Wedding Website Update: Same Old Story, Just like the Wedding Business

Posted on February 7, 2013 Written by 4 Comments

By Paul Pannone

It’s the time of year when wedding websites run their Best of part of their program to hype themselves and try to convince wedding vendors how important it will be to renew their advertising for another year. Members of the Wedding Water Cooler are active this week punching holes in some of the most culpable websites saying they’re weary of listening to the same old song and dance. Many of the Coolies say they’re amazed at how many wedding vendors still support some of the tired old sites, despite repackaged pitches and revamped pages.

 

According to Wedding Water Cooler experts the lies are all the same but they’ve gotten better at lying.

 

 Wedding website whistle-blower, David Fuhrer updated his 2011 statement denouncing the practices of some websites which, in his view, remain relatively unchanged for the past five-years.

“What is remarkable is the lack of innovation upon websites such as The Knot, My Wedding, Wedding Wire. It is remarkable in the sense that a complete lack of value-incentive-propositions have been derived that increase the value of what they offer vendors. From a vendor foundation perspective all of the aforementioned haven’t evolved an iota, they remain circa 5 years ago. This is the fundamental rationale for why my perspective was, and has remained unchanged, that these sites possess a finite shelf-life. In essence their “roads” do not lead to “forks”, they lead to “brick walls”. The concentration has been wholly upon the user-experience & augmenting that experience. The means by which they have augmented is via pilfering off of each other.

The Knot was not a “review” website, it was an exposure website, they now offer user reviews. Wedding Wire was a review website, yet they now offer personalized websites. My Wedding was a personalized website offering that now has reviews. Instead of innovating, they are all supposedly enhancing, via broadening their offerings to the demographic with what can be found on the other websites. They then, pass along, these value-add’s, to prospective vendors in the form of “yes” we do that & even better & more intuitively than other competing sites,” he told the Water Cooler.

The website discussion stemmed from an ongoing story involving a 20/20 segment that got the wedding business to stand up and announce they’re not a bunch of crooks, opposing the way they were depicted in the segment. In an ongoing eWedNewz investigation about wedding marketers in the business, wedding websites and the fairy dust purported are part of the same story, giving vendors misinformation on how to treat consumers.

Chris Evans was interviewed for the 20/20 segment and mentioned his Boot Camp approach to selling. Evan’s business view of marriage is discussed in the Wedding water Cooler and singled out due to the attention it gathered in the 20/20 segment. Members of the group along with other wedding sources being interviewed for an upcoming eWedNewz story say the hard selling and lack of bedside, emotional approach is what’s giving the wedding business a bad name.

According to the Wedding water Cooler discussions wedding marketing and websites need to undergo a major overhaul to appeal to new wedding consumers who no longer turn to websites and older methods– replaced by Social media and referrals from their friends.

 

What do you think?

eWedNewz

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2013

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Anti Fairy Dust, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, The Internet, The Knot, Uncategorized, wedding industry, Wedding Marketing Scams, Wedding Vendors, Wedding Water Cooler, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

The Wedding Business Rocked by Market Facts and Truth

Posted on December 27, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

In the closing days of 2012 the wedding business is buzzing because of newZ involving major companies who are bailing out of the business, bringing investors in to shoulder the financial burden and responsibility of trying to run a profitable business in the shrinking wedding market.

Yesterday’s story, The Wedding Business in Worse Shape than First Thought, drew reaction in all social media formats and plenty of private response from industry veterans who would like to dispute the newZ– but can’t.

 

 ”I’ll also bet that few if any of the existing US manufacturers close this year or next, the number will represent an insignificant percentage of the total. Is there anyone out there who will take the bet?” says Jim Duhe.

 

Jim Duhe gave his usual response in his own style saying;

 ”Your story isn’t a cheerful launch pad for the start of the new year. Certain aspects may or may not be accurate but I’m not alone in refusing to accept that the sky isn’t falling — at least not quite yet.  The average age of couples who wed has increased each decade since the turn of the 20th century.  When I joined the bridal industry in the 1970′s, we advised advertisers that “brides are older, better educated, and more affluent than ever before in history.”  It was a documented fact in the 1970′s.  It was equally true in the 1980′s.  It was true in the 1990′s.  It was true in the first decade of the 21st century.  It’s still true today.

