Hello readers
It has been hospital day today - I had to get up bright and early to get there for 9.45am, this meant getting a bus to town at 8.30am and then getting another one out of town. My eyes are progressing well and I have had a slight reduction in my steroid drops but still haven't managed to get rid of the dilating drop. I have to have it because they don't my pupil sticking to my lens which is what happened last time. I did however have some good news - my glasses will be ready on Friday.
I went back to town and went and did my mystery shop - I ended up spending £58 on some gorgeous perfume but will only get £10 for the work, I wish the client was a bit more realistic with their minimum spend limit of £25 because you cannot get a bottle of fragrance in this partcular shop for less than £50! I ventured onto the fourth floor where I tried on a lovely pair of shoes to be told oh you can either buy a size 4 (I am a 4.5) or a size 5 and buy an insole or you can buy them in half sizes off the internet. Needless to say I am choosing the internet option. Why don't shops sells shoes in half sizes?? I then consoled myself with some lunch and have discovered that I don't like tarragon as it tastes aniseedy..eww
After lunch, I headed back through the Bullring to the bus stop and popped into a shop called Roman Originals - they sell clothes for ladies between 10-22, when I was in there the other week they had an offer on where you could buy a pair of trousers or a skirt and get the jacket free. I didnt buy anything. Today I ventured towards the back of the shop and found that they were selling dresses that could possibly be used as wedding dresses or better still bridesmaids dresses. The dresses were ivory (almost satin like material - I am admit I am hopeless with textures and fabrics) with detachable straps and a taupe band beneath the boobs with a rose on one side - these were for sale at £37.50 instead of £75.
This afternoon I received a call from the Britannia Hotel in Manchester and now I am waiting for them to send me some information (I hope my email address is working) - they have a bridal package for £999 to include a bucks fizz reception, wedding breakfast and evening reception and a lot of other things besides - hence me waiting in eager anticipation for the email.
One of my fellow students contacted me via Facebook to congratulate me on gaining my Diploma and she told me that she is trying to do as many assignments as possible before her new baby arrives. I have seen scans of him - his name will be Thomas Ryan and to be honest with you he looks like a bean but I guess that's what I see on the scan LOL. Hey Anna, if you are reading this then I hope you are ok and that the iron tablets are working their magic? It seems strange that Anna and I have become quite good friends even though we have never met - no doubt when she comes to Birmingham for an appointment then we will meet up for coffee :-)
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Late update
Once again, time has run away with me and I haven't been able to blog. I had a visitor over the weekend who manages to disrupt my life and hog my laptop. He left this morning so now my laptop is my own again as is the tv remote :-) Not much to report really, I received my diploma from the Institute along with a press-release which I need to amend and send back with a sticky label. Yesterday I received my certificate from the FSB which needs to be displayed in case any unsavoury government types start visiting LOL.
One good thing about the visitor - he charged the battery on my car and took me shopping last night - I haven't set foot in a supermarket for 2 months and I went clutching my shopping list and a ton of vouchers. I managed to save £14.35 yesterday and was even more surprised when ny shopping was paid for too. I do wonder though why men insist on putting things in the trolley that are not on the list? I did get a few items that weren't on the list but only because I visited what is commonly known as the whoopsie shelf and managed to get a load of bargains.
I have done a bit of studying this weekend and attempted to write another assignment but think it is rather pointless my tutor still isnt marking them due to her op that she had a few weeks' ago. I am off to the eye hospital tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to get rid of the dilating drops and I will poke my head in with the dispensing optician to see if my much needed glasses have arrived - it is causing me real problems as I have tons of venues to visit and yet I cannot go anywhere. Tomorrow, I have a mystery shop lined up and I need to complete this form and send it to the council - I tried to get an appointment at the neighbourhood office but cannot get one for another 3 weeks and the council need a reply within 14 days!!
I have been giving debt advice, wedding advice and even business advice on a forum so I have been busy in other ways - just not in wedding ways as such.
