Something Old, Something New. When the budget doesn't allow room for advertising in long lead bridal publications, seek out editorial calendars to find an upcoming theme they are working on that a product might fit into. Whether one's brand is targeted for traditional wedding fare or along the modern and trendy aspect, offer an idea surrounding the product that tells a story that will resonate with the reader. Wedding planning advice, ideas on DIY, how to find the perfect gown/florist/
Something Borrowed. Renting a tux is no longer the only thing that is being borrowed for the big day; brides are also taking part in this wedding tradition, but in a whole new way. Just as celebrities don borrowed jewelry and other items for their walk down the red carpet, brides are seeking out retailers who also have a rental option available for their accessory needs. Bag Borrow or Steal (http://www.bagborroworsteal.com) is one such retailer that allows jewelry rental from such names as Vera Wang, Miriam Haskell and Chanel to handbags from Rafe New York and Badgley Mischka for as little as $10 a week. Developing a rental option for one's products and starting the buzz in-store and through local media will quickly have brides generating word of mouth press for one's brand that can be as simple as friend to friend or through posting on wedding forums spreading the word to other brides.
I do -- green. Offering DIY advice on how couples can maximize their budget using environmentally friendly ways of giving new life to an old product is one such way to get a brand noticed in the green aspect of the bridal industry. The interest in green weddings has exploded in the last year and Portovert Magazine (www.portovert.com)
I do -- dot blog. Just as blogs are being used to generate press from everything from fashion to beauty to food to technology, brides and grooms are also using blogging as a way to communicate with their family and friends about their big day. They are also soliciting advice on anything from which cover band or DJ is the best to getaway choices for their honeymoon. There are also many niche bridal blogs that offer advice on DIY to suggestions for catering and favors. Get involved in the conversation by contacting the blog owner with details about a product as it would relate to their blog. Be sure to read the "About" page, as well as, the first 1-3 pages of the blog in order to get a good grasp on its voice and preference. Should the blog owner, whether niche blogger or bride and groom, post information about one's product, it will be there for the life of the blog and can be found for future brides and grooms to discover. Hot Bridal Blogs: Manolo for the Brides, Bridal Blog by Cassandra Bromfield, The Bridal Bar, Weddingbee.
Bridal from the Runway. It's no secret that brides come out in droves for Wedding Expo's and runway shows; about a third of all brides planning a wedding make it to one or more bridal shows each year. They want to know their options, learn about all aspects of planning their wedding and which companies can provide the most value for each dollar spent. Participating in a bridal expo will certainly give more exposure among the local market, but organizing an event oneself will help control the message of one's brand. Putting together an expo whether one that is small in-store or one that is grand at a larger venue, will allow one to invite vendors to participate that compliment one's product, not compete with it. Once the event details are secured, a website set up and the event well promoted, invite the local media and press to attend making oneself available for an interview as an expert in the bridal industry. It is important to make sure to take the press mentions and add them to one's website to bring dimension to one's brand and position oneself as a leader in the bridal industry.
Pierce Mattie Public Relations team of innovative and knowledgeable Account Executives work hard to promote the brands they represent with unique and ground-breaking ideas that capture attention and stimulate buzz. To learn more about what Pierce Mattie can do for your brand visit http://www.piercemattie.com or call 212-243-1431 (NY) or 323-469-5500 (LA).
