Move Over Lovebox: Disgruntled Commuters Caught Out by Tube Strike get Treated to Perkbox 'Queue Fest', London's First Ever Festival for Queuers

LONDON, August 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

• Impromptu event organised by employee benefits company Perkbox set out to bring entertainment and cheer to stressed out commuters  
• Mellow operatic performances of Nessum Dorma, stand-up comedy, ballet and paranormal magic form exclusive line-up of acts for bus queuers 
• London Bridge bus stand decked out as stage with Selfie photo booth with props on hand for queuing entertainment 

Peeved commuters inconvenienced by the tube strikes today were this morning treated to what is believed to be London's first ever impromptu 'festival for queuers'.

Aptly dubbed Queue Fest and organised by Perkbox (http://www.perkbox.co.uk), a new online employee benefits service that specialises in workplace 'team happiness', the festival saw disgruntled commuters placated by the operatic sounds of Nessum Dorma performed by glamorous duo Eden, paranormal tricks by mind reader Marc Spelmann, acerbic travel-woe related comedy by London stand-up Christian Lee and pliés and pirouettes performed by ballet act The Ensemble.

Buttercream cupcakes, lollies and stress balls were also gifted to a scrum of some 2,000 commuters queuing at a packed London Bridge bus stand near the station, with the shelter even fitted out with a selfie photobooth complete with props including hats, moustaches and spectacles, to help liven up the challenging queuing experience.  

Saurav Chopra, Perkbox's CEO and founder comments: "Queuing at the best of times will test the resolve and patience of even the most laid back folk. Compounded by the tube strike, millions of commuters will be negotiating tough crowds in order to get into work today. We thought that by organising London's first ever Queue Fest - a festival for queuers - we could diffuse some of the tension, get commuters to enjoy the wait a little and even smile a little too! We're all in the same boat, endeavouring to get to a particular destination at a particular time in order to do our job, and it's easy to forget that, individually, we're not the only ones affected by this. We wanted to create an uplifting occasion out of an enforced inconvenience and bring a little cheer to the day. Londoners should be bonding with their fellow commuters especially at a time like this, so hopefully our Queue Fest has helped melt some of that icy reserve and encouraged people to understand that maybe the best things in life really do come to those who wait a little."

Perkbox, which launched earlier this year, enables all businesses - including startups and SMEs - especially those within sectors normally blighted by high staff turnover and low morale, to offer perks and rewards previously only afforded by larger corporations.

The company was set up on the belief that offering rewards and incentives makes an important contribution in helping all businesses retain a talented, motivated, loyal and contented workforce. Perkbox is backed by some heavyweight investors including Alex Chesterman, co-founder of LOVEFILM and property finding site Zoopla.

Commuters who share their Queue Fest experience on social media and tag Perkbox will also be gifted with a free Perkbox account, enabling them exclusive membership discounts on spa days, meals out and cinema tickets as well as everyday essentials such as travel fares and grocery shopping.

Follow Perkbox on Twitter using the @Perkbox handle and the hashtag #QueueFest, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

LINKS TO IMAGES: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vaq9fmkpjmf52bs/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival01.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ea8cnacuqly66u7/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival02.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/izoae9z0d0aafk3/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival03.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l01wommqto15c0e/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival04.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/076rxh6xu1fhbhy/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival05.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3hnovodtgzyi737/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival06.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3i4u73m0unl023t/PERKBOX%20-%20Tube%20Strike%20Queue%20Festival07.JPG?dl=0

NOTES TO EDITORS 

ABOUT PERKBOX 

Perkbox is an online platform for startups and SMEs, which gives employers and employees a range of great perks - from discounted gym memberships and 2-for-1 meals to exclusive deals on tech brands and savings on childcare.

Perkbox is the sister company of Huddlebuy Ltd (http://www.huddlebuy.co.uk), the UK's largest benefits provider for startups and small businesses. The Huddlebuy service helps businesses grow by offering handpicked business deals from trusted brands with offers covering financial, marketing, business, technology and telecoms, education and e-learning products, alongside personal and recreational perks.

Perkbox was set up after Huddlebuy's business customers expressed an interest in passing on these business and personal perks onto their employees. Perkbox is therefore the definitive and dedicated employee benefits service for all businesses big and small.

As well as easy online redemption of perks on desktop and via smartphone app, Perkbox members also receive a seasonal surprise 'Perkbox' box stuffed with treats and free goodies delivered straight to offices.

Perkbox was set up with the belief that the best companies to work for look after their teams. The most successful businesses are comprised of people who are engaged, satisfied and loyal. Providing perks helps build stronger teams and incentivises workers to aspire to greatness.

Until recently, only large corporations could afford to pay for employee perks. Perkbox's easy and wholly customised offering allows SMEs to reward and incentivise their growing team with perks that help build a happy work culture with an investment in line with their budgets.

Perkbox is a new platform created by Huddlebuy, a parent venture that helps small businesses grow by offering handpicked business deals across financial, marketing, business, technology, telecoms, education and e-learning products.

ABOUT HUDDLEBUY 

Huddlebuy is the UK's largest benefits provider for startups and small businesses, helping them grow by offering handpicked business deals from trusted brands with offers covering financial, marketing, business, technology and telecoms, education and e-learning products, alongside personal perks including gym membership, discounted cinema tickets and exclusive meal deals redeemable at thousands of popular UK restaurants nationwide.  

Since launch in 2011, Huddlebuy has reached one million small businesses monthly through its SMB partner channels and over 216,000 UK small businesses have signed up to receive Huddlebuy's deals, helping them save approximately £11.6m.  

For more information, visit http://www.huddlebuy.co.uk

For more information about Perkbox, or for interviews with Perkbox founders Saurav Chopra and Chieu Cao, contact:

Andrea San Pedro, Director, ASP PR: +44-(0)7970-468982

For more information on pricing and packages available, contact:

perks@huddlebuy.co.uk, tel: +44-(0)20-8396-6812