One good thing about the visitor - he charged the battery on my car and took me shopping last night - I haven't set foot in a supermarket for 2 months and I went clutching my shopping list and a ton of vouchers. I managed to save £14.35 yesterday and was even more surprised when ny shopping was paid for too. I do wonder though why men insist on putting things in the trolley that are not on the list? I did get a few items that weren't on the list but only because I visited what is commonly known as the whoopsie shelf and managed to get a load of bargains.
I have done a bit of studying this weekend and attempted to write another assignment but think it is rather pointless my tutor still isnt marking them due to her op that she had a few weeks' ago. I am off to the eye hospital tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to get rid of the dilating drops and I will poke my head in with the dispensing optician to see if my much needed glasses have arrived - it is causing me real problems as I have tons of venues to visit and yet I cannot go anywhere. Tomorrow, I have a mystery shop lined up and I need to complete this form and send it to the council - I tried to get an appointment at the neighbourhood office but cannot get one for another 3 weeks and the council need a reply within 14 days!!
I have been giving debt advice, wedding advice and even business advice on a forum so I have been busy in other ways - just not in wedding ways as such.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
A damp Tuesday
Today, the Institute of Professional Wedding Planners sent me an email containing a link to the logo that I am allowed to display on my website and stationery. I felt that it was a good time to add the logo for the Federation of Small Businesses too and as it is a rather complicated (well, it is for me) process I contacted Laura at the printers, she agreed to make the additions for me and charged me £23 which isnt unreasonable considering coding is involved. There will be space on the front page for the Events Planning logo too when I have finished that course.
I ventured into the rain today to go to town to see Laura and pay my dues as well as looking for a vanity case to keep my emergency kit in, one of the planners suggested I use a handbag but that doesnt look very professional and I would feel like a right twit walking round with two handbags. I looked in quite a few shops but the choice was somewhat limited so I eventually settled on a hard Antler case which has a carry handle and a detachable shoulder strap. I chose it because it has a myriad of pockets plus it will last me a lifetime, it was also the best that I could afford.
On arriving home, I found a large envelope had been wedged inside my postbox - it was a letter from the Institute and contained my diploma as well as a press release with plenty of instructions, I need to amend the press release as it give my personal number and states that I will be setting up a business - I have already set it up LOL. I am only going to submit it to the Chamber of Commerce for their Chamberlink magazine - they may use it, they may not but I know they are always on the look out for interesting and unusual businesses.
I decided today that I will write to the General Manager of Selfridges in Birmingham because they don't have a wedding section and I think that the store needs one - they have one in Oxford Street, London but who wants to go down there when we are the second city? I shall endeavour to offer them my planning services too - to quote Deborah Meaden "it takes an entrepreneur to spot an opportunity where none existed before" - I wonder if I will become rich and famous like her?
I ventured into the rain today to go to town to see Laura and pay my dues as well as looking for a vanity case to keep my emergency kit in, one of the planners suggested I use a handbag but that doesnt look very professional and I would feel like a right twit walking round with two handbags. I looked in quite a few shops but the choice was somewhat limited so I eventually settled on a hard Antler case which has a carry handle and a detachable shoulder strap. I chose it because it has a myriad of pockets plus it will last me a lifetime, it was also the best that I could afford.
On arriving home, I found a large envelope had been wedged inside my postbox - it was a letter from the Institute and contained my diploma as well as a press release with plenty of instructions, I need to amend the press release as it give my personal number and states that I will be setting up a business - I have already set it up LOL. I am only going to submit it to the Chamber of Commerce for their Chamberlink magazine - they may use it, they may not but I know they are always on the look out for interesting and unusual businesses.
I decided today that I will write to the General Manager of Selfridges in Birmingham because they don't have a wedding section and I think that the store needs one - they have one in Oxford Street, London but who wants to go down there when we are the second city? I shall endeavour to offer them my planning services too - to quote Deborah Meaden "it takes an entrepreneur to spot an opportunity where none existed before" - I wonder if I will become rich and famous like her?
