Print media is not dead. It is alive and well and when done correctly it will help push your business and events forward. People love receiving a good piece of mail – especially if it is hand addressed. Print allows you to leave a more lasting impression than a social media post. But who you print with is almost as important as what you print.
Here are the 5 questions to ask to choose the right printer for each job.
Do I need help designing the print product?
Most printers have an in-house design team that will help you create your masterpiece. If I am needing help from start to finish, I will pick a local company because I want someone that I can meet with through the process. Most online companies do have a design service but there is something about a face to face that I prefer. The other thing that I consider is if the designer will charge me for the project or by the hour. I prefer the designers that will work with me through a project price rather than a per hour price.
Can they do the print job?
I love my print department at the local Office Depot but they have some serious in house limitations. If I need a complicated job done, I will pick one of the specialized local print shops. If I need a job fast, I will choose Office Depot. If I need business cards, I will often use one of the popular card printing companies. Each company has a set of skills and expertise that you need to take into your decision.
Do I want someone local?
I prefer to work with local small businesses. I want the relationship with the owner or my rep. Being able to pick up at the last moment is a huge plus as well. The local printer can also become a referral source for your business. 90% of the time I go with the local printer for large jobs. Going local cuts down on shipping costs and if something is wrong, you can go in and talk to them. A fun plus is that they will often give you a tour of their facility.
Do they fit my budget?
Small businesses run on margins, sometimes it is cost effective to go with the big national shops because they can spread their costs out over multiple customers. Make sure you have a budget in mind and you are upfront with the designers and printers. You cannot have gold foil embossing, special cuts and folds, and more on a minimal budget. The right printer will help you to put together the print material that will fit your budget and help you reach your goal.
Do I like who I am dealing with?
You want to have a good relationship with your rep at the print shop – whoever that is. Having someone to call and bounce ideas off of, ask for quick quotes, or call for an emergency can be crucial for your business. You want to trust that if something goes wrong, they are there to help you fix it. This is the most important item for me. I will only do business with those who I trust.
Printing is still a huge part of small business. Know your goal and the outcome you want for the print piece and your print shop will help you to get there.
A good super bowl party is easy to put together – food and drinks and a TV. A great Super Bowl Party requires planning and forethought. Here are 5 Tips for throwing a great Super Bowl Party.
1. Don’t invite more people than you have seats.
I would add don’t invite more people than you have comfy seats but that is not always possible. It is painful to watch people play musical chairs, watch others come back and see someone else in their “place” etc. Making sure that every guest has a chair or stool to sit ensures comfort and a decrease in tensions. Rearrange your furniture if necessary.
2. Keep a “flow” going.
Place food and drinks in areas that allow some guests to stop and grab something while others are moving past them. You want your guests to feel good about moving around the space and not feel like they are blocking others view. A good flow ensures that the party doesn’t stop at any place.
3. Plan ahead if your are doing squares or prop bets during the game.
The first key is to let your guests know to bring cash and what the minimum by in is. Make sure you have a selection of small bills on hand to make change. Draw out the boards ahead of time and post the rules next to them. Then place someone in charge of helping you with these bets. You do not want be handling food and the bets at the same time.
4. Have kid friendly activities to keep them busy.
If you are inviting families over, having games set up for the younger ones helps the adults enjoy the game. Set up a movie a room just off the main party space and stock it with snacks and juice boxes.
5. Cater the food and drinks to the people you are inviting.
If you know a tray of wings, some chips and dip and some cold beers would be enjoyed by all (and who doesn’t like that?). Then keep it simple. If you are hosting this as a business mixer or asking people to pay to get into the party – then up your game. Take your vegetarian and gluten free guests into account as well. Make sure you have non-alcoholic drinks for those who are driving and/or who do not want to drink.
Do not forget to sit down and enjoy the party and the game yourself! Plan on food that can be made ahead and kept warm and drinks that do not require much human intervention so you can sit and watch the big game. Happy planning!
2020 is here and I am motivated to get all sorts of things done. I am sharing my 2020 plan so that you all can help me stay on track. So here are my plans for this year.
Release my first online course March 1, 2020.
I have been working on this course for over a year but had some time issues in 2019. Planning my wedding became a huge part of my life – even with a wedding planner so I had to set this aside. I now have all of the equipment and software I need and no longer have an excuse. Beta Tests will start in early February for anyone interested in Effective Trade Shows for Small Businesses.
Gain 3 outside Social Media Management Clients by April 1, 2020.
