A healthcare grand opening event where a groundbreaking took place for a new healthcare facility

How to Have a Successful Grand Opening Event

Are you launching a new business venture? Expanding your reach by opening an additional location? If so, one way you can get the word out is by throwing a grand opening event. It’s an excellent way to generate enthusiasm for your business and build a healthy relationship with your community. However, the process and strategy to throw an extraordinary event should not be overlooked. ON Advertising’s event planning team has helped hundreds of businesses turn grand opening ideas into reality. That is why we’ve listed a few things to consider when throwing this type of event.

The Type of Grand Opening You Throw Is Dependent on Your Industry

Just about every business can throw their own celebration to honor their big opening. But, depending on the industry you serve it may look different from events in other industries. For example:

  • Retail: Typically, grand openings give the public a chance to interact with the retail space, i.e. engage with employees, products, and services. Activities may include ribbon cuttings, giveaways, and special promotions
  • Hospitality: Similar to retail, businesses in the hospitality industry will work to bring consumers into the location. ON Advertising has helped set up activities involving groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and mix and mingles with food and drink
  • Real Estate: One of the most important goals of a grand opening event for real estate firms is to attract potential tenants and investors. A common practice for this industry is to conduct a press exclusive event, meaning members of the press get first access to the property so they can spread the word on its features. This helps leverage potential tenants and investors to seek the property out to see if it fits their needs
  • Healthcare: When it comes to opening new healthcare facilities, it’s important to create buzz around the property. This involves a mix of press coverage, social media, and even partnerships with local businesses and non-profit organizations. 

Set Goals for the Grand Opening Event

Before planning an event it’s critical to set measurable goals, such as getting a certain number of contact information or reaching specific sales numbers. Additionally, planning out intangible goals, like raising brand awareness, are an important factor in a grand opening event. Hence why partnering with an event planner is important. They will be able to assist you in developing goals that are attainable and offers ways you can reach them.

Plan As Early As Possible

Grand opening events require a lot of time and attention to detail for them to work. Depending on the size of the event, you could be working with several vendors to create an enjoyable atmosphere for guests. For example, if it’s an outside event, you’ll need to book a venue as soon as possible because they typically fill up quickly. Furthermore, coordinating with catering crews, parking staff, security, and other vendors can be a lengthy process. 

Before The Event, Establish and Maintain a Presence in the Area

If your location is under construction before your business’s launch, it’s critical to make your presence known long before the lights are turned on. This may involve “Coming soon” signage and sharing flyers, brochures, and business cards to people in the area. Sharing details such as the date of the grand opening, details on the event itself, and what to expect from the business can create excitement for community members. 

When planning a grand opening it’s important to use marketing resources to establish your presence in the area. In addition to flyers and coming soon signs, you can use other advertising methods to bring awareness to your event and business.

  • Radio
  • TV
  • Direct Mail 
  • Social Media
  • Email marketing

Work Out the Kinks Before The Big Day

This is the first impression many people will have with your business, so it’s important to make their experience as positive as possible. To ensure your grand opening goes off without a hitch, you need to get your ducks in a row. The time for trial and error is not during your grand opening. With this in mind, make sure your employees are trained for business and your vendors are prepared weeks in advance to entertain and serve your guests. 

ON Advertising’s Event Planning Team Assists in Grand Opening Events

Our team has been involved in just about every type of event imaginable. We’ve assisted in small networking events to large grand opening celebrations. We develop strategies and concepts from scratch to ensure your event runs smoothly and your goals are met. Contact us today and learn how our event planning team can assist in your events. 

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