However, age, education, and affluence don’t necessarily mean that a death knell is replacing wedding bells or that traditional weddings no longer represent a preferable life style choice for a meaningful number of Americans. Research conducted by Bridal Guide and all other publications as well as by prominent on line bridal sites like The Knot indicates that the number of destination weddings that take place in foreign countries is substantial.

Because foreign countries are not required to report the number of US citizens who marry to the Departments of Health, Education, and Welfare, it’s difficult/virtually impossible to determine the exact number of Americans who marry annually.   Therefore, it’s difficult/virtually impossible to verify that the total number of American weddings has declined substantially in recent years.  Regardless, many people who select to have a destination wedding continue to purchase bridal apparel in this country. They still create wedding gift registries in this country.

Long range business success requires much more than keeping up with trends. It’s essential to run one step (or more) ahead of them.  Conceptually, the challenges to bridal retailers created by online bridal apparel sales in 2013 aren’t  dramatically different from those offered by direct mail purchases (JC Penney, Sears, et.al.) in the 1980′s.  However, direct mail bridal apparel had an Achilles heel that online retailers don’t have: return policies.  The vast majority of online sales are generated by companies that are headquartered in foreign countries.  These companies can’t be forced to comply with US laws regarding merchandise returns.

Because the majority of China/direct sites offer positive consumer reviews (that may or may not be complete fabrications) consumers are lulled into a sense of security in their buying decision.  Unfortunately, prominent “money back guarantees” offered by China/direct companies generally are unenforceable.  There’s little if anything that a consumer can do to secure a refund for merchandise that is unacceptable or substandard.   Unlike complaints posted on Google, Wedding Wire, and others sites, there is no place for a consumer to publicize a complaint about a China/direct web site purchase.  It’s a perfect storm for China/direct sites:  on site comments are consistently positive; there’s no way for anyone to complain publicly.

Frankly, I don’t have answers to many of the questions that plague independent bridal retailers or tuxedo rental specialists.  However, that doesn’t mean that answers don’t exist.  It may well be that the number of existing independent bridal apparel stores will suffer from attrition. That’s a distinct possibility.  However,  I’ll bet you that new bridal retailers will launch in 2013, 2014, 2015, and beyond.

Seasoned bridal industry experts predicted that there were far too many bridal manufacturers — that there would be a “fall out” in the 1970′s — in the 1980′s — in the 1990′s — in 2000.  These predictions continue today. I’ll bet that there will be more bridal brand names in 2013 than there were in 2012.  There probably will be even more in 2014.   I’ll also bet that few if any of the existing US manufacturers close this year or next, the number will represent an insignificant percentage of the total. Is there anyone out there who will take the bet?”, said Duhe.

Duhe’s statement started strong but seemed to fall asleep by its end. So did that of Christine Boulton, who called to discuss the story. Boulton proposed there are clients who are doing well in the wedding business. We never suggested there weren’t. But Boulton could not argue there are fewer wedding industry professionals doing well than there are doing terrible. In fact none of the discussions could challenge any of the central points of the story. Simply put, the increasing challenges against a shrinking (traditional) market will not lead to a happy ending.

The story dates back to 2009 when companies like David’s Bridal sought positive data, wanting to know when the wedding industry would recover. No such information existed but through hocus-pocus hypotheses (guessing) there would be a spring-back in the wedding business. To date it doesn’t seem likely.

An ongoing eWedNewz investigation concludes the data failed to include variables, including the languishing economy that will continue to plague a full recovery in spending for traditional wedding goods and services. The results, exacerbated by growing competition in all areas of the wedding business, dilutes the ability to command higher prices from consumers. The decline of over four years with no end in sight resulted in decisions by major wedding companies, including owners of David’s Bridal, Leonard Green and Associates, to divest themselves from a majority stake in the wedding business.

The statement is supported by an overnight shift since the story released. An ongoing poll feels the wedding business is deteriorating (29%), stuck in neutral (15%) or is yet to reach the bottom (13%).

What do you say?

