Congratulations! You have made it through the 20-hour work days, sleepless nights, unexpected pipe bursts, and countless piles of paperwork. Now you’re ready to showcase all of your hard work with an epic celebration for your new or expanding business. Check out these grand opening ideas and planning tips that are sure to draw in new and returning customers.
Types of Grand Openings
While there are facets to all types of grand openings that will be the same across the board, each type of opening will also have its own unique aspects, so it’s important to plan accordingly to host a successful grand opening.
Store Openings
When you’re planning a store opening, make sure to focus on your products or services and any big grand opening sales you may be having! If it’s in your budget use social media influencers (they may even post in exchange for some product) to share sneak peeks, spread the word, and generate buzz around the big day.
Restaurant Openings
Restaurant grand openings are always exciting because, well, there’s food involved. It’s best to start with a soft opening to ensure all necessary systems are in place and effective. When that goes as planned, it’s time for the big event. Consider inviting local artists or musicians to display their artwork or perform to attract their fans and supporters from the local community to your grand opening day.
Rebranding
A rebranding is just as important as a grand opening and is one of the biggest special events you’ll host as a business. This is your chance to reinvent your brand and send your new message into the world. Make sure you have plenty of new brand merch to give out at the big reveal, and create social media and blog posts that create buzz. Explain the reasons behind the rebrand, give a look at the process, and tell customers what it means for your business going forward.
Product Launch
A product launch party may not be the same thing as a rebranding or grand opening event, but it’s still a milestone for your small business. A product launch can revitalize your business and add a whole new customer base, so you will want to make sure to publicize it as much as possible. Advertise a launch countdown on your social media pages, and consider creating a contest to incentivize shares.
🆕 You might also like: Essential Tips for a Successful Launch Party
When to plan your grand opening
When making your grand opening plan, the timing will depend greatly on when you are ready to open. However, it can be helpful to try and time it for a certain season or even day of the week to optimize your visibility and attendance.
A spring or fall opening lends itself to outdoor activities, so if you want to have a larger celebration this time of year may be best so you can accommodate a larger crowd.
It may seem like the weekend is the best time to have a big celebration, but consider launching a new product or having a soft opening in the middle of the week. This will allow a few days to build excitement and remind your audience about your new business or product.
Who should come to a grand opening
If everything goes to plan, there will be lots of community members and maybe even other local businesses who want to attend your grand opening. But before the big event, you start with something smaller. Any new restaurant or bar will host a soft opening, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to get some practice in for retail stores or big product launches.
A soft opening is usually invitation-only and meant primarily for family and friends. You know, the type of crowd who will appreciate your efforts and be patient with any hiccups. This is your chance to make sure all your ducks are in a row, that all systems are running smoothly, and to make any last-minute changes.
Once you’ve worked out all the kinks with the soft opening, it’s time to open it up to the masses. Invite the whole community via your social media accounts, and if it’s in your budget consider paying to boost ads to reach a wider audience.
Things to do at a grand opening
There is so much planning that goes into a successful grand opening, but here are a few things to make sure you don’t overlook when organizing for the big day!
Decorate the space
Although your business is in pristine condition before it has opened, it is always impressive to add extra details for your grand opening. Add streamers and balloons to give the space a celebratory field. Put any new merch or special sale items on display near the entrance.
And, of course, don’t forget to add a ribbon-cutting ceremony! Grab those big scissors and prepare your speech to officially launch your new endeavor.
Treat your customers
Any good party needs refreshments, and that’s especially true for a grand opening. Hire a caterer to prepare simple foods that aren’t messy like bite-size hors d’oeuvres and a spread of crisp mini sandwiches. You could even rent a food truck to set up outside for a more casual affair.
You may want to plan for a few beverage options, depending on your clientele. For a family-friendly event, serve an assortment of water, soda, and punch. And maybe some beer and wine for the adults. If you’re hosting a more lavish cocktail party, book a bartender to serve up special cocktails themed around your new business.
Provide some entertainment
While the features of your new business or product will be the main attraction at your grand opening party, it can be good to have a little something extra that draws people in and keeps them hanging around.
If you think kiddos will be coming, hire a face painter or balloon twister to keep them engaged. You could also do strolling entertainment like magicians or jugglers to shock and amaze your guests. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with live music, so a singing guitarist or DJ could create a wonderful ambiance.
Document your success
Get proof of your successful grand opening event by hiring a photographer to capture photos of the new space, your products, and the customers enjoying everything. You can use the images on your website and for marketing, newsletters, and social media. You could even frame your favorite shots as decoration.
Let your customers get in on the action as well with a fun photo booth. Professional photo booth companies can create branded frames for the pictures that have your new branding and logo on them. Many can even allow the guests to share straight to social media which is great exposure for your business!
Don’t forget to have some fun and meet as many new clients as you can. This is a wonderful time and something to be proud of, so take your time and plan a grand opening that will not only start your business on the path to success but will also highlight your place in the community. 🙌
Book something awesome for your grand opening or product launch! Find the best musicians, performers, and services on GigSalad.
Sonia is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad and uses the knowledge she’s gained from helping both the vendor and client through the booking process to give her best event planning advice. When she’s not at work she enjoys the outdoors, a good book, trying new recipes, and spending quality time with her husband and their furbabies.