Organising a corporate event can be a daunting task. There’s so much to think about, from choosing the right venue, wondering how many people will attend and so on. Even if you’re an experienced corporate event organiser, the chances are you’re feeling a little stressed – let’s face it, you already know what a big undertaking this is and how many things could potentially go wrong! We’ve got some great ideas to help make your corporate event a real success.
Furniture Hire
Choosing the right furniture can really transform your event and make a statement about your company. You can hire furniture to set just the right atmosphere, whether you require formal or informal dining or a more relaxed setting. It’s also worth thinking about creating different zones, with sofas for relaxing, or up‑to‑the‑minute rattan furniture for a chic chill-out area where your guests can lounge in style.
Location, location, location
It’s a phrase we’re all familiar with, but it doesn’t just apply to buying houses! What use will your classy furniture be if it’s not in equally elegant surroundings? Choose somewhere that’s easy to find with good parking facilities. Consider how many people you expect so that you can work out whether the space will comfortably accommodate your guests – too small and it could be an uncomfortable squeeze; too large and it may lack ambience, not to mention costing you more than is really necessary. Which brings us on to…
Budget
When you’re planning a big event, it’s critical to manage your budget well. Don’t forget to factor in pre-event expenses such as invitations and advertising as well as on-the-day expenses such as catering and guest speakers’ fees. Make sure you get a full breakdown of all expenses to steer clear of hidden costs (that some venues might add to your bill) such as rental of multimedia equipment for presentations, or Wi-Fi access.
Planning
Good planning is crucial to any project. Create an action plan detailing all the tasks needed to make the event happen; a simple spreadsheet should suffice. Set some objectives at the outset – what message do you want to convey to your audience; what targets do you have in terms of the number of people attending, press coverage or new customer leads? Being clear about exactly what you want to achieve will help you plan the format of the day itself. Set an agenda which covers all activities on the day, but do allow sufficient intervals for registration, refreshments, networking and any photographs. Finally and perhaps most importantly, think about what could go wrong on the day and how you will deal with it if it does.
Whether it’s a meeting, launch party, rebrand, or conference, organising a major event is all about good planning and organisation. Stick to these basic rules, and they’ll give you the confidence you need to plan your corporate event – and make it a success.
This is a guest blog by Rio Lounge, who hire contemporary furniture to make your business event memorable.