It is never too soon to begin planning the next Christmas party for your small business. It makes good business sense to plan as early in the year as possible for several reasons. Not only will it be possible to have a greater number of venues to choose from, but you have months to plan themes, activities and complete your guest list.
Holiday parties are often the highlight of the year if well planned, and that’s just what you are looking to do. If you’ve never planned an event like this before, here are some Christmas party ideas for your small business you might want to explore.
Expand your guest list
It is often quite difficult to get everyone to attend annual Christmas parties when families and/or plus ones are not invited. Why not expand your guest list so that families or a guest of their choice can attend with them? Not only does this help to get away from another evening of shop talk, but it makes things much more interesting as well.
Have you considered also inviting some of your top clients or business peers to attend? If you start planning early in the year, you will have plenty of time to compile a list of ‘outside’ guests you’d like to invite. Also, keep in mind that fun-filled events like this can open the door to greater networking possibilities when you invite clients and peers to join in the annual celebration. Building strong relationships is vital to your business success.
Choose an exciting venue
You may not know where to host your company’s Christmas affair. Choosing the right venue can be one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make. Why not work with a corporate events venue resource site to help you with this task? Christmas parties should be the highlight of the year.
That’s why resources like London’s very own Canvas can help you choose the venue best suited to the atmosphere you wish to create. While you’ll want to be free to work directly with your venue, you’ll have Canvas at your side to offer advice and assistance when making those all-important decisions. Finding the right venue can be tricky, so expert help will keep the entire process smooth and enjoyable!
Remember: the best venues are often booked up more than a year in advance.
Live entertainment
Another huge decision is always going to centre on entertainment. Do you want to play Christmas music over the venue’s sound system or would you rather hire live entertainment so that you can open the floor to dancing after dinner? By booking early in the year, you have a wider range of talent to choose from and it really does go without saying that live entertainment is more entertaining!
Your event planner can also help you choose the kind of entertainment you want to book based on your expected attendance. From DJs to bands to stand-up comedians, your choices are almost unlimited, subject to availability. Grab that DJ before the next small business down the road gets to them first.
Keep those awards and speeches short and sweet
Finally, while perusing Christmas party ideas for your small business, you will find advice on using this time to recognise key players in your business. That may, or may not, be a good idea. If you choose to hand out awards or talk about your success throughout the year, keep those speeches short and sweet.
Remember, your guests arrive expecting to have a good time. Sitting there for up to an hour listening to the boss wax lyrical about business matters is hardly what they have come for. By all means, take a brief moment or two to recognise all the hard work your people have put in and to welcome peers and clients to your event but keep your speeches brief and entertaining. A well-placed joke or two never hurts and can liven up the night for what lies ahead.
The sum of all parts equals the best Christmas party ever!
If you start early enough in the year when planning your next small business Christmas party, you can have fun putting all those plans together. Allow yourself ample time so that you aren’t stressed during the weeks and days leading up to the event.
Also, bear in mind that if your time is limited, you can work with an event planner or coordinator who will be able to tackle all the tasks you do not have the time or experience to handle. Make this year’s Christmas party the best event ever by starting early and exploring new paths you’ve never travelled before. Good luck and happy planning!