What Is The Wedding Partner Network?
Times are tough.
The economy has wreaked havoc on the bridal industry in more than one way. First and foremost, the nations unemployment is high, resulting in less money spend per wedding. Secondly, unemployment has led to a surge of new businesses in the industry – workers who have lost their full-time jobs have started small businesses, many in industries serving the bridal market.
What does this mean for you? Brides are spending less on their weddings, and your business has more competition for a smaller piece of the pie.
This is why Tower Studios is proposing the Wedding Partner Network.
How Does It Work?
How Much Does It Cost?
How Do You Sign Up?
Once I Sign Up, How Do I Make A Referral?
Who Tracks The Commission?
Is This List Trading?
What Happens If A Vendor Does Not Pay?
How Do I Know If A Client Came From The Wedding Partner Network?
Does This Mean Vendors Trade Email Lists?
How Do I Follow Up With A Vendor For Payment?
How Do I Check That A Bride Used The Vendor I Referred?
The Wedding Partner Network is simple – wedding vendors network and pass referrals to increase each others business. Let’s see how it works by looking at a Flower Shop and a Photography company:
If the Photography company refers a Bride to the Flower Shop, the Bride gets a 5% discount at the Flower Shop, and the Photographer gets a 5% commission off of the Bride’s order. If the Bride doesn’t order anything from the Flower Shop, no money is paid to the Photographer – the commission and discount are only given on closed sales.
Nothing. The Wedding Partner Network is 100% free.
Signing up for the Wedding Partner Network is free. Simply complete the registration form, and your company will be added to the Wedding Partner Network list. Once your company is added, you may begin giving and receiving referrals from other vendors.
Once I Sign Up, How Do I Make A Referral?
Once you are registered with the Wedding Partner Network, you may begin referring Brides to other vendors on the Wedding Partner List. To make a referral, simply instruct the Bride to verbally use the coupon code “WPN-companyname” at the business location. For example, if you are referring a Bride to a Catering Company, and your business name is “Annie’s Flowers”, you would simply tell the Bride to mention the coupon “WPN-AnniesFlowers” to the Catering Company. The Catering Company will then give the Bride 5% off the total catering package, and you will receive a payment of 5% of the total package from the Catering Company.
Payment of commission is managed by the Partners in the deal. In the previous example with the Flower Shop and the Photographer, it is the Flower Shop’s responsibility to pay the 5% commission within 15 days of receiving the full payment from the Bride. The payment is made from the Flower Shop directly to the Photographer – the is no other party that processes and/or distributes the payment.
No. Vendors are prohibited from exchanging Client information, including phone number, email addresses, and physical addresses. All referrals are “word-of-mouth”, and consist of Vendor A suggesting the a Bride use Vendor B. It is then the Bride’s action to contact Vendor B if she is interested – Vendor A does not inform Vendor B that they have referred the Bride, and Vendor B does not make the “first move”.
What Happens If A Vendor Does Not Pay?
Failure to pay a commission fee to a vendor in the Wedding Partner Network results in a suspension and account review. The vendor has an option to contest the charge and explain their reasoning for no payment. If sufficient reason can be given, the vendor will be allowed to continue in the Wedding Partner Network – otherwise, the vendor is removed from the Network list. Two offenses removes the vendor from the Wedding Partner Network.
How Do I Know If A Client Came From The Wedding Partner Network?
When a Vendor refers a Bride, the Vendor must give the Bride a coupon code “WPN-businessname”. For example, if the Flower Shop “Annie’s Flowers” refers a client to the Photographer, the Flower Shop will instruct the Bride to use the coupon code “WPN-AnniesFlowers” at the Photography company. The Bride will use the code “WPN-AnniesFlowers” to get 5% off at the Photographer, and the Photographer will know to send a check for 5% of the total sale to Annie’s Flowers.
Does This Mean Vendors Trade Email Lists?
No. The Wedding Partner Network is a word of mouth referral system. Vendors are prohibited from exchanging client emails or physical addresses with each other. Vendors in the Wedding Partner Network refer other vendors via “word-of-mouth” – for example, the a Flower Shop suggests that a Bride use a specific Photographer. It is prohibited for the Flower Shop to pass the Bride’s information to the Photographer, and for the Photographer to contact the Bride first. The Client must always initiate the sale.
How Do I Follow Up With A Vendor For Payment?
All of the vendor contact information is listed on the Wedding Partner Network site. If you need to follow up for payment, send them and email or give them a call.
How Do I Check That A Bride Used The Vendor I Referred?
The Wedding Partner Network is based on verbal conversations with the Bride, and as such, checking with the Bride is as simple as asking her casually during your pre-wedding follow up. If the Bride mentions that she did use the vendor you referred, you can follow up with the vendor for your 5% sales commission.
If you have any questions or concerns that are not listed in this FAQ, please contact us at [email protected], or 636-448-9131.