Abbie Marsh’s ice-cream bikes are adding a very sweet and charming dimension to the wedding feast. And proving that if you want to get hitched without a hitch, best keep it local.
Since 2008, regional wedding shows at Bournemouth International Centre and Bournemouth Pavilion have been giving local wedding and event experts a stage to show off their services to a regional audience of around 3,500.
What makes these shows such a draw for the local community? “The most important thing when you’re planning a wedding is to make sure everything goes like clockwork on the day,” says Nicola Coney, Senior Event Coordinator and organiser of the BIC Wedding Show, “Things rarely go 100 per cent to plan, but going local makes it easier to do the research, talk to the suppliers and their customers, and feel confident you’ve made the right choice.”
Who’s going to do what, when and how? Will they be there on time, look the part and provide exactly what they promised? There’s always a temptation to go for the big names in your price bracket, but the more reliable choices are often closer to home and better value for money. It’s much easier to validate local businesses, who regularly provide a personal service to local customers, in terms of provenance, integrity and their experience at local venues.
So it comes as no surprise to discover that when it comes to the wedding show circuit, wedding planners, suppliers and customers often feel more comfortable at the more focused regional and local events.
There are lots of things to get right and go wrong, so what most people want is to tick the boxes with confidence, move on and look forward to a stress-free, perfect day. We asked Brock Ice, a local business in the New Forest, to tell us how it’s done – with ice cream, passion, a vintage bicycle – and a big smile.
Bicycles are a big part of the New Forest experience for tourists, so why not use them to start a business? That’s what Abbie and Tyrone Marsh thought when searching for something to replace their 10-year long relationship with the popular Foresters Arms pub in Brockenhurst. “After we gave up the pub, married and and returned from a three-month honeymoon touring Europe in our campervan, Tyrone spotted a picture of a vintage bike in Daltons Weekly – and came up with a brilliant idea. Why not pedal around the New Forest peddling New Forest Ice Cream? That was it. I’d always wanted to run my own business and ice cream just happens to be my favourite treat, so I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble persuading customers to buy from me.”
So one summer’s day in 2008, off went Abbie on her newly acquired vintage Brock Ice bicycle. She was an instant success. That same day, the organiser of the local Moviola event stopped her, bought one and asked her to come along and sell ice cream during the interval. How refreshingly vintage – just the perfect fit for Abbie’s vintage look!
It wasn’t long before Abbie was being invited to pitch up and sell her wares at local fetes and shows. “I was definitely onto something,” says Abbie. “So I put out the idea that I could do the same for other events – like private parties or weddings.”
It was the weddings that clinched it. Abbie’s romantic style was just perfect for weddings. And with so many colours and flavours, she found it really easy to theme her stall to match the wedding.
Brock Ice sources its products locally, from the award-winning New Forest Ice Cream, one of the top independent ice cream manufacturers in the UK. They make their ice cream from the finest fresh dairy cream, whole milk and other natural ingredients to make an award-winning range offering more than 40 different flavours. “We’re spoilt for choice really,” says Abbie. “It’s great because I can appeal to all tastes and all ages – which is what you get at a wedding. It’s all completely nut-free, most of the ice cream flavours are gluten free, the sorbets are dairy-free – and I can do a vanilla for diabetic customers. We can sell a fudge flavour made with the local ale, Old Thumper, celebration ice creams flavoured with champagne, mulled wine or sambuca. – and for weddings, Peach Bellini, after the famous cocktail.
“Weddings are by far the most popular events for us. We can turn up to serve ice cream as the bridal party and guests emerge after the ceremony, as a welcome treat for arriving guests or as a dessert. Ice cream also makes a good partner at the evening buffet, barbecue or hog roast. For winter weddings, we’ve got ‘warmer’ alternatives like mulled wine and mince pie.”
Abbie’s now dusting off and repainting her favourite Pashley bicycle ready for her appearance at the next BIC Wedding Show at Bournemouth International Centre. “Most of my clients come from referrals, so it’s the only big promotion I do. I’ve been going there every year in February since 2009. It’s a busy show covering the whole Hampshire and Dorset region. As well as showing my business off to would-be wedding customers, I find I also get lots of referrals from other exhibitors.”
Today with two vintage bikes and a cart, and a spare room full of freezers, Brock Ice is now doing around 40 weddings and several other corporate and private events a year, mostly during the summer months. Asked what her plans are for the business, Abbie says that she’s not looking to turn her small business into a big one.
“We’re a family business. We all help each other. When I started, I was the only ice cream bike. You see quite a few now, but since there’s more than enough work to go around, I’m not worried about the competition – it just proves that we’re giving customers something they want.”
That’s right Abbie. Imitation is, after all, the sincerest form of flattery.”
If you’ve a wedding coming up and fancy a sample from the Brock Ice bicycle, you’ll find Abbie on Stand MF3 at the BIC 2015 Wedding Show, open all day 6-8 February, 2015.
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Notes to the editor
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues – a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives. With over 2.5 million visits a year and over £31 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. In 2013/14, BH Live hosted 423 shows, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets, clocked up 1.8 million leisure centre visits and welcomed 88,000 conference and exhibition delegates which contributed over £45 million to the local economy.
About Bournemouth International Centre (BIC)
Bournemouth International Centre is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council. Hosting over 45 conferences and exhibitions a year and with licensed capacity for 10,000 delegates, it is the South Coast’s largest and most versatile event venue. The centre attracts major players in the public and private sector, bringing millions of pounds into the local economy through employment, business tourism and partner organisations.
For further press information:
Elizabeth Symmons
PR & Corporate Communications Executive, BH Live
Elizabeth.Symmons@bhlive.co.uk
01202 451866