This one day seminar provides a sound basis for wedding business startup and issues typically encountered by wedding consultants and vendors in the first few years of business. This seminar focuses on business startup concepts, problems, and issues.
Topics include: business structures, startup costs, business plan basics, advertising and marketing, website basics, fee structures, contracts, closing the sale, customer service and professionalism. Attendees will be able to: • Discuss elements of a business plan. • Differentiate business structures. • Determine business startup expenses. • Develop an advertising budget as part of a business marketing plan. • Determine how to establish fees. • Describe contract elements and negotiation skills. ABC’s Weddings as a Business is recommended as the supplemental text for this seminar. This seminar earns 2 points for education and professional development. ABC member registration through 11/13 is $165.

This event is open to active ABC members only. The cost of this FAMINAR includes airport transfers, all meals, and 5 nights 'luxury included' Sandals accomodations. You are responsible for your your airfare. Take advantage of Member Early pricing and get the best deal while earning 4 Education and Professional Development points for the trip (2 for the FAM/Site inspections and Sandals training, 2 for Expanding Horizons,) and 1 point in Leadership/Participation for Certified Sandals Specialist, CSS.

Tuesday, Jan. 17th – Arrivals at Sandals Grande Riviera
Wednesday, Jan. 18th – Site inspections of Ocho Rios Resorts
Thursday, Jan. 19th – Sandals Workshop - afternoon free time
Friday, Jan. 20th - Expanding Horizons: Networking and Etiquette Revival & optional BYOB (Bring Your Own Binder) ABC Advancement Workshop
Saturday, Jan. 21st – Transfer to Sandals Montego Bay, site inspections of Montego Bay Resorts, and farewell dinner
Sunday, Jan. 22nd – Departures

Rules of etiquette may have relaxed, but saying and doing the “right” things are still crucial skills for the dynamic wedding industry. Etiquette skills, like many other skills, need an occasional refresher. This one-day seminar covers wedding and business etiquette and customer service skills for all wedding professionals. This seminar will be facilitated by Sandra Monahan, MBC.
For all other questions about the Expanding Horizons seminar and FAM, please contact Elise Enloe, Director of Education at EliseABCFL@aol.com or 407 977-9338.

NOTICE: ALL US attendees must have a current passport.
Registrants must attend all scheduled sessions or they will be charged prevailing resort rate.

Attendees are responsible for transportation to arrive in Montego Bay, Jamaica on Tuesday, January 17th and depart on Sunday, January 22nd. Attendees must provide confirmed flight information by NOON, Eastern time on Friday, December 30th, 2011 to confirm Sandals room reservations and arrival transports. Visit the registration site for additional travel details for arrival.

Are you attending to the Special Event in Tampa? Save the date and join ABC-Florida members for an informal get together for all ABC members on Tuesday, January 24th, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

Taking it to the Top

8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Expanding Horizons “Taking it to the Top” Icebreaker
9:15 a.m. College Course in an Hour, Elise Enloe, MBC
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. New Tricks for Older Dogs (the 2012 version of Gizmos & Gadgets)
11:30 a.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Tired and Ready to Quit? Tonya Shadoan & Mary Dann
2:15 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. BYOB – Bring Your Own Binder – Preparing for Accredited and/or Master, Elise Enloe MBC and Gloria Boyden, MBC

4:00 p.m. Conference Welcome, and Registration for Conference
7:00 p.m. Opening Gathering - Included in Saturday but must register for this

6 educational content hours=1 pt. meets 6 hours continuing education to renew
$109 before January 15; $134 after January 15; $90 half day Saturday – Morning to lunch or lunch to end of day
7:30 a.m. Registration
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. How to Get Found On-line & Generate Leads From Google Without Paying For It, Sheryl Connelley
9:00 a.m. Bridal Show Bootcamp, Elise Enloe, MBC
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Key Tools to Stay Balanced Throughout the Planning Process, Mary Dann
11:15 a.m. Round Table questions: Sheryl, Elise, Tonya, Mary
11:45 a.m. Prepare for lunch – catch up on calls and e-mails
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Design Workshop, Gene Huddleson
2:00 p.m. Creating Your Road Map to Success, Tonya Shadoan MBC
3:00 p.m. Jim Cerone: Perfect Cooperation – Cooperation in our Wedding Community
3:45 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Luxe Weddings: 2 Amazing Weddings: J Scot Reid, Tonya, (20 minutes each)
Room reservations are a special group rate at $119 per night. Reservations are required by Wednesday January 25, 2012. Online www.renaissanceindianapolis.com or 866-905-9619

Building and Remodeling Bridal Business

This one-day seminar focuses on branding, specialization, other events, add-on sales, apprenticeships, hiring and firing, media relations, website enhancement, current software and technological advances, and ethical challenges that are encountered in an established, growing business. Attendees will be able to:
• Update and refresh a business plan.
• Discuss business growth and development opportunities.
• Select current event management tools and technology.
• Describe basic human resources management concepts.
• Review and revise a job description.
• Respond to customer complaints and ethical issues.

ABC member early registration through Jan 31, 2012.

Building and Remodeling Bridal Business

Embassy Suites Hotel O'Hare - Rosemont
5500 North River Rd., Rosemont, IL 60018
Sunday, March 4, 2012

This one-day seminar focuses on branding, specialization, other events, add-on sales, apprenticeships, hiring and firing, media relations, website enhancement, current software and technological advances, and ethical challenges that are encountered in an established, growing business. Attendees will be able to:
• Update and refresh a business plan.
• Discuss business growth and development opportunities.
• Select current event management tools and technology.
• Describe basic human resources management concepts.
• Review and revise a job description.
• Respond to customer complaints and ethical issues.
This seminar earns 2 points for education and professional development. Early member registration through 2/20/12 - $165 (US); after 2/20/12 - $179

Taking it to the Top

8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Expanding Horizons “Taking it to the Top” Opening Icebreaker
9:15 a.m. College Course in an Hour
10:30 a.m. Topic/Session/Speaker pending
11:30 a.m. Lunch (included)
12:45 p.m. Topic/Session/Speaker pending
2:30 p.m. BYOB – Bring Your Own Binder – Preparing for Accredited and/or Master, Elise Enloe MBC

Resorts World Sentosa
Hard Rock Hotel Singapore
Wednesday, August 22 - Friday, August 24, 2012

APWPC is proudly brought to you by the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) Singapore. APWPC 2012 is the first Asian-edition of ABC USA’s highly successful annual conference.
In addition to David Tutera and Alan Berg, some of the key topics in the program:
• Increase Your Sales in Tough Times
• Cinderella: Manage Her Dreams and Expectations
• The Science of a Wedding Business
• Asian Weddings
• The Business of Weddings - Peering Into the Crystal Ball
• Wedding Marketing in a Digital World
• We are on Your Side
• Close the Deal
• The Marketing Blueprint
• Innovation and the Wedding Professional
• Franchising as an Option
• Continuity Planning
• The Hassle-Free Contract
• The Next Level

Visit the website for comprehensive registration information by clicking on the registration link below.