What was the purpose of this event?

The primary purpose was to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported us up to this point.

While thanking our customers for the past 50 years since the first Autobacs store opened in 1974, we also wanted to share our vision for the future under the theme “BEYOND AUTOBACS,” showcasing what the next 50 years will hold for the company.

Why did you entrust us with this event?

Since this was a special event marking our 50th anniversary, we intentionally wanted to work with an external partner who was not overly familiar with our company, aiming for a fresh perspective.

We had prior connections with GP through business discussions, and after reviewing their website, we saw that they had extensive experience using new technologies for event management. This led us to believe that they could deliver an innovative and impactful event, so we ended up entrusting them with the project.

What key points did you focus on during the planning?

We focused on the overall structure of the event. The first part expressed gratitude for the past 50 years, while the second part showcased the changes we envision for the next 50 years. Since the weight of our history naturally tends to place more emphasis on the past, we worked to place the past and future on equal footing, expressing our commitment to change.

To be specific, we introduced new elements that we had never implemented before, such as panel discussions using SparkUp, a cutting-edge audience engagement platform, and QR-code-based registration systems. From the program and staging to the operations, we designed the event so that we could allow the attendees to feel the drive to transform.

What challenges did you face while organizing the event?

There were delays in internal adjustments on our end, leading to new ideas and changes being introduced in every meeting. This meant coordination was rather challenging.

However, these trial-and-error efforts ultimately contributed to the event’s success. We greatly appreciated GP’s approach of considering even our seemingly impractical ideas, and taking the time to explore their feasibility before offering alternative solutions once necessary.

What stood out about working with GP?

GP worked with great speed and made an effort to consider all of our suggestions, before presenting alternatives if challenges arose.

Given the many new elements introduced in this event, we were initially anxious. However, GP promptly addressed all of our concerns, providing detailed paper-based materials and other resources to reassure us throughout the process.

Additionally, limiting the points of contact to two representatives allowed for smooth communication. GP’s approachable demeanor made them feel like part of our team, which we deeply appreciated.

How did the participants respond?

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants shared comments such as “It was wonderful,” and “I was deeply moved.”

An interaction with one of our company’s alumni at the venue stood out—they remarked, “You’ve done something refreshingly different, haven’t you?” This validated our efforts in conveying the intended message. Notably, in previous events, we often received at least one piece of negative feedback internally. However, this time, there was none, which was particularly memorable.

Was the event’s purpose achieved?

Yes, we believe the event successfully conveyed our gratitude while allowing attendees to experience both the legacy and future direction of the Autobacs Group, not just through words, but through immersive experiences as well.

How do you plan to develop this event in the future?

The messages delivered during the ceremony must be realized in our actions moving forward. It is vital that we actively work toward building the new Autobacs we envisioned during this event.

We also plan to continue utilizing some of the content developed for the ceremony, such as the video on our history, in future initiatives.