Your Wedding at Loch Lomond aims to both promote Loch Lomond in Scotland as a destination in which to get married and to support wedding businesses to grow and attract brides to be, by offering permanent free advertising.
2. When did you set Your Wedding at Loch Lomond up?
Your Wedding at Loch Lomond went live in 2010 but the concept began in 2007.
3. How did Your Wedding at Loch Lomond Start?
We've been involved in the wedding industry for over 10 years, since our teens. We started our own wedding photography business in 2004 (http://www.ciaphotography.co.uk/) and in 2007, on the advice of our web designer Brian, we created a page entitled “weddings at loch Lomond”. This page had links to local wedding suppliers and information on the local area.
Our web designer then suggested, as the page was 'too full', that we expand into making it an actual on-line directory. We spoke to several local wedding suppliers and discovered that they felt advertising in directories, newspapers, magazines and brochures was much higher than they could afford (some magazines quote around £2000 for a full page advert). They also felt exhibiting at fairs was too expensive (ranging from nearly £200 for a local fair to several thousand for national ones)
We therefore decided to make our directory free to advertise in as a means to support these businesses to grow. We also run wedding fairs at a very reasonable rate. We are members of several local bodies to help promote the local area and local wedding businesses. Our directory has really taken off and was nominated for six awards in 2010.
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| Images by http://www.ciaphotography.co.uk/ |
5. How many employees are there in Your Wedding at Loch Lomond and who are they?
The founders are Kirsteen and Colin Allison but as far as we are concerned the directory belongs to everyone. Its free to use and free to advertise in. All listed suppliers promote the directory to fellow suppliers and brides to be. We are a not for profit directory so we all band together to pay for advertising etc.
6. How did you decide on Your Wedding at Loch Lomond as your name?
As discussed above, the concept was born over three years ago and we felt this name promotes both the wedding industry and the local area.
7. What's the best thing about Your Wedding at Loch Lomond?
Definitely the fact that we are free to advertise in. We are very proud of this fact. We have had numerous emails and phone calls from suppliers telling us that their enquiries have shot up as a result. We are passionate about helping small businesses grow until they are in a position to pay to advertise elsewhere.
8. What do you find most challenging about Your Wedding at Loch Lomond?
Finding the time to do everything is the main challenge but the end results make it worthwhile.
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| Images by http://www.ciaphotography.co.uk/ |
9. What have been some of the greatest rewards from your business?
Your Wedding at Loch Lomond has helped us to grow our own business – CIA Photography. Also we have been nominated for six awards in 2010 including “best supplier directory” and we get positive feedback literally every day.
10. What's the best thing Your Wedding at Loch Lomond gives to its customers?
We give suppliers a place to advertise their business for free and brides to be a place to find their wedding suppliers 'under one roof'.
11. Do you have any top tips for choosing a wedding directory?
Find a wedding directory that offers a wide range of suppliers to choose from as well as regular special offers and discounts. Find one that covers your local area.
12. What three pieces of advice would you give to anyone who wants to run their own business?
Most of all, you have to be passionate about what you do and network like crazy! It make take lots of roundabouts and detours but dont give up and you'll get there
13. Where can I find out more about Your Wedding at Loch Lomond?
Visit our website at http://www.yourweddingatlochlomond.co.uk/
email: info@yourweddingatlochlomond.co.uk
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| Images by http://www.ciaphotography.co.uk/ |
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