10 Years of Hosting the La Crosse Wedding Expo 🎉
For this blog post, in honor of our 10 Year Anniversary of hosting the La Crosse Wedding Expo, we’d like to share the Top 10 Things We’ve Learned these past 10 years.
Here are the owner, Deb’s thoughts (in no particular order):
Trust your gut. “One of the most challenging yet important moments in the Expo’s history has been convincing myself and coworkers that the paying customer in the event of the Expo was the exhibitors. The best thing for us to do in the name of small businesses was to elevate everyone we could and be all-inclusive. Practicing collaboration over competition is the best for all couples and businesses alike.”
Change is important for growth. “Some of the best decisions have been made based on the feedback from the participants. It is important to remember things change, and a process or policy that was once in place for a valid reason may need to be adjusted. I have always had the philosophy that anyone may be a future customer and any communication we have with them matters. We want to grow with our customers’ wants and needs.”
Perseverance is sometimes something you need to really dig deep to find. “Over these years, I have donated so much time and treasure to nonprofits and deserving requests, employed hundreds of people, invested in real estate, started new businesses, published industry magazines, and provided a venue for people to gather and celebrate. It has not always been easy to keep going, but the end result always makes the determination worth it.”
Find joy in what you do. “Knowing we have had a special part of tens of thousands of people’s special days is a great feeling. The best result in making this possible is the many people ready and willing to work with me to make sure all these things could succeed.”
Always be prepared to pivot. “There was a time when I would guard my plans/answers and not tolerate anyone who wanted to copy me. Once I realized being copied was a compliment, and asking for feedback, as hard as it was at times to hear, only helped us grow and develop and things became much easier. Attempting to control only the things you can, letting go, and forgiving those who have wronged you helps you stay positive and not focus on the negative.”
Micromanagement is not an effective way to get things done. “Employing and managing people is one of the hardest jobs out there as well as one of the most rewarding positions to be in. If every team member is empowered to run their portion of their responsibilities as if the business was their own, the result is better for everyone. People leave people, not jobs, and if they like the people they work with and their job, turnover stays at a minimum.”
Feedback is love. “We cannot be everything to everyone. Keeping in mind that even with the best intentions and always trying to do the right thing, feedback is crucial for moving forward. By reflecting on the criticism received, we are able to make improvements that are better for all involved.”
Take care of those on your team. “Without the team and the customers, we do not have a business. I believe this has been my philosophy for a very long time and I do not think that has changed. If anything, my team has helped me become stronger, as we empower each other to set boundaries. The customer is not always right, and we all deserve to be treated the way we treat others.”
Take the risk. “The amount of money we were spending to do other expos and shows, where we had little or no control, coupled with the inquiries to publicize event service businesses to brides rapidly increased each year. When we found out the Expo, which we had been involved with for years, was for sale, some quick math told me that over a period of seven years, we could recoup our investments. This allowed us control and for other small businesses to have their product and services elevated to their target market.”
Relationships last a lifetime. “As we celebrate the 2024 La Crosse Wedding Expo, I am reminded that 2026 signifies my 30-year anniversary in the wedding industry. It is still surreal. While I have done many other things within that time frame, by far the largest professional accomplishment has been the relationships made with the businesses in this area and beyond.”
