Our First Dance

Podcast vows to make song choice easy at weddings

Sentinel Business - Monday, October 27, 2008

BRIDES-TO-BE considering which song to pick for their first dance could get a helping hand with a new podcast marketing campaign.
New business OurFirstDance.co.uk is releasing a fortnightly internet download featuring tips on ideal wedding songs.

The Newcastle company, which is a sister of replica record specialist Gold Disc.com, plans to cash in on the podcasts by offering a gold disc presentation of couples' special songs as wedding gifts.

Managing director Dave Breese, who launched the new venture at the National Wedding Show earlier this month, said it is already popular. The entrepreneur is keen to capitalise on rising spending on weddings, after the average cost broke through the £20,000 barrier this year.

Mr Breese said: "People attend wedding shows when they are 18 months or two years away from the event and three-quarters don't know what they will have for their first dance."We plan to release a new podcast every two or three weeks suggesting new songs.

"Eventually, we will create a list of podcasts so people can choose the type of songs they like. The next one will have songs from the movies, and then we will have different types of music, like swing." The first podcast has already been launched, featuring five tips on creating a memorable first dance.

It also includes a rundown of the current most popular songs after the company conducted an internet survey of more than 2,000 people and found Amazed by Lonestar was top of the list. Tunstall-born singer Robbie Williams' hit song Angels was sixth.

The average total spend on a UK wedding, including the stag night and honeymoon, has risen by more than £5,000 in the past five years, according to You And Your Wedding magazine. The price now totals £20,273, compared with £14,643 five years ago.

Gold Disc.com, which is based on Beattie Avenue, has been trading since July 2003 and broke the £100,000 turnover barrier for the first time last year.
The company gets most of its sales from the corporate market and for gold disc gift presentations of number one songs that coincide with key dates like births and marriages.

It sells framed seven-inch gold discs for £69.99, but Mr Breese said revenues have been boosted since it started to offer a three-inch disc –the Nano – for £34.99. That move won the company a contract with promoter Live Nation, which resulted in its two biggest orders – supplying 850 discs for a Boyzone concert and 1,100 for VIP guests watching The Osmonds.

Marketing consultant Julie Grant, of Hanley-based Plinkfizz, said the podcast will help the business to reach its core market. She said: "Podcasts are definitely something that more businesses will be using in the future."I think this is a good idea. Over the past five years, the number of weddings has gone down but the average spend is growing.

"This is a very fertile product area and podcasts will be absolutely valid because the average age of someone getting married is about 28, and people of that age are generally internet savvy."