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
CLEARING OUT
The weekend was fairly restful and spent doing household tasks and studying.
Yesterday I decided to have a massive clearout in my office which will be continued today. I have accummulated so much rubbish, two sackfuls were binned yesterday and I guess there will be another 2 sackfuls today. I am being mercenary and ditching all catalogues and dodgy looking suppliers and even piles of business cards. It seems quite mean getting rid of business cards but one bridal shop insisted that I have half a box but they were given to me loose and I have nowhere to store them so I have binned them (I kept two). I am trying to make space for another set of galvanised shelves which I need to try and erect myself or find someone to help me, then I can move my desk to in front of the window and put the shelves where my desk is now.
I also rang Wedding Professional magazine as I haven't received a copy for a while - they no longer produce it which is a great shame as it was useful for planners like myself. Today I have contacted the Federation of Small Businesses because I haven't been able to log in - I have since discovered that the code printed on my membership card is too short and two letters were missing off the end. Now I can access all areas - I want to look at the various contracts to see if there is one that I could use for the events side of my business.
My website was also updated to recognise the fact that I can now offer new services - I also updated my facebook site. I am also making plans for the various trade shows that I want to attend: Autumn Fair, Events UK and BBEH - the last one is difficult because it is held in Harrogate which isnt the easiest place to get to from Birmingham, I may have to take the train and I hate trains especially having to change trains and then there is accommodation to sort out.
I am due to meet with one of my fellow planners this week as she has just set up her business - at the same time I hope to be able to buy a vanity case to put my assorted bits of emergency kit in - I still need to get a few more things for it, this will be lodged as a business expense. I am sad that Woolworths folded as I would have been able to get a few things from them such as a sewing kit, safety pins etc from their haberdashery department. I also miss the pick n mix too LOL.
Its a fairly mundane day today - I am hoping that my new glasses will be ready this week so that I can see to drive and therefore make appointments to visit venues.
Yesterday I decided to have a massive clearout in my office which will be continued today. I have accummulated so much rubbish, two sackfuls were binned yesterday and I guess there will be another 2 sackfuls today. I am being mercenary and ditching all catalogues and dodgy looking suppliers and even piles of business cards. It seems quite mean getting rid of business cards but one bridal shop insisted that I have half a box but they were given to me loose and I have nowhere to store them so I have binned them (I kept two). I am trying to make space for another set of galvanised shelves which I need to try and erect myself or find someone to help me, then I can move my desk to in front of the window and put the shelves where my desk is now.
I also rang Wedding Professional magazine as I haven't received a copy for a while - they no longer produce it which is a great shame as it was useful for planners like myself. Today I have contacted the Federation of Small Businesses because I haven't been able to log in - I have since discovered that the code printed on my membership card is too short and two letters were missing off the end. Now I can access all areas - I want to look at the various contracts to see if there is one that I could use for the events side of my business.
My website was also updated to recognise the fact that I can now offer new services - I also updated my facebook site. I am also making plans for the various trade shows that I want to attend: Autumn Fair, Events UK and BBEH - the last one is difficult because it is held in Harrogate which isnt the easiest place to get to from Birmingham, I may have to take the train and I hate trains especially having to change trains and then there is accommodation to sort out.
I am due to meet with one of my fellow planners this week as she has just set up her business - at the same time I hope to be able to buy a vanity case to put my assorted bits of emergency kit in - I still need to get a few more things for it, this will be lodged as a business expense. I am sad that Woolworths folded as I would have been able to get a few things from them such as a sewing kit, safety pins etc from their haberdashery department. I also miss the pick n mix too LOL.
Its a fairly mundane day today - I am hoping that my new glasses will be ready this week so that I can see to drive and therefore make appointments to visit venues.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Friday 7 August 2009
Today has been quite a strange day - I woke up this morning to find my flat reeking of tom cat which wasnt pleasant especially as I am not a cat lover and don't have a cat. I suspect that its the neighbours who have moved into the flat below me as they often have a distinct smell of un-neuteured tomcat about them..eww.
