Last January was once again all about New Year’s drinks parties. The Polar, in Jaarbeurs Media Plaza, was once again the host. The space, which is normally ultra-minimalist in design, was transformed into a traditional pub, complete with a pub quiz. Thuiswinkel.org went all out with its New Year’s drinks party this year.
There are plenty of options and creative freedom here. We discuss our requirements with Jaarbeurs and they then come up with a design. We didn’t actually have to do anything ourselves when it came to the décor.Marleen van Soest, Sustainability & Events Marketer at Jaarbeurs
New Year’s gathering
For some time now, Thuiswinkel.org has also been holding an annual New Year’s gathering during the Webwinkel Vakdagen. For the organisation, it is the perfect opportunity to wish each other a happy new year and to maintain relationships.
Marleen van Soest, Marketeer Sustainability & Events, says: 'We combine our New Year's Meeting with the Webwinkel Vakdagen. We are also there with a stand, so our relations are already at the event.
'The relations coming to the fair only need to take the escalator up and can join our reception.'
Something surprising every year
This isn’t the first time that Thuiswinkel.org has linked its meeting to the trade fair. For several years running now, the Polar area of Media Plaza has been used to meet members, stakeholders and other business contacts. But there’s no sign of a dull repeat here: every year, the organisation comes up with a different theme, with a different look and feel. This year, the focus was on 20 years of e-commerce in the Netherlands. It was transformed into a traditional pub, complete with a pub quiz.
Creative freedom
Van Soest is always pleased with the Polar as a venue: ‘There are lots of possibilities and creative freedom here. We discuss our requirements with Jaarbeurs and they then come up with a design. We didn’t actually have to do anything ourselves in terms of the décor.’
'Jaarbeurs made sure the whole venue was transformed into an old brown café, right down to the lacy rugs on the table.'
'It looked like you were in the Jordaan. We also had a stage at the side of the room and there were standing tables and chairs everywhere. Of course, the Chesterfield sofas were not missing.'
Ask away
Following the director’s New Year’s address, it was time for the pub quiz. ‘Online shopping in the Netherlands is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year,’ says Van Soest. ‘So we centred the quiz around a journey through time, linking questions to that theme. We started in 1990 and ended in 2010. For example, we showed film clips about online shopping and asked which one didn’t belong in the list. Our members thought it was a nice change from the usual New Year’s drinks.’
Working together for success
Van Soest has already secured an option for the next New Year’s reception. This was partly due to the excellent collaboration with Jaarbeurs.’
'The team at Jaarbeurs always thinks well of our needs.'
'A good example is the translation of our theme to the catering: drinks boards with cubes of cheese and pieces of sausage - so very Dutch. We were also assigned a manager on the day itself. You are in close contact with them. For example, if I want extra tables at the registration desk, all I have to do is call the number that is available all day. Then that person makes sure everything is arranged. Jaarbeurs takes a lot of work off your hands.'
Contact us and we'll think with you. Whether you want to transform the state-of-the-art Polar into a brown café or have something completely different in mind, we'll set it up for you!
