Let’s say you want to reward your sales team by throwing an out-of-the-office event where everyone receives a custom-made gift. This is an increasingly popular trend at many corporate events because it personalizes the experience and the level of appreciation or recognition that you want to give to your employees.
Whether that bespoke gift means custom-made shirts, shoes, sneakers, or any other item, you need to plan accordingly. Among the key components you need are the following: a set schedule, plenty of helpers, and a back-up plan. Here are the five steps to follow if you want your event to run as smoothly as possible — especially when you are offering bespoke gifts:
1. Set a detailed agenda.
Make sure time is spent as productively as possible by setting a schedule. Remember to leave enough extra time for late arrivals or in the event that one segment of the day runs over.
2. Determine staffing needs.
Figure out how many people you need to hire to execute your event and how many hours you’ll need them to help. Hire a few extra staff with no specific task assigned to them to fill in for any unforeseen emergencies.
3. Do a run-through.
Have all of your vendors, group leaders, and staff members meet you at the venue a day prior to the event for a dress rehearsal. Each individual should leave that rehearsal with a thorough understanding of exactly what each of their roles will be.
4. Gift in stages.
Only a set number of people should be getting fitted and gifted at one time in order to avoid any commotion. When it’s not someone’s turn, make sure that something fun is planned for them and so that everyone is entertained before and after they receive their gift.
5. Have a back-up plan.
Make sure you’re prepared for any unexpected snafus. Remember, no event runs perfectly; it’s about how well you handle small bumps in the road!
Tom Taraci is the CEO of incentive marketing firm Taraci Motivation, which also publishes the Taraci Collection, a compendium of incentive gifts, available online and in print.