Welcome to our latest blog post, discussing how a corporate marquee can be the perfect venue for your next product launch event. A marquee provides a versatile and unique setting that allows you to create a truly memorable experience for your guests.
In this post, we’ll share expert tips on planning a successful product launch in a marquee, covering everything from selecting the right location and size to designing an engaging layout and incorporating branding elements. Following our advice, you can create a stunning and impactful event that will leave a lasting impression on your audience and generate buzz around your new product.
Choosing the Ideal Marquee Size and Location
Selecting the right size and location for your marquee is essential in creating a comfortable and inviting environment for your product launch.
Consider the Number of Attendees
When planning a product launch in a marquee, one of the first things to consider is the number of attendees. The marquee size should be determined by the number of guests you expect to attend. This is about ensuring enough space for everyone to fit comfortably and creating the right atmosphere.
A marquee that is too large can make your event feel under-attended, while one that is too small can feel cramped. It’s also important to consider the layout of your event.
- Will your guests be seated at tables, or is it a standing reception?
- Will there be a dance floor or a stage for presentations?
All these elements will impact the required size of the marquee. For example, if you plan a seated dinner for 100 people with a dance floor or a stage, you might need a marquee that is 12 x 21 metres.
Evaluate the Accessibility of the Venue
The location of your marquee is just as important as its size. You need to ensure that the venue is easily accessible for both your guests and your suppliers. This includes considering factors such as parking facilities and public transportation options.
The venue should also suit the type of marquee you plan to use. For instance, frame marquees do not require additional space for guy ropes and can be set up on hard-standing surfaces, making them a versatile choice for many locations. Traditional Pole marquees, on the other hand, require additional space for guy ropes and are better suited to grassy areas.
Planning a product launch in a marquee requires careful consideration of both the size and location of the marquee. By taking into account the number of attendees, the layout of your event, and the accessibility and suitability of the venue, you can ensure that your product launch is a resounding success.
Designing a Captivating Layout
Designing a captivating layout for your product launch in a marquee is crucial to ensure your guests remain engaged and focused on your product throughout the event. The design should be both practical and visually appealing, establishing a cosy ambience and a distinctive atmosphere that will make a lasting impact on your guests.
Create a Focal Point
Creating a focal point is the first and most crucial step in designing a captivating layout for your product launch. This is where your product should be positioned, ideally at the centre of the marquee or on a stage for maximum visibility.
The focal point is not just about the product; it’s about creating a narrative around it that resonates with your audience.
Understand Your Customers
Grasping your audience’s needs is vital for establishing an effective focal point. You need to know who they are, their needs and interests, and how they will interact with your product. This understanding will guide you in creating a focal point that speaks directly to your audience and resonates with them.
Build the Event Around an Idea and a Message
The best focal points surround a smart idea and a compelling message. Strategy and deep insight into your audience should underpin this idea and message. This is how you create something powerful and bold to engage your audience and leave a lasting impression.
Make it Bold
Don’t be afraid to be creatively courageous. Your focal point should be impactful and inventive, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This doesn’t necessarily require a large budget; a smart idea that emotionally engages your audience can be far more powerful than an extravagant display.
Engage with the Audience
Finally, remember that your product launch is not just a ‘show and tell’. It’s an opportunity to engage with your audience and provide them with a fulfilling experiential journey. This could involve interactive product demonstrations, Q&A sessions, or opportunities for hands-on experiences with your product.
By incorporating these elements into your focal point, you can create a captivating and engaging environment that puts your product in the spotlight and ensures your product launch is a resounding success.
Incorporate Interactive Elements
In addition to creating a focal point, it’s important to incorporate interactive elements into your layout. This could include stations for product demonstrations and hands-on experiences, allowing guests to engage with your product more deeply.
Providing areas for networking and socialising can also enhance the overall experience, encouraging guests to connect and discuss your product.
Consider the Size and Type of Marquee
When planning your product launch, the size and type of marquee you choose can significantly impact your event’s overall atmosphere and functionality.
Frame vs Traditional Pole Marquees
The two most commonly used marquees are frame marquees and traditional pole marquees. Frame marquees do not require any additional space for guy ropes, making them a practical choice if space is limited. They provide a clear span of space, allowing for flexible layout options.
Traditional Pole marquees, on the other hand, can be more aesthetically pleasing, offering a classic and elegant look. However, they require a minimum of 2.5m (8.2ft) all around, in addition to their size, to allow for the guy ropes. A frame marquee is a sensible choice if the only area available is a hard-standing surface.
Size Matters
The size of your marquee should be determined by the number of guests, the type of event (seated dinner, buffet, standing reception), how much space is required for your product and additional requirements such as space for a dance floor, reception area, or service tent.
Ancillary Items: Luxury Loos and Generators
In addition to the marquee itself, other ancillary items can enhance the comfort and functionality of your event.
Luxury loos, for example, are a must-have for any large event, ensuring your guests have access to clean and comfortable facilities. Generators are another vital component, providing the power needed for lighting, heating, and AV equipment. It is crucial to guarantee a dependable power supply capable of meeting the requirements of your event.
