Damaged inventory items are inevitable in the world of events. While some damage is beyond repair, many pieces can be refurbished or repurposed. Don't let your investments go to waste! Learn what to do with damaged inventory below.
Protect yourself legally when clients end up damaging your inventory. The most important part of your contract language is that it's indisputable, meaning there's no room for interpretation. Before drafting your policies, consider speaking with a lawyer so you know you're 100% protected.
Is the damaged item highly popular? Will it cost more to repair than it's actually worth? How long will it take to get repaired? These are all questions you should ask yourself when determining whether you should refurbish, repurpose, or toss. If you're using Goodshuffle Pro, mark the damaged item as Set Aside, so you and your team know it's currently unavailable. Then, move on to either refurbishing, repurposing, or tossing.
Consider the state of the item and the equipment you'll need. Depending on what the item is and your skill level with refurbishing, you may want to outsource this to a professional. Learn more about refurbishing event rentals (without ruining them!) in this article.
While some items may never be able to be "as good as new," that doesn't mean they aren't still useful. Consider repurposing these items for use around your office, storage space, and event site. For tips on repurposing linens, check out this article.
Packages are a great way to up-sell clients while giving them a way to see the whole vision behind an event. They're a great moneymaker for event companies and are in high demand from people looking to celebrate their special days. While there are some packages that every event business should offer, you can also get creative and come up with your own custom packages. This is easy to do in Goodshuffle Pro and is a fun way to spruce up your inventory collection and website.
As a professional in the events industry, you have an eye for which pieces of inventory go together. A client, on the other hand, may be clueless. Some customers have a hard time knowing what exactly they want for their special occasion and find it difficult to visualize the event as a whole when browsing through items piece by piece. Giving your clients the ability to envision their dream event with a package of items that are often rented together is the way to go!
And, when you've displayed your inventory to them in the form of a package, you've made it that much easier for them to (quickly) become a paying customer.
When you offer packages online, you hit the search engine optimization (SEO) jackpot. Essentially, you're showing that you offer what potential customers are looking for. For instance, if someone wants to plan a vintage wedding, you may decide to offer a Deluxe Vintage Wedding Package. When someone types "vintage wedding" into their search bar, your website is more likely to appear!
Offering packages is also great for traditional word-of-mouth marketing. When a client has a seamless experience with your event company and the packages you provide, you can bet they'll be more likely to refer you to a friend who's planning their next event.
Packages are a great moneymaker for event companies of all types. When you neatly bundle carefully selected items into a complete package, this is your opportunity to up-sell! You've saved the client time on deciding which pieces go well together. The client doesn't have to know you added a bit for that service— they'll just be happy with how easy it was to find the pieces for their dream event.
