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Bridal Retail Success Academy

Harrogate 2024

As part of the Bridal Week Harrogate experience, boutique owners have the opportunity to get free business advice from the best and brightest leaders in the bridal industry. The Bridal Retail Success Academy provides retailers with expert advice on how to run a successful business, through the dedicated Business Advice Clinics and Seminars.

BRSA

The Business Advice Clinics host a series of one-to-one sessions with our experts covering a range of topics, including marketing, PR, social media and sales. Visitors are armed with new skills to implement in their own bridal businesses, in our free-to-attend tailored sessions.

 

The Seminar programme features some of the best and brightest experts in the industry, supporting buyers in all aspects of running a successful business. These live talks are aimed at helping you boost your business and give you an unbeatable opportunity to take home more than just new stock.

Our Experts

Bridal Week Harrogate provides boutique owners with exclusive opportunities for professional growth through our educational programme, the Bridal Retail Success Academy. Meet our distinguished panel of experts, each holding wealth of knowledge and experience in the bridal industry and ready to help you to pave the way for the future of bridal retail.

Megan Garmers
Stacy Hughes
Diana McMann
Maria Musgrove-Wethey
Abi Neill
Ella O'Keefe
Julia Smith

Our Business Advice Clinics

This Spring, our leading industry experts will provide one-to-one advice sessions across Sunday and Monday, ready to provide targeted support for boutiques of all sizes and answer your most pressing questions. The Bridal Retail Success Academy clinics will take place at the back of Hall B and are tailored specifically to what matters to you the most.

MEGAN GARMERS

SUNDAY, 10:00 - 13:00, CLINIC 2

MONDAY, 14:00 - 17:00, CLINIC 2

Through her companies, The Bridal Masterclass and Streamline Social, Megan helps connect businesses with other businesses, couples and resources to change their trajectory and go further faster. Her 25 yrs of experience in the industry combined with her love of learning fuels her passion to de-mystify social media so you can get in front of the right people who can’t wait to find your business.

To book a session with Megan click the button below. If all of the slots are full make sure to turn up on the day as there will be walk-in appointments available, but be quick as these will book up very quickly once the show opens.

BOOK A SESSION WITH MEGAN

 

STACY HUGHES

SUNDAY & MONDAY, 14:00 - 17:00, CLINIC 1

Stacy Hughes is a seasoned professional in the bridal industry, currently serving as the Director of Business Development and Customer Success at Maggie Sottero Designs. With a passion for fostering success in the world of bridal, Stacy oversees the Primed for Success program, a comprehensive initiative designed to elevate the performance of bridal boutiques globally. Stacy dedicates a great deal of time to travelling the world to visit and coach boutiques. Through personalised guidance and strategic insights, she empowers retailers to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of bridal fashion successfully. Stacy's coaching creates a lasting impact on the businesses she collaborates with and fosters a culture of continuous improvement within the industry.

Stacy's sessions are available as walk-in appointments so make sure to head to the Bridal Buyer stand in Hall B once the show opens to book your slot, but be quick as these will book up very quickly!

 

DIANA MCMANN

SUNDAY & MONDAY, 10:00 - 13:00, CLINIC 3

Owner of multi-award winning, The Little Pearl Bridal Boutique, mum of 3 and marketing and customer experience mentor for her mentoring business Badass Mama. Our resident Bridal Buyer Online expert, knows what it takes to stand out in today’s bridal world. She is super passionate about sharing her learnings of owning a bridal boutique and 17 years of knowledge on how to promote a brand without burning out! Diana works with fellow ambitious wedding business owners and mum-preneurs to build a strong and engaging marketing presence with a customer experience that creates lasting memories.

To book a session with Diana click the button below. If all of the slots are full make sure to turn up on the day as there will be walk-in appointments available, but be quick as these will book up very quickly once the show opens.

BOOK A SESSION WITH DIANA

 

MARIA MUSGROVE-WETHEY

SUNDAY & MONDAY, 10:00 - 13:00, CLINIC 1

Maria Musgrove-Wethey is a “Bridal Lifer”! Opening her first boutique in 1997 she expanded to 6 from the South East to South Yorkshire with a turnover of over £2 million. She still owns The Pantiles Bride and Go Bridal in Tunbridge Wells. In 2020 she launched Get Savvy Coaching with Christine Skilton (whose digital agency helps businesses to grow from their social media campaigns), specialising in sales, start ups (and even selling up!!) has earned her the nickname “Maria the Mentor". If you want to find out about how to get more appointments and close more sales then book to see her on Sunday or Monday at the Business Advice Clinics. 

