being boutique: small business practices for big business returns
DESCRIPTION
In an industry heavily run by big players with years of experience and marketing dollars at the ready, it’s tough to create a strong platform for success for those starting out. Marketing, business meetings, cold calls and sponsorship opportunities seem to be the standard voice in creating a strong existence, but there are ways to trigger quick growth as a boutique firm with a small team of event professionals! Through our session of ‘Being Boutique’, we’ll cover ways to market, promote and create everlasting partnerships using small techniques with large business returns. We’ll cover Social Media, press opportunities, cold calling, venue/vendor meetings and ways to create that hard to achieve buzz in an industry that fights for dollars and RFPs.TRANSCRIPT
PRESENTED BYAaron Kaufman & Jared Golberg
@AKthe5th @JaredGolberg
@5ElementEvents
#CSEME2011
BEING BOUTIQUESmall Business Practices for Big Business Returns
WHAT IS BOUTIQUE BUSINESS?Let’s Start This Off?
A small specialized service operation, catering to a specific
aspect of a niche market
FOR EXAMPLE, A SMALL HOTEL MIGHT CATER TO WEALTHY
TRAVELERS
1. STARTING YOUR BUSINESS FOR THE WRONG REASONS
2. POOR MANAGEMENT3. INSUFFICIENT CAPITAL4. LOCATION, LOCATION AND LOCATION!5. LACK OF TIME MANAGEMENT6. LACK OF PLANNING7. OVER EXPANSION8. NO WEBSITE!
8 PITFALLS FOR SMALL BUSINESSESWhy Most Fail in The First 5 Years?
#FAIL
#HELP
- 145,000 new businesses start up each year in Canada, and about 137,000 businesses declare bankruptcy each year.
- The ratio is almost one failure for each startup, and it begs the question: "How is it possible that entrepreneurship has so many casualties both in terms of money lost and lives often horribly upset?"
STATISTICS OF FAILUREDon’t Be Scared? This is For Motivation!
GET STARTED! EVALUATE YOUR STARTUP
4 Important Things to Think About!
1. ARE YOU READY FOR AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP?2. EVALUATE YOUR OPTIONS3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEAM (SMALL BOUTIQUE?)4. PREPARE A BUSINESS PLAN!
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED ON EVERY
ANGLE!
WE’RE HERE TO TALK SUCCESS!Enough With The Bad! Let’s Focus on The Good!
1. LOW OVERHEAD AND DAY TO DAY COSTS2. THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE DIRECTION AND TEST
WATERS3. LESS RED TAPE AND QUICK ANSWERS FOR CLIENTS4. TEAM ORIENTED BUSINESS AND SUPPORT5. BETTER REWARDS AND ENVIROMENT FOR
EMPLOYEES6. BETTER ACCESS TO CREATIVE
EQUIPMENT/RESOURCES7. ABILITY TO OUTSOURCE / GETTING WHAT YOU
WANT
7 ADVANTAGES TO BOUTIQUE BUSINESS
2003 STARTING OUTWhat Did it Take to Get The Ball Rolling?
DÉCOR? DESIGN?AUDIOVISUAL?
MANAGEMENT?MARKETING?
MEETINGS?
STAFF?
2003 STARTING OUTWhat Did it Take to Get The Ball Rolling?
THE RIGHT PEOPLE
IN PLACE!
2003 STARTING OUTWhat Did it Take to Get The Ball Rolling?
THE COLD CALL!
MEETINGS!PARTNERSHIPS!
- You cannot sit and wait! Make your voice heard and get on the phone! Make meetings and everlasting partnerships to expand your reach!
2003 STARTING OUTWhat Did it Take to Get The Ball Rolling?
OUTSOURCE!OUTSOURCE!OUTSOURCE!
- Collaborate with others in the industry! Keep your arsenal up dated by connecting with vendors! Know where to go and how to find ANYTHING FOR CLIENTS
2003 STARTING OUTWhat Did it Take to Get The Ball Rolling?
FIND YOUR OUTLETSAND GET NOTICED!
WEBSITE!MAGAZINES!
BLOGS!SOCIAL MEDIA!NETWORKING
EVENTS
JOINED PROMOTIONS
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTSSPONSORSHIP!ONLINE PORTALS
GETTING NOTICED!Use What You Have FREE Access to?
1. GET FREE POSTINGS IN ONLINE DIRECTORIES2. FOCUS ON EVENT COVERAGE WITH BIZBASH, M&IT,
CSE3. PARTNER AS A BLOG WRITER FOR EVENT PORTALS4. START YOUR OWN BLOG AND POST IT TO YOU WEBSITE5. SPONSOR CHARITY EVENTS AND CONFERENCES6. ENGAGE IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERACT OFTEN!
GETTING NOTICED!Use What You Have FREE Access to?
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA Interact, Engage & Inspire
MOBILITY
ACCESS
DEVICES
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA Interact, Engage & Inspire
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA Interact, Engage & Inspire
#EVENTPROFS
#EVENTS#ISES
#CSEME2011
- Every hour, 48 hours of content is created via TWITTER! Join a community and get answers…
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA Interact, Engage & Inspire
- WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/5THELEMENTEVENTS
WITH ALL THE INFORMATIONIt’s Still About RELATIONSHIPS!
- Business has always been about relationships, make sure to harvest these relationships and be accessible!
CLIENTS
VENDORS DRIVERS?
COMPETITION
WITH ALL THE INFORMATIONIt’s Still About RELATIONSHIPS!
BECOME TRUSTED!BECOME A RESOURCE!
WHERE WE ARE NOW!We Made It and Still Working Hard!
1. VERTICALLY INTEGRATED FULL SERVICE FIRM2. IN HOUSE MARKETING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN3. PART OWNERSHIP OF AV COMPANY4. SMALL TEAM OF EVENT PROFESSIONALS5. EXCLUSIVE AV THE FERMENTING CELLAR
(DISTILLERY)6. INDUSTRY LEADER IN DIGITAL
MEDIA/MARKETING7. HEAD ROOM FOR PROPER GROWTH AND
EXPANSION
WHERE WILL WE BE?What We’re Working on?
FIFTH ELEMENT GROUP
