Even attending a grand opening can be exciting, so hosting one will almost always be unforgettable. Unfortunately, some grand openings fail to make the desired impression, and that can get a brand-new business off to an unnecessarily slow start.
There are some effective ways to make sure that any grand opening will achieve all the goals that motivated it. Think about the eight issues that follow, and your grand opening should be a smashing success.
- Your Grand Opening Needs to be Truly Grand
Many ostensibly “grand” openings include little more than a chance to meet a new business’s owner and have a look at the facility. If there was ever a time to invest in making a strong, memorable impression, a grand opening must be it.
Serve some delicious food at your grand opening, and visitors will inevitably appreciate it. Companies like Select BBQ Catering Services make it so easy to make the necessary arrangements that there should never be a reason to have a lackluster grand opening.
- Awareness is Important
Even business owners who line up spectacular food, compelling entertainment, and generous giveaways sometimes host grand openings that include few guests. It is always important to make sure that word about your carefully planned, highly attractive grand opening is spreading throughout your community.
Social networks like Facebook are particularly useful to entrepreneurs who are planning grand openings. Building awareness about an upcoming event becomes a lot easier when likes, shares, and other indications of interest can be tallied to gauge progress.
- You Must be Available
It is entirely natural for a business owner to want to control every detail of a grand opening. Succumb to that desire too much, though, and you might end up missing out on opportunities to mingle and connect with visitors. Make sure you arrange for enough help at your grand opening that you will be able to talk freely with those who are generous enough to show up.
- Themes Make Things Easy
Some types of businesses make it easier to plan grand openings than others. Even generally boring sorts of companies can benefit from grand openings guided by fun, interesting themes.
You do not necessarily need to choose a theme for your grand opening that is closely tied to the nature of your business. A theme of local, seasonal, or another type of significance can just as well provide useful direction.
- Have Something For Everyone
Business owners planning grand openings sometimes think about catering to established customer personas and little else. That is a surefire way to host a one-dimensional event that is not as much fun as it should be. Remember that children, spouses, and others are likely to tag along to your grand opening, and make sure they will enjoy themselves as much as your ideal customers.
- Backup Plans Frequently Prove Useful
It is not necessary to rule out every possible threat to a grand opening’s success. Having backup plans in place for particularly important features like entertainment can easily pay off, however.
- Vendors Often Have Helpful Advice
Many new business owners end up becoming first-time event planners with their grand openings. If you have any questions or doubts about a particular issue, asking one of your vendors for some help will often prove useful.
- Every Grand Opening Has a Goal
Most successful grand openings make good times a top priority. It will never make sense to invest scarce resources into a grand opening that has no hope of producing a return for your new business, though. Simply keep the overarching goal of your event in mind at all times, and you will naturally avoid this common trap.
Think about these eight issues, and your grand opening should be a success in every way that matters. A well-planned grand opening can easily contribute crucial early momentum to a new business.