Entertaining Clients in Omaha, NE – 2018

If your business is anything like ours, you know how important it is to establish and maintain strong relationships with each of your clients. A great way to accomplish this is by going above and beyond, not only to meet their needs but to give them special treatment and exclusive access to desirable opportunities.

At Strictly Business Magazine, we know that good customer service isn’t just a perk, it’s an expectation. That’s why, throughout the year, we invite our clients to join our team at a variety of fun events, like airboat tours, fashion shows, comedy shows, theater productions and much more. Or, we’ll host an event ourselves, which allows us to continue building our relationship with them. This is how we go the extra mile to ensure our clients know they are important to us and that we value our partnership with them.

There are many things to take into account when planning something fun for your clients. For starters, do you have a large, diverse clientele or do you just have a few key clients? If it’s the former, you might consider hosting a large event and opening the invitation up to the entire, or a large selection, of your customer base.

With the welcomed return of Husker football season, it’s the perfect time to host a tailgate for your clients to attend. Corporate tailgates have become a popular trend, and if you really want to make yours stand out, coordinate your tailgate with Blur Parties. There ain’t no tailgate like a Blur Parties tailgate! “Gameday tailgate hospitality is our specialty,” reports Stacy Leners with Blur Parties. “For these types of events, it’s best to know your guests’ interest levels ahead of time, and not only sporting interests but social interests. Ask questions like…

• What do they like to eat and drink?
• Do they like to partake in tailgate games?
• Would guests be interested in viewing other sporting events on TV during that time?
• Is there a certain type of music they prefer?
• Are guests likely to bring children with them?
• Will any guests special accommodations (handicap accessibility or dietary restrictions)?

Take the time to get to know your clients so you can be sure you’re not putting them in a situation that makes them uncomfortable.”

With Blur Parties, everything is pre-arranged and pre-paid so that all clients have to do is invite their guests and show up! Blur Parties can create the entire game day experience for you and your guests including not only the tailgate, but arranging game tickets, transportation and lodging!

In addition, if you are looking to entertain clients or employees during the College World Series, Blur Parties offers a hospitality tailgate location in Omaha directly across from TD Ameritrade Stadium. 2019 will be their 9th annual event and they are currently taking reservations and booking clients for next June.

If you prefer to handle the planning yourself and hosting your own event, you’ll need to select the venue, food/drink, and entertainment. Location determines a lot of the other aspects of the event, so make sure you book a space that can accommodate all your guests. A lot of venues have access to in-house catering and beverage options, and even tables and chairs, but if you’re hoping to give your an event an extra twist, you might consider looking into Honeyman Rent-All. Honeyman has an entire division dedicated to party and event rentals, with just about anything you could possibly need or want for the occasion at hand. From canopies and candelabras, to glasses, linens, and trays. They also have an inventory of games and themed decorations. If you’re planning a tailgate party, choose from a variety of outdoor yard games like horseshoes, yard darts, or corn hole—they even have a dunk tank you can rent! If you know what your clients like, you can customize an event just for them.

You could also choose to entertain your clients at your place of business. It could be a few key partners or, if your space allows, you could host a large group of people. This is a nice way to showcase where all the action happens, giving your clients a behind-the-scenes look into your operations.

If you go this route, you’ll want to make sure your office is in tip-top shape. We recommend giving 360 Clean a call. “A professionally cleaned space is impactful, relaxing, and inviting – all things that make for a great atmosphere to entertain, both professionally and personally,” comments Allisyn Meadows with 360 Clean LLC. While new to Omaha, the experts at 360 Clean bring over 25 years of experience with them. They offer customized cleaning services for both residential and commercial properties. 360 Clean pays attention to detail and they clean target areas such as windows and carpet, floor care, bathrooms, and more. 360 Clean will leave your office looking spick-and-span, which will please your guests and give you time to focus on other areas of the planning.

The food you choose to serve your guests can be the make or break of a good client appreciation event. If you’re planning your own function, you’ll need to seek out a caterer. If you live in Omaha, chances are you’ve already heard of The Garden Café, a local bakery and restaurant that has been in town since 1985. Our team loves Garden Café! They have amazing seasonal specials and we enjoy the comfortable, old-fashioned vibe at their establishment (featuring two private party rooms, FYI). They also provide dependable, full-scale catering services. Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Garden Café can conveniently deliver to you—even if you call them last minute, they’ll make it happen for you.

On a smaller scale, when entertaining one or a few of your clients, there is nothing wrong with the classic “wine and dine” approach. If you really want to treat your clients to something special, offer them a spread of Cajun delicacies that Acadian Grille has on their menu. “We would love to host you and your associates at our new restaurant!” Exclaims Dan O’Brien with Acadian Grille, a Louisiana-inspired scratch kitchen that opened its doors in Omaha a couple months ago. “We have a wide array of southern specials, including Crawfish Étouffée, Shrimp & Grits, Crab Cakes, Gator Bites, Po’ Boys, and Jambalaya. Your experience at Acadian Grille can be as casual or as fancy as you want. We have delicious appetizers and burgers, and we also have Smoked Chipotle Rubbed Ribeye and Herb Butter Sirloin. For dessert, we can fix you some homemade vanilla ice cream or a Blood Orange Crème Brulee. My cousin Matthew is the mastermind behind the menu. He’s been a chef for over 30 years, spending part of that time studying in Louisiana. You can count on him to give you all the spicy notes and hardiness of authentic Cajun cuisine that you know and love. So bring your clients over to our joint soon and enjoy a few Abita beers (a New Orleans staple) or a glass of wine while feasting on our bayou favorites.”

To review, try to be intentional and creative when it comes to entertaining your clients. Put that extra effort in to make them feel valued. Doing so will result in a strong, long-lasting partnership—maybe even a friendship! These relationships are very important. Entertaining clients is an investment, not an expenditure. Make it a priority in your business structure, if you haven’t already.