Planning an event for your company or trying to host a fundraiser can get complicated in a hurry. There is so much to think about when you consider all of the pieces that need to be seamlessly integrated for an amazing experience. Don’t waste your time making rookie mistakes. Here is a quick list of planning tips that will ensure your event goes off without a hitch.

Tip #1: Prioritize Communication

There are a lot of people involved with the planning, whether vendors, entertainers or even the guests. Everyone needs to stay on the same page. This requires prioritizing communication. Keep the information clear and consistent and follow up to confirm all involved parties understand their role in the overall picture.

Tip #2: Cater to Your Audience

Making an event memorable is all about ensuring each detail specifically addresses the hopes and expectations of your audience. This is true whether you are planning a Galapagos cruise for a big family reunion or you are organizing an awareness walk. Venues should be chosen according to the impression you want to create and the people you want to attract, and the remaining details should support your overall goals.

Tip #3: Avoid Decisions Based on Bulk Reasoning

In an effort to stretch the planning budget, many event planners will make decisions concerning food, decor or favors based on what can be purchased in bulk. This kind of decision severely limits the creativity of the event. Buying in bulk is not always cheaper, and if you are trying to earn new business or score a partnership from your event, customized options go a long way. Avoid unnecessary expenses to put extra money toward unique food items or welcome gifts.

Tip #4: Don’t Fudge the Budget

You should have your event budget well laid out before you start your planning. This must be in place as it is the foundation of what will be possible for the occasion. If you keep making exceptions, you will find yourself in murky waters, especially if the company is picking up the tab. Stick to your budget by arranging the different elements according to priority. For example, the venue and the catering are typically more important than hiring a valet parking attendant. Guestimate costs for the event when you are first establishing a budget to prevent sticker shock when the planning gets underway.

Tip #5: Develop an Event Timeline

As you begin planning an event, craft a timeline for what needs to occur in order to pull off the event without any surprises. Include things like paying the venue deposit and ordering the invitations all the way down to a schedule for the day of the event. There will be a lot of traffic on the day of the event, and you don’t want vendors and staff getting in each other’s way. Set up a timeline for each party involved and submit copies to each of these individuals. Have them confirm your timeline or adjust the schedule as needed.

Tip #6: Create a Confirmation Checklist

As the event gets closer, things will start to move at a whirlwind pace. Don’t get lost in the moment and forget what needs to be done. Develop a confirmation checklist that includes all of the details for the event and the contacts in charge of these elements. Confirm everything from payment methods, delivery or arrival times and departure or clean-up schedules.

Tip #7: Don’t Delay on Invitations

Everyone’s lives are full of obligations and responsibilities, so sending out an invitation at the last minute will lead to few people making it to your event. Invitations should be one of the first things you work on, especially if you need RSVP information for catering and venue arrangements. In addition to sending out a formal invitation, consider adding a digital element that will automatically put the event on their digital calendar.

Event planning doesn’t have to be stressful and chaotic. Use these tips to organize your event and keep both yourself and the guests happy.

Are you looking to start a small scale supermarket in India which delivers good profits and has a strong and loyal customer base? Then you should probably hurry up and get going since this is the best time for you to start your very own Indian supermarket. This is because people are earning more and spending more therefore the customers are always on the lookout for new stores that offer better services, excellent products and exceptional prices.

Whether you want to get a dmart franchise or start your very own grocery store the fundamental principles still remain the same. 

The first step for starting any business is to create a business plan. So here is a quick guide to help you prepare a big or mini supermarket business plan in India:

1. Estimate the investment:

This is at the core of any business including your new supermarket as the amount of investment will dictate the efficiency and size of your business. Hence proper and clear forecasting on the investment will help you plan better and meet the company’s future needs as per the plan. However, if you ignore investment estimation, your store may not be able to operate as well as you’d like it to. 

Planning the investment for a supermarket primarily depends on:

• The cost of renting or leasing a physical shop location
• Inventory
• Tech investment which includes CCTV, accounting
• Set up cost
• The cost associated with licenses
• Marketing associated costs – includes press releases, advertisements, flyers etc

1. Licenses and other legal requirements:

If you are starting out your supermarket you are mandatorily going to need the following licenses and registrations to operate:

• GST registration: GST registration is mandatory for all businesses or that have an annual turnover above the stipulated threshold. This is a single unified indirect tax system applicable throughout the country.
• FSSAI licenses: verifies and proves that your supermarket follows all the necessary requirements for protecting and promoting public health by adhering to the rules of food safety and supervision. This is a mandatory license for any business entity that engages in food-related activities, hence it is essential for supermarket
• Shop Act- all commercial establishments that operate within the municipal limits need to get this license. It helps in the regulation of:
  • Wages
  • Work hours
  • Leave
  • Holidays
  • Terms of services
  • Other conditions

1. Choose the best location

The success of a brick and mortar business depends heavily on the location of the store. Hence it is vital that you choose a location that would guarantee a good footfall in your store. The best places are typically busy supermarkets or the centre of the town however it may increase your rent/lease costs

1. Store design

You can hire a designer to give the interior and exterior of your supermarket a friendly and appealing vibe. This also would give you an opportunity to learn about product placement inside the store to boost your sale

1. Market research

If you want to have a good customer base it is essential that you know about the buying preferences, living standards of your prospective customers along with market size. This also includes checking out your competition.