How to Boost Sales with a Brand Activation

Corporate events can be complex and a challenge to plan but with a clear planning timeline the most complicted corporate event can come together smoothly and result in flawless execution.

Budget

A budget is the first thing that is required for any event. Without a budget you can't get anywhere. Firm up a budget with the client early on, and do your best in researching and estimating revenue and costs and fill in with exact numbers when you have them.

 Secure a Date

If this is a recurring event, start thinking about the next year’s as soon as this year’s event comes to a close. As a matter of fact for most major corporate events, the planning process begins about a year out. When you are wrapping up with your team, discuss the date and changes in expected attendance. Similarly, consider how adjusting the date would affect attendees. Keep an eye on competing events and take a careful look at the calendar to see that you aren’t scheduling during spring break or other widely-celebrated time periods.

Venue

 Once you have settled on a date, it is time to secure a venue. For the most part, venues can have very particular scheduling requirements so contact your preferred venue as soon as you have a secure date. If this is a venue you have used before, they may let you schedule a year out. A new venue may not be able to schedule more than six months out. Also, it is a good practice to contact a runner-up venue and possibly a third.

 Speakers

Speakers and special guests should also be contacted a year in advance for several reasons. If the speaker is popular in your area, they may be in demand and could be booked for several months at a time. Also, if they charge considerable fees you will want to put this in your budget ASAP and possibly look for a sponsor.

The same rule holds true for entertainment. If you are booking a band or DJ, begin speaking with them a year in advance and have a back-up plan in place in case they are unavailable.

Vendor

For a corporate event or conference, you can typically book a caterer 4-5 months before your event date. It is a good practice to take your time doing your vendor homework. Start talking to your top 3 caterers and try to attend an event they are catering to taste test their offerings. Also, use this as an opportunity to interview other clients of the vendors and solicit recommendations. Ordinarily, most caterers will require a signed contract and a deposit to secure your date.

Invitation Strategy

Develop an invitation strategy. If you decide to go with printed invitations, plan at least 2-3 months before the event to send out invitations. Proofs and edits take time so make sure you have plenty. If you are using an online invitation platform or direct email, it is still smart to plan out 2-3 months before the event. Think about sending a “save the date” teaser that gets people excited, an invitation and a follow-up for people that haven’t responded.

Make sure your invite has a clear call-to-action, asking people to RSVP and explain exactly how to do so, whether it is “clicking here”, replying via email or RSVPing via phone.

 Follow this planning timeline for your next corporate event and you will be surprised at how seamless a large, complex event can be. For more helpful corporate event insights please give Strategic Event Design a call.

35 Gift Bag Ideas for Your Corporate Parties $25 to $1,000

Gift bags are a great addition to any corporate event. Here to keep your corporate gift-giving on point, we have put together our favorite gift bag ideas for all budgets. These gift ideas are the most creative, sought-after and coveted items that aim to impress just about anyone.

We do not participate in affiliate marketing and have no incentives with the below companies. They’re just great items we think your corporate VIPs will love.

Gift Bag Ideas under $25

1. Corkcicle Stemless: This 12 oz. stainless steel tumbler keeps your favorite beverages hot for 3 ours or cold for up to 9 hours. You can add a company logo or event insignia.
2. Pudus Lumberjack Slipper Socks: As soon as we saw the cozy Sherpa lining and the classic red plaid we were transported straight to a log cabin.
3. Charger Case: A durable, neoprene case that will safely hold all charging cords, ear buds and even a cell phone. Perfect for travel and large handbags.
4. Record Coasters:  Add retro flair with these record coasters. Made from reclaimed records these will be a hit with any fan of the turn-table.
5. Merlot Infused Coffee: Impress the oenophile and the coffee-lover with these uncommon beans. Caffeinated and non-alcoholic.

Find More Gift Ideas Here: https://www.strategiceventdesign.com/single-post/2017/12/18/35-gift-bag-ideas-for-your-corporate-parties-25-to-1000

Company Holiday Party Games

Ahhh…the beloved, or dreaded, company holiday party games are being planned. Either way one looks at it, every holiday season, you are bound to be caught up in the festivities and play or plan one of these games… whether you like it or not!

Relax, Strategic Event Design is on your side. Not only do we offer a free guide to planning company holiday parties, we have provided a list of some of the best games to have in a corporate environment. Each game can be “tweaked” according to the level of silliness and frivolity that you feel comfortable with.

Name that Holiday Song

This holiday game is as simple as it sounds, and you can make up whatever rules you like. Research old and lesser known holiday songs on-line (Amazon.com is a great place to find some). Download a few “stand-by’s” as well. By taking the time to organize the music first, it will actually save time at the party, as there is no rummaging through a pile of music to find songs to play. Do try to choose a few songs that have music only (no vocals), making it harder for people to guess, or to be used as a tie-breaker. Play a clip of each song and have people guess the song and artist. You can play a song and let the entire group chime in, or, with a bit more planning, put people into two teams, have two bells ready, and set up the game “Family Feud” style. Idea for the prize? A box-set of holiday music is perfect for this game!

Employee Holiday Trivia

Ask via email or in person for employees to send you 2 holiday trivia facts about themselves that others might not know (remind them not to tell others what they are sending to you!).  Ask that the trivia be related to the season. An example of a response might be, “I always have all of my holiday shopping done by October 1st”. Create a form with each employee’s name listed down the left and one chosen piece of trivia from each employee on the right, but not in the correct order, labeled with a corresponding letter. At the party, hand out the trivia forms and ask each employee to put their own name at the top, then guess “Who’s Who” on the game form. The person with the most answers correct, wins a prize. If your group is really large, this can be a fun game to get people more excited about the party. Simply hand out the contest form the day before or the day of the party, and request submissions be handed in prior. Then, AT the party, go over each question and announce the winner, offering them a prize.

The Santa Hat Game/Rudolph Antlers Game

This requires enlisting the help of a good-spirited senior member in the group, even a CEO. Have a personalized Santa hat or Rudolph antlers for every member to wear during the party. The chosen “leader” can, at any time during the party, take off the headpiece. Make sure there is a spotter who can “spot” the first person to remove their hat or antler. Keep it all silent and eventually, there will be laughs and nudges and snickers as people realize it’s time to take off the headpiece. There will inevitably be one person left with their hat on who never realized the game was going on, and will there will be much laughter. It’s fun to have the laugh, then surprise them with a small trinket of appreciation for being the last!

Pass the Present

Have a prize well-wrapped for this game, as it will be handled often. In “Pass the Present”, everyone gathers around, and the gift is handed out randomly to one person. They hold onto it and will be the first contestant. The announcer will ask a question about the holiday or the company. A correct answer and they continue to hold onto the present. At the first wrong answer, the gift must be given to another. The game ends when all questions have been answered within a time frame and the last person holding the gift wins it.

Find a Reindeer

This company holiday party game works well for a large group. Visit the dollar store and purchase several small stuffed holiday animals. Wrap a gift card around each one’s neck. Let party-goers know that it’s “finders keepers” – whomever finds the prize, keeps the prize. Make sure the prizes are hidden WELL…consider taping one up under one of the buffet tables, for example. You can use any item…if your party has many ornaments in the decorating, use one style and randomly place those around.

Company holiday party games can be as crazy and fun as you want them to be…just use your imagination, but as always, keep it professional!