We have just closed the first quarter of 2023, and as the cherry blossoms bloom and the days grow longer, it’s a great time to reflect on the quieter months of January to March.
Though the elopement business slows down during these chilly months (it never stops!), there’s a beauty in the calm of the off-season. In the words of Seth Godin, “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”
With that in mind, let’s explore how to embrace the slow months and use them to our advantage.
Assess and refine your business strategy
The beginning of the year is a perfect time to evaluate your business’s performance. Dive into your financials, review your marketing strategies, and analyze your client satisfaction. Use this time to identify areas of improvement and make data-driven decisions to refine your business strategy. Remember, change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is.
Engage with your community
Slow months provide an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships with your clients, vendors, and peers. Reach out to your community through social media, online forums, or local events. Share your knowledge, discuss industry trends, and offer support. By building genuine connections, you create a supportive network that will help your business grow and thrive.
Invest in personal and professional development
The off-season is the perfect time to invest in yourself and your growing business. Attend workshops, webinars, or conferences to stay updated on the latest trends in elopement planning. Read books, listen to podcasts, or enroll in courses to develop new skills. By continually learning and improving, you position yourself as an expert in your field.
Revamp your online presence
Your website and social media channels are often the first point of contact for potential clients. Use the quiet months to audit and refresh your online presence. Update your portfolio, create fresh content, and engage with your audience. Make sure your online presence tells a compelling story that aligns with your brand and appeals to your ideal clients.
Plan and prepare for the busy season
The slow months offer the gift of time to prepare for the bustling wedding season ahead. Update your contracts, streamline your workflows, and establish efficient systems that will enable you to better serve your clients when the busy season arrives. Focus on laying the groundwork for a successful year, and your dedication will shine through in the exceptional experiences you create for your clients.
With all of that being said, here is the first quarter in numbers:
- In the first 3 months of 2023, we booked 28 weddings.Â
- The amount of sales we made these three months was $39,076.19
- The biggest cost for us each month is permit fees. However, we paid NO permit fees during the first 3 months! Woot!
- Our other two main expenses are to the florist and baker:Â $824.
- That brings our total expenses to $824 (not taking into account fuel costs, on-the-road food, taxes, and other incidentals).
- Total profit in First Quarter of 2023 comes to $38,252.19
The slow months in the elopement business are not a setback, but rather an opportunity for growth, reflection, and improvement.
By embracing these quiet times, we can transform our businesses, foster meaningful connections, and prepare for the future. Remember that the only way to do great work is to love what you do.
So, let’s cherish the slow months and continue to build elopement planning businesses we are proud of!
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