CHALLENGES
With employee engagement at the core of their corporate strategy, Citation wanted to create an extra special 20th anniversary event. The brief was outdoors (risky with our summer climate!) and a nineties theme.
SOLUTIONS
Our central idea was to create a nineties festival. We found a cricket club, with a contingency plan for bad weather and had a marquee supplier on standby but only to be charged for if used. Make Events managed the invitation process and transport from Citation’s offices. Guests arrived from mid-afternoon to a scene of pagodas, brightly coloured bean bags and wooden picnic tables.
A giant ghetto blaster housed the DJ on an outdoor stage with an LED screen, a full sound system and lighting show. Team building included Gladiator style jousting, an inflatable Twister and inflatable volleyball and giant Jenga. Festival style catering vans included a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Van, Spud-You-Like and giant props such as Fab, Twister and Funny Feet lollies. There was a Woolworths style pick ‘n mix station, whilst the bar stocked nineties classics such as Hooch. A stream of performers included Oasis and Kylie tribute acts. Then a private performance from the One
and Only, Chesney Hawkes!
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Employees appreciated the fact that the event took place during the working day and included free transport, food and drink all day. Guests shared pictures on social media which had a direct impact on recruitment, with candidates mentioning the event at interviews. Citation reported an attributed increased attendance at their subsequent Christmas party to the success of the Nineties festival.
