Yes... I'm still talking about that conference.
Another panel discussion I found very interesting was about "knowing your target market."
They demonstrated an exercise of envisioning our target market.
We were to pick specific things for the following categories for our potential clients.
If our clients were (or were to use) the following, what would they be?
1. Hotel
2. Car
3. Restaurant
4. Magazine
The lady who volunteered to be an example said, her client would
1. Stay at Intercontinental Hotel,
2. Drive a Cadillac Escalade,
3. Eat at Ruth's Chris and
4. Read a local information magazine
So, I decided to do the exercise myself too.
1. Hotel: Ace Hotel
A boutique hotel in Portland, NY, Seattle, Palm Springs, etc.
It's not super cheap, but not too expensive. It's more "edgy" than "gorgeous."
Popular among hipsters. Customers range from early 20's to late 30's.
2. Car: Toyota Prius
Or any other hybrid car
3. Restaurant: Urth Cafe
A cafe known for its organic coffee in LA. The food here is excellent!! It's definitely not a hole-in-a-wall diner price, but it's reasonable. Santa Monica or Beverly Hills locations are known to be favored by celebrities. It's one of my favorite restaurants too.
4. Magazine: Real Simple
A lifestyle magazine which covers home/garden, food, beauty/fashion, decoration/organization, health, etc. I'm not really sure, but I think it's a magazine catered for a women in her 20's to 40's.
So... my target market is:
A women who are in 20's to late 30's who like to be eco-friendly and organic, and wouldn't mind paying a little extra for style and quality?
Hmmn...
I'm not TOO sure that's my target market.
It's more like I just described myself (although I'm not really eco-friendly nor organic...)
I should re-visit and do it again some other time.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Believe in Yourself
The panel discussion I got most inspired by at the conference "Uncensored" was the one with Ms. Wanda Wen, who is the founder and CEO of a paper/stationary company, Soolip.
(picture from www.soolip.com)
16 years ago, she decided to establish her own company for her life-time passion for "paper."
She said there were people who thought she was crazy for leaving her 11-year successful career in fashion and opening up a store of "paper" when everything was in the trend to be digital. But she believed in her passion and created Soolip.
Soolip is now a well established high-end paper boutique favored by celebrities, etc.
She said the key to her success was to listen to her heart and respect herself.
I almost teared up when she said this:
"Know what makes you happy.
Know what you are passionate about.
And that is what you do!!"
(picture from www.soolip.com)
16 years ago, she decided to establish her own company for her life-time passion for "paper."
She said there were people who thought she was crazy for leaving her 11-year successful career in fashion and opening up a store of "paper" when everything was in the trend to be digital. But she believed in her passion and created Soolip.
Soolip is now a well established high-end paper boutique favored by celebrities, etc.
She said the key to her success was to listen to her heart and respect herself.
I almost teared up when she said this:
"Know what makes you happy.
Know what you are passionate about.
And that is what you do!!"
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Conference "Uncensored"
Yesterday, I took a day off from work, and went to a conference for event planners, "Uncensored" in San Diego. Got up at 5am, and off I went.
I made the PowerPoint presentation for Gianna, who's speaking at this conference.
She invited me over as her guest and let me in for free. Yay!
(The admission is a couple hundred dollars!!)
(@ Uncensored)
I learned SO MUCH!!!!!
I learned:
what to say when a potential client just wants to know your price,
how to advertise/market your service,
how to determine your target market and
much much more information that was so useful.
There were some industry beginners just like me, and there were also veteran planners who've been in this business for years. I met a couple of people from other states like Florida or Atlanta. It was definitely encouraging to see so many women, most of whom are married and have children, ARE successful doing what I would like to do one day.
AND...
The biggest accomplishment I got this day was ME!
As I mentioned on this post, I couldn't really "network" like I wanted to at the last conference I went to.
BUT!
This time, I was different.
Maybe it was the experiences I gained by interning for several months, but whatever it was,
I was able to walk up and talk to a couple of people without hesitation.
One of the people I talked to was an event planner who came from Hawaii.
He told me that in Hawaii, there is a huge need for planners who can both understand Japanese and American cultures. (Japanese LOVE to get married in Hawaii.)
What... wait a minute...
That is exactly ME!!!
I like the urban lifestyle, so it'll be a hard adjustment for me to move there.
