Question

Topic: Strategy

Anti-recession Party

Posted by Anonymous on 3/19/2009 at 4:42 PM ET 50 Points
We have a client advisory and I'm toying with the thought of making this year's meeting an "anti-recession" party. Everyone's sick of hearing about the recession, and hopefully this is a way for our clients to take a break for at least an hour or so.

Any suggestions? Specifically on how this theme can be applied to specific points in the meeting.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 3/19/2009 at 4:54 PM Accepted
    I'd make the theme my message to my clients -- Let's commit to not just surviving, but thriving!

    At the end of each meeting -- list "thrive" points. Such as "survivors do this, thrivers ..." maybe a spin on the Survivor TV show, but call it Anti-Survivor
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 3/19/2009 at 4:58 PM Member
    My post slipped away as I wanted to add a point.

    Going on the anti-survivor theme. Ask them, who wants to be a Survivor? (And they'll say yes) Then show some pix, Survivors eating bugs, begging for rice, do tricks (contests) for a hot shower... Do you really want to be a survivor?

    Now Thrivers capitalize on the Survivors -- they made and reap benefit from that silly TV show!
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 3/19/2009 at 5:26 PM Member
    I really don't know about your meeting to think further-- but of course carry the theme anyway you can. I can think of very good graphics, ratty, dirty survivors-- and your meeting is the anti-survivor.
  • Posted by Linda Whitehead on 3/19/2009 at 5:47 PM Accepted
    Instead of making it anti-recession, why don't you make it 'pro-recovery". That will put a positive spin on it. "Anti-recession" is still negative. You could have participants submit ideas about what their companies, or your company, can do to have positive business results NOW. In preparation, you could have several ideas prepared, or present case studies of what successful companies have done during previous economic slumps, for inspiration for the group. You could set up a panel of judges to vote on various ideas. People should win fun prizes for submitting ideas, and the top 3 ideas as voted by the judges should get better prizes. Afterward, you can post the results and ideas on your website, your blog etc. for good PR (except any ideas proprietary to your business of course). You could even write an article or whitepaper for distribution to your clients, prospects about 'How to Make your Business Thrive Now"
  • Posted by michael on 3/19/2009 at 5:54 PM Accepted
    For the last 6 months I've been saying "there may not be enough business for everyone, but there's enough for us"

    That said, it's all about working to get it. The question is whether a "break" helps more than a workshop (a word I loathe) on how to get more business.

    You didn't say much about your industry so I don't know if these are your distributors or end users or what. That might change what you do.

    Michael
  • Posted by telemoxie on 3/20/2009 at 9:25 AM Accepted
    Can you provide more information about your client? Is a business-to-business clients, or business to consumer, or business to government? issue quiet in the service business or manufacturing?

    Generally speaking, I am an outbound marketing guy. I know that the trend in marketing lately has been to respond to customer inquiries, such as those generated on the web.

    When you do outbound marketing, one major challenge is fighting the status quo. If folks are happy with the way things are now, it is difficult to get them to want to change something, and maybe buy your product.

    Today, few firms are happy with the way things are now. As a result, they are more open than ever to new ideas, with the caveat that they may not be able to afford to implement all these new ideas.

    In the United States, folks keep saying this is the worst recession since 1981. I started a business in 1981, a business which was countercyclical in nature, and I had all the work that I could handle.

    Let's not close our eyes to the very real challenges that are out there today. But let's also recognize that economic up evil creates opportunities, as Carol has suggested.

    Despite bad times, there are areas of the economy and growth stages. I would focus on the positive, and on the opportunities.

    Naturally, I'm shooting in the dark. I'm not sure what country you're from, I'm not sure your relationship with your client, etc.. If you provide more details, we can provide much more helpful and targeted answers.

    Good luck to you.
  • Posted by telemoxie on 3/26/2009 at 1:52 PM Member
    I guess that after thinking about this a bit, I would not worry very much about being cute or fancy.

    The stated intention of this meeting is due in sure that you are providing good service and good value to your customers. That is more important than ever today.

    If this were my meeting, I would try to do a much better job of servicing my customers, and a better job of using this session to understand their needs, rather than trying to be cute or fancy.
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