Planning a Corporate Party? How to Host a Successful Corporate Cocktail Party

Have you been put in charge of the office cocktail party and want it go off with a bang? Read these useful and perhaps not-so-obvious tips on planning and giving the perfect corporate party.

GIVE THE DATE OF YOUR PARTY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

Spend a little time and thought when picking the right date for your corporate party. Choose a date that works for your business and staff to ensure maximum turnout. A mid-week date is usually a good choice as people have personal plans and commitments on Fridays and Saturdays. And try to avoid busy times for certain office departments. For example, avoid the quarterly or year-end rush for the finance department or clashing with the annual marketing roadshow.

GIVE ENOUGH NOTICE

Send out invitations about 10-14 days in advance and make sure you put RSVP on the invitation and whether or not the employees are allowed to invite their partners. Chase up the RSVPs three days before the party date so you can finalize the numbers.

LET YOUR BUILDING MANAGEMENT KNOW

Remember to notify your building management in writing that you are holding an office party.

SHORTER IS SWEETER

Corporate cocktail parties are typically held in the early evening and should not run too long. 6:00pm-8:30pm is a good time. By setting an end time, you can clear the venue out in prompt fashion and by keeping it short, you can ensure a better turnout. if you are going to have speeches, don't forget to make room for them in the schedule.

PICKING A THEME

If you pick a theme for your corporate party (and they tend to be more fun), try to carry it through to every aspect: from drinks, food, waiters' attire, background music, invitations and decorations.

Theme ideas:
1. Hollywood
2. Decades (the 20s, the 60s, the 70s, the 80s)
3. Famous couples
4. Color e.g. gold and black
5. Hawaiian Luaus
6. Country and Western
7. Kids (if you're giving a party for adults)
8. Shipwrecked / Pirates of the Caribbean
9. Wine tasting
10. Casino
11. Grease/Happy Days
12. Superheroes
13. Nuns and Vicars
14. Gangsters and Villains
15. Caveman
16. Greeks and Romans
17. Elvis
18. Countries and Cultures
19. Sports
20. Aliens
21. Superheroes and arch-villains

CREATE A MEMORABLE AND FRIENDLY WELCOME

Apart from the food and beverage staff, consider asking some staff to be greeters at the door. Not only can they take business cards and offer a cloakroom service, but it creates a friendly welcome from the start. Perhaps there is an opening activity to get people in the mood e.g. a cut-out photo opportunity (you know, the ones when you put your head in the space and end up with the body of a monster), or a giant autograph board. Or perhaps this is the moment that the Lucky Draw tickets are given out.

DON'T FEEL PRESSURE TO HAVE BACK-TO-BACK ENTERTAINMENT

Do not feel obliged to hire end-to-end party entertainers, play games or have speeches throughout the evening. There is nothing wrong with allowing your staff to talk casually and get to know each other in a relaxed social setting.

KEEP ALL SPEECHES SHORT

If you do have speeches, make sure to keep them short and if several people will be speaking you might want to break them out into two (or more) sessions.

Follow these tips and your office party should be a huge success!

Gemma Swansburg is a writer/researcher who has attended many a boring office party in her time. Maybe that's why she works from home now. Read Gemma's latest article, a set of Luminess Tan reviews the at-home self tanning system featured in Allure Magazine. For the best prices, special offers, airbrush make up tips and great before/after images for the Luminess airbrush system and other airbrush make up equipment, visit her site at airbrushmakeupfoundation.com.

Hosting - Party Game Ideas

Ok, so it's your turn to host this year's 4th of July party. As we all know too well, the downtime between eating and watching the fireworks can be a long and arduous one, especially if your party guests have children. So, to bail you out of hours of boredom and the thought of never being asked to host another 4th of July party, below are a few "themed" party games to entertain the masses.

The first one involves embracing your inner child - invite all party attendees to join in a parade. You can purchase streamers, party horns, balloons, obviously in red, white and blue and have them readily available for your guests or you could request they bring their pre-decorated bicycles or scooters/skateboards with them. Obviously, if you waited and did the decorating at you party; this would also help fill that void space of time until the fireworks. You can have prizes ready to hand out for the funniest, best all around or most creative. If you are extra adventurous, you can all line up and bravely peddle and scoot down your street with your parade.