I had to pop to the village (I have always called it the village when in reality it is a small town but in days gone by it was a village). I nipped to the bank and then went to Boots to buy some items for my emergency kit, I dared to ask for a bottle of smelling salts and was quizzed as to why I wanted them so I explained that I was a wedding planner. Oh, how I wish I had kept my mouth shut because the assistant moaned on and on about her daughter's forthcoming wedding and how there was no call for wedding planners in this day and age. I chose to keep my own counsel after that and let this woman go on and on like a cracked record until I could make my escape. I then remembered that I needed a few other things and I could still hear her voice ringing out around the store about one of her many wedding outfits and how she is having trouble finding shoes.
I went to a couple of other stores and then came home. Just after lunch my phone rang and it was a Reverend who was working for a newspaper called Midlands Focus trying to sell me some advertising space yet again - I said that I wouldnt be advertising with the newspaper after I had been sworn at the last time I refused to advertise with them. He gave me details for the website which were wrong and then said that I could have a half page advert for £95 plus VAT including editorial. I looked at their website but I am not aiming at the budget market and feel that this newspaper does not fit with the clientele that I am aiming for. This chap is a real vicar who is waiting for a church to become available so I was asking him about churches and weddings and charmed him into giving me his phone number.
I have also been trying to write a couple of paragraphs about me for the company that I shall be working with, I cannot think of anything to say and yet I can write for England on my blog LOL.
Again I have been giving out advice both for a totally unrelated business and on a wedding forum - this time it was to a woman who wanted a same sex wedding in a church so I had to say that unfortunately she wouldnt be able to marry in church but she would be able to have a blessing. I also pointed her in the direction of a building called The Monastery in Manchester as this is former monastery which has been turned into conference space, it also has a wedding license so couples can marry in the cloisters and in two other rooms. I thought that this was a nice twist because the place looks like a religious place of worship.
I have also been looking at the Project Wedding website and looking at one of their projects which I thought I would share - its about making colouring/activity books for kids that could also be used as place settings. I thought that it was a lovely idea for them to be made rather than bought from a pound shop.
http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/diy-wedding-challenge-activity-books-for-kids
I had to pop to the village (I have always called it the village when in reality it is a small town but in days gone by it was a village). I nipped to the bank and then went to Boots to buy some items for my emergency kit, I dared to ask for a bottle of smelling salts and was quizzed as to why I wanted them so I explained that I was a wedding planner. Oh, how I wish I had kept my mouth shut because the assistant moaned on and on about her daughter's forthcoming wedding and how there was no call for wedding planners in this day and age. I chose to keep my own counsel after that and let this woman go on and on like a cracked record until I could make my escape. I then remembered that I needed a few other things and I could still hear her voice ringing out around the store about one of her many wedding outfits and how she is having trouble finding shoes.
I went to a couple of other stores and then came home. Just after lunch my phone rang and it was a Reverend who was working for a newspaper called Midlands Focus trying to sell me some advertising space yet again - I said that I wouldnt be advertising with the newspaper after I had been sworn at the last time I refused to advertise with them. He gave me details for the website which were wrong and then said that I could have a half page advert for £95 plus VAT including editorial. I looked at their website but I am not aiming at the budget market and feel that this newspaper does not fit with the clientele that I am aiming for. This chap is a real vicar who is waiting for a church to become available so I was asking him about churches and weddings and charmed him into giving me his phone number.
I have also been trying to write a couple of paragraphs about me for the company that I shall be working with, I cannot think of anything to say and yet I can write for England on my blog LOL.
Again I have been giving out advice both for a totally unrelated business and on a wedding forum - this time it was to a woman who wanted a same sex wedding in a church so I had to say that unfortunately she wouldnt be able to marry in church but she would be able to have a blessing. I also pointed her in the direction of a building called The Monastery in Manchester as this is former monastery which has been turned into conference space, it also has a wedding license so couples can marry in the cloisters and in two other rooms. I thought that this was a nice twist because the place looks like a religious place of worship.