 

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, Breaking Newz, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Magazines, Bridal Shops, Bridal Shows, catering, Data, DJ Disc Jockeys, Economic news, eWedNewz, eWedNewz Exclusive, Florists, General News, GLBT, Invitations, Jewelry, Limousines, Men's formal wear, Officiants, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Paul Pannone, Photography, Poll, retail, The Groom, The Knot, tuxedos, Uncategorized, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, Wedding Water Cooler Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Wedding Business in Worse Shape than First Thought

Posted on December 26, 2012 Written by 9 Comments

By Paul Pannone

An ongoing eWedNewz investigation shows the wedding business is in worse shape than anyone is willing to admit. Information and interviews across all channels of the business, including the part reported to be the most important; the dress business, shows severe damage caused by the collapse of the economy in 2008 and a slow recovery through 2011 and most of 2012.

Like brides, dresses come in all colors, not just white. Tuxedos have been replaced by black suits, navy and tan colors and everything you can imagine.

eWedNewz watches trends that includes the longer wait of men and women deciding to get married. The average age for first-time marriages continues to rise.

“The median age for a man’s first marriage was 28.2 years in 2010, up from 26.1 in 1990. The median age for a woman’s first marriage was 26.1 years in 2010, up from 23.9 in 1990,” according to www.infoplease.com  sourcing  U.S. Bureau of the Census information.

According to Census information the combined average age of men and women since 1960 has increased nearly 21% and has continues to rise world-wide. World trends show an even greater increase to resisting marriage. In the UK the average age for men and women hit 30 years this year citing Pew research while exploring probable causes.

Shedding tradition and traditional values continues to affect the number of marriages but also the formality of those weddings that do take place. Stylish, non-traditional weddings express the thoughts of couples who no longer want to be told what to wear, how to feel or plan their day.

Trends and shifts from normal wedding business finds those who plan to stay in the business are forced to change their operations to adapt to the shrinking numbers. Khalilah Olokunola of A Boxed Event and member of the Wedding Water Cooler shared her thoughts in the controversial forum:

“Many vendors I know have tripled up-not fine tuning their business to meet the demands of the changed times but instead (add) a whole new business . IT seems acceptable in some circles to be the baker, designer, director,planner and videographer- and no I’m not making that up there is a business that offers that.

Gone seems the days where you have to have skill and experience before you could add a title to your name. If you truly want to be successful you have to work hard, hustle hard and accept constructive criticism from more seasoned veterans. Geez I do all the time , I’m a coolie.

With brides and other “socialistas” decreasing their average budgets we all find ourselves redeveloping our business plans and offerings but still maintaining our integrity by offering the better bang for your buck,” says Khalilah.

Khalilah and others say the wedding business is flooded with services and products, challenging the pricing ability for vendors who seem to increase faster in numbers than the market shrinks. Plainly put there is no more need or room for another DJ, gown manufacturer, limousine company or any of the products to create traditional weddings. There are even too many catering facilities who’ve been forced to service a broader spectrum of events to keep rooms, kitchens and workers busy.

While investigating the story about the wedding dress business we’ve uncovered a growing number of outside sources infiltrating the business forcing manufacturers to take action. Recent advancements in the fight against pirates who’ve crippled the wedding dress business received no credit from skeptics who say the damage is too deep, too wide-spread and can never return to normal levels.

Across all channels eWedNewz watches and reports the changes taking place at places like David’s Bridal down to the smallest bridal stores who say they’re ready to throw in the towel. Decisions to sell majority equity stakes to investors like the one involving Jim’s Formal Wear become more and more common-place. Store closures servicing the wedding business are expected to increase, as manufacturers and suppliers tell eWedNewz they can no longer manage growing debt because accounts can’t meet their obligations.

Newsstand sale of bridal magazines continues to plummet giving some ammunition to pundits who say digital is killing print. But a closer look by eWedNewz shows grandfather wedding websites like TheKnot.com are also taking a pounding. eWedNewz exposé  stories about scandal, sexual debauchery and reported mismanagement of resources culminated in the death of morph digital/print companies like Get Married. So-far the rebirth of the company failed to come close in recapturing the glory the original launch created before the crash in 2008, now that the wedding business is older and wiser about the fairy-dust that surrounds them.