Another fun party game is a balloon passing game. Again, purchasing the colors of red, white and blue would be in order. All of your party guests can play this game and you can either play as teams - men against women, adults again children, etc. or just play every "man" for himself in a straight line. This game can take on several varieties from the first person using their hands to pass the balloon to the second person who passes it with his legs to the next person having to pass the balloon using his/her neck. Get creative. Another variation of this game is to pass it to music, like musical chairs and whoever ends up with the balloon when the music stops is out. Last one standing is the winner. Since the 4th of July is usually a hot day, why not fill the balloons with water? Or whip cream for a messy game? It will bring out the kid in your guests and lots of fun can be had. (Obviously, if you're going to get wet or messy, you might want to tell your guests to bring an extra set of clothing).

Sidewalk Chalk Artwork - This game is good for both adults and children, but probably more for the children. Again, you can break the teams up with an adult/child or females or adults or one person "teams". (Those party guests that are party poopers can be the judges since they won't like to draw anyway). Take different colored chalk - again since this is a 4th of July part, you could try for red, white and blue. Have you guests draw a patriotic picture, with something specific having to be in the picture - like the flag, the Liberty Bell, fireworks, etc. You can pass out prizes to the winner of this game as well.

Charades - Like the game once played by many a youngster, you can play charades with a 4th of July theme. Some can act out being the Statue of Liberty, Abraham Lincoln, etc.

Along this same line you can play the guessing game where you fill a jar, yep, you guessed it with red, white and blue something; be it jellybeans, gum, hard candies, M&Ms, etc. and have your guests guess how many are in the jar. Obviously the winner would be the person who is the closest to the correct number without going over.

Last, but not least, fireworks. While they are not really a game, you can have your guests help organize which ones get set off after which. You have to be careful though because in some places blowing off fireworks at home is illegal and you should always be the pyrotechnician setting them off - not the children. The "I'm sorry officer I let a child get hurt while blowing off fireworks illegally at my home" game is not one that you get a really great prize for.

Hassan has been writing for 2 years. He writes about many other subjects such as Electric Garage Heaters and Propane Garage Heaters.

Easter Party Decorations - Host Your Easter Party On A Budget

Easter is arriving late this year on Sunday, April 24th. While the kids may not like the idea of having to wait a little longer for the Easter bunny to come deliver their Easter baskets... it's good news for those of you who are hosting an Easter party celebration for family and friends. The late date means you still have plenty of time to make plans for your special Easter celebration - from picking your favorite Easter holiday dishes to selecting your decorations, games, and activities.

You'll want to create a fun and festive atmosphere for your celebration or event. The first thing you'll want to do is decide on an Easter theme. There's so many fun ideas! You can celebrate with an extravagant champagne brunch, an Easter egg hunt, an Easter costume party, or any number of ideas you can come up with!

Luckily now days, you can find fun, festive Easter party decorations and supplies online at discounted prices in an extensive assortment of colors and designs.

Easter Party Invitations - Skip the phone calls to family and friends... instead, how about sending out custom-made Easter party invitations to your guests. Select a design that reflects your style and create your own personalized invitations. It's easy to do online and your guests will sure to be impressed! Choose from a great assortment, from traditional Easter bunny invitations to religious announcements.

Easter Party Tableware and Decorations - Celebrate in style with a colorful tablecloth with matching paper plates, cups and napkins. There's so many colors and patterns to choose from. Or customize your table with mix-and-match place settings. To make your table even more special, how about adding a matching centerpiece or beautiful Spring flower arrangement for an elegant touch.

Easter Banners and Balloons - No party would be a party without balloons and a banner. Easter banners are another fun way to liven up your event. Choose from ready-made banners or personalize your banner with your own special message. Easter themed latex balloons add a nice touch to the festivities. Pick from an assortment of Spring colors like blue, pink, yellow, green, or violet.

Easter Costumes - Dressing up in Easter costumes is a fun way to get into the spirit of this Springtime holiday. There are so many Easter costumes and styles to choose from for both adults and kids. Costumes like the classic Easter bunny, little lamb, Spring chicken, biblical costumes, and even sexy bunny costumes for the ladies.

So, get creative with your Easter festivities this year and check out some of these fun and unique ideas for your Easter holiday celebration.

In this article I've given you some great ideas for planning an Easter party celebration. For more Easter party decoration ideas as well as where to find Easter party decorations and supplies at UNBEATABLE prices, please visit my website now: http://easterpartysupplies.org

Hosting a Disney Cars Birthday Party

Cars is one of the most popular Disney movies for boys. It is also one of the most popular themes for a boy's birthday party. With Cars 2 being released in the summer of 2011, it will undoubtedly continue to be one of the most popular birthday party themes for some time to come. Fortunately, it's very easy to host a Disney Cars birthday party. Party favors are easy to find, and there are plenty of choices for Cars-themed games.

