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July 17, 2018

4 Cool Giveaways for Your Next Corporate Event

Filed under: Event Planning Tips — Tags: , , , , — Megan Duffy @ 3:43 pm
giveaways for corporate events

While corporate events can run the gamut from casual staff parties to more formal luncheons, they all have one thing in common. They can be better attended and loads of fun if you come up with a slate of exciting giveaways for attendees. Cool giveaways for corporate events not only add interest and enjoyment to the event, but they let people go home with extra perks that show how much they’re appreciated.

Need some giveaway ideas to offer at your next event? Here are four prizes the crowd is sure to love, and tips on how to get them excited about the giveaway.

Cool Giveaways for Your Next Corporate Event

Gift Certificates: Whether you pick a gift card from a nearby favorite restaurant or a popular store, gift certificates never go out of style. They let employees select a purchase or meal that suits their exact tastes.

Spa Days: Check out what kind of vouchers for services your local spas offer for a perk that benefits employees as well as your overall company. Employees get a chance to kick back, relax, and rejuvenate, and then return to work with a revitalized body and mind.

fill-in-the-blank gift certificate

Company Swag: Notebooks, tote bags, tumblers, lanyards, and other swag sporting the company logo make for cool giveaways at corporate events for their versatility. Go for smaller swag, and you can make sure everyone in attendance goes home with a gift. Go for more substantial items if you want to include a few as grand prizes.

Goodie Baskets: Baskets packed with goodies are another idea for cool giveaways at corporate events, again for their versatility. Stick with traditional baskets cascading with fruit, candies, and snacks, or create themed baskets stocked with any variety of different items. Themes can include office and work-related goodies, games and puzzles, or health and fitness items.

Ideas for Making Giveaways Exciting

While the smaller company swag can go to everyone in attendance, you can come up with exciting ways to choose the recipients of the more substantial gifts.

raffle giveaways for corporate events

Raffle: Raffles can be a blast, with raffle tickets handed out to people as they enter the event. Raffles are quite good at holding people’s attention, so schedule them near the end of the event to ensure everyone sticks around.

Other Games of Chance: Raffles are fun because recipients are left up to chance, and there are a few other ideas in that same category. Contestants can be asked to draw straws, pick cards, or even engage in a round of tabletop Wheel of Fortune with your own set of prizes inserted as options on the wheel.

Games of Skill: Competitions are another way to dole out your corporate event prizes, and you have a wide range of options. Trivia games, company fact games, and spelling bees are a few ways to pick out your top winners.

Whether you’re raffling off a spa day or answering trivia questions to win a gift basket, employees will appreciate the extra show of appreciation that cool giveaways for corporate events can bring. Shop PaperDirect for your office giveaway, gift, and stationery needs.

July 10, 2018

The Essential Guide on How to Host a Networking Event

Filed under: Event Planning Tips — Megan Duffy @ 11:12 am

how to host a networking event

It’s time to host your company’s first networking event to nurture those valuable connections among your staff, industry colleagues, valued customers, and potential clients. Here’s our essential guide to planning a fun, productive networking event – let’s get started!

The Perfect Place

You’ve heard that location is everything. When you’re hosting a networking event, it needs to be somewhere comfortable, easy to find, and central to your attendees.

We love the idea of a renting space on a hotel’s rooftop garden, in a restaurant’s private dining room, or at the meeting space in a museum. Of course, more traditional conference centers and hotel reception rooms are equipped for networking events, too.

When calling potential venues, be sure to ask:

  • What’s your maximum occupancy?
  • What does the room rental include? (Ex. catering discounts, use of audio/video system, tables/chairs, set-up and tear down, etc.)
  • What dates are available?
  • What’s the total cost including deposits, rental fees, and cleaning charges?

If one of the calls wows you, visit before locking in a date. A website video tour may look fabulous, but once you step foot into the location, you might notice a musty aroma from old carpet or discover the lobby is under construction, creating an eye-sore for your guests.

The Party Supplies

After you have the location settled, it’s time to channel your inner event planner and think of all the extras you need to have on-site to keep the networking guests energized and chatting.

Here are a few ideas to discuss with your planning team:

  • Name badges
  • Event programs
  • Notepads and pens
  • Beverages (water, alcohol, soda)
  • Hors-d’oeuvres (buffet or servers)
  • Prizes for games (certificates, trophies, gift cards)
  • Playlist or live band
  • Decor for tables (florals, signs)

Depending on the size of the event, consider making goodie bags for each attendee. These may include free swag from your company or gifts from sponsors in addition to an event program and the attendee’s name tag.

The Event Promotion

Now it’s time to let your guests know about the big day. First, decide if the event is invite-only or if you want to open it to the public. Then, share the news via flyers, social media, and emails.

To add a personal touch, invite VIPs to networking events by writing invitations by hand and dropping them in the mail. Or, send the note with a bouquet or snack delivery to their office to make a lasting impression.

The Event Games

Everything is set and you’re ready to get the party started. But, how? We love the idea of using icebreaker games to get people to mingle and loosen up.

Play a game of “Match”. Place a sticker on the back of each attendee’s name tag. Each sticker will correspond with another sticker in the room, and the two have to find one another by randomly describing their picture to guests until the match is found.

For example, if your sticker is of a pizza cutter, you might say it’s something that cuts, has a wheel and is used at mealtime. When you find someone who has the pizza sticker, you’ve made a match!

You can also try classic games like team scavenger hunts or two truths and a lie. Consider placing small two-player games like Tic-Tac-Toe or Mad Libs on tables as attendees wait for the event to officially start.

Are you in full-on event planning mode yet? Don’t forget to order name badges, event banners, VIP invitations, stationery for the programs, and prizes for the games. You can find it all online at PaperDirect.

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