To book a session with Maria click the button below. If all of the slots are full make sure to turn up on the day as there will be walk-in appointments available, but be quick as these will book up very quickly once the show opens.

BOOK A SESSION WITH MARIA

 

ABI NEILL

SUNDAY & MONDAY, 14:00 - 17:00, CLINIC 3

Learning how to survive, thrive and generate profit is key to success in our sector! Industry influencer, renowned UK retailer and industry columnist Abi Neill, will share with you her secrets of success in bridal gained over the last 18 years. With 29 business award wins and multi-site store ownership experience across a team 14 strong, you can brainstorm and talk candidly with Abi on any aspect of what it really takes to own, manage and grow a successful bridal store in the UK today!

To book a session with Abi click the button below. If all of the slots are full make sure to turn up on the day as there will be walk-in appointments available, but be quick as these will book up very quickly once the show opens.

BOOK A SESSION WITH ABI

 

JULIA SMITH

SUNDAY, 14:00 - 17:00, CLINIC 2

MONDAY, 10:00 - 13:00, CLINIC 2

Julia Smith of UNVEILED Creative Agency is a respected bridal branding, communication and media expert. 
Julia and her team manage award winning wedding platform Brides Up North alongside The LOVE Shows consumer event portfolio, glossy print title UNVEILED Magazine, The LOVE Letters tabloid newspaper and UNVEILED Network wedding supplier community. UNVEILED Creative Agency provides bespoke mentoring, copywriting, art direction, social media management and marketing advice to the wedding industry. Visit Julia at the show for a complimentary brand or social media audit to help perfectly align your marketing output to attract your ideal clients and create committed customers before they even walk through your door.

To book a session with Julia click the button below. If all of the slots are full make sure to turn up on the day as there will be walk-in appointments available, but be quick as these will book up very quickly once the show opens.

BOOK A SESSION WITH JULIA

 

 

Our Seminars

Our seminars are designed to inspire and educate boutique owners, offering invaluable insights into the ever-evolving bridal industry. Led by seasoned professionals, our sessions cover a diverse range of topics, from building strong connections with your customers to effective business strategies and innovative marketing techniques. Stay ahead of the curve by attending our dynamic seminar series at Bridal Week Harrogate.

 

To register your interest in our seminars, please fill out the form below:

 

I'M INTERESTED!

 

Attracting the Contemporary Bride: marketing strategies for sales, growth, and boutique awareness

STACY HUGHES

12:30PM ON SUNDAY 24TH MARCH

Explore powerful techniques for increasing sales, driving business growth, and elevating visibility for your boutique! We will dive into the current market and uncover key factors that today's brides consider when selecting their perfect boutique destination and gown.

Social Media Content Masterclass: elevating your bridal brand

MEGAN GARMERS

4:30PM ON SUNDAY 24TH MARCH

Getting, keeping and converting attention on social media is a full-time job. Thinking of all the right things to do and say on your social media can give you a headache -  not to mention shooting and editing it correctly. Come learn the strategy, creative editing tips, and simple ways to level up your brand.

Elevated Stylist Strategies: innovative keys to boost sales and build strong connections

STACY HUGHES

12:30PM ON MONDAY 25TH MARCH

Discover techniques to build unique connections with brides and ensure appointments are always an unforgettable experience! We will reveal advanced strategies for stylists to effectively boost sales.

Zero To Hero: how to wow your target audience with your branding

ELLA O'KEEFE

4:30PM ON MONDAY 25TH MARCH

Branding is so much more than just your logo! It’s the glue that combines all elements of your business.
In her seminar, Ella will cover the fundamentals of branding, giving you key insight and take-away actions to help you become a branding hero. She’ll dive into the three key areas of branding – your Mission & Values, Brand Identity and Tone of Voice and make sure you understand how each area will help your business. Ella will guide you on how to boss each section so that you have a consistent and impactful brand that marries up across each touchpoint on your buyer’s journey.