Creating Experiences with Impact for EMD

How does it feel to have moderated and facilitated content and connections at "one of the best networking events in the industry"? It feels ??????

We were delighted to create the content and stories, moderate and manage the sessions, and facilitate the networking and community building for our client, the leading retail alliance, EMD, at their 35th Jubilee at the prestigious Dolder Grand.

Events are a microcosm of everything we do at Cosaris, connecting a multitude of diverse people to learn and grow through shared experiences.

It's been a long journey, but we were so proud to celebrate the incredible experience we helped create. A unique showcase of international collaboration, building a global community of FMCG retailers, A-Brands, and Private Label manufacturers.

Obviously, no event should be created in isolation. Our first role with EMD was to really listen and work together on how to tie this Jubilee event into their overall focus and wider transformation roadmap.

As with everything we do, even a single event, we use our Cosaris Stakeholder Impact Methodology to ensure we create maximum, long-term impact and engagement for our client. With the event planning underway, we were proud to assist EMD and all its various stakeholders in coordinating- a "once-in-a-lifetime" event.

ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS – NETWORKING IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Our first role with any event is to ensure it connects with the clients “WHY”. So, off the bat, we had to tie this Jubilee into their overall focus and wider transformation roadmap. We needed an event that delivered on #stakeholderengagement, #collaboration, #transformation, #sustainability, and the urgent need for #positivechange globally.

This event was unique in bringing suppliers and retailers from all categories and brands to decide how to collaborate to improve everyone's lives. It was our job to ensure that their time together was well spent.

We knew that time was short, so we wanted people to have pre-selected 'speed-dating' slots available, allowing for only the most impactful connections. We knew from building EMD their own collaboration platform how essential a private, secure space where interactive connections can thrive would be for this audience.

Our Head of IT & Web systems, Matthew Parle, has guided their member platform to success and so was able to deliver a powerful networking tool which operated in a specific way EMD wanted all its stakeholders to connect. His team provided all attendees with a bespoke, invitation-only EMD 35-Year Jubilee App (available on Apple and Android) that put every single attendee in touch with each other. Not only could people interact and connect, but tailored networking sessions were also available across A-Brand and Private Label, allowing suppliers and retailers to pick and choose 10-minute slots.

How much can be decided in 10 minutes, you ask? We received positive feedback that the tailored approach to these slots and the ability to pre-select gave just the right amount of time to ensure productive synergies for both parties. The conversation was then primed to continue in scheduled meetings following the event.

Engaging the various FMCG retailers, A-Brands and Private Label manufacturers via this app was successful before, during and after the event. It's a way for individuals behind major corporations to connect and foster stronger relationships more directly and productively than emails.

SHARING INSIGHTS – WORLD-CLASS CONTENT

One of our major roles for this event was content and communications. From pre-event, at-event, and post-event comms and notifications to slides and videos for every presentation and panel, Cosaris ensured everything was aligned with the overall message of #TogetherforSuccess.

We're not just about the big picture; we sweat the small stuff, too.

Our team created individual, bespoke walk-on videos for every speaker and panel. This ensured everything was on brand and theme, allowed us to coordinate timings, and ensured the event script was kept throughout the day's many speeches, presentations, and only slightly overrunning panels.

Aligning presentations, creating infographics and guiding the narrative for an audience of some of the largest brands in the world was exciting but also nerve-wracking. How did this translate to success for EMD?

By supporting world-class speakers and producing content that engaged and told EMD's story to a prestigious C-suite audience, we ensured EMD was seen as the connector. This was a unique opportunity for EMD to share its strategy, drive the idea of collaboration and open the door for feedback and cooperation on future strategies. For Cosaris, getting such powerful feedback from executives at Ferrero Rocher, PepsiCo, L'Oreal, and Kellogg's was a huge achievement.

CREATING EXPERIENCES - LET'S GET PHYSICAL

In addition to all the content and wider focus on engagement, networking and messaging, we also gave every attendee a powerful experience via unique and memorable physicals and event collateral.

From professional and enticing flags, venue customisation and branded goodie bags with only the best Swiss chocolates (mmmm, Laderach!), right through to a full-size Swiss cable car with a hi-res photo of the Matterhorn behind so guests could recreate the feeling of skiing in the alps.

From the smallest lanyard to the prestigious gifts, we ensured all the event experiences were on message. We catered to the specific audience of the event—CEOs and decision-makers of some of the world's largest retail stores and brands.

Our resident designers, Dom Parkinson and illustrator/video creator Tori Loveridge took the brief of conjuring designs and ideas that were professional and a little bit different. From lanyards that could be planted as seeds to Coldplay-esque glowing wristbands that alerted people to their next booked networking slot, everything was memorable, engaging, and fun!

BUILDING COMMUNITY – TOGETHER FOR SUCCESS

It all comes back to clarity, consistency, and creativity. By connecting all the stakeholders, sharing the most impactful content, and gamifying the event, we united a community and made it a memorable experience.

On the day, we heard from major suppliers and retailers, including the President of EMD, about how the networking app was a huge success and how they wanted to set up bi-annual events using the same experience solely focused on keeping the community connected.

So often, with events, everyone works on their individual area of focus, and somehow, things slot together to reduce the sheer number of things that can go wrong. Successful? Maybe. Impactful? Rarely.

By ensuring that the entire process of organising, coordinating, communicating, creating, and connecting for this event focused on our methodology, it was more than impactful; it was trailblazing. Ensuring all aspects focused on Stakeholder Listening, Impact Storytelling, Curated Experiences, and Community building led to success on both a business and an emotional level.

OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD

So, to wrap up, whether you're a business, a member association, or a university looking to create an event, go for it. If done right, the power of a shared experience will deliver for you now and well into the future.

The benefits of bringing people together and getting out from behind emails, team calls, and LI posts are immeasurable. Just be sure to focus on the event's “WHY” and how you want it to make people feel. We'd love to give you a few pointers about how our methodology can help you give your audience the feels every single time.

Also, it doesn't have to be at the Dolder Grand, but a stunning view and some Swiss chocolate always helps!