Wedding Business Solutions

Too often we put obstacles in our customers’ way and add friction to the sales process. Join me for a great discussion with my good friend, and fellow member of the National Speakers Association, Shep Hyken. Shep is one of the leading customer service experts in the world, and a down to earth, nice guy. Through his many books and trainings, Shep helps companies, big and small, create a better customer experience. Listen to this new, bonus dialogue episode, for ideas on how you can reduce the friction to create a better customer experience for your couples and customers.About Shep:Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert and the Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations. He is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and has been inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in the speaking profession. Shep works with companies and organizations that want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. His articles have been read in hundreds of publications, and he is the author of 7 books and his newest book I’ll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again and Again will be released September 21, 2021. He is also the creator of The Customer Focus™, a customer service training program that helps clients develop a customer service culture and loyalty mindset. (Now available as an online/web-based training program!)www.Hyken.com  Social Handles: Twitter: @HykenLinkedIn: Shep HykenIf you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

I got an email that had the words ‘income’ and ‘outcome’ in the subject line and that was the spark for this episode. In my sales training and speaking I always say that you should be selling the results of hiring you, not your list of services.Listen to this new 9-minute episode and see how changing what you talk to your couples and customers about can lead to more bottom line profits for you!If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Asking “why” is a great way to learn more, except of course if it’s your 4-year old asking “why” repeatedly! But there are many ways to interpret “why”, including “why not?” or “why should I?” In this 7-minute episode I’m going to help you see the many ways to look at the word “why” and show you which versions can help you and your customers the most.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

For my Series: ”The Pivot” I’m inviting wedding and event pros to come and talk about how and why they made their pivots, into the industry, out of the industry and within the industry. For this episode, I invited my good friend, and fellow speaker, Rob Ferre, to talk about his pivot from being a wedding and event DJ, to MC, game show host and more. Rob is still doing weddings and events, but he’s also finding a new niche to supplement his event work. Listen to this new bonus dialogue episode for ideas on how you can find your pivot.About Rob:Rob Ferre is an entertainer, speaker, DJ, and game show host from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. He founded his entertainment company Life of the Party in 2007 after training for 3 years in the family entertainment capital of the world, Orlando Florida. Where he worked for Disney, Universal Studios, and Nickelodeon as a game show host and DJ. He has been speaking to and entertaining audiences for over 20 years. He is one of the most sought-after speakers in the wedding and event industry. Over the last three years Rob has spoken to audiences live in Italy, Armenia, Dubai, and all over the continental United States. In the last year, he has presented to over 100 audiences virtually. During the 2020 season, he was the Halftime Game Show Host for the NBA's Utah Jazz. Rob is a proud member of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association, American Disc Jockey Association, and the National Speakers Association where he serves as the Past President of NSA Mountain West. Links: RobFerre.comIG: @RobFerre If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

This is a quote I read on the Forbes.com website by Micah Solomon – “The answer is Yes. Now, what was the question?” It’s such a powerful way to approach the customer experience. However, too often people’s first reaction is to say “no”, or to resist anything that’s outside your normal procedures. “No” can be a powerful word in sales, but in the customer experience you want to default to “yes” whenever possible, and even sometimes when the ‘yes’ the customer wants isn’t possible. Listen to this new 12-minute episode and find out how to have less confrontation and happier customers.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

I was consulting with a client and his sales team the other day and I asked them to tell me, in 7 seconds or less, what it is that they do. After stumbling over their words they realized that they couldn’t do it. It’s called an ‘elevator-pitch’ because the theory is that you have to be able to explain to someone what you do, while in an elevator, before they get to their floor. Many people think that their elevator-pitch can be 30 seconds. That’s way, way too long. Listen to this 9-minute episode and find out how to craft your elevator pitch so you’ll be ready, whether at a wedding show or on line at the grocery store when someone asks “What do you do?”If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.com Please be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Nil Saltuk has created a unique niche within the wedding and event world, providing products for inclement weather. In this new episode for my series “The Niche”, Nil and I discuss how she created her niche, or rather how it came to her. All of us are presented with opportunities, not all of us have the vision to see them, or the will to capitalize on them. Listen to this new episode and hear how you can capitalize on the opportunities that come your way, so you can carve out your own niche!About Weather or NotWeather or Not is a perfect example of a niche business. Focusing only on personal accessories to keep events protected from Mother Nature, Weather or Not is very focused on their mission: help people celebrate comfortably and safely by providing resourceful solutions delivered with integrity.President & Owner, Nilufer (“Nil”) Saltuk, was inspired by the custom of hospitality from her Turkish roots. As a former wedding planner, she designed events where the weather could really ruin her plans. Thus, she was inspired to start the same trend here in the United States.Weather or Not has you covered - in sun, rain, cold - whether you need to protect your guests during their experience or help them just get from point A to point B.Contact & Links to find out more about Nil and Weather or NotWebsite: weatherornotaccessories.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeatherOrNotAccessoriesPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wonaccessories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weatherornotaccessories/Email: info@weatherornotaccessories.comIf you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

In my over 25 years in and around the wedding and event industry I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs. We’ve survived economic downturns, the 9/11 tragedy, the housing crash and now the pandemic. Some of you have been around for all of these, and some of you got in later. Every time there’s a downturn there’s talk about the “new normal.” The thing is that it’s not just a new normal it’s the next normal. Listen to this 11-minute episode and see what I mean and how you can use this to gain a new perspective.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

One question I get asked over and over in my consulting and sales training is how to stand out and show how you’re different than your competitors. However, when I dig into how you’re presenting yourselves, I see a lot of the same things. You’re selling ‘what’ you do and not ‘why’ they should hire you. Very often I can take someone’s web page or marketing piece, remove that company’s name and replace it with a competitor’s, and that competitor can fulfill everything written. So, want to know how to sell your ‘why’? Listen to this 10-minute episode and find out.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

For this bonus episode I invited my good friend Ron Ruth to join me to talk about the customer experience. Through Ron’s speaking and training, and his lifelong addiction to all things Disney, Ron has some great perspective on how you can create a better experience for your couples and customers, right from the start. Join us for this discussion that was so compelling, there’s going to be a part II later!With over 15 years experience in corporate management and 30 years as a small business owner in the wedding industry, Ron Ruth is celebrated as a fun and inventive Customer Experience Design speaker and business coach. Ron teaches entrepreneurs How to Speak Fluent “WOW!,” the language of the high-spending, loyal, raving customers they want most…a language that translates into never competing on price, again.Ron Ruth, Keynote Speaker | Customer Experience DesignWorkshop & Brainstorming FacilitatorRonRuth.comJoin Ron On These Social Channels:https://www.facebook.com/ronruthkc/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronruth/https://twitter.com/ronruthkchttps://www.instagram.com/ronruthkc/If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Are you going to Wedding MBA? Use the promo code - Alan - to save $20 off your tickets, at www.WeddingMBA.com And don't worry, if you can't use your tickets this year, they're transferrable or you can hold them to use next year. I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com