Tag Archives: Catersource Conference and Tradeshow

GEMWORX HITS THE TRADESHOW FLOOR AT CATERSOURCE 2018

Each year, thousands of catering and event professionals take to the floor at the award-winning Catersource Tradeshow, during which the industry’s best showcase delicious food, innovative products and solutions for caterers, event planners and the like.

This year, our president & CEO, Donna Hansbury, director of marketing communications Chelsey Tupper and marketing communications manager Alyssa Zekoski had the pleasure of unveiling Ideaworks’ own innovative solution at the tradeshow, held in Las Vegas, NV, in February.

At the show, Donna, Chelsey and Alyssa introduced our powerful new catering marketing platform, gemworx, to eager show attendees. Donna’s brainchild, gemworx was built with a deep understanding of the catering market, as Ideaworks has a longstanding history of creating marketing collateral for this industry and an understanding of the unique challenges event professionals face.

What is gemworx?
Gemworx is a powerful, subscription-based online marketing platform built for caterers of any size that will officially launch in April. It is designed as an innovative tool that affords caterers the ability to create customized marketing collateral and event materials in a matter of minutes. Subscribers simply select a design from an extensive collection in the gemworx library, then customize the content with their own logo, photos and the like. Caterers can then download PDFs of their collateral or place an order for printing.

What does a gemworx subscription give caterers access to?

  • Hundreds of professionally designed tools and materials created specifically for catering businesses
  • Marketing tools that individuals can customize with their brand identity and information
  • Operational items like item identifiers and table cards that can be easily personalized
  • Themed collateral that caterers can use individually or as an entire campaign
  • Revenue-generating materials like invitations and save-the-date cards that event professionals can sell to their customers
  • Marketing resources like white papers and tip sheets to maximize caterers’ marketing efforts

Preparing to launch
In the months leading up to the tradeshow, gemworx preparation drew our team even closer together, as each and every Ideaworks employee was actively involved in seeing to it that tradeshow materials and gemworx collateral were properly written, designed and delivered – all with industry trends and best practices in mind. When it came time for Donna, Chelsey and Alyssa to depart for Las Vegas, our team was confident that the hours put in would be worth it, bringing back new leads and exciting opportunities to grow our business even further. And they found that their beliefs held true.

The hustle and bustle of the tradeshow floor was invigorating, and Donna, Chelsey and Alyssa spoke with a number of interested caterers and event professionals who expressed genuine interest in obtaining gemworx subscriptions once the site officially launches. Many have already scheduled demonstrations to understand the platform’s full capabilities. Attendees also offered valuable feedback and suggestions for other resources that we have since added to the gemworx portfolio. “It was fascinating to unveil gemworx on a national level to some of the most distinguished caterers and special events professionals in the industry,” remarked Donna.

Exhibiting at the show also meant that our team was able to connect with industry greats, a highlight for Chelsey. “I loved networking with some of the industry’s bests,” she said. “I truly feel like Ideaworks will reap a huge benefit from attending the Catersource Conference and Tradeshow.”

Among other highlights, the team was able to enjoy an array of delicious cuisine on the tradeshow floor while also networking with other industry professionals. “It was an excellent opportunity to better understand the catering world,” Alyssa said. This will only help to make gemworx even more successful in the months ahead.

Click here to schedule a demonstration and see what gemworx can bring to your catering or event business.

GPS MARKETING: A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH TO CREATING A MARKETING PLAN YOU WILL USE – NOT LOSE

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else”: A powerful statement by Major League Baseball legend Yogi Berra, and one that holds true when creating a marketing plan. Oftentimes, creating a well-thought-out plan is a daunting task, and the end result is a massive document laden with lofty goals that might not accurately address who you are as a company, where your strengths and weaknesses lie, where you want to go and perhaps most importantly, how you are going to get there.

Built from years of industry experience, our team developed GPS Marketing: A Simplified Approach to Creating a Marketing Plan. This is a powerful tool that helps turn any small or large business’ ideas and visions into an easy-to-use, actionable marketing plan. Ideaworks president & CEO, Donna Hansbury, delivered a presentation on GPS Marketing to catering and event professionals at the annual Catersource Conference & Tradeshow, held in Las Vegas, NV, in February.

Upwards of 75 catering and event business owners packed the Emperor’s Ballroom at Caesar’s Palace for Donna’s 8 a.m. GPS Marketing presentation at Catersource, where director of marketing communications Chelsey Tupper and marketing manager Alyssa Zekoski greeted attendees and handed out takeaway marketing plan workbooks. The crowd was a diverse one: seasoned event professionals with years of experience looking to refine their existing marketing efforts; eager young caterers looking to develop an actionable plan on a shoestring budget; and long-time Ideaworks clients there to support our team.

