Uncategorized

You’ve booked your exhibitor space, ordered your booth banners and gathered your giveaways. There’s just one element missing: You still need to put together the team who will staff your trade show. Choosing the right people to staff your booth—and training them properly—can make or break your trade show success. Here are the five main trade show booth staffing roles you need to know, plus tips for training your staff.

Trade Show Booth Staffing Roles

There are five main roles that every trade show booth staffing plan should have, though some people may be able to serve in multiple roles at a small booth. The five essential trade show staffing positions are:

Hosts

Hosts are usually the first people who interact with attendees when they visit your booth. Hosts welcome visitors, get them registered and (if the booth is large enough) give them the lay of the land and point out areas of interest. First impressions are very important, especially in a crowded and competitive trade show environment, so choose your hosts wisely!

Presenters

Presenters give live demonstrations of your product or service and make sure that any videos or slides in the exhibit keep running smoothly. While they may not be trained sales staff (that’s a separate role), they are knowledgeable about what your company has to offer and willing to answer questions that attendees may have.

Crowd Gatherers

Crowd gatherers act as hosts in their own way, but work outside the booth, welcoming people at aisles and corners and directing them to your booth. Many crowd gatherers also hand out informational flyers or small promotional giveaway items to help incentivize people to visit the booth.

Activity Coordinators

Activity coordinators oversee trade show booth games, manage raffles and contests and make sure that winners get their prizes. If your booth is small enough, another person on this list (likely a host) might also be able to serve as an activity coordinator, but larger booths need separate roles.

Salespeople

Salespeople are experts at pitching your products, qualifying attendees and gathering leads for follow-up (and sometimes closing a sale right on the trade show floor!). They often tag team with other roles listed here, so you might have an activity coordinator and a salesperson staffing a trade show booth game, for example.

Trade Show Booth Staffing Tips

Knowing the right trade show roles is only half the battle. You also have to train the people in those positions. Here are our top tips for training your trade show booth staff:

1. Start planning for your staffing needs at least three months in advance. Ask your top choices if they’d be willing to attend the event and have them block off their calendars so no one accidentally schedules a vacation during the trade show.
2. Even though your trade show staff should each have a designated role, they should all be cross-trained so one of them can step in if someone else needs to use the bathroom, eat lunch or take an important phone call. Everyone should be trained on basic sales skills as well as the products and services you’ll be selling at the booth.
3. No matter what roles they have, talk to staff about having an open and friendly demeanor. They shouldn’t walk around with their arms crossed or leave their backs turned to the aisle—that kind of body language is pretty unwelcoming. A simple smile and a polite “hello” go a long way in creating a welcoming trade show experience for attendees.
4. Set grooming standards for all of your trade show booth staff. Also communicate criteria for dressing. Do this in advance so people have time to shop for additional clothes if necessary. If you’re ordering custom apparel for staff to wear at the booth, involving them in the selection process is a nice way to get buy-in.
5. Role playing isn’t just for Dungeons & Dragons fans. It can be a really helpful training tool for your staff. Assign each person a role and have them act out common trade show scenarios, such as dealing with an unqualified visitor or a disruptive attendee.
6. Set goals for the team and each individual so expectations are clear. Talk about how many visitors you’d like to get, how many presentations you want to give, how many custom notebooks you need to give away—whatever criteria you use to judge the ROI of the event.

Now you’re equipped with the tools you need to staff your next trade show booth the right way. Good luck, and we wish you the best of success!

Over the last decade, technology has advanced rapidly with the widespread use of the internet, laptop computers and smartphones. It seems like every day there’s an announcement of a new tech gadget devised to make our lives easier. With so many new products on the market, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends in tech, so we’ve compiled some of our favorite inventions to make your life easier. Learn more about these great products and how you can use them to promote your business. 

Everyone appreciates receiving free gifts, so why not give away some of these awesome and useful products as promotional items? When you opt to order products that prospective clients will actually use, it’s much more likely that they’ll remember your brand and come to you when they require your products or services. Giving the gift of a valuable tech gadget will reflect back on your business, showing that you care about customers and helping your company to stand out.

