Comments on: “Package” Does Not Equal Custom http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/ Practical business advice for those in the business of being creative. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:06:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: why do we price a la carte? | New York Wedding Photographers | Los Angeles Wedding Photography | Destination Wedding Photographers | Turn Loose The Art http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-556 why do we price a la carte? | New York Wedding Photographers | Los Angeles Wedding Photography | Destination Wedding Photographers | Turn Loose The Art Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:43:39 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-556 [...] as a florist says here, “there are so many wonderful flowers out there that just wouldn’t get used if I based [...] [...] as a florist says here, “there are so many wonderful flowers out there that just wouldn’t get used if I based [...]

]]> By: why do we price a la carte? | New York Southern California Wedding Photographers - Turn Loose The Art http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-485 why do we price a la carte? | New York Southern California Wedding Photographers - Turn Loose The Art Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:25:36 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-485 [...] as a florist says here, “there are so many wonderful flowers out there that just wouldn’t get used if I based [...] [...] as a florist says here, “there are so many wonderful flowers out there that just wouldn’t get used if I based [...]

]]> By: Joe | Turn Loose The Art http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Joe | Turn Loose The Art Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:00:15 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-484 I agree. We used to have "wedding collections" and it worked, but we still ran into people picking apart packages and comparing packages with our competitors. In fact, we were customizing our services for our clients, but still calling it packages. And yes, when brides call, they ask for "price list of packages." This trained thinking comes from all the wedding blogs, books, and bridal magazines that TELL the bride what they need and HOW to find it. These sources dictate how much a bride should spend, or WHAT is more important. It really should be up to the bride to decide what is important to her. Guidance from magazines and blogs are great, but should not be the only source of information for our clients . We are now an a la carte wedding studio, and it's great! We just have wedding "coverage" and the bride can simply add what ever she desires to enhance her coverage! I agree. We used to have “wedding collections” and it worked, but we still ran into people picking apart packages and comparing packages with our competitors. In fact, we were customizing our services for our clients, but still calling it packages. And yes, when brides call, they ask for “price list of packages.”

This trained thinking comes from all the wedding blogs, books, and bridal magazines that TELL the bride what they need and HOW to find it. These sources dictate how much a bride should spend, or WHAT is more important. It really should be up to the bride to decide what is important to her. Guidance from magazines and blogs are great, but should not be the only source of information for our clients .

We are now an a la carte wedding studio, and it’s great! We just have wedding “coverage” and the bride can simply add what ever she desires to enhance her coverage!

]]> By: The Wedding Contessa http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-475 The Wedding Contessa Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:52:00 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-475 Perhaps by following your advice, wedding planners can truly encourage brides to design a day that represents who they are and what they want. Inventing their day rather than making it a copy of someone else's. Thanks for the helpful advice. Perhaps by following your advice, wedding planners can truly encourage brides to design a day that represents who they are and what they want. Inventing their day rather than making it a copy of someone else’s.

Thanks for the helpful advice.

]]> By: Jean Picard http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-460 Jean Picard Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:47:02 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-460 Sean, I was so happy to read this post. I have been a wedding consultant in southern California for 16 years and have NEVER had packages! Not even for those brides who just want Wedding Day Management (my preferred name for "Day Of," that most unfortunate misnomer of all time). Sean, I was so happy to read this post. I have been a wedding consultant in southern California for 16 years and have NEVER had packages! Not even for those brides who just want Wedding Day Management (my preferred name for “Day Of,” that most unfortunate misnomer of all time).

]]> By: Melissa http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-452 Melissa Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:12:17 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-452 I really enjoyed reading your post. It is very helpful as I am setting up the structure of my business. Thank you! "I'm not sure who's training them, but every bride that contacts me asks for my list of packages." Your competition is training them it is up to us to educate/retrain our buyers. The best analogy that I can think of for package vs. custom is production home vs. custom home. Depending on your clientele and whom you market to they should understand the pricing structure accordingly. I really enjoyed reading your post. It is very helpful as I am setting up the structure of my business. Thank you!
“I’m not sure who’s training them, but every bride that contacts me asks for my list of packages.” Your competition is training them it is up to us to educate/retrain our buyers.
The best analogy that I can think of for package vs. custom is production home vs. custom home. Depending on your clientele and whom you market to they should understand the pricing structure accordingly.

]]> By: Leona Morelock http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-451 Leona Morelock Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:58:53 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-451 Thanks Sean for continuing to explain. I love thinking of things in a totally new light and learning from people I want to be like. I totally agree with everything you have said. We teach people to respect us and how much whether we realize it or not. That is one of the major things that I am working on right now with my business is learning how to teach my clients who I am and what I deserve. Thanks Sean for continuing to explain. I love thinking of things in a totally new light and learning from people I want to be like. I totally agree with everything you have said. We teach people to respect us and how much whether we realize it or not. That is one of the major things that I am working on right now with my business is learning how to teach my clients who I am and what I deserve.

]]> By: Christine http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-450 Christine Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:32:01 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-450 I've written about this before on PhotoLoveCat - but I think every person shopping starts with looking at price, and in our fast paced society, they use that as a marker to determine if they want to know more. I feel that everyone's website should have at least a starting at point, some sort of tangible thing that I as a shopper can look at and determine if I want to go any further. If I don't have a $50,000 budget, I don't need to know any more. It is how we shop. The first thing I do when I see an item I like in any store is look at the price. From there I determine if it is worth it, or if I can afford it, or if I'm going to shift my budget to make it happen. All in a Blink. Since I shop that way myself, I respect my clients by giving them this information up front. From there, I create a custom commission plan for their wedding, unique to them. But the starting point is always the same, and I'm always transparent about it. I’ve written about this before on PhotoLoveCat – but I think every person shopping starts with looking at price, and in our fast paced society, they use that as a marker to determine if they want to know more. I feel that everyone’s website should have at least a starting at point, some sort of tangible thing that I as a shopper can look at and determine if I want to go any further. If I don’t have a $50,000 budget, I don’t need to know any more.
It is how we shop. The first thing I do when I see an item I like in any store is look at the price. From there I determine if it is worth it, or if I can afford it, or if I’m going to shift my budget to make it happen. All in a Blink.
Since I shop that way myself, I respect my clients by giving them this information up front. From there, I create a custom commission plan for their wedding, unique to them. But the starting point is always the same, and I’m always transparent about it.

]]> By: Sharon http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-449 Sharon Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:40:20 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-449 I see your point about how in a creative industry "packaging" debases creativity. It makes your services look like everyone else's. I am just starting out and have not set any pricing structures yet. So, you are saying that although we may have an idea of the "packages" we offer, we do not present them as "packages" to the client? Instead,we present them with a "custom" proposal based on their individual needs. The "package" is more for ourselves to set our pricing for the custom services? I see your point about how in a creative industry “packaging” debases creativity. It makes your services look like everyone else’s.
I am just starting out and have not set any pricing structures yet. So, you are saying that although we may have an idea of the “packages” we offer, we do not present them as “packages” to the client? Instead,we present them with a “custom” proposal based on their individual needs. The “package” is more for ourselves to set our pricing for the custom services?

]]> By: iMatrimony http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/comment-page-1/#comment-448 iMatrimony Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:24:46 +0000 http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/2009/07/23/package-does-not-equal-custom/#comment-448 Thank you for adressing this issue. You nailed it!!! I hope planners take your advice and change the path in the industry. Thank you for adressing this issue. You nailed it!!! I hope planners take your advice and change the path in the industry.

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