Over the years, many big corporations and brides shopping for the best deal have requested bids from me. But every time I bid on a new job, I can’t stand it. Why? The reason is simple: I take my designs very seriously. When I’m designing a job, I invest a lot of time and effort into visualizing what the design should look and feel like. To me, it’s almost like giving birth; my designs are babies.
Recently, a potential client who had requested a bid from me, phoned to say that she was deciding between me and another designer. Later, she called back to tell me that, because of political reasons, she had chosen the other vendor.
Forgive me for venting my frustration but that rejection stung. It also annoyed me. Not so much because I lost the job, but because the design I had created for the bid would never come to life.
I understand that clients want to shop around and need to get a good sense of what each vendor can and will do. After all, it’s important that clients not only get the best value but also that they are comfortable with the services they’ll be paying for. But enough is enough. I wish clients would just be straight forward and tell us what they want and how much they want to spend. Doesn’t that sound nice and simple?
Tomorrow, of course, is my Dear Preston Column, but in my post about reminders on Wednesday, I’ll share my tips for avoiding those potential clients who are “endless shoppers.”
Readers, how do you feel about bidding on jobs? Do you also feel frustrated when your designs are rejected and never see the light of day? Please share.
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Pam Archer
June 27, 2011
How frustrating! Been there, done that.
I no longer do bids. My company is vastly smaller than yours, but the issue is the same. I believe that our work speaks for itself. If they want my designs, they will pay my prices. You are an established, highly-esteemed and respected designer, Preston.. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. They know what they are getting when they hire you. Don’t put yourself and your team through that anymore. Your time is valuable, and your designs priceless! Tell them that if they are price shopping, you probably aren’t the designer for them. That is usually an eye-opener for them and they respect you for it. And you know what? Next time, you will probably get the job because of the stand you take. I know it works for me!
Bucktown Guy
June 27, 2011
It happen to me last week. The customer found some that can do rose ball centerpieces for 75% less! She said I was way overpriced and wanted me to redo the bid. I said, Good Luck.
Chris
June 27, 2011
Hello preston!!! Its very frustating, haha …. So i get the conclusion that if you know my work through photos and you like it, and you want me to do the most important dress that you will wearing in you life (bride) then call me!!! Hahaha
Angela
June 27, 2011
It really is annoying especially when you put in a lot of time and effort. Clients shop a whole lot and until a commitment is made, I really do not go over the top in providing design samples, although this may be difficult with some clients. strangely enough this very same topic was discussed at great length with a friend today. I guess sometimes that is what we have to deal with in our industry.
Halfyard Designs
June 27, 2011
Yes, this happened to me last week. I had a client e-mail, what I think was a bunch of other designers with a very detailed list of what they wanted, down to how many roses in the bouquets. I know that all she was looking for was price. So that’s all I gave her. There was no break down of what each item cost, just a total price.
When it comes to brides who want me to bid, I won’t do it. I’m not interested in undercutting others. If my price suits their needs, great. If they say they really want me but I’m over their budget, I’ll try to work with them. I just won’t get involved in a bidding war because then it isn’t about my design anymore. The ‘almighty’ dollar is the bottom line.
laura
June 27, 2011
bidding on a job is the most time consuming process of wedding planning! because not only do we have to visualize it we have to make sure it’ll make enough profit, etc. i too get so frustrated with brides because they never want to tell me what their budget is! only after i send a proposal do they say “oh, that’s not within my budget?!” i try to explain to them that if you give me your budget, i can then create a vision within your budget. BUT on the other hand, i even have brides who give me a budget and then say, oh, how can i save?! sigh, there is just no winning!
Catherine Whitwirth
June 27, 2011
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY?
Catherine Whitworth
June 27, 2011
To say nothing of the expense involved in proposing a quality job.
Kim
June 27, 2011
Proposals/bids are, indeed, the most time consuming part of the event and event floral business, and I believe clients do not understand how much work is involved in generating a proposal. Like many of the others who have commented, I have become frustrated with potential clients who are interested only in price. I understand that price is important to most clients, but what about artistry and style? No matter how many times I hear it, I’m always surprised and taken aback when a bride tells me she doesn’t really care what her bouquet looks like and instead just cares about price. I always think, “And why did you contact someone who views floral design as an ART instead of going down the street to the chain florist who cranks out 20, cookie-cutter weddings a weekend for a discount price?”
