WA Media interviewing Steven Baumgärtner, Managing Partner

Steven Baumgärtner: The idea for the first BeachCup came from the desire to organise an event for the industry, by the industry. Originally we thought about also involving customers, but in the end we decided to only include suppliers of advertising articles and partners. Our thinking behind this was that we didn't just want buyers and salespeople to meet, but all the employees to be there so that new contacts could be created in addition to the normal, everyday business relationships. Partners and children are also very welcome.

Why beach volleyball exactly?

Football would have been the obvious choice, but having said that, it is more of a masculine sport. Beach volleyball is a sport that everyone can try, and there aren't as many people who are a much higher standard than everyone else. This means everyone can play at a similar level. The popularity of the event has shown us that we made the right choice: From 14 teams at the beginning, the event has grown to 32 teams, who will be competing this year against this wonderful backdrop.

So you had a good feel for what the industry wanted.

Definitely - for us and our guests the tournament is one of the highlights of the year. The tournament is also held in the middle of the year, after the hustle and bustle of the trade fairs and before the stressful Christmas shopping period starts. People can travel down and enjoy the day, and the weather is usually good too.

Which is why you have made it such a large-scale event with catering, drinks and entertainment.

Of course, every year we put a lot of effort in and always question whether it's worth it, but by the Players Night it's obvious:   We're doing this again. We are also supported by our team of sponsors, which this year, alongside tried and tested partners like Reflects, Fare and Mahlwerck, included Kalfany Süße Werbung for the first time. In the meantime, the standard is now much higher than it was at the beginning - in the final rounds the games are really good to watch. Despite that, the focus is very much on having fun. People have the chance to meet old friends, get to know new faces and celebrate together. Some suppliers have even told us that they use the BeachCup for team building, rather then their own Christmas party. Sport actively promotes team spirit both in the company and the industry, which also works well with international teams, for example those from Italy, Great Britain and the USA, eliminating the language barrier.

What do you have to take into account when organising the event?

After the BeachCup the focus is on the next BeachCup - the right timing is key. We want to be able to welcome as many guests as possible and look after them properly. Each year we target the first Saturday before the state summer holidays, and then it's basically "First come, first served". We now have to keep a waiting list for the event, which must mean we're doing things right.

Claudia Pfeifer was talking to Steven Baumgärtner.

© WA Media GmbH 2018

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