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April 2010
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Outsource your event management service and reap the benefits which include:
• Maximise revenue and minimise expenses
• Get specialised skills and services
• Save time and money on staff and infrastructure
During times of recession, companies are tempted to reduce their outsourcing in favour of managing events in-house. This has very short-term effects, as it has become clear that successful companies are those that concentrate on their core business and outsource non-core functions. Event management is a function that is ideally suited to outsourcing. The co-ordination of events is a time-consuming, non-revenue generating function, and companies that outsource can make better use of their resources.
Some of the good reasons to outsource your events are:
- Frees up key staff to concentrate on core competencies
- Increases efficiency in the running of events
- Apply specialised knowledge and expertise in this key marketing function
- Reduce staff burnout through overwork and stress
- Concentrate on networking at events instead of function management
- Reduce and control operating cost
- Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty
Currin’t Events has developed a unique event plan, which works on the principle that companies should include regular client events as part of their communications strategy. Our plan allows clients to outsource their event portfolio to us on a contract basis and includes:
- Development of an event plan linked to marketing objectives
- An agreed number of events per year
- Regular feedback meetings to foster good communications and ensure the plan and events are on track.
Currin’t Events is an events company mainly servicing the corporate market; organising award dinners, gala functions, company incentives, golf days, launches, road-shows and many more. The coordinators pride themselves on being hands-on and present all through the function; passion drives them and ensures that no detail will be missed. Charging only a management fee, transparency in all other aspects is their prerogative. This Company has been in business for over ten years. |
March 2010
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As a change from the standard roll out of a company conference, Altech Autopage Cellular decided to do things differently this year and held a country wide roadshow to promote their 2010 vision to staff and business partners. Once again with the assistance of their preferred events management company, Currin’t Events, the message that was developed to take the brand around the country was “Today’s horizons are tomorrow’s milestones”. This the client approved as very relevant for the roadshow – moving forward and achieving.
The roadshow took place in four cities around South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, with two events happening each day – one with their staff and the other with business partners, with the management team of Altech Autopage Cellular travelling from place to place meeting each group in turn.
The logistics of venue choice and bookings as well as the co-ordination of each event over all the days was done by Currin’t Events. They arranged the business partner sessions at top hotels around the country, whilst settled for more fun, relaxed venues for the staff such as Hemisphere night club in Cape Town. Hiring out these venues exclusively, allowed for presentations to occur whilst still giving the staff time to party and let their hair down after the formalities. Co-ordinating design, AV and entertainment at each venue while keeping in the same theme and style was a logistical challenge the Currin’t Events team thrive on.
Making sure the right people arrived at the right venue in the right city was also the responsibility of Currin’t Events who handled all travel and accommodation bookings as well as the RSVP service for over 1000 delegates nationwide. In addition to making sure people were transported around the country and arrived for the event, Currin’t Events also had to co-ordinate from their office in Johannesburg the packing and delivery of goodie bags which were sponsored by Altech Autopage Cellular’s key suppliers and partners.
“The roadshow was highly successful and enjoyed by business partners and staff, who expressed the sentiment that they preferred the roadshow to a three day conference as this doesn’t keep them away from their work” said Melisa Verwey Marketing Manager of Altech Autopage Cellular, “and the excellent organizing from Currin’t Events enabled me to concentrate on my busy work schedule back at Head Office, relieving me of the pressure of having to travel around the country to oversee the project. Not only was this a very successful event, but it was a highly cost-effective one too”.
Currin’t Events is an events management company with a decade of experience and thorough hands-on service. Their well established and unique approach promises a first-class exceptional delivery each time. |
August 2009
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 Currin’t Events synchronized a dual purpose large scale event for over 600 people at the Altron Group’s annual awards ceremony, held at the Vodadome.
The Altron Group elected trusted events specialists Currin’t Events to manage their dual purpose annual event in July 2009 catering to the needs of over 600 attendees. Celebrating both the company’s annual awards ceremony and the Group Chairman’s 75th birthday, Currin’t Events pulled out all stops to ensure a flawless experience for management and their guests alike.
The Vodadome in Midrand was chosen for its perfectly suited capacity and comfort. Guests were treated to an elegant musical variety by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, complemented by performances of top South African artists Angela Killian, Juanita Kruger, Timothy Moloi Cito and Zonke. The full-day ceremony was run to a tight schedule of cues that directed multimedia, live theatre and musical direction while 600 nourishing meals were catered for by guru Vicky Crease. Production and choreography was mastered by industry stalwart, David Bloch, while the Altron Group branding was tastefully carried through in the styling of the event – from venue décor to lunch tables that were “fit for a king”.