I have been helping a select set of companies with their social media content and strategy. I am picky about my clients because I want to ensure I am the right fit for them. This allows me to hone in on their needs and help them to grow their business. I will start marketing for this service in February and already have a few prospects in the pipeline. Reach over 1k followers on Facebook and Instagram by August 1.
This is a huge jump but I know that it will help. I am expanding my blog and social media topics beyond business events and trade shows in 2020 which will help to expand my audience.
Release the second set of online courses September 2020.
I will be releasing How to Be the Perfect Bridesmaid/Man. So many blogs and books focus on the bride and leave the bridesmaids/men out. I want to share my hard won knowledge as a bridesmaid, maid of honor, and bride. I am not shying away from the hard topics i.e. Do you really want to be a bridesmaid? Can you afford it? How do you deal with the bridezilla? What is really expected of you?
These are big goals but I have a plan. I also am going to be working with a coach to help me stay on track. Having an accountability partner is essential.
Let me know what your goals are and how Events Made Sane can help your business grow in 2020.
The one biggest tip I can give people to sell more items at a trade or craft show is to elevate your booth.
No, I am serious.
Elevate your tables to bar height.
Why?
People will stop to look at something on their eye level.
They feel more comfortable stopping if they do not have to stoop or bend to look at items.
Create product groups and tiers on your tables so people can identify items at a glance.
This has years of consumer science to back it up. The most expensive items at most stores and the most expensive shelf space is at eye level of the target market.
Walk down the cereal aisle at the grocery store at the see how the boxes are merchandised. The healthy and “adult” cereals are at your eye level. The cereals that are targeted towards children are one shelf down.
Here is a great example of this by Basilwood Farms.
Notice a few great details
They have table cloths to give the booth a polished look.
They have maybe 3-4 of each item skew out on the tables to keep it from looking too cluttered.
I know they have more product under the tables so they don’t run out but putting everything they brought out would overwhelm people.
They have simple portable lights on their product.
Their lights are not shining at their customers, they are catching the shimmer that is infused into many of their products. Always use lights like this when possible.
Everything fits into the “Farm” theme.
Wooden crates and metal buckets help to organize items and give the booth a welcoming feel.
They carry these themes into the business cards and their website. It is one cohesive image. You can check them out here.
Basilwood Farms is a great example of a company that knows who they are and how to present a cohesive image from their farm store, website, booths and printed materials.
My second tip for selling more at trade or craft shows – be like Basilwood Farms. Know who you are and take that through everything.
Basilwood did not pay me to write this post and I do not get any kick backs from the sale of any items. They are a great company who graciously allowed me to write about them and their craft show booth. Support your local businesses whenever possible!
I love watching the Wedding Planner and 27 Dresses – but real world events do not happen like that for small businesses. You rarely have a crew of people running around with ear pieces to ensure that every detail is perfect. Most of the time, it is like I was this weekend – running solo.
I arrived at 10:30 am for an event start time of 5:30 pm. I had never seen the inside of the venue but the company had hosted similar events in the space. First thing that happened was the person helping me get into the building set off both sets of door alarms. Second thing that happened was that 8 couches awaited me in the middle of the venue.
They had set up the 8 tables in and around the couch formation. This completely restricted the flow of movement and was a hazard to the couches. So, I spent the next two hours moving tables, chairs, side tables and the couches themselves – and no one at the event knew about it.
Event planning is not glamorous.
It is long hours spent working on details that are rarely noticed when they are done correctly but always noticed when they are not done. It is listening to people complain about the brand of soda at the event. It is cleaning up after people as they leave their glasses and food across the tables. It is putting on make up and getting dressed in the bathroom of the venue because you do not have time to go home. Event planning is all of this but it is much more as well.
Event planning is very rewarding.
Creating and nurturing an idea that then comes to life in front of your eyes is addicting. I get a fizzle down my spine as all the details start to come together. The relationships you build with others in the industry will last far beyond that one event and turn into true friendships. Event planning allows you to transport people to worlds of fun and fantasy, bringing joy to so many.
So while event planning is not like the movies it can be so much better because you help create dreams, are involved in their most special days, and make lasting memories. At the end of the day, it is worth the long hours and the 10-15% of people who test your patience and your ethics to make someones day.
Tips for Succeeding in Event Planning
Grow a thick skin. People will always think they could have done better without knowing the details.
Learn to love the process. Taking and idea from inception to creation is an amazing feeling.
Find good partners to work with. Having the right people around you and helping you at events make a world of difference. I keep list of my preferred vendors and a list of people who I will not work with again.