Custom PopSockets

Everyone has experienced that moment when they’re using their cell phone in bed and they accidentally drop it. Or, maybe they’ve been in a public place trying to show friends or family members a video on their phone but not everyone can see the screen from where it’s placed in their hand. Though these aren’t major life issues, they can be small daily annoyances. To combat these problems, PopSockets were invented. 

These small circular objects can be attached to the back of your cell phone and pop out to help you grip your phone or to double as a phone stand, turning your mobile device into a mini TV. 

For a unique promotional product, your company can order custom PopSockets with your brand logo. People are sure to love your custom PopSockets because they’re an interesting item that stands out from other promotional products and solves a problem that everyone experiences. 

Here are a few of our favorite custom PopSockets to use to spread brand awareness:

PopSocket and Mount Retail Bundle

A standard custom PopSocket design, this promotional product is available in black with a blank white surface to provide plenty of room for your chosen logo design. You can opt to imprint just your logo over the white circle or overlay your logo onto another color to make the custom design pop. 

The included mount adds another great feature to these custom PopSockets, allowing users to attach the mount to their car dashboard or any other location where they’d like to mount their phone on a regular basis. Your clients will be able to drive handsfree with ease or watch television on their phones without having to prop it up or hold it for the entirety of the show. 

Aluminum PopSocket 

If you’re looking to order a different type of custom PopSocket to give away as a promotional item, try ordering these beautiful aluminum PopSockets available in space gray, rose gold, sapphire, ruby, gold or black. With this promotional product, you have a variety of options for customization. Upload your company’s logo to our site, and we’ll laser engrave your image onto these custom PopSockets, guaranteeing that your logo won’t fade or rub off over time. 

Custom flash drives

Whether they are used for work files, vacation photos or as a backup storage device, flash drives are popular with nearly every adult because they are such a useful method for storing and transporting important data. Gifting custom flash drives is the perfect way to capture your target audience’s attention, and because most people carry these devices around with them, there are even more opportunities for people to notice your brand on promotional flash drives and remember your business for future use.  

Check out some of our favorite custom flash drives: 

Norcross Promotional USB Drive

Our most popular custom flash drive, the Norcross Promotional USB Drive features an advantageous metal cap to protect the USB port from dirt and damage. A convenient clip also allows people to attach this custom flash drive to their keys, backpack or any other item used to transport work-related items. Available in more than 20 colors, these custom flash drives are easy to personalize with your own company logo.

Full Bleed Swivel USB

Piedmont USB Drive

The design of the Piedmont USB Drive is slightly different than these other two custom flash drive options because it features a plastic detachable covering. Screen print your logo onto these USB drives, which are finished with a durable, rubber coating and include a black lanyard for easy transportation.

Wall chargers

In our tech-centric world, chargers are a vital part of everyday life. Cell phones and computers are items most people engage with on a daily basis, so using promotional items that are associated with these objects can help expose your brand to future customers. Wall chargers are an item that most people own more than one of because they may need to charge their phones in multiple locations. Your customers will always appreciate receiving a backup wall charger. Try customizing some of these chargers and giving them out at your next trade show or company event.

All-In-One Retractable Charger

A unique type of wall charger, this All-In-One Retractable Charger is designed to compactly store the product’s wire in a circular plastic case, preventing the cable from getting tangled or damaged. Choose from six different colors: black, white, green, red or blue. Then, design your logo to be printed on the retractable compartment. 

Light Up Adapter

Designed for the tech-savvy users, this light-up adapter has the capability to charge up to three different devices at the same time. With one USB charger and three mini USB plugs, this wall charger is intended for people who own Android devices, though another adapter can be purchased to allow iPhone users to take advantage of this wall charger as well. When your devices are plugged in, the wall charger will light up, letting you know that the device is connected. 

