Archive for April 2007 | Monthly archive page
Its time to start changing your cupboards to winter mode. Get out your scarves, beanies and gloves. Find those hibernating fleecy tops, sweatshirts and rain suits. It’s time to gather your armour against the Cape of Storms and stand your ground because whether you love winter or not, she’s on her way.
With all the layers of protection that people use to barricade themselves against the cold, what happens to the company uniform? I would think that the primary reason for a uniform is to create uniformity and recognition.
LavaInk has just stocked up on a wide variety of winter work-wear. Scarves, beanies, gloves, sweatshirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, track suits, fleecy tops, fleecy hooded tops, rain suits and many more. All of these products are available in colours that match your corporate identity or will be made-up especially for you. Allow LavaInk to personalize these goodies with your company logo and maintain your team appearance!
The Joburg Wine Show, in association with Beeld, recently provided free training to exhibitors to ensure a successful show. “The success of any exhibition is directly linked to the success of the individual exhibitors,� explained co-director John Woodward.
“We are passionate about putting together a world-class event that is interesting and exciting for consumers while delivering value to exhibitors through increased brand awareness and industry networking,� he continued.
Over 80 wine producers attended the free training day at Lourensford Estate Stellenbosch, in anticipation of The Joburg Wine Show, which takes place at Gallagher Estate from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 June 2007.
Seven steps to effective exhibitor
Operations director Alex Woodward presented ‘seven steps to effective exhibiting’, covering topics from staff training to cost effective branding to create attractive and interesting stand designs.
Exhibitors were also invited to leverage off The Joburg Wine Show’s advertising and public relations campaigns in the lead up to the event by announcing new wine releases to be launched at the show and advertising special features and promotions.
Kate Jordan of Haxjor Marketing and the top selling exhibitor at The Joburg Wine Show 2006 provided insights on creative questioning, energetic presentation and closing sales in an exhibition environment.
“The retail aspect of The Joburg Wine Show is also an important element that separates The Joburg Wine Show from other wine events,� said Woodward. “Being able to sell wines directly to consumers from the stand means that exhibitors are able to quantify a rand benefit from participation in the show or at least realise the costs of participation.�
Gauteng wine market critical
According to Woodward, “Unlocking the Gauteng wine market is critical to South African wine producers. Gauteng consumers generally have greater disposal incomes and fine dining, entertaining and wine is very much a part of their lifestyle. We felt there was a gap in the market for a Gauteng-based consumer wine event that would stimulate the wine market in Johannesburg and provide opportunities for Cape based producers to meet this key target market. Even more critical is facilitating networking within the industry and helping exhibitors to make the most of this marketing event.�
Cobie van Oort, marketing manager at Avontuur Estate, said that this was the first training day she has been invited to by a wine show. “I enjoyed the information about the stands and the examples from other international wine shows; however, the most useful to me was the sales talk. Kate Jordan’s stand was opposite mine at The 2006 Joburg Wine Show and we got used to seeing visitors going past us towards the exit, loaded with wine they had bought from her, now I know why! I’ll be using her presentation with my own staff and hopefully will be able to benefit from it this year at our own Helderberg stand.�
Wim Braak of Lourensford Estate added , “We were delighted to host the training day at our estate. As an exhibitor of the show we found the day to be invaluable from a stand design and sales perspective. It’s great that Highwood Exhibitions took the initiative to put this on for their exhibitors. We are really looking forward to the show!�
Successful companies are those who concentrate on core business while outsourced partners supply expert services for non-core functions. Since they are time-consuming exercises, events are ideal for outsourcing because your personnel’s time is freed up to focus on core functions.
Statistics show that 80% of sales are derived from existing clientelle and therefore it is imperative that companies find ways to maintain service levels to their existing clients. Events are effective mechanisms to do just that!
Why do it?
Now anyone who has ever been involved in the co-ordination of events will know that it is a time-consuming project which does not directly create revenue. Therefore the question is asked, “Why do it?�
Well, the answer, of course, is simply because it is a value-added service to existing clients and an excellent networking opportunity for new clients – provided that the outsourced events managing partner understands the client’s strategy, goal and brief with this very event.
Since it requires dedication and time commitment, the outsourced management of an event will increase the efficiency in the running, and not the ruining, of the event.
If an event is properly outsourced, the client focuses on his business and gains the expertise and knowledge of the events management partner who knows the trends, the solutions and the recipes of this key marketing function.
Time and money
Very often the managing of an event by in-house personnel causes burn-out and exhaustion, which affects the business not only in the preparation process of the event but even after the event, sometimes for days. This causes stress and prevents personnel from attending to their core functions at the office, costing the company even more time and money.
Rather have your key personnel concentrate on your clients – before, during and after the event, thereby fulfilling the objective of relationship building.
Rather increase revenue by improving existing customer satisfaction and loyalty and by capturing new markets with face-to-face events opportunities.
180 gram single jersey body with knitted collar
3 button box-stitched plaquet
Strong and stable fabric for regular wash and wear
Ideal for school uniforms and sports wear
5-6 yrs, 7-8 yrs, 9-10 yrs, 11-12 yrs, 13- 14 yrs
Black, white, navy