Invite Your Child's Friends and Family

Once you know that you want to host a birthday party based on this popular movie with Lightning McQueen, Mater, Luigi, and the rest of the gang at Radiator Springs, you'll have to decide who to invite. You might want a small party with just a few friends and family, a family-only party, or a party with your child's entire class. If you're just inviting a couple family members and close friends, you can probably get by with an email invitation or by calling them on the phone; if you're inviting classmates, you'll probably want to buy invitations. Fortunately, Disney Cars invitations are pretty easy to find.

Get the Right Decorations

One of the first things that you'll need to do is find the right decorations. You should be able to find Cars-themed invitations, cups, plates, and napkins at your local party store, or online. You also might be able to find tablecloths and wall decals featuring the popular characters. How much you decorate depends on your budget and what kind of space you're decorating for. If you're decorating for an outdoor party at a park, you'll probably want to skip the wall decals and get more balloons.

Find the Right Cake

It's easy to find a Cars-themed cake for your child's birthday party. Your local grocery store's bakery probably can make one for you. You might even be able to get an ice cream cake made for your party at an ice cream shop. If you prefer cupcakes, movie-themed cupcake toppers, baking cups, and racing flags are available. It's easy to bake your own cupcakes if you want to save a little bit of money. If you want to make your own cake, there are themed baking pans and cake toppers that can easily be found online.

Cars-Themed Games

Most kids can keep themselves pretty entertained at a party just by running around in the backyard, but you might want to include a game or two when you host your party. A piñata is popular with many kids; you might be able to find a Lightning McQueen piñata, or at least one with a race car on it. If you're a crafty kind of person, you might want to create a Lightning McQueen posture (without the number 95 on the side) and play "pin the 95 on Lightning McQueen". Another automotive-themed game that you might want to play is "Red Light Green Light".

Looking for Cars-themed cake and cupcake ideas? Brooke Lorren has written about how to decorate Cars cakes and cupcakes.

Gifts For People Who Love to Entertain

Finding a gift for people who love to entertain can be tricky. For one thing, they have possibly already outfitted their homes with many of the items they deem necessary for a successful party. Secondly, you know if you give them a gift you'll expect to see it at their next gathering and they know this fact too! Having said that, make sure that the gift you give to those who love to entertain is truly a class act. Read the list below for ten ideas that fall into that category. 

1. In order for the entertainer to serve all the hors d'oeuvres he or she wants, the host or hostess needs a buffet stand.  Sur la Table sells a 3 tier metal buffet stand for $29.95. The hostess can fill each tier with yummy treats that are easily accessible to his or her guests.

2. For those hosts and hostesses who like to serve wine at the ideal temperature, Crate and Barrel offers a wine bottle thermometer for only $8.95. This stainless steel reference guide wraps around a wine bottle like a cuff and directs the host or hostess on the appropriate serving temperature for any type of wine.

3. Condiments and finger foods need a place at the party. Pottery Barn sells a classy square tray with 2 round and 2 square silver bowls. The 5 piece set is made of food safe aluminum alloy and sells for $49.00. This Barona Square Condiment Set is great for condiments, snacks, finger foods, etc.

4. Those who love to entertain will appreciate a punch bowl set. Pier 1 sells an affordable set for only $38.95. It includes a clear glass punch bowl, matching ladle and 8 glasses. 

5. In order to chill the champagne the host or hostess will need an effective ice bucket. Cooking.com sells a stainless steel 4 piece ice bucket for $79.95. The 4 pieces include the bucket, lid, scoop, and tongs. The elegant and efficient bucket holds 3 quarts of ice.

6. If you have a lot of people in your home, a lot of wine glasses are being passed around. In order for people to identify their wine glasses, they need wine glass charms. Wineglasscharms.com offers identification tags for wine glasses in over 100 themes. They come in sets of 6 and are very reasonably priced.

7. A host or hostess often must carry several drinks at once. He or she needs a stylish and practical tray for such a task. Bellacor.com sells a copper canyon charger for the very reasonable price of $26.00. This tray has a rustic look with hammered detailing and is a generous size at 15" wide x 2" high x 9 ¾" in diameter. Plenty of room for several drinks!

8. When guests gather in the living room, it's a good time to pull out some board games. Toys R Us has a large selection of adult board games, including titles such as Taboo, Scattergories, Cranium, etc. Although board games can cost up to $30, the resulting fun makes the money spent well worth it. 