MFi Lightning Cable

A traditional iPhone charger, this MFi Lightning cable has a simple design with a thin, white cord created to charge Apple devices. This item is a certified Apple product, but if you’re looking to customize a wall charger, you can add your logo to the USB end charging piece. 

Other helpful tech gadgets you can use as promotional products

Bluetooth keyboards

Anyone who uses a tablet device will love owning a Bluetooth keyboard. Connect your device to one of these keyboards, and you’ll be able to type wirelessly on any tablet or mobile product. Tablets are a great alternative to laptops when traveling, but it can be tough to type large blocks of text on the touch screen. Our Bluetooth keyboards help solve this problem. These products are still small enough to fit into any travel or work bag while allowing you to do more with your tablet. Though more expensive than other promotional products, Bluetooth keyboards may be a good giveaway option for promotional contests or as a fancy appreciation gift for new clients. 

Portable speaker

Portable speakers have revolutionized the way that we listen to music. Using a Bluetooth connection, these devices can connect to and play music from any smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. The most convenient aspect of portable speakers is the fact that you can bring them anywhere—the beach, on vacation or to a friend’s house. Customize one of our portable speakers and offer these high-quality products during a company giveaway to attract new consumers. 

Selfie sticks

Developed as a response to people using the front-facing cameras on smartphones to take photos of themselves, selfie sticks help to capture these types of photos by extending your reach. With a selfie stick, users are able to include the background into their selfie, which is typically useful while visiting a unique location. This promotional item is a fun product that people will love using. Customize your selfie sticks and distribute them at your next event. 

Adapters

Thanks to the internet, people are able to take time off while still using their computers to finish work projects on-the-go. Most workers can identify with that feeling of panic when they’ve almost completed a task, but their battery is about to die and they don’t have the proper charger. With these adapters, your clients can keep multiple types of chargers on hand so they never have to worry about their computer shutting down before they’ve completed their tasks. 

Ear buds

Another tech gadget that current and prospective clients love are ear buds.  They make the perfect item to include in new hire welcome kits or to give away at events. If your company is involved in the music industry, ear buds are an even better option for promotional products as this is an item you know your target audience will actually use. Ear buds are available in bright colors and neutral tones so you can choose from dozens of options. If you’re looking for something a little more extravagant, you can opt to order wireless headphones.

Tips for ordering your promo gadgets

Place your order in advance

If you’re interested in giving away some of these promotional items like custom flash drives and wall chargers at a particular event, be sure to plan ahead! Placing your bulk order well in advance will ensure that there is enough time for our team to create the perfect promotional products for your business. Most of our products take between five to 10 days to produce, but if you’re in a bind and need promotional products quickly, we do have a selection of 24-rush items, including custom pens, coffee mugs and journals. 

Be sure to send in the correct art files

To avoid any delays in production or issues with printing your promotional products, download our art requirements and double check that your file meets our requirements. Files should be sent as vector art saved from Adobe Illustrator in an AI or EPS format. Do not try to send artwork that is less than 300 DPI resolution and avoid sending any files in the following formats: QuarkXpress, Pagemaker, CorelDraw, Publisher or Freehand as we are not able to accommodate these file types. 

Consider what type of imprint you want

Though some products are only available in one type of imprint due to the type of fabric or material it is made from, other items are available in multiple options. Research and determine which method will be best for the type of promotional product you’re looking for and check with our team to ensure this is the right option. 

Get the best quality promotional products from Pinnacle Promotions

Take your marketing efforts to the next level when you order some of these tech gadgets to be personalized as promotional products. Custom PopSockets will standout on potential customers’ cell phones. Wall chargers and custom flash drives are items that people can use every day, encouraging them to re-engage with your brand each time they see the logo. 

Once you’ve selected which items are the best choices for your business, you can upload your image to our site, and our promo experts will create beautiful products you can give out at any event, trade show or giveaway.

Choosing a theme for your trade show booth will make it easier to design and help attract more visitors with a consistent aesthetic. However, it can be hard to decide on a theme given all the options available, especially if you’re working with a small footprint. Here are eight of our favorite themes for trade show booth designs:

Visit a new location.