The purpose of an event is to create memorable moments. The immediacy of the effect can be both inspiring and unforgiving, making an event company’s accuracy and attention to detail, paramount to the complete success of the occasion. In a competitive industry, guest response is the ultimate reward and serves to enrich the product. Currin’t Events earned overwhelmingly positive feedback at this event and attributes their success to trusted relationships with key suppliers and contacts, and the ability to respond to a clients brief – no matter how big or small – in a strategically sound and cost effective manner.
With a decade of experience and a thorough hands-on delivery, Currin’t Events’ well established and unique approach promises a first class unique delivery.
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June 2009
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 After ten years in the industry, first class events company, Currin’t Events, decided it was time for a refreshing change to their brand image. Successful event management requires a company to be innovative, creative and adapt to constant changes, and their new brand identity encompasses these qualities.
Currin’t Events has a strong brand awareness in the marketplace, and they wanted to retain elements of the logo, so they repositioned and changed the weight of the existing icon and simplified it. The corporate colour was changed from a funky orange to a more sophisticated corporate warm copper, while at the same time keeping a similar font which works well with the roundness of the icon and enhances the positioning statement.
With a simple and stylish look and feel, Currin’t Events’ new brand identity communicates the message of a prominent and professional events company geared for continued success in the future. |
September 2009
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 Having successfully managed the Annual Report Awards for Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa for the past four years, Currin’t Events was the natural choice for the CIS Corporate Governance Conference 2009 which is being run to celebrate their centenary year.
The CIS Corporate Governance Conference is the premier conference on corporate governance and will be held at Sandton Convention Centre on 10th & 11th September 2009. A panel of renowned speakers have been secured to address many current issues, such as solutions to the global financial crisis, King III and African governance scenarios. |
March 2009
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 Stryker SA, the South African division of one of the world’s leading orthopaedic medical device companies has contracted Currin’t Events as their preferred event company. After a very successful sales conference managed by Currin’t Events in July 2008, Stryker SA decided to entrust them with all their forthcoming events.
As an exciting start to this agreement, Currin’t Events managed a Stryker SA management incentive to Zambia. With their emphasis on first class service, Currin’t Events proposed the incentive to Royal Livingstone in Zambia, which proved exactly the right resort for the Stryker management team. Apart from enjoying the luxury of this 5-Star resort, Currin’t Events arranged for the group to visit 3 different countries in 3 days! The group were transported to Chobe game reserve in Botswana for a day’s outing and then to Zimbabwe for a special Boma dinner for one of their special evenings.
It was an event that was thoroughly enjoyed by all and managed with precision by the Currin’t Events team.
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March 2009
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 This year kicked off with a bang as Currin’t Events was commissioned on behalf of Altech Autopage Cellular to assist with their two yearly conferences. The first was a sales conference held in the Drakensberg. Playing on Altech Autopage Cellular’s 2009 corporate theme of “1 in a million”, Currin’t Events created a hip hop styled event. Many of the 200 delegates entered to compete in a dancing competition based on the popular TV series, “So you think you can dance?” To create as real to life situation as possible, Currin’t Events organized for the official TV series judges to critique the dancers, and the top four winners of the South African TV show performed an opening dance act to get everyone in the mood!
Keeping to the hip hop theme, the teambuilding event was a box cart race which delegates first had to ‘pimp up’ under the title “Pimp my ride”. This was hugely enjoyed by the delegates, who pronounced it their best teambuilding event yet.
After such an energetic start to the conference, the final gala dinner was kept more low-key with a truly Timeless evening, where, instead of being the show, guests were entertained by Jamali and Denim.
The second Altech Autopage Cellular conference Currin’t Events assisted with was the Business Partner Conference held at Fancourt in George. Again with the same corporate theme of “1 in a million”, Currin’t Events came up with a conference theme of Spectacular Altechular… and this event was just that!
On the first evening guests were treated to a truly authentic African Shebeen dinner, where Gang of Instrumentals excited the audience of 350. Guests were transferred from the hotel to the venue in real taxi’s driving ‘vigorously’ with music blaring, and were welcomed by African Gumboot dancers, who later showed the delegates a move or two.
The Gala dinner on the second evening was spectacular. Setting the scene for the 20’s "gangster" period theme of the evening, guests were transferred from the hotel to the venue by the Outeniqua Choo Choo. The train museum was the choice of venue again keeping with the period theme with original steam engines forming the backdrop to the décor. A Spectacular music and dance show was choreographed for the guests, who saw acts including, Candy Man, Roxanne, All that Jazz and many more; inspired by well known theatrical shows like Moulin Rouge and Chicago.
