General Tips, Your Event Career
By Sloane Seguin Read Comments (1)
Are you thinking of starting your own event planning business this year? If so, you’re in luck! This is a great time to enter the industry, as the demand for event planners continues to grow (especially post-pandemic).
However, one of the biggest challenges new companies face is finding a niche market to focus on. But don’t worry – that’s where we come in!
In this blog post, we’ll share 11 niche ideas for event an planning business that are sure to help you stand out from the competition and attract more clients. So, read on and get inspired!
How Do I Make My Event Planning Business Stand Out?
As you launch your career in this lucrative industry, you’re probably wondering how you can promote your event planning business in a way that’s unique – especially when compared to other planners in your area. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face when starting your own business is making sure your company stands out from the competition. After all, there are plenty of other businesses out there that offer similar services.
This is where having a niche (or more than one) will not only come in handy… It could very well be your best friend!
What is a Niche in Event Planning?
So, first thing’s first: what exactly isa “niche“?
In the context of event planning, it simply refers to a specific market or audience that you target your services towards. For example, if you’re a planner who specializes in weddings, your niche would be couples getting married. Alternately, if you focus more on corporate events, your niche would be businesses holding meetings and conferences.
Why Event Planning Niches Are Important
There are several reasons why having a niche is important for aspiring event planners:
- Niches can help you stand out as an event planner. If you’re one of many planning experts competing for business in the same market, having a niche can help you stand out from the crowd and attract more clients.
- It allows you to focus your efforts. When you know exactly who your ideal client is, you can then tailor your marketing and messaging to appeal to them specifically. As a result, it’s much easier to attract new business and generate revenue.
- Having a niche can make you more money. Because you’re catering to a specific demographic, your services will likely be in higher demand – and as a result, you can charge more for them.
WhatIs The Target Market for Event Planning?
Before you can identify a niche, you first need to understand your target market. Simply put, this refers to the group of people you’re trying to attract with your services. If you’ve never had to define your target market before, this blog article by Wix is sure to help!
In the world of professional event planning, there are two main types of target markets:consumersandbusinesses. Consumers are people who hire planners to organize events, whereas businesses refer to companies that hold events. Within each group, there are several sub-groups, such as (but not limited to):
Consumers
- Wedding planners – couples getting married
- Corporate event planners – businesses holding meetings and conferences
- Social event planners – birthday parties, baby showers, etc.
- Celebrity/lifestyle event planners – red carpet events, award shows, etc.
- Event planners for special needs – weddings or other events for people with disabilities
Businesses
- Event planners for trade shows – companies that organize trade shows and conferences
- Meeting planners – businesses that need a planner to help them with their meeting or conference planning
- Wedding planners – couples getting married
- Corporate event planners – businesses holding meetings and conferences
- Social event planners – birthday parties, baby showers, etc.
- Celebrity/lifestyle event planners – red carpet events, award shows, etc.
As you can see, there are many different types of event planning niches to choose from… And we haven’t even scratched the surface yet! So, no matter what your interests or skills are, there’s sure to be a niche out there for you!
11 Niche Ideas for an Event Planning Business That We Swear By
Now that you understand who your target market is, it’s time to brainstorm some potential event planning niches for your company. Here are 11 awesome ideas to get you started…
1. Wedding Planning
The wedding industry is expected to be BOOMING in 2022, with an estimated $72.02 billion spent on weddings! That’s a lot of money up for grabs. So, if you’re looking to specialize in a particular type of event, wedding planning is definitely a great option.
Plus, there are tons of different types of weddings to choose from: elopements, LGBTQ+ weddings, micro weddings, hybrid weddings, beach weddings, barn weddings… the list goes on and on! If you’re creative and have an eye for detail, wedding planning could be the perfect niche for your event planning business.
Interested in becoming a globally-recognized International Wedding Planning Professional™ (IWPP®) in as little as 3-6 months? Learn all about QC Event School‘s self-paced, online Wedding Planning Course and enroll today!
2. Destination Wedding Planning
Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular, with couples choosing to get married in exotic locations all over the world. If you’re passionate about travel and have a knack for event planning, destination wedding planning can be the very niche that’ll take your business to the next level!
