Saundra Hadley is hilarious! If you follow her on Twitter you know that she is always commenting on life’s ironies. Her perspective is fresh and witty and I always look forward to her tweets. When she is not tweeting she is running two businesses: Planning Forever, an event planning firm and Saundra Hadley Coaching, a sales coaching company for the wedding industry. Saundra gives GREAT sales tips to wedding professionals on her blog. I always learn so much from her tips on client consults, negotiation, writing proposals, and sealing the deal. Oh – and she is an avid Chuck Taylor collector… I’m gonna venture to guess that she’s got the biggest collection in the industry… I’d love to see what all those sneakers look like in her closet! FUN!
Saundra Hadley
Owner, Planning Forever
www.planningforever.com
Established 1993
Evansville, IN
What is your favorite thing about weddings?
The moments that show real, raw emotion from people. That is what weddings are about. A groom’s first glimpse of his bride. The bride’s nervous anticipation before she walks down the aisle. The Maid of Honor’s toast that brings real tears or laughter to the couple. The first dance when you see a couple totally in love and about to start their lives together. These are moments that are totally awesome and cannot be duplicated.
What is your best tip for time management?
Well this is always a challenge for me because while I like routine, I like to change it up. That’s the beauty of owning your own business. Taking off 2 hrs in the day to enjoy the sunshine but making up for the lost hours later that evening. It’s your choice!
So I schedule out my agenda/to-do’s/appts one week in advance. So if I’m going to have an admin day, it may be on Wednesday one week and Monday the next week, depends how the schedule plays out.
One things I have learned, if you have a serious deadline; find a friend, mentor or staff member to make you accountable. Especially if you are the boss. Helps you get it done.
What is your little marketing secret?
Being real and myself. My marketing style is straight-forward and I have learned to write like I speak, which seems to be well received. The best medium for my business has always been in the Internet and now, Social Media.
What is the funnest (most fun) trend you are seeing in the industry?
I’m loving that brides are doing away with normal “wedding tradition”. I love suits for the guys with comfortable shoes (ahem, Chuck Taylors), bright colored shoes for brides, ditching the garter toss, seeing each other before the wedding, online RSVP service and more!
If you were starting your business all over again, what would you have done differently?
I would have chosen a different business name that would have been broader to include all kinds of events. Honestly I’m just too lazy to change it now and I’m well established in my area.
Thanks Saundra!
by Michelle Loretta
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