Hosting a small business grand opening event is a fantastic way to build brand awareness for your company and engage with your local community. After all, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so here are five tips that can help ensure you get attendees there and they become customers.
1) Delay the Grand Opening
There’s no reason you have to have your big grand opening celebration the day you open for business. In fact, it’s helpful for staff members to get to know your products or services and day-to-day operations prior to the event. Holding the event weeks or even a few months after the official opening will also help them become part of your culture and better understand your brand messaging.
This way you can also be assured that it’s an ideal time for it. For instance, you may open your business just in time for the busy season. Depaying your grand opening for when things slow down can ensure you get a revenue boost when you most need it. Host a soft launch when you first open and then host a delayed grand opening at the time of your choice.
2) Ask All Your Staff Members to Participate
Your staff members are often the face of your products or services, so utilize them as brand ambassadors at the event. It’s also an excellent opportunity for team-building and to generate excitement and pride in what you’re selling.
3) Invite Key Members of the Community
It never hurts to hobnob with local officials and other business owners, so don’t be shy about inviting them to attend your grand opening. In addition, you should send invitations to your chamber of commerce and rotary club. It’s a good way to not only further promote the event to their members, but also kick-start a relationship that could be very beneficial in the months and years to come.
4) Generate Buzz
You only have one grand opening, so you should invest money and resources in the event. You may not be able to give away Ultra HD big-screen TVs, but you can use social media to offer other freebies and swag that will appeal to your target audience. And again, take advantage of local resources, such as your chamber of commerce, to help spread the word.
5) Make It Look Like a Party!
You want everyone who walks or drives by your business to be curious about what’s going on, so take the opportunity to welcome everyone with colorful banners, balloons, and offers of free swag to entice them to stop in.
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