The great thing about this particular niche is that it offers plenty of room for you to get creative. For instance, you can specialize in:
- Finding venues
- Coordinating transportation
- Arranging catering
- Booking hotels, etc.
Thus, if you’re searching for ideas for an event planning business and want to do something a little different than the average planner, destination wedding planning is definitely worth considering.
Guess what? QC also offers a specialized course entirely dedicated to destination wedding planning! Learn all it about here!
3. Private Event Planning
Do you have a knack for event planning, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of weddings? Then private event planning might be right up your alley – and make the perfect niche for your business!
Private events can include anything from birthday parties and baby showers, to anniversaries and retirement celebrations. And since these types of events usually only involve close friends and/or family members, you can afford to be a little more selective with your client base. This means that you can charge higher rates while still maintaining a manageable workload!
Plus, there are tons of different ways to specialize in private event planning. You could focus on corporate events, social events, or even special needs events. The sky’s the limit!
Learn more about QC Event School’s Event Planning certification course and International Event Planning Professional™ (IEPP™) designation here!
4. Luxury Wedding and Event Planning
If you’re looking to target high-end clients, luxury wedding and event planning is a great niche to consider. This area of the industry requires a lot of attention to detail, as well as an understanding of the latest trends in fashion, event decor, and catering.
As a luxury planner, you can expect to charge higher rates than the average planner. However, with those rates comes the promise of exclusive events for wealthy clients who are looking for the BEST of the best. So, if you have a knack for luxury and want to work with affluent people, this could be the perfect way to make your business one of a kind – and super popular!
Become a luxury planning specialist in less than 6 months by training at home with QC’s !
5. Corporate Event Planning
If you’re someone who loves a good challenge, then corporate event planning could be the perfect niche for your business. This area of event planning can be extremely demanding, as planners are often tasked with putting on events that range from small meetings to large-scale conferences. Sometimes, you’ll even be tasked with organizing multiple functions at the same time.
But don’t let that scare you! Corporate event planning is also extremely rewarding, especially as you gain experience working with big brands. In fact, many companies are willing to pay top dollar for planners who know how to handle complex logistics and deliver a memorable event experience.
So, if you’re looking for an exciting way to take your business to the next level and stand out as an event planner, consider specializing in corporate event planning. You won’t regret it!
QC Event School offers a comprehensive Corporate Event Planning certification course that’ll help you get started. Enroll today and become a certified International Corporate Event Planning Professional™ (ICPP®)in just a few short months!
6. Event Decorating
It’s a common misconception that all event planners are naturally event decorators, too. But in reality, this is a skill that not everyone possesses. As such, if you’re interested in styling events (in addition to organizing them), and you think you have what it takes to make things look picture-perfect, then event decorating will be a match made in heaven for your business!
Event decorating can involve anything from selecting table linens and centerpieces, to arranging flowers and decorative pieces. As more and more planners enter the market, it’s becoming increasingly important to have an eye-catching style that sets you apart from the rest. Plus, this extra skill will eliminate the need for clients to outsource a separate vendor for their event decorating needs – which means more money in your pocket!
Seriously, if you’re looking for a way to make your business stand out, consider specializing in event decorating.
Add to your qualifications and become an International Event Decorating Professional™ (IEDP™)by enrolling in QC’s self-paced, online Event Decor Course today!
7. Floral Designing
Flowers are an essential part of any event, and as such, it’s no surprise that floral design is one of the most popular specialties in event planning. After all, who doesn’t love a beautiful bouquet or arrangement to brighten up their celebration? Not to mention, this niche pairs perfectly with event decorating!
As a graduate of QC Event School’s Floral Design Course, you’ll officially be an International Floral Design Professional (IFDP). Your focus will be on creating fresh flower arrangements for events. This particular specialization also involves working with clients to come up with unique ideas, sourcing flowers from local markets, and assembling arrangements at the venue itself. It’ll also be your responsibility to incorporate flowers into preexisting decor schemes, as well as selecting flowers that are in season and within budget.
Learn more about QC’s Floral Design Course here!
8. Virtual Event and Wedding Planning
Over the course of the pandemic, in-person gatherings and celebrations were temporarily paused. In their place, and in order to continue special occasions as planned, people instead turned to virtual events instead. This is a trend that is only going to continue, as people become more and more comfortable with the idea of hosting and participating in online events.
