Hi Brides-to-be,

In July 2024, I had an incredible opportunity to visit the Essence of Australia headquarters in Kansas City. We arrived late Saturday night, and by Sunday, we were immersed in the excitement of a launch party with cocktails and delicious food. One of the highlights of the evening was meeting a bridal boutique owner from Ireland and the inspiring Martine Harris, CEO of Essence of Australia. Martine was very humble and passionate about her design and staff. With over 400 employees in the company, it was clear after meeting them that they genuinely love their jobs.

Seeing the headquarters firsthand was an amazing experience, and now I can put a face to the staff I connect with during calls. I also had the pleasure of meeting the custom design team, and really enjoyed finding out that every room in the building is named after an Australian band. 

I attended some workshops with an American shop owner and discovered that our approaches to running our businesses are quite different. Their model is much more sales-driven, with bridal appointments lasting 2 to 2 1/2 hours, focused on making the sale. In contrast, my appointments are usually 1 hour long and my sales are driven by my knowledge as a seamstress. When I mentioned that I don't take appointments more than a year in advance, they were horrified. They are already selling dresses to brides getting married in 2026 and 2027! 

This experience gave me a lot to think about in terms of how different bridal businesses operate. While I'm not as focused on sales as they are, I pride myself on being truthful, meticulous, and dedicated to my clients, and I hope these values will carry me through these challenging times. 

Connie