I have also been looking at the Project Wedding website and looking at one of their projects which I thought I would share - its about making colouring/activity books for kids that could also be used as place settings. I thought that it was a lovely idea for them to be made rather than bought from a pound shop.
http://www.projectwedding.com/wiki/show/diy-wedding-challenge-activity-books-for-kids
Thursday, 6 August 2009
News
I feel bad that I haven't updated for a few days but a lot has been going on.
Tuesday was spent giving advice to people on a forum - one girl in particular had expressed an interest in becoming a professional wedding planner whilst others kept telling her that there isnt any work and that she shouldn't follow her dream. One person in particular really rattled me as she based her knowledge on attending 50 weddings in the last 2 years as a photographer and not one bride (according to her) had used a wedding planner. 50 weddings isnt a good representation of the number of weddings that take place every year where wedding planners have been involved. Thankfully I sent a private message to the girl asking the question and gave her loads of information about the course as it is the same one that I have just completed.
Wednesday - well that dawned wet and cold so I had to put a mac on to go to a meeting at the Radisson (I have a horrible feeling that I have thrown out my umbrella). I met with a company that hires out sound and audio visual equipment and they also run an entertainment agency - it was the entertainment business that I was interested in. As I have experience of organising corporate events too I have now ended up with a reciprocal arrangement with regards to work - this is something that I am very excited about. When I left the meeting the weather had undergone a huge change - no longer was it wet and cold but it was sunny and unbearably hot. Rather than waiting for the bus to carry me one stop, I walked and as I went past the men's shop High & Mighty I spotted a little sign in the window telling me that they now do wedding hire so in I trotted and exchanged a business card for a brochure - hopefully, I will get some referrals. I then walked to Selfridges where I had lunch and a quick whizz around Fenn Wright & Manson - I left £616 lighter having bought 2 silk skirts, 2 silk scarves to match the skirts, 2 jackets - 1 a deep purple to co-ordinate with one skirt (in fact I can wear it with both) and a silver/grey silky jacket to wear with the skirt bought there and then and the skirt and trousers that I already have in my wardrobe (both jackets also look good with jeans) and a deep ferny green top (this was reduced in the sale) and it goes well with the one skirt and dare I say it the deep purple jacket - I would never have thought of putting those colours together.
Thursday - I had to go to Birmingham again to see my solicitor and I remembered to pick up some Waterstones vouchers so I headed there too and came away with 3 books - one is about change called Who Moved my Cheese? I used to have a copy of this book and lent it to someone who never returned it, a huge book about event planning and Deborah Meaden's book about commonsense rules for business. I picked the event planning book to give me more of an insight to organising really large events such as those that take place at the NEC. I resisted the temptation to buy more clothes and settled on a sofa within Starbucks in Selfridges with a caramel macchiato and some toasted fruit bread with butter and jam - I used one of the books of luncheon vouchers that I get as payment for doing surveys for a particular survey site - I dare not mention their name as they will banish me :(
I also submitted my first assignment for my event planning course and already I am looking at the second one - I shall have to wait for them to be marked as my tutor (who was also the tutor on my wedding planning course) was rushed into hospital on Sunday with appendicitis and she has only just been sent home after being operated upon on Monday. I sent her a lovely Jacquie Lawson e-card to cheer her up.
Tomorrow I need to contact Wedding Professional as I havent received a copy of their magazine for ages - its another free trade magazine but I find it invaluable as it allows me to see what other planners are doing and then I can learn from them. I also need to write a couple of paragraphs for the sound equipment hire company to put on their website - here's hoping that I get lots of business :-)
Tuesday was spent giving advice to people on a forum - one girl in particular had expressed an interest in becoming a professional wedding planner whilst others kept telling her that there isnt any work and that she shouldn't follow her dream. One person in particular really rattled me as she based her knowledge on attending 50 weddings in the last 2 years as a photographer and not one bride (according to her) had used a wedding planner. 50 weddings isnt a good representation of the number of weddings that take place every year where wedding planners have been involved. Thankfully I sent a private message to the girl asking the question and gave her loads of information about the course as it is the same one that I have just completed.