On the last day guests were treated to a choice of different leisure activities, which included a round of golf on the world class Montagu golf course in Fancourt. Other choices included spa treatments, elephant walks, boat trips, and a dolphin cruise.
With two hugely successful events, a great client relationship and many happy delegates, Currin’t Events again proved their first class service offering. |
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September 2009
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 Successful companies are those who concentrate on core business while outsourced partners supply expert services for non-core functions, and this is especially true when a golf event is to be organised.
Statistics show that 80% of sales are derived from existing clientele and therefore it is imperative that companies find ways to maintain service levels to their existing clients. Golf events are proven effective mechanisms to do just that!
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, a way of building and firming relationships, 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.
Industry specific events require an even more exact touch and approach necessitating a clear understanding of the golfing market and game. The best organized golf events are managed by a company who has a knowledge of the game – preferably who plays golf – allowing client representatives to be participants and network on the course. Organisation of a golf event is very different from, say,a conference, and requires a knowledge of the game and an understanding of expectations of the golfers and the golf club. Whereas an in-house person may be able to efficiently arrange the company conference because they have knowledge of its people and services, a golf day is different as it requires knowledge of the game.
Of course expert knowledge in obtaining sponsorships is a must as well. Sponsors’ needs are different to players and if not correctly looked after, can prevent a successful long term relationship developing or worse still resulting in a short term disaster. Also important is the necessity to source gifts and prizes, that golfers are going to like and want to use again. Appropriate golf gifts need insight into golfers and a knowledge of what will be appreciated.
Since it is a time consuming exercise golf events are ideal for outsourcing because your personnel’s time is freed up to focus on their core functions even when they are golf players themselves. 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. Clients must be able to even consult with their events partner on the specifications of the golf course, the club and particular regulations which a golf club may have..
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 the personnel from attending to their core functions at the office, costing the company even more time and money. Being able to execute the event successfully and taking the strain off the company requires an in depth understanding of what the company wants to achieve with the golf day. Turning the needs and expectations into a winning event having looked after all the stakeholders involved, requires expertise and excellent people skills.
Rather have your key personnel concentrate on your clients – before, during and after the golf 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.
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October 2008
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 Events have traditionally been seen as an add-on to a marketing strategy – something that culminates in a once-a-year party for clients. Lots of money is spent on the function and very little value or return is attached to it. It’s a way of thanking clients for their business, in the hopes they will remain clients! We call this the nuisance value event – enjoyed at the time by some, hated by others and suffered by all!
Tighter marketing budgets and increased competition now dictate a change in strategy for marketing teams. Working on the 80:20 rule (20% of clients give you 80% of business), and the fact that it is cheaper to retain clients than to find new ones, Currin’t Events has developed a service plan to assist companies achieve their client relationship goals and turn events into sales value.
The philosophy behind the Currin’t Events plan is the development of relationships between consultant and client, thereby ensuring good personal communication and ultimately increased sales.
Step 1 is to develop an event plan linked to the communications strategy, to create a series of ongoing meetings/events. Currin’t Events develops this plan in close conjunction with marketing teams who know their clients and client requirements. Different requirements and budgets will dictate the type and frequency of events.
Step 2 is to set budgets so that the event plan forms a critical element of the marketing costs. Events are monitored to determine what business is generated from those clients over the set period. This step is essential to the success of the plan. Without an effective annual budget for the event plan, client meetings become ad hoc and the objectives are lost.
Step 3 is to ensure regular feedback meetings are held between Currin’t Events and clients, checking that objectives are met, assessing the reasons why if they are not and making the changes necessary to meet annual targets.
This is a simple, cost effective plan to implement, but its success requires commitment from management, adherence to the plan by staff and a longer-term view as a strategy.
Currin’t Events is an Events Company primarily servicing the Corporate Market with a proven track record of well managed events that meet clients’ objectives and specific needs. The coordinators pride themselves on being hands-on and present throughout the function. Passion drives them and ensures that no detail will be missed. Charging only a management fee, transparency in all other aspects is their prerogative.
This Company has been in business for over 10-years, has BEE status and offers expert events consultation and a product range consisting of award dinners, gala functions, company incentive packages, golf days, launches, sports packages and roadshows to name but a few.
