Buncombe County Switches to Local Event Tech Provider, Saves Hundreds and Sees Record Turnout
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Vikram, Head of Growth and Co-Owner at SimpleTix, brings a performance marketing background from SeatGeek and early stage startups to SimpleTix’s partnership and growth efforts. A lifelong live event enthusiast, he’s focused on expanding the tools organizers rely on to connect with their audiences.
Buncombe County switched to SimpleTix, a local tech company, for the county’s annual Lake Julian Festival of Lights celebration.
Ultimately, the county saved hundreds of dollars in fees and saw a record turnout for opening weekend attendance.
Asheville, North Carolina December 9, 2019 – Buncombe County’s annual Lake Julian Festival of Lights was just a bit more festive this year. The county switched to a local tech company to provide the eTicketing service for the event and ultimately saved hundreds of dollars on fees and saw the highest attendance ever for opening weekend.
The annual celebration is always a huge draw for Asheville, NC, residents, as well as those across the state. The drive-through only tour includes thousands of dazzling lights and displays carefully choreographed and installed around Lake Julian Park. Each year, 20% of the proceeds goes to support the Buncombe County Special Olympics, as well.
For 2019’s event, county organizers switched from Eventbrite to SimpleTix, a local ticketing technology company based in Asheville. The decision was made for multiple reasons, including saving money on fees, but also to help support a local company and bolster the area economy. The result was a record turnout, with almost 1,300 people visiting on Sunday alone, a new single-day record.
Part of the increased attendance was due to lower ticket prices. Because the county saved money on fees, it was able to pass those savings along to eventgoers in the form of lower ticket prices.
Chris Bubenik, Buncombe County Recreation Services’ Marketing Generalist, stated, “It couldn’t be easier to run an event with SimpleTix. From setting up our festival to scanning tickets, every step of the process is intuitive. The SimpleTix team also provided personal attention to ensure success. Plus, we were able to receive instant payments instead of waiting weeks for a check.”
The partnership was so successful that Buncombe County intends to work with SimpleTix for additional events throughout the year, as will several other counties in North Carolina.
To learn more about SimpleTix or the company’s capabilities, visit https://www.simpletix.com.
About SimpleTix: Founded in 2008, SimpleTix delivers professional-grade ticketing solutions and an alternative to high-priced, custom e-Ticketing software and outrageous fees charged by cookie-cutter ticketing service providers. SimpleTix delivers a simple, customizable, affordable process with the features and options that today’s venues and event organizers deserve.
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