Hosting an event is a great idea. By having an event, you are creating a fun, relaxed environment that will allow you to connect with your customers on a personal level as well as attract new customers who may not have heard of your before.

So, make it a memorable occasion.

I went to an event last weekend called “Barktoberfest”. I’m a dog owner and my daughter and I attended a similar event last spring and we LOVED it.  So, when we saw this event, we thought–why not?

First, they had me at the name. Great name. It conjured up visions of Oompa bands, beer, bratwurst and German chocolate cake as well as apple picking, pumpkins and fall foliage. It was a perfect fall day in New England and we were ready for some dog-friendly fun.

Unfortunately, the event was a big disappointment.

My daughter and I arrived mid-day and there was a good crowd of people. We wandered around the craft booths for a bit and admired the huge variety of dogs walking around with their owners.

But after doing that for 15 minutes, we had nothing to do.

Sure this was an event put on by a non-profit looking to raise money for their shelter, so I’m sure their budget was pretty limited. But they really missed a huge opportunity to make this event memorable–they lacked creativity and excitement.

What do I think they should have done differently?

First, where were the dogs for adoption?

Why not have a fashion show to show them off? Or have a speed dating thing where potential adopters could meet each dog for a few minutes and see if they liked each other enough to take it to the next level?

Where were the kid-friendly activities?

My daughter would have LOVED a simple obstacle course that she could practice taking our dog through. This event was held on a 4H facility for Pete’s sake–there were a million “show rings” that were not used at all!

What about four legged races (kids vs. dogs)?

Something fun and entertaining. Anything?

Where were the designated play areas?

What, no pool for the dogs to cool off in? No fenced area for a little romping with new friends? No organized training demos?

You have a captive audience, give them opportunities to interact with each other and your staff.

Where were the donation stations?

Or the big St. Bernards with barrels of money around their necks? This is a fundraiser, right?

If your goal is the raise money, make sure you ask for it.

Sorry PoundHounds, you really missed the mark in several areas for me.  You lacked creativity and your event did not stand out to me at all. I won’t be back next year.

If you’re planning an event and want my opinion on your plans, I would be happy to discuss them with you. Feel free to contact me via e-mail at karenryanshaffer@gmail.com.