I understand that many brides don’t want to reveal their true budget amount because they want to see if a florist will design their dream wedding for less than their budget (they seem to have an irrational fear that if a florist knows their budget, the florist will raise their normal prices and use up every penny of their budget). They also hope for money leftover in their floral budget so they can use it to buy something extra (like extra favors, or more money towards their honeymoon, etc) that they had to eliminate when reality hit and they had to trim their list of wants/needs. The problem with that is they don’t seem to understand that designing for an event is like building a house. If I’m an architect or contractor and you tell me the budget for your new house is $5M, I’m going to design and build a totally different house for 5 million than I am if you tell me your new house budget is $200,000. For $5M, you’ll get granite countertops, but for $200,000 you’re going to get formica/laminate/tile, because installing granite in the lower budget house is going to eat up your budget.
Florists have to operate in the same way as an architect or contractor, but brides and other clients don’t seem to understand that. If we know their REAL budget, we’ll suggest a myriad of ideas in a range of price ranges and not suggest something outside of their price range that they get their heart set on, only later to get crushed when they find out what they want is outside of their budget. The opposite is true, too. I get really frustrated when a bride or other type of client gives me a lower than actual budget number, then after I’ve come up with ideas and suggestions, I find out that their budget is actually a little more and I could’ve designed something that much more amazing for them if I knew that their budget was actually a little higher. I think clients don’t realize that even the smallest amount more in their budget can make a HUGE difference in what is available to them. I wish they would realize that if they are honest and upfront from the very beginning, they are going to get the most amazing floral designs their budget allows. As a bride, I personally wouldn’t want to look back after the fact and realize that I could’ve had “more” for my budget if only I had been honest and upfront about my budget.
Andrinique
June 27, 2011
Hi Preston,
I am right there with you. I dont do bids anymore if I can help it. I try and gather as much information as possible from the potentical client, and they I quote an approx price. That’s how much I cost, that’s it.
That may sound tough, but my days of pouring my time and creative energy into bids for window shoppers has long been over.
Your work is AMAZIN,
Andrinique
Andrinique Special Events
Marlan
June 28, 2011
Point well said. The most fustrating thing for me is when a bride don’t come forward with her budget and they don’t want to give it to you until the see a proposal. several concept i’ve create and they end up get cut to less that 1/3 of what it actual was.
Frank
June 29, 2011
Aloha Preston,
I feel your pain! For corporate incentive programs we produce it can mean creating 4 or 5 evening events – that are somewhat over the top, not the same as anyone elses and with the limited materials we have on island. this can take an enordinate amount of energy , time and resources for a small company.
For social events I charge a proposal fee that gets credited back if they choose to work with me. covers my time and creative work.
Even if I do not get the bid – due to cost, I still try to embrace that I did a far more creative proposal then others did, and maybe the client does not value quality!
- Frank
Linda Patterson
July 1, 2011
Dear Preston
You are entitled to Vent! just as we all are. I must say however, I was a bit surprised to learn that you face this same challenge as many of us do. For some reason, I was under the impression that your potential clients come to you for a Preston Bailey Design and with the budget to match.
I am a very small event design/decor business (100K) who primarily focuses on corporate and non-profit galas and fundraisers. Ten years ago, I decided not to entertain the thought of bidding on events especially without a budget. I had worked with an event planner for 4 years; when all of a sudden, she decided to ask me to submit a bid on an event that I had done the previous year. I complied.
But I was not happy about it, and spoke openly and candidly to the planner about how I felt, and reminded her that I had given her discounts so that she could land many of the events that she was seeking after (she was just starting out)
Anyway, it took this situation and 2 weddings to let me know that I did not like to submit bids, plain and simple. I may have loss business due to my policy, but I also learned that I’m not for everyone.
I just don’t leave the table of conversation without one. I prefer to tell the client that’s it’s not fair to me or them for me to submit design/bid for a $25 event if there budget is $10K or $5K. I let them know that I would be wasting time that I should be putting forth to the research I need to do in order to give them a really beautiful room.
I’ve had a few clients tell me that they don’t have a budget or they want me to tell them how it will cost them. I usually come back with ” surely you must have some idea on how much you want to spend, $10-15K or more, if less, perhaps between $5-8K, or $2K
I also tell them that regardless of their budget, we will give then attention to details, provide the freshest floral designs, and once we know their budget, I can make the best suggestions to them on how to make their room appear even more richer in design by adding thus and so. But I never, ever, sit down to write (type) up bids and proposals without a budget. Period! and without being atleast 90% sure that they will use me; I do ask if they are accepting additonal bids on this event, and if they are; they have 5 to 10 days to confirm me for the event, and that’s before I give them a line by line bid/proposal. Question: Is this a rude way to do business?
Linda
sakshi shishodia
September 20, 2011
I’m looking for a job in wedding events.
regards
Sakshi Shishodia
9717235327