When it comes to hosting successful customer appreciation events, Island Companies has built up a very solid reputation in Cayman. The recently concluded Business After Hours event, hosted at Island Plaza at the beginning of December was ample proof of this, with more than 3,000 people attending the event.

“It could well be the biggest event of its kind in the region,” says Rich Dyer of Islands Companies.

And with six bars, including two champagne stations, free food, live television coverage and four live radio stations, it is not hard to see why the event is a great success every year. In fact, it has come to mark the official start of the Christmas season in Cayman.

The event also serves as an excellent introduction for people to Island Companies and its brands.

“We welcomed a lot of new people and it was a great opportunity for our staff to meet customers,” says Rich.

Although the Business After Hours event may be the biggest event for Island Companies, it is far from the only one, and forms part of an approach that allows customers to engage with brands in a relaxed environment.

“We pride ourselves on doing everything we can to make people feel comfortable and relaxed. Our events provide a chance for people to come in and look around, it’s not a pressured sales event. It is an invitation to come in a relaxed atmosphere and interact with the staff, brand ambassadors and discover new and old brands at Island Companies,” says Rich.

“The local market is very important to us, and these events reflect that. This is all for locals, to providing them new experiences and creating compelling evenings for them to come down and visit our stores. It also creates a level of engagement with our customers that would be hard to create in any other way,” says Rich.

The company will be hosting some great events throughout the year, with three coming up shortly.

On 5 January, Islands Companies, Oris and the Cayman Islands Tourism Association will host a one year anniversary party for the sinking of the Kittiwake.

“It will be held on the waterfront on the Crescent at Camana Bay. There will be food, drink and some of the best pictures taken of the Kittiwake on display, open to CITA members, sponsors, dive operators and more,” says Rich.

The event will also serve to introduce the public to the limited edition Oris Kittiwake dive watch.

“It will be a celebration of a great year for the Kittiwake, an amazing achievement from Oris to get a limited edition watch out in such a short time period, we’re very excited about that event, it’s going to be very cool,” says Rich.

January will also feature the culmination of the Island Companies Shop and Win promotion, which will take place on 14 January.

“We will be giving away the Fiat 500 convertible, the contest runs to 7 January, so there is still time to enter. Every US$100 spent at any Island Companies store ensures one entry to win the car,” says Rich.

Last year the company invited 10 people who had been drawn to come to the grand finale, each picked a box with a key in it, and then they got to try the key and if the engine started the lucky winner could drive the car away. Rich promises that this year the event will be even more spectacular.

On 9 February Island Companies will host a John Hardy evening at the John Hardy Boutique in the Flagship building. This year the event will be attended by Guy Bedarida, head designer and creative director for John Hardy.

“The John Hardy event we had last year was brilliant, towards the end it almost felt like a big party  – we had great music, great food and drink, people were having fun and were either inside shopping or outside socialising. This year it will be even better,” says Rich.

Part of the company’s approach to creating an environment in which their customers can feel relaxed and confident in their purchases reside in the guarantee offered with purchases.

“Our 90 day global gold star guarantee helps to make people feel relaxed and comfortable, because even almost three months later, you can still return it. There is no other company in Cayman or, the Caribbean for that matter, that does that, especially not in our industry,” says Rich.

“It’s no questions asked, it doesn’t matter if one morning you just woke up and changed your mind, it’s fine. It is the confidence we have in our products and in our sales professionals,” he says.

According to Rich, the success of the formula can be seen in the low rate of return that the company does see, as customers can take their time when shopping without being pressured into a purchase they may later regret.

Upcoming events:

5 January, 5.30pm - late

Anniversary of the sinking of the USS Kittiwake, Camana Bay

The USS Kittiwake was sunk off the coast of Seven Mile Beach in 2011, creating a new world class marine park and dive site. Island Companies and Oris watches are hosting the first anniversary celebration of the undertaking at Camana Bay, presenting the Oris Kittiwake Limited Edition ProDiver timepiece at the event.

14 January, Camana Bay

Shop and Win Grand Prize draw

The award ceremony for Shop and Win – one lucky Island Companies customer will drive away in a brand new Fiat 500 convertible at the culmination of this year’s Shop and Win contest!

9 February, 5.30pm - late

John Hardy Boutique evening, Flagship building, George Town

Join Guy Bedarida, head designer and creative director for John Hardy - at the only John Hardy Boutique in the Western Hemisphere for their annual evening event. Enjoy refreshments and entertainment, socialising and late night shopping, as well as an opportunity to meet one of the most influential and inspirational jewellery designers in the world.