Planners of all sizes, including celebrity, say they’re looking to exit the business or expand into a broader range of services, no longer able to cut costs or charge enough fees to make it worth their while. Even “Wedding Market Gurus”, A.K.A, snake oil salespeople, are finding it difficult, if not impossible to charge speaking fees they did just a few short years ago. Most avoid our questions and keep pounding their drum of bullshit, acting as though everything is fine, while others see the changes and become alarmist, claiming to have the answer in some seminar or class.

Even hopefuls who thought the addition of Same-sex marriages to the wedding market, backed by the leader of the free world, say the events has so-far been just a small blip on the screen.

Olokunola again gave her view on how some of the troubles could be fixed:

“When the people who govern wedding magazine, trade shows and associations get real maybe– just maybe– it’ll get better. It’ll make it harder for scammers to scam and players to play and when we stick together as a whole. I believe a shift will take place towards an up direction and its there that the industry can begin again,” she said in the WWC forum.

Christine Boulton of Think Like A Bride told the Cooler how some companies are successful in the very tough business climate.

“There has been some serious restructuring in our business over the last four years. Business owners have changed their thinking; they are going after new markets and they have stepped away from an attitude of arrogance. In short, they stopped thinking of themselves as “artist” and begun to see themselves as businesses.”

Endless discussions clearly show the end of the wedding business as it once was. Is it time to stop discussing and look at what the information clearly tells us?

 

In an ongoing poll 32% of respondents so-far say the wedding business is rebounding but slowly.

What do you say?

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Guide Magazine, Bridal Magazines, Bridal Shops, Bridal Shows, BRIDES Magazine, catering, Celebrity, Data, DIY, DJ Disc Jockeys, Economic news, eWedNewz, eWedNewz Exclusive, Florists, General News, GLBT, Invitations, Jewelry, Limousines, Martha Stewart, Men's formal wear, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Paul Pannone, Photography, Poll, Promotions, Publications, Research, retail, Social Media, The Groom, The Internet, The Knot, Trade shows, tuxedos, Uncategorized, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, Wedding Industry Events, Wedding planners, Wedding Water Cooler, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

The Week of September 24th in Review

Posted on September 30, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

 

By Paul Pannone

 

New information involving Wedding Wire made top newZ this week as the company continues to struggle to grow in a shrinking wedding market and constant complaints about how they rate vendors. Critics of Wedding Wire including Samantha Goldberg continue to bang the drum against the website listing company that is coming under attack by a rising number of (paying) vendors who find it difficult to communicate with the company.

Despite the criticism Wedding Wire received more funding from Spectrum Equity investors in the amount of $25 million dollars for a limited stake in the company.

Wedding website weasels continue to scatter as the war waged by the American Bridal and Prom Industry Association gains speed and support by wedding industry members. A meeting with Steve Lang, founder of the association, in Chicago says he’s pleased with the results so far but admits there is a long road ahead.

70% of an ongoing eWedNewz poll so far feels Lang’s efforts pose a fair to excellent chance of winning the war, while 30% feel the chances are poor to impossible. In a separate poll 95% of eWedNewz respondents say they support a general wedding industry organization that is well run, offers benefits and is not expensive to join.

FLOW formal’s Yellow Bow Tie campaign added new products to their efforts, including top seller, SWAGGER. Major wholesalers are picking up on the campaign and are asking their key accounts to do the same.

Consumer brides shopping for their 2013 weddings are researching the cost of wedding gowns, driving up an eWedNewz  story about the Knot we ran last June.

 

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, eWedNewz, Men's formal wear, retail, Social Media, The Groom, The Internet, The Knot, The Week in Review, tuxedos, Uncategorized, Wedding Charities, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, Wedding planners, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , ,

Businesses Staying Away from Advertising on Websites Besides Their Own

Posted on July 23, 2012 Written by 3 Comments

By Paul Pannone

An ongoing story investigation about the re-launch and revamp of wedding websites uncovers additional information and how businesses are investing money in their own websites and Social Media campaigns. Part of the reason given includes better control and watch over web traffic and not having to deal with complicated sales agreement with advertising websites.

 

An ongoing poll so-far shows little or no interest in the Get Married relaunch and advertising on third-part wedding websites.

