Scenario Summary
Only T-Shirts, a large mall chain of retail stores wants to hold an awards ceremony to motivate staff and recognize their accomplishments. Your corporate contact who works for Only T-Shirts Corporate Headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio wants the attendees to leave feeling motivated to increase their individual store sales. The budget is undefined as are many details about the event. You need to plan the awards dinner and get approval from your corporate contact. The dinner ceremony will be held at a large, upscale restaurant in downtown Cleveland.
Your Assignment
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to plan the dinner ceremony. Some components include availability of the restaurant, menu planning, swag, awards, the presenter, entertainment, transportation and parking, beverages, sponsorship (if appropriate), VIP treatment, seating chart, and invitations.
Key players:
Donna Wilson-Your Only T-Shirts Corporate Contact
"Our chain has had dismal sales figures the past two quarters. Something must be done to encourage the general managers at each store to improve sales. This dinner better excite them and encourage them to bring home the message of "sell more" to their staff. Make sure everyone gets something out of it in addition to a few really inspiring prizes."
Sandra Robinson-Restaurant Manager at The High End Restaurant
"My restaurant has a meeting room that would work, but there will be no room for a presenter, gifts, or room to walk around. You can use the main dining room, but you'll pay more to close the restaurant for the night. It has a great stage and I know someone who tells funny stories who might be available. What kind of dinner do you want? Drinks? Music? Seating? Valet? Will the families be coming? Do they want to take cookbooks home?"
Sam Black-Your Representative at Awards Are Us
"Thanks for the business. What do you need? Awards for the wall? Awards that can stand up by themselves by the cash register? Small $100 ones or the most popular ones are about $700 each. I've got some friends in the travel business that can book some cruises. Or maybe you are giving away cars? My brother sells cars. Maybe t-shirts? What kind of incentive gifts are you thinking about?"
Assignment Requirements:
1) Donna wants to motivate her staff to achieve high sales resorts. What awards can be given along with the trophies to motivate the staff? Give some specific examples and how they would tie in with the evening, be motivational for all retail managers and store staff.
2) Sandra has a busy restaurant with high prices. She doesn't need this business but is accepting the reservation because she is a neighbor and friend of Donna. Holding a presentation ceremony will be difficult in a busy restaurant. What suggestions do you have for relationship building, contract negotiation, and event set-up that will balance your event needs along with Sandra's needs?
Responses to each question should be approximately 200- 300 words in length .
Note to the student: You are being graded on your demonstration of reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical abilities in applying what you are learning. If you use your text or outside sources of information, please provide in-text citations and references using APA or MLA formatting.