You’ve decided to host an event or party, now where do you start? Having a theme can help you to give your event planning some focus. An event theme can steer what entertainment you chose, what colour scheme to go with, the design for your invitations and how you decorate your venue.

Themes are endless and it can be exceptionally difficult to decide on one. Our advice would be to keep in mind what would appeal to the guests you are hoping to attend and to remember your budget – some themes are easier to achieve for less money than others.

We have shortlisted some of our favourite themes to give you food for thought…

Circus theme

Roll up, roll up… Create a stunning backdrop to an event venue with a circus theme. If you are looking for an opportunity to add a touch of the unusual to your event or venue P.T Barnum style, then circus theme is the way to go. Opening doors to a range of fun, visual entertainment for guests. Circus theme is suitable for adults and children alike and excellent for any time of year.

Seaside theme

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside… And don’t we all! Seaside themed events are great for guests to take a break from the mundane and have fun. Although typically associated with summer events, why not spread a bit of sunshine, a hint of nostalgia and cheer up those dreary winter months? Saucy postcard photo opportunities, giant deckchairs, crazy golf course, candy floss cart, the possibilities are endless and all very achievable whatever your budget.

Funfair theme

If you can’t settle on one theme, the funfair theme can encompass elements of circus and seaside. Dress your venue with candy stripes or a circus tent, add hook-a-duck, a coconut shy or tin-can alley and budget depending, hire a merry-go-round!

Festival theme

With so many genres of festival out there, this theme is fantastic for all budgets. Depending on what feel you are going for you can go hippy, grungy, trendy, or family-friendly, either way, the aim will be to offer a real experience – with live acts, performers, street-food and photo opportunities. The festival theme lends itself to those on a tighter budget. The DIY feel of a festival allows for a field as your venue, haystacks for seating & tipi tents for cover.

Dinosaur theme

The Jurassic period will spark the imagination of little guests at any family-focussed event. Depending on your budget you can go BIG with a colossal dinosaur structure or smaller with a dinosaur egg-trail. Homemade volcanos or dry-ice and jungle-style plants can be used to dress your venue. Everyone is bound to have a roaring good time (sorry… couldn’t help myself)

Mods & Rockers theme

This is a brilliant theme for any indecisive event planners! The colour scheme is already chosen, the music picked, and the dress code all sorted, even 60s style finger food is easily achievable. Swinging 60’s style parties may not work for a kids birthday party but bound to be a lot of fun for anyone old enough to appreciate it.

Sports theme 

Base entertainment around sports such as Beat the Goalie, crazy golf, table tennis or Footpool. If guests will be seated, tables could be themed for a particular sport or you could choose your colour scheme based on different sports teams. Works for indoor and outdoor events and easily tailored to suit the age range of your guests.

About Photo Cutouts

Photo Cutouts face-in-hole board can bring that something extra to a party, corporate event, wedding, family fun day, school fête, charity event, store promotion, product promotion… anywhere fun and engagement are required.

We have off-the-shelf designs that can be customised with logos and hashtags, or our brilliant design team can custom design a board to suit your requirements. People love to put their face in the hole and have their picture taken, so a photo cutout board is a great icebreaker and helps to make your event memorable.

Get in touch

Give our team a call today to discuss your branding requirements for your next peak season!

www.photocutouts.co.uk

office@connectedshopping.com

01284 848330

 

Photo Cutouts have been busy working away in our workshop on some new themed photo boards for Christmas. We are pleased to reveal that our new face-in-the-hole board designs are now ready to book for hire or to buy.

New Christmas Designs

Santa’s Workshop – a large 1.5m wide, 3 face hole photo board, perfect for families or groups of friends to create a fun photo opportunity.

Selfie with Elfie – a 1m wide, 1 face hole photo board with an eye-catching design. Great for engaging with people and making events memorable.

Christmas Wreath Selfie Board – a large handheld festive photo board. Ideal for passing around at Christmas events or parties.

High-quality

All of our Photo Cutouts Boards are made from an industrial PVC with a high-quality vinyl print so they withstand a lot of use. The quality is miles apart from cardboard versions, they are even waterproof. As the boards are mounted onto a sturdy steel frame they are suitable for use at outdoor events such as Christmas Markets, skating rinks, to entertain families queuing for Santa’s Grotto or in a retail environment to attract the Christmas shoppers.

Customise

As with all our photo board designs, we have the option to customise with your logo and encourage adding social media handles for photos (and your branding!) to be shared across social media. Customising is an option whether looking to hire or buy just get in touch with our design team to discuss your requirements.

 

Photo Competition

Photo Boards lend themselves perfectly to Christmas competitions. Several companies we have worked with previously have used branded photo cutout boards as a competition mechanism. Encourage people to share photo’s in your face-in-the-hole board across social media to win a prize and select your favourite photo. To tempt customers to share their photos on social media, Klondyke & Strikes ran a ‘Show us your best festive face’ competition last year, with a prize for the best snow globe photo. Check out the hashtag #KlondykeSnowglobe on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

Inspiration

For inspiration on how you could use Photo Cutout boards as part of your Christmas marketing campaign or seasonal event, take a look at some previous blog posts featuring boards from….

