A One-Way Street to Success!

A One-Way Street to Success for Halfords Autocentre… and a roaring victory for Spiderzone as it successfully steers its way through the planning, management and execution of the Halfords Autocentre annual business conference with team building activities, an awards dinner and a suppliers’ exhibition.

The event, titled ‘One Way’, was a two-day project that saw Spiderzone handle all live elements, whilst combining many of its integrated services to successfully deliver a memorable and engaging experience for Halfords Autocentre staff, key stakeholders and business suppliers.

The agency’s first challenge was to source a centrally located venue, big enough to host a conference and banquet for up to 400 delegates, made up of Autocentre Managers and Regional Managers - with additional space to hold a suppliers' exhibition and an outdoor team building activity.

Following several venue visits Telford International Center was chosen to host the event having perfectly fitted the brief. Once the venue components were in place Spiderzone planned and delivered the full AV requirements for the conference with a stage and set theme that provided synergy with both the event branding and the Halfords Autocentre master brand.

Spiderzone helped delegates kick-start the day with a welcome breakfast reception before being ushered into the cabaret style conference, expertly compered by TV motorsport commentator Louise Goodman, whilst key business leaders delivered the crucial insights and business strategy for 2018 and beyond.

The supplier zone and exhibition hall hosted more than a dozen key Autocentre suppliers and featured twenty regionally-bespoke-branded pit garages where delegates, once split into 19 regional groups, would build soapbox karts as part of a team building exercise.

Following an informative morning conference, the 25-strong Spiderzone team were on hand to lead delegates into the suppliers' zone/exhibition hall, to divide them into 19 regional groups and then direct them to their allocated pit garages. A dedicated Spiderzone team member was on hand at each pit garage to demonstrate tasks and assist with the soapbox kart activity. During this process each regional team was also allocated a 10-minute time-slot with each supplier, enabling them to swot up on product knowledge and collect essential items for their soapbox karts.

Once soapbox karts were complete teams selected their drivers and kitted them out with the racing gear provided before being escorted out to a temporary race track for a nail-biting afternoon of soapbox kart racing. Spiderzone laid out 120m of both picket fence and road safety bollards to create a Goodwood-Esque racing experience.

Louise Goodman carried on the commentary outside with her signature grid walk, accompanied by multiple British Touring Car Champion, Matt Neal and his new Touring Car team mate, Dan Cammish. Both teams and their karts were either celebrated or commiserated by Louise, Matt and Dan, during their grid walk, making for a truly entertaining afternoon.

The evening was rounded off with an awards dinner, where delegates were treated to great food and evening entertainment.

The Spiderzone team certainly rose to the challenge on this one – demonstrating great strategic understanding, logistical strength, creative knowhow and technical delivery.