 

In May The Knot admitted how growing competition hampers growth. The monthly addition to the online resources available to consumers– namely wedding couples– is having a negative impact due to information overload.

“Who do you believe? With all the information out there, how does a consumer navigate and once they find a resource how can they be sure the information they’re reading is accurate?” asks Jim Duhe of Bridal Guide Magazine.

A current poll shows over 35% of respondents say they’re no longer supporting advertising websites. The rest of the poll shows a negative response towards the Get Married relaunch and all other wedding websites.

In January eWedNewz reported an uptick in wedding business activity. Business owners we spoke with said they planned to upgrade their advertising and marketing, investing in their own, in-house, advertising and marketing programs. Recent revisit and updates are consistent with the early 2012 reports.

 

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2012

 

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Anti Fairy Dust, eWedNewz, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Poll, Promotions, Social Media, The Internet, The Knot, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , , ,

No Surprise; David’s Bridal on the Auction Block

Posted on June 10, 2012 Written by 14 Comments

By Paul Pannone

The New York Post piece about Leonard Green putting David’s Bridal up for sale comes as no surprise, as most investment companies know when it’s time to leave. Guided strictly by hard data and facts the decision reportedly comes from the realization the formal wedding business is failing.

 

The growth of David’s Bridal has slowed over the past few years and now its owners are getting out.

 

Sources, including the respected Pew Research data center, suggest irreparable aversion towards marriage in the way it’s traditionally viewed. While there are probably just as many unions that include simple, civil, same-sex, interracial, destination, etc. marriages, to walk down the aisle and run to a catering facility for freezer-tasting meals– for $30,000+– is no longer the standard of today’s couples.

According to sources familiar with the story David’s and its owners are not blind to the facts and series of events leading to their decision to sell. In the past year we’ve seen the Knot run to China looking for a broader market, admitting the competition in the United States makes it difficult, if not impossible to grow. The wedding business saw the predicted failure of Get Married, despite efforts by their owners to try to find creative ways of sustaining a profitable level of operation.

The steady decline of newsstand magazine sales, particularly Brides, who remains in the business despite shrinking advertiser support and a recent revamp of their magazine cover, shows a level of tenacity. But even with thicker, more eye-appealing paper and a slightly different cover, a shrinking magazine can only mean shrinking dollars. Followers of Brides say they’re amazed at how they still exist. Some say they’re on a deathwatch.

Currently, an ongoing eWedNewz poll shows 55% of wedding business respondents say they are keeping their heads above water, hoping for things to get better. But with David’s owners decision to dump the retailer and the steady lament of wedding business owners coupled together leads to one conclusion for the business-minded: get out.

Sources say David’s and its owners are following the move of Martha Stewart who recently abandoned their direct stake in the wedding business, selling their stock in Wedding Wire to a group called Catalyst. Martha took the money, ran and forged a deal with the review website, funneling local traffic to them.

Last year David’s shut down Priscilla of Boston, yielding to the high cost of operating the stores and a less willing consumer to spend for merchandise they offered. Sources told eWedNewz the company was encouraged by the growing interest and success of their Vera Wang partnership, banking that the savings of shutting down Priscilla stores and higher ticket prices delivered by Wang products would improve margins.

Even David’s Bridal that leveraged off-shore manufacturing in China to cripple their competition has found they’re losing sales to online pirates that bypass them and all American gown makers, leaving them at a price disadvantage, as consumers go direct.

While at another news format in 2010 I learned, David’s was hopeful at some flippy-floppy numbers and reports by the Wedding Report that encouraged them to stay in the game. Encouraging numbers that rose after the steep decline in wedding planning and spending during the 2008 market collapse that now falter,  growing indicators say a wounded wedding market will not rebound, as hoped.

Crediting a close collaboration between David’s Bridal and Men’s Wearhouse, Vera Wang tuxedos were added for the 2012 season. Online searches for Vera Wang products, including tuxedos, are high on the scale this season, behind Calvin Klein, only because of their longstanding track record in the category.

