or hostess who welcomes guest and provides direction, having extra pens if needed, bringing extra copies of all documents, and so much more. Having a great awareness of the details can separate your event from the rest!

Celebrating Your Business Anniversary

2010-06-23T07:47:00.001-07:00

It's always great to celebrate even one year in business. During this tough season in the economy many small businesses are surviving the challenges and ups and downs. As you are approaching your one, two, three, and even 10 plus years of business, why not Celebrate! Whether large or small, bring your friends, family, and colleagues together to celebrate with your organization, thank them for their support, and contributions to your business. You can also leverage it as an opportunity to share new opportunities and services you now provide. Have fun with it and make it a great celebration!

Happy Anniversary Business Owners & Leaders!

Congratulations to Kyle & Dawn Mitchell Owners of G4G Interactive, Inc. Celebrating 10 Years!

7 Key Reminders When Establishing or Revising Your Goals

2010-06-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

June 30th is fast approaching! We are half way through 2010 and this is a great time to revisit your goals. Here are 7 Key Reminders When Establishing or Revising Your Goals.

1. Be clear about your vision and goals.
a. Don’t give general statements.
b. Be detailed and clear about what you want to accomplish.

2. Set specific written goals. “An unwritten plan is hard to follow.”
a. Write it down.
b. Schedule time to organize all the information and solidify your plan.

3. Set goals you feel led to pursue. Listen to your heart and mind.
a. Make sure your goals are what you want to accomplish and believe it is
possible according to your passion, purpose and dreams.
b. Be willing to pay the price. (Sacrifice of your time, talent, or
treasure.)

4. Let go of any goal that may and/or will lead you away from your vision.

5. Set a start & finish date to accomplish your goal.
a. Take your annual goals and break them down into biannual goals, quarterly
goals, monthly goals, weekly goals, which in turn become daily tasks.

6. Resist all excuses and why you can’t reach the goals.
a. List your obstacles you may face.
b. List your benefits

7. Stay Focused!
a. Write your goals, type your goals, put them on your calendar, create a
vision board, put them on the door, the refrigerator…You need to see them
daily. Stick to your plan and keep moving forward.
b. Just do it!

2010-06-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

Support the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greensboro

Friday, June 18, 2010
Location: Koury Convention Center, Greensboro, NC
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Ways to Purchase Tickets
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
Call 336.235.0436
NewBridge Bank Locations

2010-06-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

Malt O Meal Grand Opening Event 2009
(Asheboro, NC)

Wish List vs. Realistic List

2010-06-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

There are so many great ideas and great visions for events. A beautiful facility with all the features. Sending out personalized invitations. The best dishes with two or three meat selections. A well planned theme with wonderful decor to make the room express its creativity. Capturing memories by having a Photographer and footage by a Videographer. Creating a fun environment by hiring some form of Entertainment for your guest. You can't forget gifts for your guests. You always want to give a token of your appreciation. Don't forget the possibility of hotel accommodations, local attraction itinerary, transportation, hospitality bags, and much much more!

With any event, you start with a vision of how you see the event happening from start to finish. No matter what type of event you are planning, we all have a wish list and a vision for the event day.

Now you see and envision the event. The next thought process is how much is it going to cost! Once you do the research and find out the cost of each needed resource for your event, then normally a shift happens. A mental shift. What we wish for may change to what reality can bring forth.

What you realistically can spend now becomes your budget. This is key in phase I of the event planning process. Within determining your budget, you must establish the return on your investment. You must understand the "Why" or the purpose for your event. You must see the benefit for you and the benefit for others. Count up the cost, manage your expectations, and know that if not ALL, some of your wishes can come true.