Plan → Prep → Execute → Review

How Events Work

Four phases. One platform. Every collection event — from first flyer to final report — runs on data instead of guesswork.

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Four Phases to Better Events

Every collection event follows the same lifecycle. Circular gives you the tools and data for each phase.

Phase 01

Set the Foundation

Define your event details and build your marketing strategy. With Grow, start every season with last year's data — so you're planning from proof, not guesswork.

Event Setup in Minutes

Date, location, materials accepted, capacity limits, staffing needs. One form, fully configured in about 15 minutes.

Year-Over-Year Intelligence

Grow

Grow subscribers start every planning cycle with last season's performance — attendance trends, saturation rates, material volumes, channel ROI, and demographic breakdowns. Plan new targets based on what actually happened.

Marketing Campaign with Tracked Links

Auto-generated promotional links for every channel — email, social, flyers, your website. Each link carries attribution so you know what drives signups.

Capacity & Eligibility Rules

Set registration limits, geofence eligibility by zip code, and configure material-specific caps. The system enforces the rules so your team doesn't have to.

From First Flyer to Final Report

Here's what a collection event looks like when every phase is connected.

Plan4–6 weeks before event

Create your event, set materials and capacity, configure eligibility rules, and generate tracked promotional links for every marketing channel. With Grow, start planning with last season's performance data — attendance trends, saturation, and channel ROI — so every new event builds on what you already know.

PrepWeeks before event

Registrations flow in and your operational picture sharpens. Real-time counts drive staffing decisions, truck allocation, and supply orders. Channel attribution shows what's working. Early warning alerts give you days — not hours — to adjust resources and outreach.

ExecuteEvent day

Digital check-in by name search or car count — whatever fits your operation. Material volumes tracked in real time. Walk-ins captured on-site. Your live dashboard shows the event unfolding as it happens.

ReviewWithin 7 days

Automated reports with verified attendance, material volumes, and channel ROI. Post-event surveys capture participant satisfaction and feedback. With Grow, data is retained permanently — compare seasons, track saturation, and feed insights back into your next Plan phase.

Spreadsheets vs. a System

Most collection programs run on disconnected tools. Here's what changes when the whole lifecycle is connected.

The Old Way

  • Google Form → spreadsheet → manual email
  • No idea how many cars to expect — guess on trucks, staff, boxes
  • Paper sign-in sheets on event day
  • Reports built by hand, weeks later
  • No channel attribution, no cost-per-household
  • No participant feedback — no idea what residents thought
  • Every event starts from scratch — no historical data

With Circular

  • Registration → reminders → check-in → reports, all connected
  • Right-size trucks, boxes, staff from real registration data
  • Digital check-in or car counts — your choice
  • Auto-generated reports within 7 days
  • Channel attribution and cost-per-household built in
  • Post-event surveys — know what residents actually thought
  • Year-over-year benchmarks that compound

Run Events. Or Build a Program.

Core gives you everything to run great events. Grow turns event data into long-term program intelligence.

Core

Everything you need to run a data-driven event.

  • Event setup, registration, check-in
  • Material tracking & post-event reports
  • Channel attribution & cost-per-household
  • Automated confirmations & reminders

90-day data window. Export your data anytime. After 90 days, detailed records move offline to save resources. Summary data stays accessible.

Recommended

Grow

Everything in Core — plus the data that compounds.

  • Permanent data retention — nothing expires
  • Year-over-year benchmarks — Spring '25 vs '24
  • Rich demographics — geographic, household-level insights
  • Saturation analysis — know when a market is tapped
  • Predictive targets — plan smarter events every season

Data that compounds. Every event adds to your historical baseline. Plan next season from proof, not guesswork.

~15 min
to set up an event
<60s
resident registration
7 days
to post-event reports
150+
events managed

Common Questions

"If you're not running events this way, you're leaving data — and dollars — on the table."

Ready to Run Better Events?

See how Circular can work for your collection program. No commitment, no long sales process — just a conversation about what you need.