You may have seen signs around advertising a “Shred Party” and thought to yourself, what is that? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a place for people to come together and shred their unwanted items. These are often organized by a bank, post office, or school. But there is no reason why a business can’t throw one as well. Here is a road map to hosting your very own shred party.

• First, you’ll want to define your purpose. The reasoning behind organizing any event is vital; knowing your purpose helps you plan your function. If your goal is brand awareness, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of business cards on hand and maybe a few brochures for your company as well. Employees available to help and discuss your business will guide people in connecting to your brand. Maybe your goal is to get involved in your community. Then you might consider making this a monthly or quarterly event hosted to help people. Or maybe you’re just looking to sell your products. Hosting a shredding party is a great way to give people hands-on experience while helping them. Whatever road you choose, knowing why you’re hosting this function will help to guide your actions as well as tell your employees how to act.
• Once you know your purpose, you’ll need to figure out which machines to use. If you expect a large number of people, having an industrial shredder on-hand will speed up the process tremendously. However, this will take away from the time you have to spend with potential customers. If you’re looking to sell, supply several different makes and models to encourage people to do some hands-on research. You may even offer a discount on the units used during the party or on any machines purchased that day. But overall, you’ll want to at least have one cross-cut and one strip-cut device to accommodate varying shredding needs. You may even provide a high security or micro-cut shredder, though this isn’t absolutely necessary. Another optional but nice addition to your selection would be a digital media shredder. Whatever you choose, be sure at least one shredder has a continuous duty motor to keep up with a heavy duty workload.
• After you’ve planned the basics, get the word out. With so many media options available, there are several different ways to advertise. A newspaper ad gives people something tangible to remind them. A Facebook event on your company’s page (and maybe even on your city’s page, depending on how big of an event you wish to have) encourages customers to return to your business. An email message or snail mail postcard to your subscribers is another way to get the word out. And finally, you can always use a good old-fashioned sign on the side of the road.

Finally, you’re ready! For a community event, consider providing a snack and a beverage to facilitate relationship building. If you’re looking to make a few sales, have product information ready as well as business cards and brochures. You may even host a drawing. Or turn it into a fundraiser for a charity by charging a small fee and donating the proceeds. The possibilities are endless. And if you need a new shredder for your event, MyBinding.com sells a wide selection of them and offers free shipping on all orders over $75.

What do you think? Did I miss any key points? Have any suggestions for throwing a shredding party? I’d love to hear them!