Wine and Design Guidelines

Hosting a Wine & Design with the HDDC

Requirements
Current membership status with the High Desert Design Council

What to expect
Wine & Design networking events have been a very successful way to garner interest in both your business and the HDDC. On average, 20+ people from the design industry attend these events. The buzz created through social media, e-mail blasts and word of mouth has proved beneficial to past hosts.

How they work
Plan on starting the Wine & Design at 5:00 pm. We’ve found if the events start too late, people go home after work and don’t leave again. Allow a minimum 45 minutes at beginning for networking. Opening comments (given by an HDDC board member & host) and presentation (15 min. minimum) should then take place. Please remember that the HDDC is committed to sustainability. Presentations focusing on sustainable products/services are encouraged.

HDDC policy is not to charge for these events. We’re offering the first two Wine & Design events free to non-members, after that we ask they join the HDDC.

The HDDC will provide event flyers, e-blasts, social media posts, registration, nametags and a warm body to greet people.

“We like doing door prizes when we do an event:
It is a good way to gather business cards because many people don’t sign in and it is fun and creates a little excitement.”
– Mari Latimer, Classic Coverings

Another fun idea would be having a 50/50 raffle. Attendees would buy tickets for $1, half the proceeds would go to a charity of the hosts’ choice; the other half would go to the winner of the raffle.

Presentation advice
One-15 minute presentation is optimum. In a co-hosted event, 2 presentations are ok, but keep entire presentation time to 20 minutes. Stay focused on a topic of an educational nature, not selling a specific business. People should learn something, not just be sold to. This is an important requirement of the HDDC. Allow an additional 5 – 10 minutes for questions.

Cost
Estimated cost for food and drink varies depending on the type of event you’d like to have.

$200-$400. This price range would provide simple snacks and some wine/beer purchased at local grocery stores, chips and salsa, cheese tray, fruit, etc.
This would probably not include a wine/drink server or hot dishes. You could plan to only use cocktail napkins, reducing the need for plates/forks (think green!)

$400-$600. This price range may get you cold and hot dishes and from a local restaurant/caterer, possibly with a server. Plates, forks, cups & napkins will probably be necessary.

* The HDDC encourages hosts to ask guests to bring their own wine or beer glass to reduce waste.

Co-Sponsors
We encourage co-sponsorship as a way to help with event costs. The following is a sample letter for potential co-sponsors.

Dear So&So,

I spoke to you concerning sponsorship of our upcoming HDDC Wine and
Design and I think you would be a great fit and get some good business
benefit from the event.

Here are the details:

It will be located at _________ . The event will be on _____ from
5:00-7:00. We expect approximately 30 interior designers and industry
partners to attend the event.

We are looking for one business to co-sponsor the event. This
co-sponsorship will include a 10-minute presentation of your business,
products etc., followed by a short question/answer session. The cost
for co-sponsorship is $200.

Please let me know if you are interested or if I can answer any
additional questions.

Thank you for considering,

Monthly HDDC Membership Meeting
We’re now holding our monthly meeting immediately BEFORE the Wine & Design, from 4:30 – 5:00 at the location of the Wine & Design. If this will be a problem, please let us know so we can make other arrangements.

If you have any additional questions regarding hosting an event, please contact thehddc@gmail.com