Klondyke and Strikes Garden Centres

Odin Events Nutcracker Trails

Natural Christmas Tree Company

National Trust Hardwick Hall

Get in touch

Give our team a call today to discuss your branding requirements for your next peak season!

www.photocutouts.co.uk

office@connectedshopping.com

01284 848330

Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre has been having a roarsome time this Summer with their dinosaur-themed activities. The shopping centre management team came to Photo Cutouts with the challenge of making several dino-themed photo opportunities for their retail entertainment during the school holidays.

Our fabulous designers came up with 2 dinosaur-themed photo cutout boards and, a Photo Cutouts first, a double-sided photo wall.

#HVDinos Face-in-the-hole board

The face-in-the-hole boards had 2 head holes at a suitable height for children to have their photographs taken. Children really seem to engage with the photo cutout boards and completely get the concept of posing to be part of the scene.

Double-sided photo wall

For the photo wall, our innovative team put together 2 designs. These were printed and mounted back to back on 2 panels of sturdy PVC foamex. The double-sized photo wall provided a mammoth 3m x 2m backdrop for shoppers to pose for a photo opportunity.

Photo Cutouts have made photo walls in the past however a double-sided version is certainly a first. The team adapted our usual design for a 2-panel board of this size so that fixings were concealed within the board. This gave a blank canvas on both sides for 2 great designs and 2 great photo opportunities.

Hashtags for social sharing

The peep boards and the photo wall both included the shopping centre logo, social media handles and the hashtag #HVDinos to encourage visitors to share their photos. Photos were shared across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and the dinos have proved to be a roaring success in increasing footfall to the shopping centre.

Mark Rumfitt, Centre Manager of Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre said:

“We’ve turned the clock back by more than 400 million years with this new dinosaur trail and are bringing something that’s fun, exciting and educational to Hempstead Valley. In the first few days of the arrival of our dinosaurs, we have seen a huge influx of families spending time together and enjoying this new event.”

Hempstead Valley Dinos are at the shopping centre until 18^th August – be quick to catch them before extinction (last pun I promise!)

Retail Entertainment

Photo Cutouts have worked with a number of retail spaces in the past as shopping centres, local councils and BIDs, look to combine retail and entertainment. We are experts in creating custom made, branded photo boards. If you are interested in adding our products to your next shoppertainment project, then please get in touch.

Call us: 01284 848330

Email: office@connectedshopping.com

It is now early July, and that mad garden centre dash and rush appears to be over. Perhaps you are like my family and have bought nearly every new, fun, exciting plant possible, and you have also finally found a spot for everything somewhere in the garden. (As the great Carol Klein recently said on BBC Gardener’s World Live, “Don’t worry, you’ll always find space.”) Now it is time for a well-deserved rest on your laurels, under the laurel tree, and a break from garden centre visits. Except-t that this is not quite how it should be.

Dear readers, you know by now that I am one to poke and prod, and I enjoy telling you how best to live your life based on my extensive life experiences. I recently spoke with a friend (and an avid gardener) who lives in Calgary in the province of Alberta in Canada. After our conversation, I realised how lucky we are with our garden centres. You are possibly puzzled by this statement –allow me to explain.

First, I was informed that Calgary (a rather large city) and the surrounding area do not have the number of garden centres as we do in the UK, nor do they have such a variety. Second, garden centres are selling off their plants and not receiving much new stock (except for maybe some autumn plants for containers). Apparently, going to one of the few garden centres in Calgary is currently a dismal event for some gardeners. How sad is that? I will answer that it is sad indeed.

After our conversation, I sat by my laurel hedge to ponder things over. I thought of how, in cold, dismal January, I can go to a garden centre and I can see (and buy!) pansies, hellebores, and primroses. There is inevitably a café or restaurant where one can enjoy a light lunch (oftentimes made with seasonal produce) or an afternoon tea. If one does do not have time for lunch, many garden centres carry an assortment of delightful edible treats such as lovely biscuits, jams and jellies, crackers, chutneys, cheeses…the list could go on. Should one not feel food inclined, then there are gifts and cards to peruse. (I recently bought a set of two small cups and a little melamine tray with a William Morris design, which made a wonderful gift for a friend to enjoy coffee for two. My Canadian friend loves all the cards with pictures by local artists; she buys so many when she visits that her husband had to give her a rather stern talking to.) If none of these strike your fancy, then how about taking the children/grandchildren to pick out a bug or insect house? And, finally, amidst all these choices, remember that garden centres still do sell plants, and the choice is spectacular.

 

Now, while a gin and tonic and a bit of a rest is certainly in order, do still find a bit of time to visit some garden centres…it is not too late to perhaps plant one more pot.