No matter how large or small it is, you can use your booth to transport your visitors to a location related to your brand. For example, poultry producers might base their design on a farm, while a surfboard company might recreate a beach. If your headquarters are located in an iconic city, that can also be a source of inspiration. And if the trade show draws a lot of local attendees, theming your booth around the host city isn’t a bad idea either.

Harness the power of nature.

A warehouse-like trade show floor, bathed in artificial lights, is pretty much the opposite of being outside—which is why bringing a bit of nature to your booth will really make you stand out. Brainstorm some ideas to see if you can make different natural settings (beaches, lakes, mountains, meadows, deserts, etc.) work for your brand. If you can, spacing real plants around your booth will add an extra dose of natural energy and help liven up your booth design.

Create your own café.

People are constantly hungry and thirsty at trade shows, so offering food and/or drink samples is a powerful motivator. Stage your booth to look like a real life store and hand out snacks, drinks and energy bars to visitors. Even if you can’t stock a full range of items, creating a hydration system where people can refill their water bottles will definitely encourage visitors to stop by—and give you a chance to hand them a custom branded water bottle, of course – but what would a café be without the classic branded mug? Serve those up too!

Gamify everything.

Booth games are a common activity at trade shows, so why not take things one step further and design your entire booth around a popular game? Popular game shows, board games and card games with large fan bases will definitely generate buzz on the trade show floor. If you’re feeling especially creative, you can customize a classic like Monopoly or Uno to tailor it to the product or service that you’re trying to market.

Take cues from Hollywood.

If taking inspiration from a game show isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps a TV show or movie will spark your ideas? Pick a show or movie that has widespread popularity to appeal to the largest possible audience, or go for a general Hollywood vibe (perhaps a movie theater or awards show concept?) to keep it from getting overly specific.

Highlight a charitable cause.

Companies both large and small often have charitable projects, whether it’s a simple annual donation or a comprehensive program spearheaded by employees. For example, plastic packaging companies usually have initiatives in place to encourage recycling, while a food manufacturer might partner with a nonprofit that donates meals to shelters. If your charitable cause is relevant to your business, highlighting it through your booth can differentiate you from other booths that go straight for the scale.

Turn your booth into charging central.

It wouldn’t be a trade show if everyone’s devices weren’t constantly running low on power. Help solve the problem by transforming your booth space into a charging station. This has two advantages: A charging station doesn’t take up a lot of floor space and visitors will likely hang around for a while as they wait for their devices to charge, giving you an opportunity to talk to them about your products and services. Bonus points if your business somehow relates to electricity or you can make a relevant pun about “charging ahead” in your industry.

Make everything in your booth from the same material.

Sometimes sameness can make you stand out. Constructing your booth entirely (or mostly) from the same material is sure to get people talking, if only to ask, “How did they do that?!” Cardboard is probably the most feasible and affordable material, but you can get more creative and try making your booth from wood, glass or even 3d printing.  Another perfect addition to creating your surroundings is to get a custom canopy  tent made for the occasion.

We can’t tell you which theme to pick, but we can help you realize your design vision. Shop our collection of trade show displays or contact us for assistance with your trade show order.

While minimalism has been around as an art movement since the 1960s and ’70s, in the past decade or so, it’s really taken off as an interior design trend for homes and apartments as well as office spaces and trade show booths. But this seemingly simple style is surprisingly hard to pull off, and creating a minimalist design that doesn’t feel austere or cold can be tough. If you’d like to create a simple booth design idea for your next trade show, follow these seven minimalist principles to create an inviting yet uncomplicated space.

Use black and white as building blocks.

Minimalist interior design relies on various shades of white and black to create a unifying color palette that blends together well rather than distracting visitors. Usually white or cream is the base shade, since lighter colors make small spaces appear larger. If black is too harsh, varying shades of gray can add some darkness to the color palette without being quite so stark. Some minimalist color palettes incorporate various shades of the same color—for example, white, off-white and pale ash wood—for a more visually unifying appearance.

