If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do..

If the last year has brought anything good to businesses it’s the realisation that shopping around and being smart on your spending is a thoroughly good idea. When it comes to marketing and events this has definitely made the world a more interesting place. Historically the ‘wow’ factor has been something that often came with a ‘wow’ on the price tag too, but lack of funds does not have to mean lack of ‘wow’.

Experiential marketing is a fantastic term which replaces the rather less salubrious ‘try before you buy’. You have access to your own products at cost so there’s your main budget factor addressed straight away. Now all you have to do is get it to your customers in a way which adds the ‘wow’ without breaking the bank.

This is where a little creative thinking comes in.

It doesn’t have to be budget busting to make an impact and certainly in our experience a little creative thinking and expertise can go a very long way. Experiential marketing is an art which works best using inspiration, knowledge of your potential customer’s habits and simplicity to highlight - but not overwhelm - your message, product or service.

So it’s true a ha’penny will do!

Please put a penny in the old mans hat...

Maybe we ought to pause for thought on this one after all we wouldn’t like to offend any senior citizens with a bizarre reverse mugging and to be honest what can you buy for a penny these days? Not a lot. And yet it remains true that if you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves.

As belts have (sadly only figuratively) become tighter many of us have adjusted our views on what constitutes value for money. Certainly actual cost has relevance but, particularly when it comes to conferences and events, there have been some fantastic opportunities to take advantage of venues offering fabulous rates and extras thrown in.

It’s a little ironic that when no-one is spending everything costs less but by the laws of supply and demand it seems to make sense. So where are we now? Heading back towards the halcyon days of big spends? Probably not, but in this interim period when the offers are still standing and the money is beginning to flow, there are definitely some fantastic deals out there.

If you need help tracking them down, give us a call.

The goose is getting fat

As indeed are most of us apparently. As an ‘in’ topic you can’t get much hotter than this and approaching the season when over indulgence is expected - if not downright encouraged - what are we to do about it?

Maybe what the world needs is a little gentle encouragement, a little positive reinforcement ... an incentive or two.

So what’s your company doing for Christmas? I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest that whether you’re holding an event or organising a motivational pressie the main ingredients will be food, drink or both. It’s traditional (i.e. easy), it’s festive (i.e. easy), everyone likes it (... and it’s easy).

So, working on the theme of easy, what else could you do? That is easier still. Find yourself somebody, let’s say, for instance, The Phoenix Partners, who have experience in providing alternative solutions to staff rewards and incentives and give them a call, or drop them an email. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Christmas is coming...

(Very tempted to add "but not through the post" ... but I shall refrain).

It doesn’t matter how much we think it’s still a long way away it is just a couple of pay days until the big event. Traditionally this is the calm before the storm. We have ages to consider, locate and purchase the perfect gift for everyone we care about, no worries.

Except for the fact that we don’t. Well, most of us don’t.

We all know a person who does though. They’ve bought their presents already and have probably wrapped them too. This means three things to the rest of us

1 - We have someone to pillory for being efficient and having the ability to plan forward and action things in good time.

2 - We are able to justify our own inaction by ridiculing their over zealousness.

3 - It’s too late to get on their Christmas list.

Oh dear, time to get on with it then!