9. For those who are constantly sending out invitations, it's thoughtful to give a gift certificate to a stationary store. Stationarystudio.com is a great option because of their tasteful and plentiful options.

10. If those who love to entertain have a game room, a dartboard makes a great gift. Dartboards.com has many options, but one of their bestsellers includes the $169.98 Halex CricketView 5000 Dart Board Package. This dartboard includes electronic scoring, easy to read displays and a professional size target area. The dartboard is housed in a maple finished cabinet and is sure to bring out the competitive spirit of the guests at the soiree.

This article was written by Amber Contant - visit her website for more unique gift ideas especially gifts for women.

Skirts For Plus Size Women

Plus size skirts are a pleasure to shop for in any store. There are so many styles from which to choose and so many patterns and colors that it is fun to choose a variety of skirts for work or special occasions. Plus size women suit skirts because they cover up a host of problems such as a large abdomen and large hips but they can highlight the leg and upper torso. There are many department stores and online shops for plus size skirts so have at it.

How do you fit a woman for a plus size skirt? Well if you are well-proportioned, that is, heavy on top as well as below the waist, you can wear any skirt other than the skin tight mini-skirts or pencil skirts. They would tend to draw in your body and too much would be left over on top to try to contend with. We don't want your bottom half spilling over above the waist.

Try to choose an elastic waist skirt or skirt with a zipper and button which has a flare to the bottom and comes to rest at or below the knee. It should drape around your body not try to sandwich it inside. The gypsy skirts with multiple pleats would be fine, the flared skirts which swing when you walk or turn and finally anything that draws attention to your lower calf not the thigh.

Also choose boots in leather or suede to complement the plus size skirts as the two have to work together for the lower half of the body. If it is a special occasion, go to a high heel or a sling- back shoe but make sure that you are not smashed into the shoe or teetering around on spiked heels. Less is more!

If you have found a great elastic waist plus size skirt, you can dress it up with a good fitting belt to match the upper blouse or top. Match the belt to the jewelery you will be wearing with the skirt and top. Try silver jewellery with a silver buckle, gold jewelery with a gold buckle and so on. Chain belts are also a good idea because they will match any outfit.

When shopping for a skirt, take along the shoes or boots which you plan to wear with the skirt. Try it also with the blouse or top which would be the upper half of the skirt. Make sure the skirt is classic in style so that you can wear it over and over with different tops. Again wool or polyester with spandex would be the ideal fabrics to choose from to last the longest and give the most comfort when you are shopping for plus size skirts.

Find the best in slouch socks and knee socks.

Smart Women Love to Party

Recently, we hosted our daughter Jenna's 6th birthday party at Tumbleweed Day Camp. Tumbleweed Day Camp is this secure, natural haven above West Los Angeles that makes you feel as if you are out in the wilderness instead of 10 minutes from one of the largest cities in the world. It is a rustic, peaceful camp that offers activities for children. They have well-trained counselors who support children in having outdoor fun. Many parents that attended the party were so surprised to find this little jewel in the community. They had no idea it existed and they had lots of curious questions about how their children could enjoy the benefits of Tumbleweed as well. This got me thinking about how Smart Women know the value of parties and gatherings.

If you are a woman with a Big Idea, product or service, it's essential that you provide opportunities for the world to know about it. There are many creative ways to promote or introduce your business. Women are natural connectors. You shine at events where you can gather together to support a group or cause. Sometimes, though unintentional, you keep your business a "secret." You go to events to promote your product or service, however when the moment arrives to spotlight your business, you may feel uncomfortable sharing your Big Idea or dream. Why? Well, self-promotion or the promotion of a product can be uncomfortable for some as it feels like selling and many of us do not like the idea of selling.

In the Women's Success Circles, we are having a conversation about relationship marketing---building solid relationships that will support their business. This can be done in many ways including networking groups, community service or hosting a party at your office or some other venue. People enjoy a party or social gathering where they can relax and chat with others while learning more about what you do. At my daughter's party, people were having an enjoyable time and had a lot of curious questions: What activities do they offer at summer camp? How long have your children been attending? What's the cost? Can you see how this could relate to your own business?

Every year, I host an "Appreciation" event for my valuable referral sources. I keep very good notes on who makes a referral to me all year and then I host a gathering where I can celebrate those women. It's my way of saying "Thank You" for believing in me and referring a friend or colleague. Over the years, I have held many parties and events with different themes to not only thank people but also to introduce the community to my service in a safe, social setting.