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Magazines, Bridal Shops, Calvin Klein, Current Events, Data, Economic news, eWedNewz, General News, Men's formal wear, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Paul Pannone, Publications, Research, retail, Same-sex marriage, The Groom, The Knot, tuxedos, Vera Wang, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, wedding websites, Wedding Wire Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Average Price of a Wedding Dress Holds Steady

Posted on June 4, 2012 Written by 4 Comments

By Paul Pannone

Depending on whose data you believe the national average price of a wedding gown continues to hover around $1,100 dollars.

 

 Pick your poison; the Knot survey results shows the national average price of a wedding dress is inline with other data sources we’re watching.

According to a recent survey conducted by the XO Group reported by Fox Detroit the average sum spent by an American woman on her wedding dress is $1,121. The average price now reported doesn’t differ much from a study conducted by  BRIDE Magazine’s last year when they reported an average wedding dress cost is $1,289; a 20% increase over 2009 when the average cost was $1,072.

eWedNewz continues to follow how online sale of wedding dresses impact the price of dresses in retail store establishments. Most retailers say they’re watching the average wholesale price rise slightly but cannot pass the increase to their customers to absorb the higher cost.

Discussions with planners in metropolitan markets scoff at the number ($1,100) saying their clients spend more on “toilet paper” for their weddings than the national dress average.

eWedNewz continues to watch over companies that supply data to the wedding business that sometimes isn’t flawless.

 

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, catering, Data, DJ Disc Jockeys, eWedNewz, facts and figures, Florists, General News, Invitations, Jewelry, Limousines, Ongoing Story Investigation, Research, retail, The Groom, The Internet, The Knot, Travel, tuxedos, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , ,

American Bridal and Prom Industry Association gets ready to Launch

Posted on May 30, 2012 Written by 4 Comments

By Paul Pannone

eWedNewz has learned of a new association of wedding industry manufacturers and retailers that will include all segments of the business. The organization is the result of a raging war against off-shore sources poaching American consumers and disrupting the wedding gown business.

eWedNewz has learned the support for the new organization garnered in a relatively short time  led to the expansion beyond the dress business. Plans to roll out and run the organization begins this week, as the board assembles to discuss details.

 

Will the IBMA be replaced by the ABPIA?

 

According to sources familiar with the story the board will include Bob Cahoon of Maggie Sottero  and other notable wedding industry members, including decision-makers from the Knot. Retailers for the board are also being considered and finalized at the first meeting this month.

The head of the group, Steve Lang, confirmed the launch and promised a more in-depth interview when all the facts are assembled. eWedNewz readers want to know what happened to the extensive coverage surrounding the war on Chinese websites that began back in March.

“You won’t be disappointed by waiting a week to get all the details, after we work them out at our meeting,” said Lang in an email exchange.

Since returning from a trip to China, visiting 27 factories that make products for Mon Cheri the flow of information was halted. Lang came under criticism by other manufacturers trying to launch their own offensive campaigns against piracy. But with the newZ of the new organization and a war chest of over a half-million dollars, evenly split between hard cash and media commitment value, sources feel all the other attempts will be consolidated under the new organization.

In past discussions Lang told eWedNewz he is disappointed in the IBMA’s lack of performance since its relaunch in late 2011. Since the start Lang told eWN he envisioned a broader wedding industry organization that could include benefits of membership to all segments of the business, not just dresses.

What do you think?

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: bridal, Bridal Dresses, Bridal Magazines, catering, Florists, General News, Invitations, Jewelry, Limousines, Men's formal wear, Officiants, Ongoing Story Coverage, Photography, Poll, Promotions, Proms, retail, Social Media, The Groom, The Internet, The Knot, Travel, tuxedos, Uncategorized, Wedding Dresses, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , ,

The Week of May 14th in Review

Posted on May 20, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

The Week of May 14th saw Wedding Wire finally acknowledge the mounting pressure and bad press generated by its review system.  After months of silence Sonny Ganguly of Wedding Wire responded to a relentless assault from Celebrity Event Planner, Samantha Goldberg, citing the policies of Wedding Wire.

Goldberg interceded for a bride who used a vendor listed on Wedding Wire and lost money from the unscrupulous  planner.

Goldberg is not the only critic of Wedding Wire; more advertisers come forward to tell their story pointing out the flaws of the website’s review and rating system.

