Grand Opening plans... need help

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JbNormandog

JbNormandog

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Hi all,

I am getting ready for my grand opening of a new location. We are doing a group grand opening with 2 other conected shops.

What I have done so far....

printed balloons with logo and contact info (for kids)

Mayor and Council President are scheduled to cut

Newspapers and tv have been confirmed

Door drawing cards for attendees info& email

Food is still being thought about, I would like to do a crosss promo with a local sweet shop

Banner ordered

Ribbon bought

Helium ordered

Going to email customers and family

Flyers at all the local businesses



What else am I missing.

I read a great post by Jeff that got the ball rolling for me and I am probably missing a bunch of stuff.

What do you think, what did you do?

Thanks,

Bob
 
Congrats, sounds great for you!

Looks like you have it covered. I'll just throw out something that we did that people liked... We purchased several cases of Larson Juhl glass cleaner. They have an open space on the can where your store sticker looks good. Around the cap of the can we taped color printouts of our store info with a coupon for the Grand Opening special. We gave out the cans to people who said that they had something to frame and would be back. We also give out the cans minus the coupon but with a 3M microfiber cloth to people who buy museum glass.
 
Grey Owl said:
Do you need to contact the police for crowd control - based on your plans, you may have lots of people...
Click to expand...


I am thinking we will either get 5 or 5000. We will find out soon.


Bob
 
Congratulations, Bob! You've got to be doing lots of somethings right.

The only thing I can think of is some small promotional items that have your name of them....I used ink pens when I opened...three years later people still ask for them (whether I have them on the counter or not). It keeps my phone number in their hand.

Besides that, do a few gift certificates as door prizes.

I took a peek at your website...and that's looking really nice, too. I loved the commercial!
 
press releases to radio tv newspaper to try to get pre-event publicity.
 
Wine. We simply bought 2 boxes (yes I said boxes) and put it into karafs. They were drinking it at 10 A.M. and several even asked about the wine brand because they enjoyed it.

$12 per 5 liter box.
 
Thanks all.

Jeff I can honestly say that I didn't think grand openings were such a big deal before I read your experience.

You have converted me and I have been over thinking this thing ever since.

Thanks for the advice everybody!


Bob
 
JbNormandog said:
Thanks all.

Jeff I can honestly say that I didn't think grand openings were such a big deal before I read your experience.

You have converted me and I have been over thinking this thing ever since.

Thanks for the advice everybody!


Bob
Click to expand...

I hope you get a huge crowd. The news media has been really playing up any positive economic news they can get their hands on lately. I had some sort of sale going for every item we sell and they were different percentages on each item based on my profit margins.

Mention the wine in you invitation as many will pop in to look around while drinking a glass or two. Also ask all those you invite to bring their friends and family members as well. I still have customers that apologize for not making it because they were out of town, etc.
 
Get a few of your closest friends and family to commit to dragging people in. The way to pack a benefit dinner event for example is to have people sponsor tables and then they look bad if their table is empty. This is a time honored strategy that could be adapted to your situation.

Have your friends and family be personally responsible for bringing in say seven or eight people each. Give them a prize if they make it. This takes the issue beyond the step of "tell everyone you know," and lets them support you with more that just their own attendance.

Good luck. Also, music draws people. Have a nice low key band play a set and then you're having a celebration.
 
I just went to a grand opening for a photographer's new studio. He had a ton of food from burgers & dogs to fresh fruit and veggies. The big hit with the kids was a balloon artist. This guy did so much more then the simple dog or swords. He made my one daughter a Koala bear on a palm tree. He also had a face painter for the kids.

If you could find someone to do silhouettes, I think you would have a hit and some additional frame sales. A character artist would also be fun.
 
Good luck and congratulations.

Just a thought; if you know a friendly photographer who would take pictures of children (or whatever), right next to your photo frame special? Might generate some extra frame orders.
Maybe invite a local artist doing some quick sketches?

Have fun! Hope you'll get tons of people.
 
consider a huge grand opening prize drawing to draw them in....like a$500 gift certificate for framing or whatever stuff you have in the shop....with the economy like it is people will jump at a chance to register for any free thingy, and you will have a good turnout that you camn milk with pr even after the event...like an article on who won etc.
 
congrats!! hope you have beautiful weather

what Dick C said about press release----PRE- celebration coverage(it's called whetting their appetites!)---VERY VERY important


also important ----do not look to JUST your immediate city----make sure you're draw includes the surrounding communities(like anything within 20mi???)

lol
 
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