Anyone can browse the latest trends on Pinterest, but it takes a truly innovative professional to bring unique inspiration to the table. It’s important to develop your own styles and designs separate from what is found in the top event blogs and magazines, because this creative, one-of-a-kind approach is what sells clients.
The question is: How can you garner this unique inspiration and what are the best ways to use it to sell to your clients?
Staying ahead of the trends
It should come as no surprise that most of your clients are browsing online for the latest trends in today’s catering and events. The interesting part is that, while they are certainly looking at those trends, most people (millennials especially) are after distinctive events with details that haven’t been seen before. The goal is to ‘wow’ their guests—and what better way than with new-to-the-scene accents?
Stay ahead of event trends by checking out other industries, as they often predict what’s to come. For example, home décor saw minimalism and geometric shapes trending before they showed up on the scene of today’s events. Have your clients pick out their favorite pieces of furniture or their top fashion looks from the runway—this will often give you an idea of how to create a new look that is custom to your client’s preferences.
Selling to a prospect
Having the know-how isn’t all that you need—you also have to convince your prospective clients that your ideas are unique and won’t be found anywhere else. This should be simple enough, as you did come up with them, but you’ll also want to cater to the desires of the prospect as well. Keep in mind that some may love the trendiest styles—and that’s perfectly fine. But instead of sticking to the usual, take the trends they love and add your own personal spin to it. For example, if your client is all about greenery garlands, skip the cliché table décor and show them the different possibilities you can achieve around the event space.
It shouldn’t take long before your beautiful ideas sweep your prospects off their feet and you are off to creating the event of their dreams. In the meantime, be sure that you are spending your time researching trends and taking what you see to your own personal drawing board.
Kim Sayatovic is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Belladeux Event Design, a full-service wedding and event design firm based in New Orleans, LA.