If I may be so bold as to offer one more recommendation, here is one for some summer reading: The Gardener’s Year by Karel Čapek. I am a long-time fan of this Czech author, who wrote plays, novels, short stories, and essays. The Gardener’s Year is an amusing 12-month chronicle of gardeners and their garden follies and glories; it is also a thoughtful account of human nature. One of

my favourite parts is at the end of the chapter “Preparations”, and you shall have to read the book since I will not divulge more here. Josef Čapek, the author’s brother, provided the charming illustrations.

As for all you garden centres, whom I have praised so highly (and well-deservedly so), here at Photo Cutouts we think one of our custom-made photo cutout boards could be a great marketing prop, adding even more interactive fun to your business. Check out these 5 Ways Garden Centres Use Photo Cutouts for inspiration.

Get in touch:

https://www.photocutouts.co.uk/
Tel: 08450 570 321
Email: office@connectedshopping.com
Online form: https://www.photocutouts.co.uk/contact.htm

Disclaimer: Aside from the rather appalling choice of garden centres and what is available, Calgary is a lovely city and a wonderful place to visit. And, to be fair, the growing season is rather different and much shorter than ours.

From The Garden Centre Association, here is a list of their top 10 garden centres for 2019:
https://gca.org.uk/annual-awards/

This is an article from 2016 with some intriguing recommendations:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardens-to-visit/the-uk-s-best-garden-centres-and-nurseries/

I know, I know, we just did a blog on May events, and now here is a blog about some events in June. The thing is, I am such a super sleuth and I ferret out fabulously fun activities, which I feel would be a frightful shame if I did not share them with you, my loyal fans. So, mark your calendars and start planning for some late spring entertaining events.

Without further fanfare, may I present…

National Fish and Chips Day is on “Fryday” June 7
http://www.neoda.org.uk/fishandchipday

I think the name is fairly self-explanatory, though the debate rages on regarding some of the origins of this quintessentially British grub. Apparently, Western Sephardic Jews (who had settled in England), coated fish in a batter and fried them; the chips came via either France or Belgium; and both London and Lancashire claim they had the first chippy (for you non-British English, a chippy is a fish and chips shop).

Instead of focusing on disagreements (since there are more than enough to go around!), we should actually be reminded that we really have fishermen to thank for this dish. To quote from The Fishermen’s Mission* website, “Fishing continues to be the most dangerous peacetime occupation with a one in fourteen chance of being killed at work, the funds generated through the National Fish and Chip Day allow the Fishermen’s Mission to continue to provide Welfare and Emergency services to our Fishermen and their families….”
(* Full name is The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen)

So, my fellow fish and chip enthusiasts, please do go out and support your local fish and chips stand, or shop, or fancy restaurant, and in turn the monies from National Fish and Chip Day will help support Fishermen’s Mission. And whilst you are munching and crunching, think about your plans for the following weekend in order to…

Celebrate National Beer Day aka Beer Day Britain on June 15
https://www.beerdaybritain.co.uk/

I am certain some diehard fans will have this event highlighted in their calendars, but others (though they are keen drinkers) might possibly not be aware of this glorious tradition, as it is actually a fairly recent event day, started in 2015, by one Ms. Jane Peyton.

I have to admit, I was somewhat surprised (and shocked!) that us Brits did not actually have a day dedicated to honouring our beloved beverage; however, this oversight has been now been righted. 800 years after the Magna Carta was sealed (15th of June 1215, of course), Jane Peyton established peace in our pubs by starting Beer Day Britain, which, according to the website “celebrates all beer including traditional ales, mainstream lagers, and limited edition craft beer and everything in between no matter where it is brewed or who owns the brewing company.” And by celebrating British beer, you are actually helping our British economy – whether it be at your local pub or going on a beer tour. One does what one can for one’s country.

Btw, Beer Day Britain coincides very well with Father’s Day on June 16. Perhaps, combine the two events into one spectacular Beer and Fathers Weekend!

How Photo Cutout Boards fit in…

Reel in customers with the always fun face-in-a-hole photo board
https://www.photocutouts.co.uk/

• Roll out this amazing marketing tool with one of our roller banners
https://www.photocutouts.co.uk/roller-banner.htm

• Vinyl banners to help you and your business stand out and be noticed
https://www.photocutouts.co.uk/vinyl-banner.htm#

 

If you would like more information on our products then please get in touch:
Tel: 08450 570 321
Email: office@connectedshopping.com
Online form: https://www.photocutouts.co.uk/contact.htm

Lastly, there is no late month haiku, but, poet that I am, I have composed an ode…

An ode to fish and chips

Too many annoyances stressing you out?
Well, I have news to make you smile, not pout!
Listen, listen to what I have to say,
I know it will chase the doldrums away:
It’s a celebration of fish and chips –
Yes, indeed, ’tis Fryday!

Mark the date as the 7th of June,
which is coming up oh so soon!
Now close your eyes and think
of a dish
as delish
as chips and fish;
and if you please –
add some mushy peas.

Then, as you savour that crispy crunch,
do not forget to say:
Fishermen and cooks thanks a bunch!