Preston Bailey's Blog, Event and Wedding Designer, Event Industry, Wedding Ideas, Unique Floral Design, Centerpieces, Floral Art, Breathtaking Weddings

A Visit To The Ukraine: My Profile of a Gracious Host

May 10, 2013

Dear Readers:

Last month, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Lviv Wedding show in Ukraine. Today, I would like to share my interview with my generous and talented host, Lana. I think many of you who are starting out will appreciate her professional journey.

Preston

What drew you towards the event industry and how did you “break in”?

Once I worked in London in wedding decoration service – I realized that I had found myself. Getting my start was not easy, to say the least. Like many starting out, we started out with very low prices, almost doing weddings for free just to have the opportunity to bring our ideas to life. We saw results very quickly. I believe that it was because we were able to show our clients that we can do much more than our colleagues.

You were working in London, tell us why you chose to move back to the Ukraine to start the events business?

My family and friends were here and I missed them a lot. Though it is much more difficult to achieve success here, I love my country very much and want to work here.

Did living in London help you in any way?

Yes, of course! I came to London as a student without any support. I can say that life in Britain made me strong and really instilled in me the idea that I could make any of my dreams come true as long as I gave my best to my clients.

I understand that this is the first wedding conference in Lviv. Why did you decide to have one?

I always wanted to organize a wedding exhibition and make it special. You have always been my guru and meeting you was something extraordinary for me. At first everyone said that you would never come to the Ukraine, but I proved them wrong and showed them that we can make our own dreams come true. We plan to continue to host exhibitions and invite well-known industry leaders every year.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I love gorgeous weddings with lots of flowers, crystals and candles. I also love to experiment with colors. And I do not like to repeat anything. I always try to convince my clients to order something new.

What is the Ukraine Wedding & Events market like?

I can say that it is still in a state of development. In the Ukraine, food is more important than flowers at weddings. But you advised us to educate your customer on their options and show the value of different elements and we will do it.

How do you balance family life with your growing business?

I have a year-and-a-half old daughter. Like a lot of parents, balancing work and family can be a challenge. Still, I think it is essential that you provide a strong example for your children by doing what you love. I want to be a happy mother and a successful businesswoman, and I am always working towards that.

Question: Can you relate to the struggles Lana faced in the beginning in terms of nearly working for free? How do you balance your personal and professional life?

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Inspiration VS Imitation: Where Is The Line?

May 9, 2013

Dear Readers:

Today I am going to talk about the big, familiar-looking elephant in the room. We’ve all heard that imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Is it really?

In reality, it’s probably the worst enemy of your professional growth–especially if you are just starting out in the business.

Though our industry boasts many amazing and talented artists, it’s also flooded with copycats. Too many times I have seen professionals using the images of the work of another industry professional’s to promote themselves.Their shameless and heartbreaking behavior never fails to leave me in a bit of shock. There is a bold line between inspiration and imitation, and when we cross this line, we tell the world that we have run out of ideas and are too lazy to do anything about it. Now, if you find yourself in a situation where you are stumped or are lacking inspiration, please don’t be disappointed. It happens to everyone. Take the opportunity to dig deeper and try to understand the industry that you have chosen in depth. Educate yourself. If you are just starting, this might be an indicator that you need more time to hone in on your strengths and weaknesses, or that it’s time for you to specialize in one area of the industry versus trying to be a “Jack of all trades”.

Most of you have an incredible amount of talent but long to see results/profits immediately. A common misconception is that by copying someone else’s work is going to guarantee success. The reality is that when you choose to do this you are impacting many along the way.

Allow me to break it down for you today:

What is truly incredible about a wedding is the story of love behind it and the remarkable couples that we meet. It’s imperative that each couple’s vision is customized and tailored to their taste. By copying someone else’s work, you’ve already deprived them of that.

Designers/planners spend the most of their professional life building their distinctive portfolios and because of this, their brand is recognized by many. Instead of presenting their work as yours, it’s best if you present it as inspiration instead.

The person that benefits the least from your copycat approach is you. You see, when you do this you run the risk of not being able to produce the event because it is likely you do not have the same infrastructure as the person you are trying to emulate. In addition, you automatically lose credibility. It’s easier to walk a potential client through a presentation that you are comfortable with rather than have to pretend you understand the logistics of a project that is not your own.

Abraham Lincoln said it best: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time”. The moral of the story? Just be you. Both you– and your clients–will appreciate the results more.

With a Happy Heart,

Kathy Romero

Kathy Romero is the Director of Event Planning for Preston Bailey Designs. She shares her thoughts and advice on Preston’s Blog every Thursday.

(Photo Courtesy of Bayron Rodriguez Photography)

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When Designs Are Rejected

May 8, 2013

Dear Readers:

In continuing with the theme of yesterday’s blog on presentations, I would like to discuss the times when our great ideas turn into design disasters. Yesterday, I presented two designs to a client who liked both so much that she decided to use everything in her event. I was thrilled. That said, that is not always the case. There have been times when I have missed the mark completely.

That brings us to today’s blog: Taking risks in design. Take a look at the design that I did for a client. Now, in my mind, this design sounded perfect, but once I set out to do it, well, it failed miserably.