Wednesday - well that dawned wet and cold so I had to put a mac on to go to a meeting at the Radisson (I have a horrible feeling that I have thrown out my umbrella). I met with a company that hires out sound and audio visual equipment and they also run an entertainment agency - it was the entertainment business that I was interested in. As I have experience of organising corporate events too I have now ended up with a reciprocal arrangement with regards to work - this is something that I am very excited about. When I left the meeting the weather had undergone a huge change - no longer was it wet and cold but it was sunny and unbearably hot. Rather than waiting for the bus to carry me one stop, I walked and as I went past the men's shop High & Mighty I spotted a little sign in the window telling me that they now do wedding hire so in I trotted and exchanged a business card for a brochure - hopefully, I will get some referrals. I then walked to Selfridges where I had lunch and a quick whizz around Fenn Wright & Manson - I left £616 lighter having bought 2 silk skirts, 2 silk scarves to match the skirts, 2 jackets - 1 a deep purple to co-ordinate with one skirt (in fact I can wear it with both) and a silver/grey silky jacket to wear with the skirt bought there and then and the skirt and trousers that I already have in my wardrobe (both jackets also look good with jeans) and a deep ferny green top (this was reduced in the sale) and it goes well with the one skirt and dare I say it the deep purple jacket - I would never have thought of putting those colours together.
Thursday - I had to go to Birmingham again to see my solicitor and I remembered to pick up some Waterstones vouchers so I headed there too and came away with 3 books - one is about change called Who Moved my Cheese? I used to have a copy of this book and lent it to someone who never returned it, a huge book about event planning and Deborah Meaden's book about commonsense rules for business. I picked the event planning book to give me more of an insight to organising really large events such as those that take place at the NEC. I resisted the temptation to buy more clothes and settled on a sofa within Starbucks in Selfridges with a caramel macchiato and some toasted fruit bread with butter and jam - I used one of the books of luncheon vouchers that I get as payment for doing surveys for a particular survey site - I dare not mention their name as they will banish me :(
I also submitted my first assignment for my event planning course and already I am looking at the second one - I shall have to wait for them to be marked as my tutor (who was also the tutor on my wedding planning course) was rushed into hospital on Sunday with appendicitis and she has only just been sent home after being operated upon on Monday. I sent her a lovely Jacquie Lawson e-card to cheer her up.
Tomorrow I need to contact Wedding Professional as I havent received a copy of their magazine for ages - its another free trade magazine but I find it invaluable as it allows me to see what other planners are doing and then I can learn from them. I also need to write a couple of paragraphs for the sound equipment hire company to put on their website - here's hoping that I get lots of business :-)
Monday, 3 August 2009
Dresses 'N Things
Dear readers
I don't know if you remember that earlier this year I went to an auction of wedding stuff (the entire contents of two wedding shops) and came away with some boxes supposedly containing veils and petticoats but in reality containing dresses, boddices, wraps etc. I bought them thinking ebay but on seeing the dresses decided that ebay was a bit naff and since then I have been looking at ways of selling the dresses to get maximum profit for me.
Reading through my various magazines I came across a shop in Kidderminster which sells pre-loved dresses so I contacted the owner to see what she would pay me and the answer came back today £60 for a designer dress and £30 for a bridesmaid dress - I have seen her website and she charges dresses out at £350! I contacted my friend who makes the most wonderful dresses to get her input because although I know all about organising a wedding - dresses are whole different ball game and therefore my knowledge is a little limited. Linda told me not to sell the dresses for £60 each especially as the pre-loved market is a bit shaky as understandably brides don't usually want to wear someone else's dress unless it is vintage and you are into that sort of thing. The shopkeeper had told me that the wedding business was slack at the moment - yes the shops maybe a bit quieter but come September business will be booming again as this coincides with Europe's largest trade wedding fair in Harrogate in September.
