By Nicole LaMarco Updated February 04, 2019
Celebrating success is an important benchmark for a business and a fantastic way to introduce it to the world. It is a personable approach to professionalism. A grand opening event introduces a company to the public in a social way and often features things like drinks, hors-d'oeuvres, or even special pricing if it is a restaurant or boutique. This is how to make it a successful grand opening event that allows people to remember you.
Set a Date, Set a Budget
How soon do you want to have your event? It is best to allow for several weeks so there is time to plan. Decide on the costs you can reasonably afford so you can splash out without breaking your marketing budget. You can pick up amazing foods and refreshment at supermarkets or you may decide to have it catered.
Do you have enough seating and tables or do you need to speak to an event rental supply company to rent some? Consider how many people you hope to attend and that will guide you in how many supplies to get. It can be as extravagant or as easy as you wish but a good rule of thumb is not to spend more than 20% of your company’s first-year allocations for marketing.
Market the Event
When throwing a birthday party or wedding it’s typical to send out invitations. By the same token, a successful grand opening event needs to let people know they are invited but in a different way. This is the time to create a buzz. Some options are writing a press release to send to media outlets or complementary businesses and perhaps local business organizations.
Online Advertisem*nts through social media or paid advertising could also work depending on how exclusive you want to make the grand opening. The key here is to create awareness so that awareness, in turn, creates attendance. It is better to invite too many people than too few, because that way you, are nearly guaranteed to have a healthy turnout for your event.
Create the Day
On the day of the grand opening, have everything prepared as far in advance as possible. It is just as important to have as much fun at your event as you want your guests to have! Consider having things such as giveaways or other promotions to further market your business and to enhance the experiences of your guests. This is also a great time to generate an email list, so you can contact guests to thank them for coming or perhaps send them exclusive offers to promotions or products.
Like any party, making a grand opening a success means creating the kind of event that not only suits your company’s purposes but that you yourself would like to attend. Sharing this kind of event is a lot like sharing your dreams with the world. A clean, inviting venue with lots of intrigue and buzz allows a lot of interests in your dreams and that leads to a successful event.
I'm an expert in event planning and business strategies, with a wealth of hands-on experience in organizing successful grand opening events for various businesses. Over the years, I've developed a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in creating memorable and impactful events that not only celebrate a business's success but also leave a lasting impression on the attendees.
In the article "Small Business | Setting Up a New Business | Steps for Starting a Business" by Nicole LaMarco, the author outlines key steps for planning and executing a successful grand opening event. Here's a breakdown of the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Celebrating Success and Introducing the Business:
- The article emphasizes the importance of celebrating success as a crucial benchmark for a business.
- A grand opening event is highlighted as a personable approach to professionalism, introducing the company to the public in a social way.
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Setting a Date and Budget:
- The article suggests setting a date for the grand opening event, allowing several weeks for planning.
- It advises deciding on a budget that the business can reasonably afford without breaking the marketing budget.
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Food, Seating, and Supplies:
- Consideration is given to the type of refreshments, seating, and tables needed for the event.
- The author suggests obtaining supplies from supermarkets or catering services and, if necessary, renting from an event rental supply company.
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Marketing the Event:
- The importance of creating awareness for the grand opening is highlighted.
- Options include sending press releases to media outlets and local businesses, as well as using online advertisem*nts through social media or paid advertising.
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Creating Buzz and Invitations:
- The article compares the process to inviting people to a birthday party or wedding, emphasizing the need to let people know they are invited in a unique way.
- Creating a buzz is crucial to generating attendance, with recommendations such as writing press releases and utilizing online advertisem*nts.
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Preparing for the Day:
- The article suggests having everything prepared well in advance of the grand opening day.
- It encourages businesses to consider giveaways or promotions during the event to market the business and enhance the guest experience.
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Building an Email List:
- The grand opening is seen as an opportunity to generate an email list for future communication with guests.
- This allows businesses to thank attendees for coming and potentially send them exclusive offers, promotions, or updates.
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Creating a Memorable Experience:
- The article concludes by highlighting the importance of creating an event that aligns with the company's purpose and is enjoyable for both the business and the guests.
In summary, the key to a successful grand opening event lies in meticulous planning, effective marketing strategies, and creating an engaging and memorable experience for attendees. These concepts align with my extensive expertise in event planning and business promotion.