Virtual planning services allow you to work with clients all over the world, without ever having to leave your home office. In fact, many brides are now choosing to plan their entire weddings online, from start to finish. And since most couples already have a general idea of what they want their big day to look like, your job as a virtual planner will be to help them bring their vision to life by sourcing vendors and creating a timeline that outlines all the necessary steps involved in putting together a successful event.
Although virtual events have become extremely popular over the past two years, not all planners offer this kind of service. Thus, you can potentially curb the market in your area, as well as open up your business to a GLOBAL audience!
Become a master of virtual event planning in less than a month by taking QC Event School’s Virtual Events Training one-unit mini course!
9. Festival and Live Event Planning
Festivals and live events have become a staple in today’s society. From music festivals to foodie fests, there’s something for everyone out there! Not to mention, as the pandemic comes to an end, the demand for these types of events is going to hit a drastic spike.
This means that if you’re an event planner who loves all things creative and unique, this niche is definitely for you!
Your main focus as a festival or live event planner will be on putting together large-scale celebrations that appeal to a wide range of people. This could involve anything from selecting the perfect location and booking bands and vendors, to creating marketing materials and overseeing logistics on the day of the event.
Plus, with festivals gaining even more popularity every single year, there’s plenty of opportunity to get crafty and come up with fresh, original ideas that have never been done before!
Enroll in QC’s Festivals and Live Events Workshop and earn your International Festivals and Live Events Planning Professional™ (IFLP®)certification + designation!
10. Travel and Tourism
As an event planner, you have the unique opportunity to help people create unforgettable memories. What could be more memorable than planning a vacation or special trip?
Travel and tourism events are becoming increasingly popular, and are expected to make a comeback in 2022, as more and more people are looking to explore new destinations and try out different activities. Whether it’s a wine-tasting tour in Italy or a safari excursion in Africa, there’s definitely no shortage of interesting ideas when it comes to travel and tourism events!
Your job as an event planner in this niche will be to work with clients to come up with a concept for their trip, source vendors, create a budget, and oversee all the details leading up to the big day. Plus, since you’ll already have knowledge about the different destinations and activities available, you’ll be in a great position to help your clients choose the perfect trip for them!
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, consider taking QC’s Travel and Tourism Course. In just 3-6 months, you’ll learn everything you need to know to become a certified International Travel and Tourism Consultant (ITTC™)!
11. Promotional Event Planning
We’d be seriously dropping the ball if we didn’t include promotional planning in our list of event planning niches! After all, promotional events are a great way to market your own business – and as a professional planner, you have the perfect skill-set required to put together successful ones for others, too!
A promotional event could be anything from a grand opening party to a product launch celebration. The key is to create an experience that will leave a lasting impression on attendees. This can involve anything from creative decor and staging, to interactive activities and delicious food and drinks.
Furthermore, with so many businesses vying for attention these days, it’s more important than ever to help them stand out from the competition (as you well know by now). A well-executed promotional event is the perfect way to do just that – and it means that there’llneverbe a shortage of clients looking to book you and benefit from your expertise!
If you’re interested in learning more about this niche, consider taking QC’s Promotional Event Planning Course, and add the title ofPromotional Events Specialistto your resume!
Food for Thought
We hope that this article has given you some ideas for different event planning niches you can explore for your business this year. Remember: the key is to find a niche that you’re passionate about and that aligns with your skills and experience. So, get creative, do your research, and most importantly, have fun!
If you’re still not sure which niche is right for you, or if you want to learn more about any of the certification programs mentioned in this article, don’t hesitate to reach out to our amazing Student Support Team. They’re alwayshappy to help!
Thank you for reading! 🙂
Set your event planning business up for success by starting your career as an internationally-certified industry expert. Enroll with QC Event School today and launch your company in less than 6 months!
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Mwai Yeboah is the founder of the destination wedding planning boutique, Love From Mwai, located in the United Kingdom. As the lead planner and designer, she helps luxury and lifestyle clients from all around the globe turn their weddings and events into immersive experiences! It’s with great honor and excitement that we welcome Mwai to […]
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As long as you can stay calm under pressure, think critically about details and timelines, and remain willing to learn, you’ll never be too old or too young to become a successful event planner.
