Launching a new product or service is a big deal for many businesses. After so many hours of research and development have been poured into the project, it’s time to deliver it to clients.
A launch party calls for a bit of excitement and high class event planning!This blog post will give you some expectations for your first launch party and answer any of those burning questions about how to throw an exceptional corporate event or product launch.
If you’re in Sydney, Laissez-faire Catering is the best option to help your product launch be everything you want and more.
First Steps to Planning a Corporate Launch Party in Sydney
Planning an event isn’t easy. The first step is knowing what you want to achieve.
To figure that out, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the purpose of the event?
- What does your business expect to happen?
- What’s the point of your event?
- Do you want to create a buzz?
- Do you want to connect with industry influencers?
- Do you want to get new prospects and take care of loyal clients?
Before you have a meeting with your event organiser and your corporate Sydney caterer, you should be clear about why you’re hosting a launch party.
These questions can help you in deciding the theme and the size of your product launch.For example, if your primary goal is to convince experts and industry influencers that your new product is the best, a modern showcase with expertly created canapes and cocktails is a great idea. Think premium venues, lighting themes and excellent wait staff.
Alternatively, if you want to create excitement about something new and your target audience is young, a more casual yet still high class atmosphere might be appropriate. A cool DJ or a live band can provide entertainment, while food stations offer canapes and over the top cocktails.
These are just a couple of examples.
Choose a Memorable Sydney Venue
One of the most important aspects of a successful product launch is the location! Laissez-faire has worked with many corporate clients to find the right Sydney venue to suit the theme, style, budget and the guest demographic of their product launch. Involving your caterer in the search for a venue ensures everything goes smoothly on the event day.
Take note of where your guests work or live and choose a venue that will be easily accessible for the majority. Make sure that there is ample parking space or good access to public transport - let your guests know these details when the time comes to invite them all.
La Porte Space is one of our newest venue spaces and is perfect for product launch events. Find more information here.
Choosing The Right Caterer Matters
Some corporate catering services in Sydney are doing the “one-size-fits-all” approach to their food and service. This will not make your event stand out. Your new product or service is special and should be celebrated with a menu made just for the event.
Depending on your target audience, theme, budget and venue, there are different types of food serving styles Laissez-faire Catering can offer...
Sit-down Dinner
This is the most formal style and has groups of guests seated at tables assigned to them. Each guest is served three courses or more. A plated dinner will need more staff to prepare, plate and serve the dish.
The good thing about this style is it will give your guests more time to mingle and chat with others at their table. It also produces a very classy atmosphere and will impress stakeholders and other guests.
Buffet Style
If you want to provide a wide variety of food and drinks, then a buffet style is your best bet for your product launch. This is suitable for large parties with 100 and above guests. Plus, the guest will not feel forced to eat something they don’t like because they will have different varieties to choose from.
The service cost is lower and only a few wait staff are needed to serve guests. This style has a more casual feel, but the different types of food on offer will wow guests. Remember to ask us about gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options!
A Standing-Style Party
Similar to a buffet-style serving, high tables may be provided but there will be no seats. If you have 500 young (or young-at-heart) guests or more, this is your party. This type of party will have a livelier feel because your guests can go around looking for different dishes or canapes and can mingle with other guests while eating and checking out your new products.
Cocktails, beers and other types of alcoholic drinks will make this style even livelier. Food stations or food booths can be placed strategically so that all the guests can go around and enjoy while appreciating the launch of your product. This is where a DJ or a live band will come in handy.
Corporate Catering Food Trends
To make your party a truly wonderful experience, you can ask your caterer about the current corporate catering food trends that can be incorporated into your event.
Below are some corporate catering food trends that you will see more of this year:
- Locally-sourced menus will continue to be popular. Some of your guests may be looking for high end locally produced meat and organic vegetables.
- Artisanal breads, cheeses, beers, pickled olives, pickles and wine. This will entice your guests and will surely be talked about alongside your products during the launch party.
- High tech, low glitz decorations.
- There will be fewer sit down, plated dinners. Food stations and hours d’oeuvre are becoming more popular with many product launches paired with artisanal beer, wine and cocktails.
- Smaller servings and bite sized pieces are easier to eat when walking around a product launch event. Make sure your guests have places to put down their glasses or small plates when they are done with them.
What’s Next?
Looking for food inspiration? We have lots of different menus to suit your event. Check out our canapes, drinks, plated, shared and other menus here.
Need some help planning your own launch party in Sydney? Laissez-faire Catering can do all of the above and more. Just ask us.