The GPS Marketing presentation and takeaway workbook is broken into five key areas, including:

  • True North: Where a business must conduct an honest assessment of where it is in terms of its market, customers and competition. The section includes sample questions business professionals should ask themselves, a simple grid to conduct a S.W.O.T. (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis and more.
  • Route: Where business professionals want to go in order to grow their companies and increase profitability. Professionals are asked to take this step after they have determined who they are as a company. The Route section propels individuals to establish S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, relevant and timely) goals using a template that separates what they want to achieve, how they measure their success, what actions are taken to achieve the goal and the timeframe needed to complete it.
  • Navigation: Where a business determines how to get where they are going through the use of strategies (the “map view”) and tactics (“the turn-by-turn” perspective). Strategies are determined by setting a reasonable expectation for producing a desired outcome, e.g. “Communicate with clients at least 12 times per year to engage them and encourage new business referrals.” Tactics are the specific actions you take, e.g. “Email a monthly newsletter to clients featuring blog articles. Include links to the blog, social media sites and upcoming events.”
  • System Display: Where a business determines what they want to say and where, i.e. the messaging and mediums. The section includes mediums for consideration, like loyalty programs, e-mail marketing, public relations efforts and QR codes. Tips are also provided so businesses can craft appropriate messages for their target audience that add value to their lives.
  • Expense Report: Where a business develops its all-important budget. This is where professionals must determine what they can afford to do without putting their company’s financial health in jeopardy. A marketing budget calculator is included for use.

Upon concluding her presentation, Donna answered a number of questions and received excellent feedback from attendees on the Catersource app. One young event professional even noted that Donna’s presentation was one of the best she’s ever attended at a conference of this kind, and said that the GPS Marketing booklet was the best takeaway she’s ever gotten from a presenter.

Donna left her audience with a valuable piece of advice echoing Benjamin Franklin: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This is a powerful statement that professionals in all industries should take with them as they grow their craft and chart their own course in the business world.

Click here to view the GPS Marketing presentation.
Click here to download your GPS Marketing workbook.

VIVA LAS VEGAS: IDEAWORKS ATTENDS CATERSOURCE 2018

Las Vegas, NV: Arguably, it is one of the most vibrant resort cities in the United States, characterized by its flashing lights, world-renowned food and a lively, distinct culture all its own. This past February, our president & CEO, Donna Hansbury, director of marketing communications, Chelsey Tupper, and marketing communications manager, Alyssa Zekoski, traveled to this spirited city to attend Catersource, a premier conference and tradeshow for catering and event professionals. The team celebrated much success while on the trip, and found that their Catersource 2018 experience was much like the city of Las Vegas itself – bringing with it bright business opportunities; the chance to try unique cuisine from the industry’s best; and the opportunity to better understand the unique culture of the catering and special events industry so we can make our new catering marketing platform, gemworx, even more relevant to event professionals’ needs.

Donna, Chelsey and Alyssa stayed at Caesar’s Palace, where a number of Catersource events were held, including educational sessions and a presentation from our own Donna Hansbury. Several months ago, Donna was asked to join other distinguished professionals and present at Catersource for the third time, which she enthusiastically accepted. In her presentation, entitled GPS Marketing: A Simplified Approach to Creating a Marketing Plan You Will Use, Not Lose, Donna discussed simplified steps attendees could take to make the process of creating a marketing plan less daunting and more streamlined.

The GPS presentation was incredibly well-received, so much so that one of the conference attendees said it was one of the best she’s ever attended, and that the workbook handout was the greatest takeaway she ever received from a conference.

The team exhibited at the Catersource Tradeshow on Tuesday, February 20th and Wednesday, February 21st, unveiling our new catering product, gemworx, to tradeshow attendees. Gemworx is a powerful marketing platform built specifically for caterers of any size. Among other benefits, the platform:

  • Saves caterers time and money marketing their business
  • Provides subscribers access to cutting-edge marketing collateral without the expense
  • Offers the ability to customize selected catering and event resources with one’s individual brand identity
  • Lets caterers/event professionals easily personalize materials to meet their customers’ needs
  • Allows for easy differentiation of one’s business with professionally-designed materials like brochures, postcards, business cards, social media post examples and best practices, blog ideas, etc.
  • Provides the ability to generate additional revenue with items caterers’ customers need, like printed menus, invitations, save-the-date cards, table numbers, place cards, item identifiers, etc.

Many attendees spoke with Donna, Chelsey and Alyssa about gemworx and scheduled demonstrations to learn more about what it can do for them. They also shared valuable feedback with the team that we are using to enhance our gemworx offerings. Gemworx will officially launch in April.

The team tasted several delicious dishes that were freshly prepared on the tradeshow floor, including grilled pepper salmon, chilled kale-broccoli salad with fruit, crispy chicken hors oeuvres and more. Chef Marcus Samuelsson, head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, NY, and a featured judge on Food Network’s Chopped, was also in attendance, and Alyssa had the opportunity to meet with him, tasting some of the cuisine he prepared alongside U.S. Foods.

“It was such an incredible experience to attend Catersource for the third time in my career,” said Donna. “On top of being a presenter, it was fascinating to unveil gemworx on a national level to some of the most distinguished caterers and special events professionals in the industry.” Chelsey had this to say about the experience, “I have always wanted to attend Catersource, and it was such a great experience being able to represent Ideaworks and introduce gemworx. I loved networking with some of the industry’s bests. I truly feel like Ideaworks will reap a huge benefit from attending the Catersource Conference and Tradeshow.” Alyssa added, “Not only did Chelsey and I get to watch Donna deliver an inspiring presentation to catering and event professionals, but we were also able to speak with those individuals one-on-one at the gemworx booth, which will help us tailor our new product to their specific business needs.”

In all, the trip was a wonderful opportunity for Ideaworks to share our marketing expertise with industry professionals and make a new mark on the events industry by unveiling a product that will streamline caterers’ marketing efforts. We look forward to all that is to come for gemworx in the years ahead!