Choose an accent color carefully.

Most minimalistic spaces use a maximum of three colors, with a maximum of one accent color. For example, the color palette may use white and gray as its base shades, with selective elements of dandelion yellow or tomato red for contrast. Since you’ll only be using one accent color, choose it wisely and use it for the booth elements that you want to draw the most attention (perhaps your company or product logo?).

Leave plenty of open space.

When you have a small space, it can be tempting to cram every inch possible full of furniture and signage. But minimalism embraces the lack of objects, only incorporating what’s absolutely necessary to the design. When brainstorming your simple booth design idea, be honest about what objects you actually need and what can be eliminated from the design.

Pick the right materials.

Despite the limited palette, minimalism employs a lot of different materials to add texture and visualize interest beyond color. Popular materials include chrome, stainless steel, glass, plastic, ceramics, artificial and natural stone and textured wood, so look out for these as you select lighting and furniture for your booth. And if you can incorporate any of these textures in your promotional giveaways, that’s an added bonus. (You might consider bluetooth speakers or stainless steel tumblers, for example.)

Provide lots of light.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows are a hallmark of minimalist design. While you probably won’t have control over the windows in the trade show venue, you can create the appearance of lots of natural light by strategically choosing your lighting fixtures. However, floor lamps take up precious floor space, so explore wall-mounted options—and it’s even better if you can incorporate recessed lighting to hide the light fixtures or otherwise disguise them as another design element.

Select geometric furniture.

For both furniture and other design elements, minimalism relies on geometric shapes of all kinds: squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, triangles and, of course, the good old-fashioned line. These simple shapes complement the color palette and create a visually harmonious space that’s easy for your eye to comprehend. However, all these lines don’t necessarily equate to a harsh design, as many of the corners are rounded for softness and comfort, so you don’t have to worry about running into them.

Declutter your booth.

The philosophy underlying minimalism focuses on removing excesses from your life, whether it’s physical objects or intangible commitments. As much as you can, eliminate unnecessary clutter from your booth throughout the design. For important items, such as your booth hosts’ bags or extra giveaways, seek out smart storage solutions, such as a cubed ottoman that doubles as a crate or a table with a hidden compartment.

Pulling off a truly well-balanced minimalist design that both looks and functions great isn’t as simple as it looks. But as they say, if it was easy, everyone would do it, and a well-done simple booth design idea is sure to stand out on the trade show floor and attract visitors to your booth. If you’re exploring simple trade show booth ideas, follow these seven principles to create the best booth possible.

Trade shows can easily cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, especially if you opt for a larger booth. But what can you do when you don’t have that kind of money? It’s possible to exhibit at a trade show on almost any budget. So, to help you out, we’ve put together our seven best tips for creating trade show booth ideas on a small budget.

1. Check to see what’s already covered.

Many, though not all, expos will provide exhibitors with a table and a cover and/or skirt. However, the cloths are often plain colors (black or white are pretty standard) and therefore might not complement your company color palette. Double check your contract, and if the information isn’t included, reach out to your trade show sales rep via phone or email to confirm what the expo will and won’t provide.

2. See what you have on hand.

Take assessment of everything you already own that might be helpful for a trade show booth. Be sure to investigate supply closets and any other storage spaces in case old trade show booth supplies are hidden away. If you’re really on a budget, you can also ask your team if they’d be willing to contribute anything from home. Someone may have a booth game they’re willing to let you borrow, or an unused tablecloth that doesn’t match their color scheme anymore.

3. Consider renting furniture.

Booth furniture is one of the biggest expenses when it comes to outfitting a trade show booth, which is why there are many companies that offer rental services. If you only exhibit on occasion, it might make more financial sense to rent furniture rather than purchasing it outright. However, if you attend a lot of shows, buying the furniture may be worth the investment in the long run, so do the math (and don’t forget to include shipping charges.) If you’d like to own your booth but don’t want to pay like-new prices, used booth furniture is also available for sale.