At Carron Marquees, we offer a range of ancillary items, including luxury loos and generators, to ensure your product launch goes off without a hitch. Our team can provide expert guidance on the optimal choices for your event, guaranteeing you possess all the necessary elements for a triumphant product launch.
Plan for Different Event Scenarios
Finally, planning for different event scenarios is important when designing your layout. Consider how many people you wish to accommodate and the nature of your product launch.
- Will there be a formal presentation requiring a stage and projector?
- Will your guests be seated for this, or will it be a standing event?
- Will microphones be needed for speeches or product demonstrations?
Consider whether you’ll need a service tent for catering or a separate area for one-on-one discussions and networking. All these factors will influence the size and layout of your marquee.
By carefully planning your layout and incorporating these elements, you can create a captivating and engaging environment for your product launch, ensuring your event is a resounding success.
Incorporating Branding and Visual Identity
When planning a product launch in a marquee, it’s essential to incorporate your branding and visual identity into the event design. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the event but also reinforces your brand’s image in the minds of your attendees.
Use Consistent Colours and Themes
Your brand’s colour palette and themes should be reflected throughout the marquee. This includes the linens, furniture, and lighting.
By coordinating these elements with your brand’s colours, you create a visually cohesive experience that resonates with your brand identity. Furthermore, consider incorporating your logo and product images into the décor to further reinforce your brand’s presence.
Display Promotional Materials
Promotional materials such as banners, posters, or digital screens can be strategically placed around the marquee to showcase your product and its features. These materials should be designed to maintain consistency with your brand’s visual identity.
Additionally, providing branded takeaway items such as brochures or samples can serve as a reminder of your brand and product long after the event has ended.
Digital Branding
In the modern era of digital technology, your online presence serves as an extension of your brand. Therefore, ensuring that your digital branding aligns with your physical event is crucial. This includes your event website, email marketing campaigns, event app, and social media presence.
Each platform should reflect your brand’s colours, fonts, logos, and themes to provide a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints.
Onsite Branding
On the event day, your marquee should physically embody your brand. This can be achieved through the overall event design, from the layout of the marquee to the smaller details, such as the arrangement of your promotional materials.
Remember, every element of your event is an opportunity to reinforce your brand identity. If you want to learn more about branding for your event, read the Bizzabo: Event Branding: The 2020 Guide.
In conclusion, incorporating your branding and visual identity into your product launch marquee is a multifaceted process that involves careful planning and execution. Ensuring consistency across all event elements can create a memorable brand experience that leaves a lasting impression on your attendees.
Ensuring a Seamless Audio Visual Setup
A successful product launch in a marquee hinges on the seamless integration of audiovisual (AV) elements. The right AV setup can enhance your presentation, captivate your audience, and ensure your product shines in the best possible light.
Invest in High-Quality Equipment
The quality of your AV equipment can make or break your event. Professional-grade speakers, microphones, and projectors are essential for delivering clear sound and visuals.
As the University of Birmingham’s AV team explains, the right microphone for the job depends on the situation. A solo speaker might need a static lectern microphone or a lapel mic for freedom of movement, while panel sessions require static desk mics to avoid interference. Handheld mics are useful for Q&A sessions, especially in large spaces.
Plan for Technical Contingencies
Even with the best equipment, technical difficulties can arise. Having backup equipment and conducting a thorough soundcheck and rehearsal before the event begins is crucial. This preparation allows you to address any issues before they impact your presentation.
Lighting: More Than Just Illumination
Lighting has immense potential to convert your marquee into a vibrant and captivating environment. A well-thought-out lighting package can create a completely different atmosphere, from warm and welcoming to professional and powerful. Using exterior lighting can build anticipation before your guests even enter the marquee.
At Carron Marquees, we offer a wide selection of marquee lighting options to create the perfect atmosphere for your event. Here are some of the options you can consider:
Uplighters
Our LED uplighters are popular for their effectiveness and simplicity. Available in a chrome finish, they provide endless colour options, which can be dimmed or programmed to change with the beat of the music.
We also offer dimmable Halogen uplighters for a fresh contemporary look. Uplighters can completely transform the look and feel of your event with the push of a button.
Starlight Linings
Our star cloth lining is black cloth with white and the occasional blue light to provide real sparkle. Depending on your preference, they have a speed controller, so you can make the twinkle effect speed up or slow down.
Star cloth linings are ideal for weddings to give the appearance of a romantic night sky or corporate events and parties to provide that wow factor.
Chandeliers
Classic and beautifully crafted gilt, ivory, or black chandeliers complement any marquee. With dimmer controls, you can set the mood for your event. We can provide 8 or 12 branch chandeliers to suit any marquee size.
Pinspots
Each pin spot creates a sharp beam of light, beautifully enhancing table centres or event showpieces and adding extra ambience to your event.
Garden Uplighters
Metal halides provide the perfect solution for uplighting trees, buildings and features with rich colour or white. They are extremely efficient and use little power.
