It’s almost Lemon Lane’s first birthday – and what a year it’s been! Working with a company that launched during the pandemic might be considered risky business by some, but there are so many plus points to working with a startup, especially right now.
It’s almost Lemon Lane’s first birthday – and what a year it’s been! Working with a company that launched during the pandemic might be considered risky business by some, but there are so many plus points to working with a start-up, especially right now.
1) Startups are keen to make a big impression. They’ll be competing with bigger and more established businesses, so they’ll have a unique appetite for distinguishing themselves as key players in the industry and highlighting what their USP is in the market. They’ll often have a distinct niche and a fresh perspective which differentiates them from older businesses. Post-pandemic this is even more true, as new businesses will be setting up with strategies for adapting and shifting already baked into their operations model.
2) The pandemic has created a shift in the values and goals that many organisations have. As a corporate company, you probably already have a well-established list of preferred suppliers, but maybe those suppliers are no longer the best people to work with and for you. Pivoting to working with a startup, means you’ll get a flood of fresh new ideas and creativity that comes with the enthusiasm and ambition of any new enterprise.
3) Startups are set up by and attract the best talent in the industry. Larger companies will usually have individuals or teams focusing on one very specific job, but the fast paced and dynamic environment of startups means that everyone gets stuck in with any job that needs to be done. What this means for the client is, that no matter who at the agency takes on your project, they will be multi-skilled and adaptable to whatever task or challenge is thrown their way.
4) You’ll be working directly with one of our directors. Staff at smaller startups are usually all top-level players, which is definitely the case at Lemon Lane. They will bring their years of expertise and knowledge to your event planning process. This understanding of every part of the event journey, as well as the skills needed to run a successful business, translates into your project lead bringing their A-game. Every single time.
5) The culture is one where everyone is hungry for disruption and growth. Startups will most likely be self-funded passion projects, so there is an even stronger incentive for them to create meaningful experiences and retain happy clients- that’s the reason they started the business in the first place.
6) Working with the best and right suppliers is a priority. It’s likely that all suppliers will know and even have been hand-picked by the director, who they will also be in regular contact and communication with. Having such key relationships overseen by someone who is accountable to both the startup and the client, offers you a sense of security and trust, knowing that any third party suppliers are regularly vetted by the person at the top.
7) Startups are nimble and agile. Size matters. Smaller startups have less internal processes and sign off barriers to move through. If something needs to happen they can make it happen quickly and effectively. They’ll also have a smaller, but more invested client base, giving them time to foster strong, collaborative relationships with your in-house teams. It goes without saying that this also means more time and focus on your event planning and goals, not to mention any follow up communications, content or feedback.
8) There’s better internal and external communication and decision-making. Knowledge can be easily shared in smaller teams, so everyone at the startup will know exactly what stage your event planning process is at. If decisions need to be made, they can be made quickly. Everyone at the agency will likely share any important information on venues, suppliers and destinations with each other, so the whole team will be fully clued up.
9) We care about giving back. With a ramped up global focus on sustainability, an increasing number of companies are positioning CSR as integral to their brand identity. Startups are small enough to work closely with charities or organisations which give back to local communities or the environment. At Lemon Lane, we are a member of ISLA, the event industry’s response to the climate crisis. This is part of our commitment to sustainability and means we have a resource to call on to make sure our events are hitting clients’ internal CSR targets, as well as our own.
10) You have a unique opportunity to refocus and recalibrate your messaging. It’s a chance to highlight the positivity of change and try new things, creating innovative and exciting ways to connect with a post-pandemic world. It’s also an opportunity to make sure the businesses that you work hand in hand with share the same values that you want to embody.
Working for cievents for many years has given us tons of experience, knowledge and, most importantly, confidence in what we offer. We formed great partnerships with previous clients and have worked hard to maintain the relationships we have cultivated with them. They have trust in both what we as individuals, and an agency can do. Although we work with high profile clients, we are a ‘boutique’ agency. If you work with us, you’ll get the human approach in everything we do.
For us, Lemon Lane isn’t just our job, it’s our life. We pour all our passion and ambition into the projects we take on. And we believe in the goals and vision of all our clients.