4. Maximize your tablecloth and runners.

A trade show table cover is the linchpin of any basic trade show booth design. These tablecloths come in many different colors and are customized with a large logo right on the front. Table covers and runners are an up-front investment, but you’ll use them at basically every trade show, so they pay for themselves over the long run. Table covers come in standard lengths of 6 feet and 8 feet, and some convertible options that adjust to either length are available as well. If the tablecloth doesn’t come with one, you want to consider getting a case to protect it while in storage and transit.

5. Choose cost-effective signage.

Flags and banners are another way to make a big statement without breaking the bank. Like custom table covers, these promotional banners are a classic fixture of trade show booths for a reason. Retractable banners are easy to transport and come in both tabletop and floor versions, while feather flags will rise above the competition (quite literally) thanks to their height. If well taken care of, promotional banners can last through many trade shows, so pick a design you can use for at least a couple of years.

6. Coordinate your outfits.

Having all your booth hosts wear the same polo shirt with your corporate logo is a great way to communicate your brand wherever they go on the trade show floor. If the design is especially cool, giving away matching t-shirts at your booth to visitors would be the perfect tie-in. If your team isn’t that keen about completely matching, or you don’t have the money to spend on shirts, you can ask everyone to dress in company colors while still letting them choose their own outfits. That way, everyone’s clothes will go together without being too matchy-matchy.

7. Don’t forget your giveaways.

Promotional giveaways for booth visits don’t have to be pricey to make a big impression. Some of our most popular and cost-effective promotional giveaways include custom USB drives, branded notebooks and promotional water bottles.

Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still create a good-looking booth that will attract plenty of visitors. Follow these seven tips as you brainstorm trade show booth ideas for small budgets.

Trade show planning can seem like an insurmountable mountain, especially if you’ve never exhibited before. But if you break down trade show planning into concrete steps, you’ll soon realize just how doable it is. To help out newbies and veterans alike, we’ve created a trade show planning checklist and timeline to walk you through the entire process, from one year out to the day of the show (and beyond).

12+ months out

• Determine your overall objectives for attending trade shows. Do you want to launch a new product? Sign additional clients? Get new leads? Before you sign up for a single trade show, you should have at least one (if not several) objectives in mind.
• Research and select a trade show (or shows) based on the objectives you have defined. Seek out trade shows that will allow you to reach your most important, high potential audiences without too much overwhelming competition.
• Register for the trade shows and select the best booth spot for your needs.
• Set a general budget for your trade show or shows, taking into account everything from travel to booth furniture to promotional giveaways. If you need to request extra funds, you’ll want to do it before the start of the new fiscal year.
• Put reminders in your calendar for all the important deadlines between now and the date of the trade show.

6-9 months out

• Start the individual trade show planning process by designing the booth for the show. Begin researching lead times to order furniture, banners, promotional giveaways, etc. so you’re not rushed.
• On a related note, begin designing your marketing materials, since you’ll need designs finished and approved before you order anything.
• Finalize your objectives and campaign messages for each trade show, since this will influence the design of your marketing materials.
• Now that you’ve begun planning in earnest, you’ll have a clearer idea of specific expenses, so keep track of them and make sure you’re sticking to the budget for each category.

4-6 months out

• Figure out your staffing needs–i.e., how many people you need to travel to the show and work the booth. Ask your chosen employees if they’re available during those dates.
• Once you know who’s staffing the trade show, begin booking flights, hotels and other travel arrangements. Don’t forget to check if the trade show has an associated hotel that offers a discounted conference rate!
• People aren’t the only thing that needs to be transported to the trade show. You also need to get your booth and the exhibition materials there and back. Begin planning your shipping logistics and making arrangements.
• Start promoting your trade show attendance via your website, emails, social media and even digital advertising if you have the budget.
• Begin ordering trade show booth decor.

