For years, the Carhartt Global Sales Meeting has stood out as a premier event, thanks to a long-standing partnership with Bluewater’s live events team. Through meticulous planning, innovative technology, and flawless execution, Bluewater has consistently elevated the experience, fostering connections, inspiring teams, and creating unforgettable moments. This case study explores how Bluewater has brought this meeting to life year after year through creativity, collaboration, and dedication.
In 2018, Carhartt sought to expand their fall Global Sales Meeting beyond its traditional format, inviting the entire company to share in the messaging and excitement of the event. With attendance growing to 600-700 people, new challenges arose: how to adapt the stage design and technology to effectively communicate their message to a larger audience.
To meet this challenge, Carhartt turned to Bluewater for expert guidance. Together, they developed an innovative stage design featuring a sleek, industrial-inspired aesthetic that aligned with Carhartt’s brand. The flexible stage set accommodated executives, dynamic presentation materials, and interactive audience engagement segments.
“I think that was my 35th sales meeting since I’ve been with Carhartt. I’ve never been to one like that before and I don’t think that would have been possible without Bluewater.”
One standout moment was “The Newlythread Game”, a creative segment designed to captivate the audience and enhance participation. Bluewater ensured the production met the highest standards with large-format displays, sound reinforcement, image magnification, presentation playback, lighting, and custom scenic elements—ensuring every message was seen and heard.
The 2018 event was a resounding success, setting a new benchmark for future meetings. Since then, Bluewater has been honored to support the annual Carhartt Global Sales Meeting for six consecutive years.
The Hybrid Transformation
In 2022, Carhartt faced a new challenge—bringing their team together at their new headquarters after a long period of virtual engagement due to the pandemic. Planning a multi-day event for 200 attendees, they needed to optimize their new space for an impactful sales meeting.
Bluewater designed an immersive experience that included:
- A main meeting room with a centrally located stage and multiple monitors for optimal viewing.
- An outdoor networking space featuring a custom-branded tent, seating, games, and décor, fostering a lively and engaging environment.
To expand accessibility, Bluewater introduced a hybrid event format using their digital platform, Parallel. This allowed remote attendees to experience the event seamlessly, featuring:
- A virtual main stage with live and on-demand content.
- Interactive navigation, including speaker bios, schedules, and downloadable resources.
- Real-time engagement tools to keep virtual participants connected.
Bluewater provided end-to-end event management, overseeing technical production, décor design, vendor coordination, budgeting, sponsorship management, and itinerary planning. Their team remained on standby throughout the event, ensuring a flawless execution that met all objectives.
2024: Elevating the Experience
Carhartt’s 2024 annual event featured two major productions supported by Bluewater:
Main Stage at Carhartt Headquarters
- Staging with two LED walls
- Full audio and lighting support
- Custom gobo projection
- Program recording & post-production video editing
- Presentation support & switching
Award Show at the Gem Theatre
- Projector integration with in-house screens
- Comprehensive audio and lighting enhancements
- Live streaming & video recording
- Post-production video editing
By combining cutting-edge AV solutions with seamless presentation management, Bluewater ensured that Carhartt’s event experience was both dynamic and engaging.
A Partnership Built for the Future
From 2018 to 2024, Bluewater has continually pushed the boundaries of innovation to enhance the Carhartt Global Sales Meeting. Through expert execution, creative event design, and advanced technology integration, this partnership has transformed an annual gathering into a powerful, immersive experience that fosters inspiration and unity. As Carhartt continues to evolve, Bluewater remains committed to delivering impactful events that elevate their brand and strengthen their team connections.
