First impressions matter when it comes to Corporate events; delegates could be in attendance from a day to several days, even longer.

Some of the latest reports value the event industry at a staggering £39.1bn with 50% of companies allocating over 20% of their spending on marketing to organising events – therefore, the look is key!

Do you remember the floral arrangements at a recent event you attended?

Did they fit their purpose? Were you impressed? Did they add to your overall experience?

Sadly, floral displays, regardless of the function or event, often miss the mark and overall event design can leave some clients disappointed and not wishing to re-engage with a brand or company.

Understanding What a Corporate Event Entails.

A corporate event is any form of event, hospitality or social activity which is organised or funded by a business entity.

Due to its somewhat broad definition, it is accurate to say that the target audience for corporate events can be as equally comprehensive as they can include:

  • Employees
  • Board members
  • Stakeholders
  • Customers / clients
  • Potential clients

All sorts of companies organise events for a variety of occasions. They may be looking to celebrate, reward, motivate, team build or encourage potential collaboration. Whatever the occasion, there is always an event solution, and this may require some interior or exterior design.

Let’s look at some examples of corporate events:

The Trade Show

 Organisations often attend trade shows as a lead collation exercise. Companies may also choose to host or sponsor a trade show to reinforce their image as an industry leader among those who may be attending. With today’s ferociously competitive market it’s important to create a show-stopping stand and a memorable experience for any potential guess.

Floresy

Areca Palm DeLuxe

Awards and Gala Dinners

These traditional event experiences can be used in multiple ways. If organised by a business they can reward and motivate employees, suppliers, resellers and potential customers by providing awards across several categories to recognise achievements. Businesses will also regularly sponsor and enter industry awards to promote their business, improve their standing in the industry and increase brand awareness. That being said, it’s important to make guests feel welcome and valued.

Floresy

Calla Lily and Orchid Vase Display

 

Experiential Marketing

This marketing is becoming increasingly more popular as businesses look to create a closer bond with their customers. The idea is to immerse attendees within the brand experience and stay on message through a fun and memorable event. By aligning positive emotions with your brand or business, customers are more likely to want to invest in your products or services, which is why it is important to make the experience as interactive as possible. This way delegates will feel emotionally invested in what your company is selling.

Indoor green wall module vertical garden

Wall Mounted Indoor Green Wall

The Product Launch

It’s an exciting time for any company. All the hard work has finally paid off and it’s time to launch the all-important product. After all this work, you need to capitalise on any potential interest. Interest equals leads and leads equal sales.

If managed well, the event will generate media coverage and an industry buzz prior to the actual product release. These days they need to hit the zeitgeist and have a flashy feeling more than just having a large dinner party where guests only get to interact with people near them. If it’s within your budget, you should consider the value of the celebrity or “influencer” appearance as this can also maximise any potential impact with our social media channels. Just be sure to make it on-brand to the product.

Amaryllis corporate events

Modern Eclectic – Amaryllis

Whatever the occasion there will hopefully be important people and potential clients enjoying the bespoke event that you and your team have created. Opportunities to impress don’t present themselves often so this is your moment to impress them!

Have you been inspired to bring some serenity and zen into your living spaces – indoors or outdoors – for the new year? Consider turning to the East for inspiration with a calm considered design that will provide a peaceful and relaxing space. What better way to embrace the Japanese culture of Zen.

Japanese gardens are designed – not only for considered reflection but to enhance the experience of meditation. As a concept and practice, Zen principles were embraced by the ruling elite as a way of calm during the swirling storm of the country’s discord. The end result is a time-honoured culture which has become deep-rooted in civilization.

Japanese gardens favour blank spaces, carefully raked gravel or contrasting sheets of moss with a minimal amount of perfectly placed plants. Part of this reasoning is that it is thought to make any garden look more spacious. Even if you’re working with a plot just three metres by five metres or even smaller – which is the size of many courtyards or dry gravel gardens – this enhances that sense of space.

Do Your Research

Designing and creating your own indoor/outdoor garden may seem like a cinch. A few rocks here a few bamboo sticks there and you’re all done, right? Wrong. 

Japanese gardens are an art form that has been around for centuries and in order to create an authentic design, the form must be studied carefully. Luckily the resources to create your very own oasis are endless. 

Garden Types to Consider 

The Moss Garden Japanese culture venerates age and history. Because moss doesn’t grow overnight – and instead takes years and years to cover the surface of stone this is deemed a definite choice and something of virtue for whoever is creating the garden.

Moss Sponge 13 cm

Floresy – Moss Sponge

One of the moss plant’s characteristics is that it thrives in a humid and rainy climate. It doesn’t need much water (important as our climate proves more and more unpredictable) and can absorb nutrients directly from the air regardless of any humidity that may occur.

The Rock Garden Traditionally, Zen rock gardens are not meant for social occasions or gatherings. It is a sacred space for Zen monks to perform their daily practice. This design is meant to portray a vista of mountains and rivers, yet the minimalist design itself contains no actual water.  Instead, it uses the carefully placed features to emulate a majestic scene on a miniature scale. For example, sand and gravel raked into a particular pattern will symbolize a river, while rocks placed on the sand symbolize mountains.

Japanese Rock Garden Floresy

Japanese Rock Garden

It may surprise you to know that there are only a couple hundred people in the world that claim to have created an authentic Japanese Zen garden.

Want to create your place of calm and balance?

Japanese oriental bamboo Floresy

Japanese Oriental Bamboo

Fatsia Japanese | Japonica 150 cm

Fatsia Japanese | Japonica 150 cm

These design tips can be used to bring calm to any space whether it be a quiet room in an office for employees to take a minute or the spa section of your hotel to add that ambience of calm and reflection.

Although the design of such a space can take some time, just work through the stages so as not to overcomplicate matters. Start with an understanding of the ancient foundations of Zen and the principles of Japanese garden design. Make sure you have the right space and tools to incorporate it into the designated space that you wish to transform.

Once completed, your reward is that you will have a space that brings you peace of mind with the added bonus that you’ll have learned the history behind your design, giving your space a purpose that is based in the roots of Japan’s cultural history.