Charlie Harry Francis is the founder of experimental events company Lick Me I’m Delicious. The company specialise in food installations for events centered around their range of fantastical contraptions including the nitro ice cream parlour, edible mist machines and instant logopop machine
Q/ What was the inspiration behind you getting involved in corporate events?
I sort of fell into it to be honest, I grew up on an ice cream farm and I was trying to invent a machine which could make any flavour of ice cream – which was where the nitro ice cream parlour was born – and the business has just grown from there really and we’re constantly adding new things into the mix – we’re working on a portable chocolate factory at the moment and a jellybean waterfall.
Q/ You have a varied client portfolio. Care to name a few? And what do you feel was the defining factor in establishing your relationships?
Google, Sony, Barclays, 3M, John Lewis, London Zoo, all sorts really. Innovation is key for us, clients are always on the look out for something new for their events
Q/ What’s it like working with such big-name clients?
Great, we get to do some pretty awesome events.
Q/ What preparation goes into your service?
We offer a no-stress service for our clients – we take care of everything, so they can just leave us to it and get on with their event.
Q/ How important a role does ‘COOL’ play in events?
haha, no idea. Innovation is key for us though, all our machines and designed and built in house and our edibles (be it chocolate, cream, mist or pops) are made using only the finest ingredients
Q/ How do you prepare for a big event day?
With lots and lots of very boring planning – timesheets, logistic papers, checklists, backups, everything to make sure it all runs smoothly
Q/ What have experienced at any event in the past 12 months that has really got you excited?
I’ve been doing a lot of work with levitation recently, developing machines that can levitate alcohol. That’s been pretty exciting
Q/ What would you like to see happen in the corporate events industry in the next 12 months?
Well for us, I just can’t wait to have our chocolate factory built and out there working at events. And the jellybean waterfall of course. Then we can start working on the 2016 ideas…
@hopelibertym
