Case Studies

Success Story Sparkle and Wow

With a background in project management gained in the education, sales and PR sector, Sonia Abrams was well placed to start her own wedding planning/ event management business.

In 2006, having gained a professional wedding planning qualification, she established Sparkle and Wow, offering a bespoke wedding planning and consultancy service including sourcing a perfect venue and other essentials like photographers, transport , caterers and entertainment. Like many new business owners, starting trading was a sharp learning curve for Sonia and she was eager to find out more about how to manage her finances and promote her services effectively, so she booked herself onto Enterprise Enfield’s business seminars to boost her skills.

Armed with the information she needed, she was inspired to enhance her marketing and start looking for a professional office in order to grow the business. She decided to take advantage of the advice sessions available with one of the agency’s Business Advisers, Liz Gjoni, to get help with raising the £40,000 she needed to cover the costs of marketing and a new premises, she explains:-

“I needed to grow and have a professional base. Marketing and advertising needed to be stepped up so potential clients could see the value of enlisting professional help in planning their most important life stage to date.”

Over a number of sessions, Liz was able to help Sonia produce a viable business plan to raise finance under Enterprise Enfield’s Access to Finance Programme. The Programme, which is funded by the London Development Agency and European Regional Development fund, offers step by step assistance through the process of raising over £10,000 of finance including advice on appropriate sources of finance and hands-on help with the preparation of a business plan.

Sonia says, “Simply knowing that you can call Enterprise Enfield or your Adviser to ask question is great. Liz was a wealth of knowledge and nothing was too much – I learnt a great deal about how to target customers and get the most from my advertising/ marketing budget and now it is really paying off. As I sit in my office in leafy Cockfosters I have to pinch myself as I living my dream!”

Still under 2 years old, Sparkle and Wow has had considerable success and is already working in partnership on a regular basis with established companies such as Champneys, Bang & Olufsen, John Lewis as well as some amazing luxury venues.

The business runs regular luxury wedding shows at hotels in London and Hertfordshire - a recent event organized at the West Lodge Park Hotel in Enfield attracted over 900 visitors! Sonia’s vision is to grow the business into a leading wedding planning company that guarantees a professional, personal and efficient service with a separate event management business – catering for other types of celebratory events such as proms and parties.

For more information about Sparkle & Wow including dates of forthcoming wedding shows contact Sonia on 0845 234 0528
www.sparkleandwow.co.uk