1-3 months out

• Continue promoting your trade show expo via marketing.
• Train your staff to work the booth, network with potential customers, give sales presentations and whatever else they’ll need to do while on the ground at the trade show.
• Follow up with the trade show expo, your shipping company and anyone else to make sure that everything will arrive on time.
• Schedule any client dinners or other business meetings that will take place during the expo.
• Prepare any emails, postcards or other marketing materials that will go out to new connections after the trade show.
• Finish ordering your trade show booth materials.

1 week out

• Complete any last-minute staff training.
• Double check all travel itineraries for trade show staff.
• Confirm shipping arrival dates for your booth display, marketing materials and promotional items.
• Confirm move in and move out dates and times with the trade show venue.
• Review all other to-do items to make sure you’re not forgetting anything.

After the trade show

• Follow up with your new leads.
• Send thank yous to any clients you had private meetings with.
• Analyze the leads you got at the expo and their performance so far.
• Review the budget again to see how accurate your estimates were.
• Debrief with your team to determine the main takeaways.
• Take what you’ve learned and start trade show planning for the next event!

Follow this checklist to make sure that you’ve covered all your bases as you proceed with your trade show planning. Good luck at your next expo, and don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team if you have questions about ordering promotional goods for your next trade show.

Planning a company event can be a lot of pressure – you’re tasked with making sure the venue makes sense and looks great, you’re responsible for planning a fun time, you’re trying to keep everyone fed and happy and the list goes on and on.  Too often we read scary statistics on employees and how they feel in the workplace:

• More than 80% of workers are either actively looking for a new job or open to finding one.
• 70% of U.S. workers are not engaged at work.

See? We told you it was scary. One way to engage your employees and pass along some appreciation is to throw a company event.  Events range from fancy holiday parties to casual happy hours and well beyond.  Seems easy enough, right? Well, the truth is sometimes it is but far more other it’s not.  The average person spends 90,000 hours at work over the course of a lifetime, so the last thing some employees want do is participate in a work function on their own time.  So how do you make your work event something they wouldn’t want to miss? You get creative and think outside of the box.

Make it Memorable

If you want to engage employees and motivate them to attend your company events, you’re going to have to make it memorable.  Sure, happy hour is great, but if you’re going to throw an event, why not toss some creativity at it? Here are some of our favorites:

• Take your team Axe Throwing (yes, this exists). Your employees will feel like real life lumberjacks.
• Throw a “tailgate” outside of your office. Light up the grill, pull out the bean bag toss and crack a few cold ones.
• Host trivia. Designate a trivia host and giveaway prizes for the top performing team.  An even cooler idea? Host a new themed trivia day once a month or once a quarter.
• Visit an escape room. These physical adventure games make players solve a series of puzzles or riddles in order to escape their surroundings. These are great for team building activities.
• Support your local sports teams. Gather the crew and head over to one of your local professional sports team games.

These out of the box, creative ideas are sure to spark interest in employees and boost the attendance at your next event.

Get Out of the Office

Remember how we said the average person spends 90,000 hours in a lifetime at work? Get your employees out and about for a day.  Not only can you change up the physical location of your event, but you can make sure you change your employee’s mindset by setting a different dress code for the outing.  If you’re throwing a tailgate, encourage your team to sport their favorite jersey.  If you decide on throwing some axes, make the dress code lumberjack casual.  It’s important to let your employees know that company events are places where they can spend time and socialize with their coworkers in a casual atmosphere.  If your event feels too uptight, you’ll likely not get the attendance you’re looking for.  A fun extra step is to create branded apparel for the outing with a themed logo and saying.

Survey Says

The most important thing for you to do when planning a company event? Survey your audience.  Go straight to the source and see what employees actually want to do during their time out of cubicle land. Surveying the team has multiple benefits – first, you’ll get the brainstorming started and the ideas will start rolling in and second, your employees will feel valued because you care enough to solicit their opinions.

Keep it fun, keep it light, and listen to what the people want.  As long as you keep those tenants in mind your next company event will knock it out of the park.