Celebrate! Events Showcase about ‘planting seeds’

Celebrate! Events Showcase  - poster - jpegBy Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

Jonathan Ward understands that a business participates in an event in part to generate more business.

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if said participation has been worthwhile. The trick, he said, is to be patient.

“As a business, you want to leave with at least the leads, if not the confirmed work,” said Ward, of Ward Productions in Pinehurst that has planned, among other things, the grand opening of Discover Place KIDS in Rockingham nearly 18 months ago.

Ward Production is once again a sponsor of the Celebrate! Events Showcase set for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Cole Auditorium on the campus of Richmond Community College in Hamlet. The regional wedding and party planning expo showcases event professionals for weddings as well as business, charity and school events.

Vendors include caterers, florists, cake designers, bridal gowns, tuxedo stores, musicians, DJs, decorators,        production companies, wedding consultants, bridal registries, dancing lessons, ceremony and reception        location representatives, lighting and décor designers and party suppliers.

RIck's Catering is one of dozens of vendors lined up for Sunday's special events showcase.

RIck’s Catering is one of dozens of vendors lined up for Sunday’s special events showcase.

The event is sponsored by Richmond Community College, The Bridal Nook, Belk, Dorsett Printing, Ward Productions The Pee Dee Post. Admission is free and is open to brides, grooms, event planners, friends, family and the general public ages 18 and over.

“It’s real easy to walk away Sunday night and say ‘man, we didn’t sign anybody to a contract. It’s a bad day,'” Ward said. “Really what these events are about are just planting seeds for further work, communication (and) opportunities.”

“This will be an elegant, lovely event, and people should come regardless of when their event is,” said      Sharon Nichols, show organizer. “It’s such a wonderful shopping experience that they can plan the entire wedding or banquet at the show. And there will be prizes given away to the brides.”

Brides and event planners will be entered into the prize drawings twice if they pre-register. Nichols said the goal of the show is to gather merchants together for an event to show brides, grooms and event planners what is available. Nichols said many people who plan weddings, business or school functions often think they need to go to Raleigh or Charlotte to find everything they will need, although that isn’t the case.

The Bridal Nook helps future brides make the best of their special day.

The Bridal Nook helps future brides make the best of their special day.

“The showcase offers a variety of services, even shooting sports for corporate or team building activities, and the vendors who are coming are excellent providers,” said Nichols. “This will be a fun afternoon and if you are planning a party or know anyone who is getting married, tell them to come.”

From a business point of view, Ward said the event has “met expectations” and key, he said, is exposure to and networking opportunities with other vendors.

“You can alway meet new people that you have never worked with before,” Ward said. “In our industry, it’s very important that we all kind of try to stay on an even playing field, and understanding what each other is doing business-wise … because in a small community such as either Rockingham or the Pinehurst/Southern Pines area, you work with the same people week in and week out. It’s important to be able to share not just ideas but business practices.”

Belk department store, of Rockingham, awards a grand prize at the Celebrate! Events Showcase each year at Cole Auditorium.

Belk department store, of Rockingham, awards a grand prize at the Celebrate! Events Showcase each year at Cole Auditorium.

 

 

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