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October 2008
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 Nkozi’s Haven and the SA Ballet Theatre’s Outreach programme in Mamelodi and Alexandra each received R75 000, courtesy of the Altron Young President’s Club (YPC). These efforts to help the less fortunate took the form of a top quality charity golf event. With all the committee members fully committed to their fulltime day jobs, an outsourced partner was necessary to manage the event, source sponsorships and liaise with the golf club. After the successful AYPC golf event in 2007 and years of successfully managing the Altron Chairman’s Award function, Currin’t Events was chosen to manage the event again. The AYPC’s Patron Dr Bill Venter chose the charities and Robbie Venter, CEO of the Altron Group handed the charities their cheques on the night of the event. Go to Gallery...
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September 2008
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 It is a fact that in tough economic times such as the world is experiencing now, marketing budgets are often the first to be cut, perceived as ‘nice to haves’ and non essential expenses. Is this the right approach given that many organisations are looking for ways to gain a competitive advantage? Rather than decrease marketing budgets, companies should be looking at ways of getting a better return from their marketing spend. Events marketing is a proven way of doing this.
If you Google “events marketing” on the world wide web, you’ll find any number of articles and sites about this trend, but if you call up only pages from South African web sites, the information is scanty at best.
The reality is that, with the exception of forward thinking top companies with large marketing budgets or industries which make extensive use of face-to-face marketing, company events in South Africa tend to be impromptu affairs laid on for clients when a suitable opportunity presents itself – just look at the rush on corporate tickets for the British Lions rugby tour, for example. It is only when we go beyond the ad hoc that the magic factor of return on investment kicks in.
International research shows a fast-growing trend in events marketing – also referred to as experiential marketing. According to the EventView 2009 Report, the leading annual global event marketing report sponsored by the Meeting Professionals International Foundation, meetings and events are the discipline that can be leveraged to best drive ROI, and accelerate and deepen brand relationships. EventView’s survey of 1000 senior executives from companies in North America, Europe and Pacific Asia, reveals that face-to-face marketing activities are playing an integral role within the marketing mix, and senior marketers believe events are the most effective medium to engage customers and move them to purchasing behaviour.
The difference between occasionally hosting single unconnected events such as a golf day or inviting a group of important clients out to dinner and a strategic events marketing campaign lies in a measurable return on investment. Face-to-face events offer high value – if they are supported by clear marketing objectives.
The best returns come from a properly structured events programme which benefits both your company and your clients, which reaches the right customers at the right time, with customised experiences for individual consumer groups, and which homes in on selling to those customers after they have had a positive experience. This level of planning allows for measurable post-event results, be it in sales, qualified leads, customer relationships, brand exposure or a stronger database.
We are lagging behind in the use of this methodology in South Africa, especially in the case of smaller enterprises, which tend to disregard events as a marketing tool because of the costs involved. This approach is usually short sighted, because with the right planning even a modest budget event can provide considerable returns. Above all, customers want to have fun. If you take that as your starting point, calculate what your budget can accommodate, plan an event accordingly which will provide the results you want, and then extrapolate your return on investment, you’ll be Googling events companies in no time.
This is where so many small companies fall short. It need not be an extravagance to outsource the management of events. Professional events organisers have the experience to find the most cost-effective products and their expertise will almost certainly enhance the event experience for the clients. Events consultants can also add immeasurable value by assisting with planning an integrated events programme at the time that marketing strategies are put together. Just as it has become prudent practice for companies to consult advertising and communications professionals on marketing strategy, there is a place for inviting events experts to the strategy table.
With the great need in South Africa for rapid growth in the small enterprise sector, we need to ask ourselves whether, as a business community, we are maximising on marketing investment? We should be challenging the Pareto Principle that 80% of our sales comes from 20% of our client base. Strategic event marketing can be a hugely powerful tool for expanding a loyal customer base, if only companies would take the plunge and move beyond traditional event tactics to establishing an events-led marketing campaign. Clients should be able to have fun at your company’s expense, but for your company this should be part of an investment process, not just a loss-leading event.
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June 2008
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 clientele 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. |
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10 - 11 January 2008
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 Hilti sales and marketing staff started 2008 with a bang at what has unanimously been dubbed “the best Hilti Kick Off, ever”.
On 10th and 11th January 2008, the Hilti sales and marketing team gathered at Kievits Kroon conference venue for two days of reflection on the lessons learnt in 2007 and strategising for 2008. The event was traditionally organised in-house, but the scale of this year’s event lead the Hilti marketing management team to search for assistance.
Currin’t Events was chosen to assist with the event, on the basis of their longstanding relationship with Hilti – they have organised the Hilti Year End function and the Hilti Family Fun Day (with resounding success) – and their reputation for excellence in their field.