Wrought Iron Chandelier
Our wrought iron chandeliers are the perfect addition to our traditional pole marquees.
Festoon Lighting
Festoon lighting can add a fun splash of colour to your marquee or garden with well-distributed light. They can be used independently or as an addition to fairy lights or chandeliers.
Fairy Lights
A sparkling effect for the marquee’s roof adds a great accent to a dance area without having a black effect during the day. Fairy lights are ideal for decorating the centre poles, hanging behind the linings, or decorating trees and pathways outside.
Remember, the right lighting can set the mood for your event, highlight your product, and create a memorable experience for your guests.
Visuals: Making a Lasting Impression
Visual elements, from PowerPoint presentations to large-scale props, are crucial in conveying your message. High-quality screens with excellent clarity are essential for displaying your content.
Consider using additional screens around the venue to ensure all attendees can see what’s happening, regardless of where they are seated. Live streaming is also an increasingly popular option, allowing late arrivals or those outside the main event space to participate.
The Role of AV Professionals
Consider hiring an AV technician to manage the setup and troubleshoot any issues. AV professionals can advise on the best equipment and setup for your event, ensuring a seamless experience for your guests. They can also help with the complex process of bringing large-scale props into the marquee, ensuring everything is safe for attendees and the nuts and bolts are kept out of sight.
Remember, a successful product launch is not just about the product itself but the overall experience you create for your guests. A seamless AV setup is a key component of this experience, helping to create a memorable event that leaves a lasting impression.
Providing Exceptional Catering
Impressing your guests with a delightful culinary experience is crucial to any product launch. The food and drink you offer satiate your guests and contribute to your event’s overall atmosphere and theme.
Select a Reputable Caterer
Choosing a caterer with a proven track record in corporate events and marquee setups is essential.
One such caterer is Caper and Berry, a UK-based company that prides itself on creating exceptional food experiences. They cater for various events, from intimate dinners for ten to lavish celebrations for 500, ensuring every dish is served with a sense of style and occasion. Their team is passionate about their food and committed to delivering a memorable culinary experience, regardless of the event or location.
Discussing menu options and dietary requirements in advance is important when selecting a caterer. This ensures that all your guests’ needs are catered for, and no one is left out. With Caper and Berry, you can be confident that your corporate event will be handled with professionalism and a keen eye for detail.
Incorporate Branding Into the Catering
Incorporating your brand into catering can be a creative and effective way to reinforce your brand identity. This could be as simple as coordinating food and drink presentations with your brand’s colours and themes. For example, consider serving cocktails with blue curacao or dishes garnished with blueberries and whipped cream if your brand colours are blue and white.
Taking it a step further, consider creating customised cocktails or dishes inspired by your product. If you’re launching a new type of gin, you could work with your caterer to create a signature cocktail using your product. This uniquely showcases your product and creates a memorable experience for your guests.
Remember, the goal is to create a cohesive and immersive brand experience, and every detail, including the catering, plays a part in achieving this.
Capturing the Event for Future Promotion
Documenting your product launch in a marquee is crucial to your event planning. Not only does it provide a record of the occasion, but it also offers valuable content for future marketing and promotional activities.
Hire a Professional Photographer and Videographer
To ensure the highest quality images and footage of your event, consider hiring professionals specialising in event photography and videography.
For instance, Captive Photography, led by Jo Hughes, is a renowned photography service based in Surrey. With her natural, light, and unposed photography style, Jo captures authentic moments that tell your story. Since forming Captive Photography in 2004, Jo has worked at most of the luxury wedding venues across London and South-East England and with many local businesses and families. Her ability to capture spontaneous moments and make you feel relaxed results in heartfelt and relaxed images that turn the tiniest moments in life into something remarkable and unforgettable.
These professionals can capture key moments, such as product reveals and guest reactions, providing a rich visual record of your event.
Encourage Social Media Engagement
In today’s digital age, social media plays a significant role in event promotion. Encourage your guests to engage with your event on social media platforms. This can be achieved by providing a branded hashtag for guests to use when sharing photos and posts about your event.
A photo booth or Instagrammable backdrop can encourage guests to share their experiences online. This increases visibility and creates a buzz around your product launch. Scheduling social media activity for your event can help maintain engagement and interest. This could involve posting live updates, sharing behind-the-scenes content, or even live-streaming parts of your event.
Remember, the key to successful social media engagement is to make it easy and enjoyable for your guests to share their experiences. This way, your guests actively promote your event, extending its reach beyond the marquee. You can create a lasting impact beyond the product launch day by capturing your event professionally and encouraging social media engagement.
Conclusion
Organising a marquee-based product launch can create anticipation and generate buzz for your latest offering.
By carefully considering factors such as location, layout, branding, audiovisual setup, catering, and documentation, you can create a captivating and memorable event that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. We hope the tips in this blog post help you plan a successful product launch that exceeds your expectations and sets the stage for your product’s success.
If you have any questions or need further guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