My idea was to have wonderful arrangements that faded gently into a few chandeliers that were hanging from the ceiling. My hope was that it would look as though the chandaliers were growing out of the arrangements. It was a disaster. My client looked at me and said, “Preston, what in the world is that?” Looking back, I can see that the design was better in theory than execution. Well, see for yourself.

Bringing a client’s dream to life is an exciting opportunity, but not without its challenges. It requires balancing the fine line between giving them exactly what they want (no challenge there) or maybe, just maybe, taking a risk and showing them something that honors their desires while showcasing their vision in a completely different way. I would say that this works 75% of the time. The other 25%, the resulting situation can be a challenge to work through, regardless of how long you have been in the business. As a designer, I believe that we must always push ourselves, stretch our vision and maintain the courage to take risks, even after failing miserably.

Question: As an artist, are you willing to take risks or do you find yourself playing it safe more often than you would like to? As always, I am always open to hearing your constructive criticism. Where did I miss the mark on the design above?

Happy Wednesday!

Preston

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Presenting The Design

May 7, 2013

Dear Readers:

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday morning (Wednesday, if in other areas of the world). Please note that today’s blog is aimed mostly at florists and designers. We have been going through the process, step-by-step, and are now at the stage where you have accomplished the following:

You have interviewed the client.

You have grasped a clear understanding of their needs and the vision they have for their event.

You have signed a contract or received a retainer or some kind of payment signaling the job is yours. Note: In previous years, I would give presentations before receiving any payment. Looking back, I see this was a bad Idea. If a potential client insists the job is yours, ask them to pay for the presentation, at the very least.

Now you are ready to show your new client exactly what you plan to give them for their event. This is what is called a presentation.

Be mindful of the emotional responses that are often created by these situations. This is the first time a client will receive a glimpse of what their wedding or event will look like, and likely the first time it will seem real to them. Now, I have had many reactions in these situations, and usually set up two or three table designs in my New York studio. When it’s for a wedding, the bride–usually accompanied by her mother– come in, and many times both tear up. Most of the time, they like something about all of the tables, if not the entire package. I have never had a client not love at least one of the three designs (whew!).

Not only do I find these reactions rewarding, but to know that I have brought a sense of joy to my client brings me great joy. I have also found this approach to be a very effective sales tool. My clients see that I am willing to do the extra work, and many times they see something they feel they must have on one of the other tables, resulting in an additional sale. As a designer, presentations are very exciting. There is always a tension; it could go either way, after all. Though they may or may not love the initial designs, giving them options has made my job a lot easier. Besides, let’s face it: I am a designer. I love to design.

Take a look at the photos above (both from a presentation) and tell me which one you think the clients chose.

A Couple Of Questions:

Do you feel it is right to do a presentation for a job before having a signed contract?

Please share with us your best presentation experience. We’d love to hear it!

Blessings,

Preston

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Five Keys To Great Service

May 6, 2013

Dear Readers:

Happy Monday! In the past few blogs, I have been addressing one of the requests from my readers and been reviewing various things I have learned in the process of acquiring, securing, and pleasing clients in regards to the design process.

We have already covered how to deal with the initial call, estimates, and contracts. This week, I will get into the detail of the actual presentation process. Before I get to the aspects of design, I would like to address an even more important topic: What it means to give good service. I truly adhere to the saying, “The client is always right, even when they are wrong.” I hold this as a mantra and try and instill it in the mind of every person who works for and with me.

Now, I know how it feels when a client is dissatisfied, and even insulting. I have been fired, told that my work lacked elegance (I believe the actual word they used was “tacky”), and I even stood there as a client explained that I was the worst designer they have ever worked with. Ouch.

Each time, I felt like going home and crawling into bed and crying. I actually did just that a couple of times. The good thing about these situations is that they have helped me to understand my clients better. The more I paid attention and learned about them, the less those painful and uncomfortable moments occur. Giving good service is more than serving a nice cup of tea and sending flowers; it’s about really listening and not just dealing with the needs of our clients’, but caring about them. Sometimes these needs can come off as demanding, others they are very emotional.

Here are a few things I sometimes do to get it wrong.

Not Getting The Vision Of My Client: I now give three different presentations showcasing three different concepts. Yes, it is a lot more work, but it has proven an effective tool. I will share more about this on tomorrow’s blog.

Not Understanding Their Financial Situation: I am embarrassed to admit that I often make the horrible mistake of showing clients designs they cannot afford. I never want to make anyone uncomfortable so I have learned to manage this one, though I will admit that it is still a struggle.

Not Dealing Directly With The Person Who Is Paying: I have learned that there is a lot of confusion about money with dads, moms, partners, or others who are footing the bill if they don’t understand what they are being charged for.

Not Understanding The Family Dynamic: Brides, mothers, stepmothers, grooms…It’s important to hear them all out. I do my best to sit down with all of them and listen to what they want, even if they are having a conflict. I do my best to help them find a resolution that suits them. Perhaps the bride has the ceremony she wants while the groom helps design the cocktail hour and the mother has a say in the reception.

I am happy to say that most of my clients are a dream to work with. Still, I always approach clients with the same adherence to high quality service and I try to create a great experience for all who come through my office door.

Blessings,

Preston

Question: Have you encountered any of the issues I mentioned above? How do you deal with a mother of a bride that tells you, ”It’s her wedding, but don’t forget that it’s my party?” I was stunned when this was said to me. If this were said to you, what would your response have been?

(Photo courtesy of Pinterest)

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