Linda gave me some good advice today and suggested that I contact one of my local shops to see if I could pick up an old mannikin cheap but I have a better idea and will contact a lady that I know who runs the local couture shop to see if she will let me use one of her mannikins for free and I can take photographs and send them to Linda and post them on my blog (when the technophobe in me works out how to do it LOL).
I am now sitting more comfortably as I have just had my new chair delivered but I am not used to wheels and it whizzes dangerously across the floor and I keep playing with the levers too so now I can raise the seat, adjust the back and tilt the seat forward - too many levers and too much fun will be had until I get the seat exactly right.
I have a busy couple of days - tomorrow I am meeting a fellow wedding planner who has just set up her own business and needs a bit of moral support, she covers the Walsall area and hopefully we will be able to work together at some point in the future, after meeting her I am off to the eye hospital to get some new and very much needed glasses. I have so many appointments to make to visit venues but I am unable to do anything as I cannot see to drive :( I have had to wait months to get the appointment at the hospital as now it is the only place where I can have my eyes tested. On Wednesday I am meeting a chap who runs an entertainment agency and he is always being asked to organise events but he admits that he hasnt a clue which is where I step in, plus I am off to see my solicitor to collect a cheque as it is cheaper for me to pop in that pay her a £15 plus VAT admin fee and a fee to make a BACs payment into my account!! Thieves and rob dogs all of them!!
Ooh heck I am going to have to get a rug to go under this chair..I am whizzing about all over the place!
I don't know if you remember that earlier this year I went to an auction of wedding stuff (the entire contents of two wedding shops) and came away with some boxes supposedly containing veils and petticoats but in reality containing dresses, boddices, wraps etc. I bought them thinking ebay but on seeing the dresses decided that ebay was a bit naff and since then I have been looking at ways of selling the dresses to get maximum profit for me.
Reading through my various magazines I came across a shop in Kidderminster which sells pre-loved dresses so I contacted the owner to see what she would pay me and the answer came back today £60 for a designer dress and £30 for a bridesmaid dress - I have seen her website and she charges dresses out at £350! I contacted my friend who makes the most wonderful dresses to get her input because although I know all about organising a wedding - dresses are whole different ball game and therefore my knowledge is a little limited. Linda told me not to sell the dresses for £60 each especially as the pre-loved market is a bit shaky as understandably brides don't usually want to wear someone else's dress unless it is vintage and you are into that sort of thing. The shopkeeper had told me that the wedding business was slack at the moment - yes the shops maybe a bit quieter but come September business will be booming again as this coincides with Europe's largest trade wedding fair in Harrogate in September.
Linda gave me some good advice today and suggested that I contact one of my local shops to see if I could pick up an old mannikin cheap but I have a better idea and will contact a lady that I know who runs the local couture shop to see if she will let me use one of her mannikins for free and I can take photographs and send them to Linda and post them on my blog (when the technophobe in me works out how to do it LOL).
I am now sitting more comfortably as I have just had my new chair delivered but I am not used to wheels and it whizzes dangerously across the floor and I keep playing with the levers too so now I can raise the seat, adjust the back and tilt the seat forward - too many levers and too much fun will be had until I get the seat exactly right.
I have a busy couple of days - tomorrow I am meeting a fellow wedding planner who has just set up her own business and needs a bit of moral support, she covers the Walsall area and hopefully we will be able to work together at some point in the future, after meeting her I am off to the eye hospital to get some new and very much needed glasses. I have so many appointments to make to visit venues but I am unable to do anything as I cannot see to drive :( I have had to wait months to get the appointment at the hospital as now it is the only place where I can have my eyes tested. On Wednesday I am meeting a chap who runs an entertainment agency and he is always being asked to organise events but he admits that he hasnt a clue which is where I step in, plus I am off to see my solicitor to collect a cheque as it is cheaper for me to pop in that pay her a £15 plus VAT admin fee and a fee to make a BACs payment into my account!! Thieves and rob dogs all of them!!
Ooh heck I am going to have to get a rug to go under this chair..I am whizzing about all over the place!
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