Hosting a corporate summer party can be great for so many reasons. It can foster team-building and cooperation, boost employee morale and make employees feel appreciated, and more. If you invite business partners in your vertical, it can be collaborative and even help encourage networking and growth.
These are just some of the perks. Let’s talk about what sort of event to host, and how to prepare for it with proper planning, so you can get everything from refreshments to company promotional items together.
Set a Date, Establish a Budget, Outline Goals
First things first, you need to set a date, and if the event will be hosted outdoors, it may make sense to set contingency plans or a rain date. The sooner you can establish a date, the sooner you can hammer out the rest of the details.
Then, you’ll need to set a budget (which you might not be able to do until you determine a theme, location or event, see below) to make sure you have the resources necessary to get the planning off the ground. You should also get a list together of the people you intend to invite.
Then, you have to consider your purposes. Why are you hosting this corporate summer party? Is it for team-building purposes? Just to show employee abbreviation? Is it a celebration of a company milestone?
With that in mind, let’s cover some of the benefits of throwing a corporate summer party in the first place.
Why Host a Summer Corporate Party?
There are many benefits of hosting a summertime event, including but not limited to the following:
- Increased participation: True, people travel a lot in the summer, but at the same time, the winter is full of holidays, making it harder to get people together. Plus, people are just more active in the summer, most of the time.
- Boosts employee morale: This almost goes without saying; Corporate events are fun!
- Breaks up monotony: Corporate schedules can be a grind. Breaking up the routine with something fun and recreational can help stem burnout.
- Reduce employee turnover: Employees that are happier are more likely to stick around for longer!
- Foster open communication: Those who are more comfortable around each other are likely to experience fewer barriers when working together. As it turns out, play pays off!
- Generate networking opportunities: Depending on whom you invite – could be friends and family of coworkers, or it could be actual business partners, a summer party could also generate opportunities to bring in leads and open doors for growth.
Best Ideas for Corporate Summer Parties
There are tons of great ways to get the company together with a corporate summer party. These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
- Company barbecue: Depending on how you host it, this can be one of the more cost-effective corporate summer parties, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a good BBQ?
- Corporate camping retreats: Getting away from the hustle and bustle for a night or a weekend with your immediate coworkers can be surprisingly intimate and refreshing, and great for those that love the outdoors.
- Yacht party: Can be a bit pricey, but definitely a unique idea.
- Rent out a banquet hall: Also a more expensive option, but this one is weather-proof and the establishment’s staff will likely do all the heavy lifting for you.
- Host a golf tournament: We’ve covered this one before. Great for golf lovers – get more details in our recent golf fundraiser blog.
- Hire a comic for a private performance: Rent out a hall and hire a local comic to do some stand-up for you and your employees. Also weather-proof, and great for good vibes.
- Corporate carnival: This will cost more, too, but you can rent out a local park (or arcade, or amusement park, depending on the size) and host a carnival, sort of in the same way that churches and community organizations often do. If you have games and rides, you can even make the event family-friendly so employees can bring their kids.
Once you’ve chosen an idea and know whom to invite, you can start planning with what sorts of custom promotional products you want to give out to commemorate the event!
Be Ready with Company Promotional Items
Any corporate summer event, regardless of how big or small, won’t be complete without branded, company promotional items to give away to your esteemed employees. Here are some great summer branded corporate gifts:
- Branded sunglasses: Branded sunglasses make great summertime gifts. We sell tough sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses, and our collection represents the top brands, including Ray-Bans and Carhartts.
- Custom water bottles: Whether you give out Stanley cups or some other branded water bottle, these make good (and practical) summertime promotional gifts.
- Branded apparel: Branded apparel makes great summertime gifts, too. Just skip the cold weather gear and stick with Under Armor, t-shirts, hats, and the like.
- Custom logo shoes: Custom logo shoes make good corporate gifts, and though we carry the top brands in footwear, you don’t have to splurge; you could give something as simple and affordable as branded flip-flops.
- Branded JBL speakers: Everyone needs tunes with summer outdoor living, and branded JBL speakers are a great option for their sound quality, performance and durability. The company even makes water-resistant and dust-resistant models.
- Branded coolers: Branded coolers are great for trips to the beach, camping trips, and so much more.
- Travel gear: As stated earlier in this article, summertime is when a lot of people travel, making customized, branded travel gear both thoughtful and practical.
- Grills: For most of us, summertime is grilling season, and we sell grills here that you can customize with your brand, logo, and more.
- Camping equipment: Only die-hards camp in the winter; for the rest of us, summertime is camping season. We sell a wide variety of camping gear and equipment here, all of which can be uniquely customized.
- Beach towels: It’s beach season, and branded beach towels will improve company exposure and employee pride!
This is just a short list of items that make great summertime-themed branded gifts – and any that leave over can be used for trade shows, conventions, employee gifts and more.
Get Started Customizing Branded Corporate Gifts
Whatever sort of company summer party you’re planning on throwing, get started planning now, and get ready with branded company promotional items to give out. Summer is practically already here!