A Weekend To Remember: The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists 2024 Conference
Hello, Style & Grace Cleaners community! We're thrilled to share our recent adventure at the 2024 Association of Wedding Gown Specialists Conference, hosted by the wonderful team at Dublin Cleaners in Dublin, Ohio. From Thursday to Sunday, we immersed ourselves in a world of learning, networking, and growing alongside fellow industry professionals with the hope of implementing our exciting findings for our clients back in Toronto. Check out what we got up to below:
Thursday: Mix and Mingle Reception
The conference kicked off with a delightful reception hour, where we had the opportunity to connect and converse with fellow association members and vendors, including some new members from around the world. It was a fantastic way to break the ice and set the tone for the days ahead.
Friday: Insights and Exploration
Friday began with an incredibly enlightening plant tour of Dublin Cleaners, providing us with a firsthand look at their operations and best practices. We were inspired by their commitment to excellence and attention to detail, especially surrounding their wedding gowns, of which they clean and preserve hundreds per year.
Following the tour, we gathered for a thought-provoking talk from Wedding & Party Network on the importance of brand reputation in our industry. It served as a valuable reminder of the impact our reputation can have on our business's success.
The day concluded with a fun and productive strategic planning activity led by the Steering Committee, which included our very own Nadine and Brittany from Style & Grace Cleaners, Kyle from Janet Davis Cleaners, Vikki from Omaha Lace and Jan from Jan’s Professional Dry Cleaners.
Saturday: The Learning Continues
Saturday began with an amazing session on leveraging ChatGPT in our businesses, presented by Kristina Stubblefield, and was followed by a great talk about reaching Gen Z brides through TikTok, presented by Emily Rockotte. We left feeling inspired to explore these new avenues for reaching and engaging with our audience and using technology to maximise our time and efficiency.
For the Style & Grace Cleaners team the unexpected highlight of the morning came as our owner Nadine was honoured with the association’s Barth Award of Excellence. It was a proud moment for our whole team and a testament to Nadine's dedication and leadership in the bridal space.
In the afternoon, we engaged in round table discussions with fellow members and experts, exchanging ideas and insights on a variety of topics. The day concluded with a lovely meal shared amongst friends and colleagues.
Sunday: Education and Inspiration
Sunday began with an even more jam packed morning sessions as we learned about the power of routes with Jim Gilligan and learned how to master reviews with automation from Gary Fine & Mickey Goldberg. These sessions provided valuable insights into how we can further optimize our operations and enhance our customer experience.
The conference concluded with a showcase of the best show and tell ideas from members, leaving us feeling inspired and motivated to implement new strategies in our own business.
As we bid farewell to Dublin, Ohio, we returned to Toronto with renewed motivation and excitement for next year's meeting in Fort Worth, Texas. We're grateful for the friendships forged, knowledge gained, and memories made at this year's conference, and we look forward to applying what we've learned to continue delivering excellence to our clients.
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