Is it starting to bite?

[NKR]

Sat here wondering what to do and the only conclusion is that 2012 is the economic pinch point I expected it to be.

Web site enquiries - nil. Nothing at all coming through there.

Agent enquiries, limited. Very limited and he has a vast number of hotels now on preferred supplier.

We all know of Charlie's well publicised difficulties, but has anyone else seen it dry up completely.

It looked like a really solid platform for us at the start of the year, but once we hit March it really is patchy at best until a good June and then rubbish to December, which is fully booked.

We have lost our G Casino contract that filled 9 Saturdays a year as they have taken on a national agency who are price focused, so that's us out. Cash is king and price rules in 2012 by the looks of it.

[Jonathan Ford]

Yes, very much. Limited enquiries, for mostly low-cost events.

*Goes off to start a thread I've been thinking about for a week or so*

[NKR]

Yes, very much. Limited enquiries, for mostly low-cost events.

*Goes off to start a thread I've been thinking about for a week or so*

Well it does say you are a thoughtful mobile disco

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I wouldn't agree with you at all on this, sorry.

[Excalibur]

I wouldn't agree with you at all on this, sorry.

I would, though it pains me to do so.

[NKR]

I wouldn't agree with you at all on this, sorry.

Well do you want to spill then as it could be helpful to other forum members.

The questions below are not designed to catch anyone out or anything like that but it would be interesting to see where someone who is not feeling a downturn is getting it right. It would be good to benchmark against.

How many bookings have you got confirmed this year?

How many enquiries is your website picking up.
Are they direct links back from web address placement elsewhere, from flyers you have put out, paid links or have you managed to gain good organic placement.

What percentage of your work is from recommendations, repeat business, new business or through third party contracts such as hotels.

This sort of information would be solid gold for those having a few issues.

It doesn't ask you to sell any trade secrets, but gives some ideas on trends.

[Excalibur]

This sort of information would be solid gold for those having a few issues.

From what I can see, due to the conversion rate I'm experiencing at the moment, my most powerful marketing weapon would be to cut my prices by something in the order of 60%.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Well do you want to spill then as it could be helpful to other forum members.

The questions below are not designed to catch anyone out or anything like that but it would be interesting to see where someone who is not feeling a downturn is getting it right. It would be good to benchmark against.

How many bookings have you got confirmed this year?

How many enquiries is your website picking up.
Are they direct links back from web address placement elsewhere, from flyers you have put out, paid links or have you managed to gain good organic placement.

What percentage of your work is from recommendations, repeat business, new business or through third party contracts such as hotels.

This sort of information would be solid gold for those having a few issues.

It doesn't ask you to sell any trade secrets, but gives some ideas on trends.

Well first and foremost I have the mindset that there isn't a recession. I see so many Wedding suppliers (particularly photographers) who just blame the recession for their downturn in work however when you get speaking to them they just sit on their backsides and expect the work to just fall onto their lap. I mentioned social media in another thread which is a valuable tool, if you use it correctly.

Get yourself out there and get folks talking about you. I must go on average to 2/3 networking events a week. In fact I run one with two other suppliers which had over 50 people attending at the last one.

Wedding fayres, can't believe some folks say they aren't worth it. Not only do you get to meet B&G's and actually speak to them at length but you get to know the venue, the staff and other suppliers.

Last tip as well is make the most of your time, reduce the noise so to speak. I use to send out so many quotes per day from various third party sources and getting nowhere, which over time makes you question your own worth. Focus purely on your target market.

Thats me off my soap box, but my one tip above all else is maintain a positive mental attitude!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

From what I can see, due to the conversion rate I'm experiencing at the moment, my most powerful marketing weapon would be to cut my prices by something in the order of 60%.

You're not the only one. My website is performing better than ever and I am getting more enquiries than ever, but very few are converting.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thats me off my soap box, but my one tip above all else is maintain a positive mental attitude!

Which is good Neil, but you have to be realistic also and not look at things through rose tinted glasses all the time.