How about you? When was the last time you held an event to showcase your product or service? Are you sitting in your office waiting for the phone to ring or are you getting out in the world where people can learn more about you and your business? Remember the BLT Factor? People want to do business with those that they believe, like and trust. And let me tell you, everyone likes people who throw a party!

Think about what event you can create to support your business. Is it a new business? If so, host a tea or luncheon with a short time for the introduction or your Big Idea. Do you have an existing business with new products or services coming out in the New Year? Hold an event where people can come and sample your product or service. How about a party supporting your favorite charity where you can invite your referral sources or potential clients? Make sure you have your business showcased at the event. The key is to get creative.

Jenna's party was a huge success. Children and parents had a great time. Based on my conversation with most people there, Tumbleweed Day Camp's web site received a lot of new visitors that day and their phones were ringing Monday morning. Hey Smart Women--isn't that what you want?

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000's of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you're ready take your your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 now at Smart Women Smart Solutions Coaching.

Wholesale Clothes - Stylish Plus-Size Women's Clothing Bring in Bigger Sales

Many owners of clothing stores are aware of the fact that it is advantageous to specialize in a particular product line. Plus size women's clothing is one niche product that has a big potential for great profit. With so many women today who wear size 14 and bigger clothes, plus size clothes are bringing in more sales. Whether you have an online or offline store, it is important to know how to choose clothes that are stylish and flattering to the plus size figure.

No matter what their size, women want to wear clothes that are chic and elegant. Large women often feel despair because most of the clothes being sold that would fit them look frumpy and ugly. It's a good thing that designers and manufacturers today are beginning to answer the needs of large women for beautiful clothes. These days, you see more oversize clothes for women that are elegant and beautiful.

When you look for suppliers of wholesale plus size clothes for women, take a good look at the clothes they provide. Make sure the clothes will make large women look stylish. It's a big advantage if you have good taste and an eye for fashion so that you can pick out clothes that will look good on large women.

If you are able to sell plus size clothes that are stylish, you can be sure that customers will flock to your store. Provide clothes like V-neck tops and sweaters to help elongate the neck. This will make women look taller and slimmer. Stylish jackets and A-line skirts also make a good addition to a large woman's wardrobe.

Heavier fabrics are better than soft and clingy material which will only make a large woman look lumpy. Solid, dark colors are good, but white and light colors are fine as long as the design has a slimming effect. Trousers that are straight cut with wide legs are also great for large women. It is very important to consider the shape and fit of the clothes.

If you know what kind of designs, colors and prints are ideal for plus-size women, you will have an easy time selling oversize clothes. Try using SaleHoo's wholesale directory to find suppliers of wholesale clothes. Check out their products and look for suppliers who can provide affordable plus-size women's clothes that are elegant, chic and sexy.

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Michelle Samual Williams has been a professional buyer for many multinational companies. In little over 2 years, she has managed to become one of the top Ebay Powersellers, raking in more than $50,000 in sales monthly.

Bat Mitzvah Birthday Party Ideas and Supplies

The Bat Mitzvah event may not have been around as long as the Bar Mitzvah, but that doesn't mean a thing when it comes to celebration. Any host of a young woman's Bat Mitzvah party will usually have tons to do for the event. It can take a long time to properly plan the Bat Mitzvah party but it's worth it though to find to see all your guests celebrating that special event.

The Star of David invitation is appropriately themed with the religious nature of the Bat Mitzvah and it's very pretty in a bright blue color with sparkling silver on the front. Go ahead and send thank you's to everyone after the party using the same card. Don't get confused who you are addressing the thank yous too. It can be a little embarrassing to find that you sent a thank you address to Aunt Marie to your nephew Ben. There are plenty of plates, napkins, and cups with the traditional Start of David symbol on them, as well in that same blue color so that the whole party matches.

Good dance floor prizes are essential for any party with music. Hand out some inflatable guitars, microphones, and saxophones to the winners of your dance floor games.

Also don't forget to put up a Bat Mitzvah banner sending a joyful Mazel Tov to the young woman. You can personalize many party banners when you purchase them with simple wishes or phrases of congratulations. These add a nice touch to the banners.

Blue or Silver gift bags are nice bags to place the gifts for the young woman into when you are going to a Bat Mitzvah party. The Bat Mitzvah gift is usually money or a savings bond for college, but you can certainly place something more traditional in a bag such as a silver picture frame or a Star of David pendant.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.