Stand out from the crowd with creative corporate catering

If leaving a striking impression on your staff, business partners and prospective clients is the goal of your next corporate event, thinking creatively can deliver a memorable - and potentially profitable - experience for all involved.

Dare to be different

It might cost more and require a little more effort, but the benefits of a 'special' event are many. It's about standing out from the crowd, making a statement that you are a leader and showing that your company embraces innovation.

A colourful, surprising and entertaining corporate function allows you to connect with clients on a level beyond your day-to-day business. It gives them a reason to call you back and a conversational ice breaker.

Bottom line? You're not hosting a function; you're giving people an experience.

Think outside the square 

Here are some creative corporate catering ideas to help stimulate your imagination:

• Venue

Forget conference rooms. What about boats, viewing decks, wineries, gardens, museums, breweries, churches, nightclubs, warehouses?

• Attire

Forget black shirts and pants. Event-staff uniform should reflect the occasion. That could mean jockey's uniforms, masquerade attire, Hollywood characters, superheroes, sportspeople - you're only limited by imagination (and budget).

• Food

If you're announcing expansion into the United States, why not serve hotdogs, mini hamburgers, and hire a soda fountain? If your new product line is inspired by the jazz age, serve a cocktail, perhaps a mint julep, on guests' arrival.

• Entertainment

Make your corporate function more than a fancy meeting. Hire trapeze artists, magicians, an ice sculptor, or artists to paint portraits for guests to take home.

• Crowd participation

Not everyone is comfortable with it, but there are ways to ease people into an event - hats, masks, elaborately decorated cocktails. Make your new product available for people to try, or consider give-aways of your product line.

Complementary creativity

Consider incorporating elements of your core business activities when planning your corporate event. Not only will this give you an easy starting point, but it will also help to reinforce your brand.

Here are some examples of creative corporate events that draw on the particular products and services of the businesses involved:

• An independent theatre company had actors from each of its upcoming productions deliver a monologue at the season launch party. 
• A paper manufacturer held a paper aeroplane competition at the announcement of an export deal, with the first prize being two airfares to anywhere in Australia.
• A drinks importer held a 1920s speakeasy-themed launch for a new product in a city basement, complete with (fake) casino and (real) dancers.

Ask the specialists 

In business terms, a creative and unusual corporate function helps you connect with clients. It gives existing clients a reason to call you back and makes you the focus of the next day's water-cooler conversation, in a good way. 

There are companies that specialise in creative corporate events.

Ask an event coordinator today how you can stand out from the crowd.