This weekend saw the completion of our very first real-world activation, and the KFM Big Chill could not have gone any better! We decided to sponsor the event as we often advertise on KFM, the Western Cape’s regional radio station. We were very keen to get on the ground with our customers to get feedback directly from them, while having some fun. Sponsoring the Big Chill was an easy decision as it also aligned with our “Sports and Outdoors” theme for March.
This was KFM’s third year of running the event and the second consecutive at the Berg River Resort. The venue and the weather were absolutely perfect for the entire weekend. The grounds were well looked after, all the facilities were in good working order and very clean. In addition to the actual facilities there was always resort staff on the ground making sure everything was clean and functioning.
The crews were amazing and between KFM, Berg River Resort and PriceCheck everyone was well prepared and briefed beforehand to work together as one team for the weekend. We all knew the schedule by heart and when we had to be where. Everyone brought along good attitude and a lot of “gees”!
Being the third year that KFM has run the event; it was seamless and expertly run for the 600 campers that joined. The activities that were chosen for the weekend were appropriately selected for the weekend campers – they all catered something to everyone, at every level, whether it was a a gentle float down the river, a braai at your campsite, a dip in the clear blue pool or the sounds of the resident DJ Basil.
Friday started with a bang as the Cape Minstrels led a parade on what Christine termed the “conga tractor”. We invited all campers to join us on the tractor or join the parade to the main stage for the welcoming ceremony and then a party to the sounds of BlackByrd and The Rudimentals.
Saturday was a hive of activity kicking off early with the family Fun Run (2km), pool party, and wine tasting by Simonsvlei. The highlight of the afternoon was without a doubt the the Big Chill Grill with MasterChef SA judge, Pete Goff Wood, followed by an open air cinema showing of Frozen, even including a fresh popcorn stand. The day was rounded off with the Barn Party, led by Ryan O’Connor. In between all of the organised activities, the putt-putt course, pony rides, petting farm and super tube were open for all to enjoy.
Sunday kicked off early again with the start of Family Olympics, including a three-legged race, egg balancing and tug of war. The Bubble Soccer crew arrived shortly after the Olympics for those who still had some energy left. The pool was open for relaxing, braais were on the go and many floated down the river on lilos and other floatation devices. Some even tried their hand at fishing.
Here is what some of the PriceCheck team who attended had to say:
Neena (Content Editor) – “My highlight was eating ice-creams and boerewors, and playing putt-putt with Amangile and our friends. I also loved the fact that there were charging points so I could quickly charge my cellphone when I needed to.”
Regan (International Sales Exec: Africa) – “The venue was fantastic, and a sense of family and community was tangible from the very start. Visitors, organisers, ambassadors and DJ’s all merged into one with the central focus point being FUN! There was major emphasis placed on family, and the kids seemed to be in their element with a host of activities at their fingertips. This also added to our brand’s worth as a company that cares. All in all, I believe this activation was a huge success, and a great experience!”
Amangile (Content Editor) – “The event was well planned from start to finish. I enjoyed each of the different activities on the day. The pool party was my favourite. It was a great idea by the marketing team to have a charging station, where people’s phones were charged and looked after.”
Lorisa (Customer Relationship Manager) – “The KFM Big Chill Weekend with PriceCheck was epic! I was very proud to be part of the event, not only was it great exposure for PriceCheck but it showed amazing involvement and sacrifice from the staff – not only the staff who stayed for the whole weekend, but those who came through just for a few hours and even the ones who helped pack 250 bags for the event.”
Rory (SEO Strategist) – “For me the highlight of the big chill weekend was being able to interact with all the families that came to the event. I had the chance to talk to a number of the campers, sharing in a drink, having a bite to eat with them and having a good laugh too, for me it gave us a chance to humanise PriceCheck as a brand. This event let people know that we are not just a bunch of robots behind a website, but a team of people that want to get to know their users. As a keen chef in my own kitchen, I also have to name drop and mention another highlight I had was chilling around the camp fire with Pete Goffe-Wood, and the KFM crew, getting some cooking tips and tricks.”
Nicole (Marketing Manager) – “The team work was awesome! From the moment I got there the organisation, camaraderie, professionalism, warmth and welcome from the KFM/PRIMEDIA team was fantastic. The exposure that PriceCheck received over the weekend was extraordinary. This was due to the excellent teamwork and drive between all parties concerned – the continuous mention of PriceCheck, the brand awareness everywhere of merchandise and team, all helped towards the huge success of the event. I felt extremely proud of PriceCheck and the team involved. I was super proud of pulling off such a successful first event like this. The event was a perfect balance of fun, brand exposure, activity and chill.”
Christine, our Head of Marketing added that: “It was really wonderful to spend time with our customers, particularly to interact with them and understand how they use and enjoy PriceCheck. There were also many people who had not used it before, so it was great to show them the capabilities of PriceCheck. I think there was great value in the weekend for PriceCheck. Personally I was working so hard this weekend, that I hardly had time to relax and take it all in – but it was very rewarding see how the campers enjoyed this epic event. Not to mention my own team having fun and also welcoming new users to the PriceCheck family.”
Here’s a gallery of the weekend’s festivities and we hope to see you at our next event!