Currin’t Events has years of experience and the company’s well-developed relationships with suppliers ensured that the event was a great success. The involvement of a reliable and specialized event organiser left the execution and planning of the event in the hands of the professionals and freed up the Hilti staff members to focus on the main purpose of the event – to ready their sales team for the upcoming year.
Shouldering the Burden
Currin’t Events took note of the message that the Hilti marketing management team wanted to convey through the conference - emphasising learning from past challenges, setting goals, planning and executing strategies – and planned activities which emphasised the value of team work and overcoming obstacles in achieving your goals. Drawing on their creativity, and applying their in-depth knowledge of event co-ordination, Currin’t Events’ staff came up with exciting, entertaining and relevant activities that were immensely enjoyed by the 160+ delegates attending the conference.
The event had a “Boot Camp” theme with dinners around the camp-fire, bushveld décor, authentic “dog tag” name-tags, and real snow. Thanks to their extensive network of associates and suppliers, Currin’t Events was also able to arrange for a full-size boxing ring to be erected at the venue – complete with glamorous ring girls and female boxers. Just when they thought it couldn’t get any better, delegates were treated to a special guest appearance by Bob Skinstad.
Best Laid Plans…
If the Hilti marketing team had any doubt about their decision, it became clear at the event that they had made a smart move when they decided to partner with a professional events organiser. Even the best-laid plans are subject to circumstances beyond our control and, although the Kick Off was planned as an outdoor event, the weather did not play along. It rained solidly throughout the event. This meant that on-the-spot rain plans had to be put in place during the event – something which would have put immense pressure on Hilti staff (had they been managing the event themselves).
Currin’t Events was able to change arrangements at a moment’s notice without any inconvenience to Hilti or its staff. A base camp dinner around the pool, planned for the first night, was moved indoors. The hall was decorated with boot camp style décor and the outdoors was recreated perfectly in the (dry) in-doors.
On the second day, a massive team-building event involving giant inflatable obstacle courses was planned, but the rain put paid to this plan. Currin’t Events swiftly organised an alternative activity –which took the form of a drumming experience - thanks to the excellent relationship they have cultivated with their suppliers over the years. They were also able to make use of the décor that had been set up in the hall the previous day and which fortuitously provided just the right atmosphere for the drumming activity. The rain and subsequent panic to reorganise activities could have spelt disaster for the event, but because a professional event organiser had been employed, there was no panic – and no need for panic. Contingency plans were immediately implemented with minimal hassle and the event was a resounding success despite the weather.
Full Attention
The decision to enlist the assistance of professional event organisers made this possible. Currin’t Events handled the organisation and implementation of all aspects of the event expertly. Hilti marketing managers were able to concentrate on their own area of expertise – leading, motivating and preparing their sales teams for the year ahead.
Logistics
Organising an event of this nature – especially so early in the year - poses specific logistical challenges. Fortunately, Hilti managers could rely on Currin’t Events to take care of the logistics while they focussed on preparing and getting the message across to their sales team. Currin’t Events was able to work on tight deadlines and have the entire event organised before suppliers closed for the Christmas holidays. The good relationships that they share with their suppliers allowed them to persuade suppliers to open early after the holidays in order to be properly prepared for the event.
Resounding Success
The delegates’ responses were both exuberant and positive, with everyone agreeing that this was the “best Kick Off ever”. Hilti management was so impressed with the professionalism and creativity shown by Currin’t Events that they plan to use the event organisers again next year and have referred other companies to Currin’t Events. |
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13 May 2007
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 Jacaranda94.2FM spoiled their listeners to a special day of relaxation and entertainment at The Middleton on Mother’s Day. Celebrities such as Michael Moll, Leon Schuster, Paul Buckby, Mahendra Raghnuth, Barry Ronge and Rulani Boloyi attended with their families and some even with their mothers.
While many of the celebrities’ mothers were present, others such as Leon Schuster’s mother could not attend. A conference call was set up to Leon Schuster’s mother during which she described her child growing up while the guests had to guess who the celebrity was! Paul Buckby who enchanted the Mothers with his special stage personality presented a fashion show with entertainment. Because of their extensive experience in organising special events Currin’t Events was selected by Jacaranda94.2FM to create their Life’s Greatest Mothers Day. The venue was particularly important as it had to have the right ambience and be accessible to listeners.. Tasteful decorations were used to create a beautiful venue to celebrate the Mothers, and Currin’t Events used soft chiffon, white roses with lavender and purple touches as table décor. White trellis work, with greenery and touches of cerise and lavender adorned the room, and flower boxes in the garden complemented the venue’s beauty while live Classical music added to the tranquil mood.
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