The challenges and difficulties facing all directory listing wedding website formats were listed by theKnot in their latest filing.

 

 

eWedNewz

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2012

Filed Under: Advertising and Marketing, Ongoing Story Coverage, The Knot, The Week in Review, wedding industry, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Existence of Flawed Wedding Websites Questioned

Posted on May 17, 2012 Written by 2 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

The wedding world was rocked by an exchange between Samantha Goldberg and Wedding Wire talking about brides who were scammed out of money by listed vendors on the website. The topic of culpability is being discussed among Wedding Water Cooler members after Wedding Wire’s Sonny Ganguly gave a corporate statement citing the rules, regulations, restrictions and the zero downside or legal liability for what’s being called a flawed format.

 

Sonny Ganguly and many other website owners look at the business side of the business, leaving the emotional part to automated systems.

 

Goldberg has become the voice speaking out against all wedding websites that run under algorithms, sans the human and emotional touch that governs every other aspect of wedding planning. Wedding Wire has suddenly become the latest website called out for fostering the emotional exchange of opinions without (adequate) human intervention , according to opposing sources.

Goldberg and other members of the Water Cooler group are currently discussing the business part of the Wedding wire business. It’s widely known that the product and service the website provides is personal, emotional and highly subjective. That’s where Wedding Wire gets caught between a rock and hard-place.

In a shared email to Ganguly, Samantha Goldberg points the finger of blame claiming the company’s slow reaction to take off a listing makes them an accomplice to criminal activity.

“Just so that we are clear, you have been given documented proof currently on your site, by a legitimate and ethical company that you are supporting a criminal offense. You would be considered an accomplice to a federal offense for allowing this to continue. This is a very serious matter which could cost Wedding Wire a substantial amount of money should some of the families come together and file a civil lawsuit against the entire WW brand and sister sites such as Wedding Bee, Project Wedding, E Harmony and various others. You’re now allowing for this continuation of a crime which can also bring other issues in which it would be improper to suggest the outcome,” according to Goldberg.

An ongoing eWedNewz investigation dating back to 2010 that includes major websites headed by corporate-minded leaders suggests they’re out of touch with small businesses and brides. Most dismiss the idea saying they employ “experts” that can relate with both. If that’s the case why are there so many problems?

Discussions in the Water Cooler say successful websites of the past including theKnot and Wedding Wire were the forerunners of today’s Social Networking systems. They were a place where brides could share ideas before and leading up to the wedding. But with the rising impact of Social networking– namely Facebook– the increasing use of Social media and ability to connect so easily to information, goods and service has rendered community websites less powerful.

“People connect only to friends and family they trust on Facebook. There is little or no risk that the information they get will hurt them, as was the case with exchange between Samantha and Wedding Wire.

Wedding Wire is an indirect competitor.  Regardless,  I’m objective enough to be realistic about an evaluation of the way in which it operates.  Initially, I thought (like everyone else) that review sites offered a brilliant concept — until it was proved that they had no reasonable control of listings or reviews.  On one hand, there’s only so much that any media can do to protect the public against fraud.  In the case of paid listings, most media demand advance payment from first time advertisers.  Depending upon the amount of money involved, the media company may even require credit references.  This helps to eliminate some of the problem.

On the other hand, it appears that Wedding Wire and other review sites cut corners to turn a profit.   I don’t know how these sites generate/obtain their free listing information.  However, there’s little question that they should be a lot more careful in their selection process.  There’s also no question that review sites should be held accountable for fabricated reviews — both good and bad.

It has been argued that controls to confirm the validity of a listing and review veracity — both good and bad — would make sites like Wedding Wire far less profitable.  Some have stated that review sites couldn’t exist if they were forced to comply with strict compliance codes.  If that’s case, maybe these sites shouldn’t exist,” according to Jim Duhe.

 

What do you think?

Poll results will be given on all eWedNewz channels. Feel free to re-distribute this information.

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2012

Filed Under: Anti Fairy Dust, Celebrity, eWedNewz, General News, Ongoing Story Coverage, Ongoing Story Investigation, Poll, Social Media, The Internet, The Knot, wedding industry, Wedding planners, wedding websites Tagged: , , , , , ,
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