(I can't even swim, so beach is not really my cup of tea either.)
But regardless, to know that there is a niche market that I might be able to marvel at one day, was very very encouraging.
----------------------------------------
If anyone wants to sign up for the next conference, it'll be in Austin from October 10-12.
Register here.
I made the PowerPoint presentation for Gianna, who's speaking at this conference.
She invited me over as her guest and let me in for free. Yay!
(The admission is a couple hundred dollars!!)
(@ Uncensored)
I learned SO MUCH!!!!!
I learned:
what to say when a potential client just wants to know your price,
how to advertise/market your service,
how to determine your target market and
much much more information that was so useful.
There were some industry beginners just like me, and there were also veteran planners who've been in this business for years. I met a couple of people from other states like Florida or Atlanta. It was definitely encouraging to see so many women, most of whom are married and have children, ARE successful doing what I would like to do one day.
AND...
The biggest accomplishment I got this day was ME!
As I mentioned on this post, I couldn't really "network" like I wanted to at the last conference I went to.
BUT!
This time, I was different.
Maybe it was the experiences I gained by interning for several months, but whatever it was,
I was able to walk up and talk to a couple of people without hesitation.
One of the people I talked to was an event planner who came from Hawaii.
He told me that in Hawaii, there is a huge need for planners who can both understand Japanese and American cultures. (Japanese LOVE to get married in Hawaii.)
What... wait a minute...
That is exactly ME!!!
I like the urban lifestyle, so it'll be a hard adjustment for me to move there.
(I can't even swim, so beach is not really my cup of tea either.)
But regardless, to know that there is a niche market that I might be able to marvel at one day, was very very encouraging.
----------------------------------------
If anyone wants to sign up for the next conference, it'll be in Austin from October 10-12.
Register here.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
First Walk-Through!
Monday, I went to a walk-through meeting for a wedding as an intern for Gianna.
This is an Indian style wedding scheduled at the end of May.
It'll be at the bride's father's mansion in Malibu with 300 guests,
and the festivity will last literally from morning to night.
They are talking about having 150 dancers and gloom entering the ceremony on an elephant...
I've only seen Indian style weddings in movies,
but I imagine it's going to be a quite a fiesta!!
(image not related to the wedding)
Unlike weddings at hotels or club houses, a private estate wedding requires LOTS of vendors and detailing.
So this was a big walk-though meeting with all sorts of vendors including catering, florist, party rental, off-duty cops, parking, etc.
This was my first walk-through, and so many things were happening all at once.
Questions from this side, and another inquiries from other side...
I was like a note-taking machine and I felt like my head was about to explode.
But it was SOOOO exciting!!!
This is an Indian style wedding scheduled at the end of May.
It'll be at the bride's father's mansion in Malibu with 300 guests,
and the festivity will last literally from morning to night.
They are talking about having 150 dancers and gloom entering the ceremony on an elephant...
I've only seen Indian style weddings in movies,
but I imagine it's going to be a quite a fiesta!!
(image not related to the wedding)
Unlike weddings at hotels or club houses, a private estate wedding requires LOTS of vendors and detailing.
So this was a big walk-though meeting with all sorts of vendors including catering, florist, party rental, off-duty cops, parking, etc.
This was my first walk-through, and so many things were happening all at once.
Questions from this side, and another inquiries from other side...
I was like a note-taking machine and I felt like my head was about to explode.
But it was SOOOO exciting!!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Right-hand man
This morning, I got a call from Gianna.
She asked me if I can make the PowerPoint presentation for the conference she's speaking in March.
Well... OF COURSE!!
And she also asked me to be her "right-hand man" for a big estate wedding in June.
I would LOVE to!!!!
The fact I'm getting these many experiences is really priceless.
It feels like everything is moving in a positive direction.
2011 is going to be a GOOD year!! I can feel it!!!
Living the dream, baby. Living the dream!!
She asked me if I can make the PowerPoint presentation for the conference she's speaking in March.
Well... OF COURSE!!
And she also asked me to be her "right-hand man" for a big estate wedding in June.
I would LOVE to!!!!
The fact I'm getting these many experiences is really priceless.
It feels like everything is moving in a positive direction.
2011 is going to be a GOOD year!! I can feel it!!!
Living the dream, baby. Living the dream!!
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