Here is our list of the best grand opening ideas for businesses.
Grand opening ideas for businesses are activities and events a business can host to let the public know the company is now offering services or products. Businesses hold these events to market the company to potential customers while solidifying the business’s place in the industry. Examples include celebrity performances, open mic, mega ballot giveaways, and buy-one-get-one-free offers. The purpose of these activities is to announce the business’s entry into the market and get clients to try the products and services the company offers.
One of the top event planning tips is hosting a grand opening for your business. These marketing events can have corporate event themes or can be virtual events. Be sure to offer corporate swag as part of your marketing gift strategy.
This list includes:
- unique grand opening ideas
- opening event ideas
- grand opening promotion ideas
- grand opening giveaway ideas
Let’s get to it!
List of grand opening ideas for businesses
A grand opening is a significant step for business and an excellent way for companies to announce an entry into the market. There are several business ideas for businesses, and choosing the right one will mean researching and weighing several factors. However, when planning, researching, and preparing, it helps to have a list of choices to explore. Here is a list of some top grand opening ideas and events.
1. Dance Event
An easy way for businesses to have a grand opening is to incorporate a public dance event. The company can hire professional dancers who will spend most of the day dancing to various music outside the business. Good dancing will surely attract customers, even those without plans to visit the company site. The dancers should wear decorative clothing, preferably with the business’s details. These dancers can also give out fliers and other small merch items to passersby. A company using a dance event should try to decorate the front of the building and make it appealing to clients.
2. Celebrity Performance
A celebrity performance is an excellent way to open a business to clients. Having a local or national celebrity perform at a business’s grand opening will attract fans who can learn about the company’s offers. For celebrity performances, businesses can look for any famous individual within the community. Companies can survey the potential audience to see which celebrities are more in tune with the target crowd. A celebrity performance can be expensive but worth the amount. Companies must be meticulous in the day and time the celebrity will perform to attract the largest audience possible.
3. Online Journey Video
An online journey video of the birth, development, growth, process, and completion of the business idea and location can fall under the unique grand opening ideas. Companies can create a detailed journey video that tells a beautiful story in parts or long forms. For this idea, a business must keep regular images and videos of every significant step of the business development and idea completion. Once a creative video is ready to share online, the firm should establish a catchy hashtag related to the company. This hashtag will encourage viewers to share the video, giving your brand more visibility.
4. Live Music or DJ
A good idea for a grand opening is live music. A live band from the community or a DJ can play music all day to attract attention to the business. However, firms should take caution when playing loud music. Not every location will permit all-day loud music, and some places may only allow loud music to play within specified hours. A business should check with the local authorities before choosing this option. If the business location has no restrictions, then companies can get a DJ to compile a range of modern popular music to attract the desired crowd.
5. Open Mic
Businesses can consider an open mic or karaoke event to attract clients. This event option can be a competition that allows customers to try and win a prize. The open mic grand opening works great for businesses in small communities. An open mic event should last multiple days to attract as many clients as possible. For a company to get the most out of an open mic event, consider having the grand opening during the evenings and running into the night. This timeframe will encourage groups to gather for fun and socializing.
6. Social Media Accounts
Using social media accounts is an effective method to reach a large crowd of potential customers. However, this method will require the company to open social media accounts and promote the grand opening before or on the event day. The business will need to develop a content and marketing strategy for the accounts and possibly dedicate a worker to managing and growing them. You can even partner with agencies and companies that offer social media account growth and management.
7. Mega Ballot Giveaways
A business can host a mega ballot giveaway as a grand opening event. The event will consist of a mega prize and a countdown time. The company can limit the participants to customers visiting the business within the first few days or two weeks of opening the business. Customers will have a chance to leave a filled-out raffle ticket in a ballot box. At the end of the event, the company will pick out a name from the shuffled ballot box, and whoever’s name emerges will win the mega prize. The business can also offer consolation or participatory gifts to thank those who patronized the company during the grand opening.
8. Limited Offer Vouchers
Vouchers are a popular option for new businesses, and they are a great addition to your grand opening strategy. These vouchers can be for free or reduced-price services within the company or with local partners and businesses. Vouchers typically have a limited offer and time feature for one or two special services. Companies should ensure clients know the terms and conditions of these vouchers and how to enjoy the full benefits.
9. Long-Term Coupon Giveaways
When it comes to grand opening promotion ideas, offering coupons is a popular option. Businesses will need to print out coupons for the occasion. The coupons should offer several unique services for an extended period, preferably around three months. The coupon could be for a special discount, service, or feature. The business will share this coupon with any client patronizing during the grand opening service. Companies can choose to make the coupon a one-time or multi-use offer. This coupon should be unique to the grand opening event and should not be for other subsequent functions. The coupons should also have a clearly defined expiration date to ensure clients know how long the offer lasts.
10. Limited Discounted Offers
A limited discount for all goods or services within a business can be a fantastic grand opening idea. Companies can offer a mass percentage cut for as long as the grand opening event happens. For a business to attract many clients, giving up to 20 percent discount and not more than 60 percent will ensure clients do not feel the event is a sales activity. A company can also offer limited discounts for a specific section of goods and services.
11. Limited Gifts
Offering gifts after every purchase will bring in clients. The gift can be a single item or a gift pack. Businesses should have rules on how customers can get these gifts. For a firm to maximize this opportunity, offering swag items as gifts can improve advertising while keeping clients happy. A company can develop unique promotional items clients will love and use.
12. Buy-One-Get-One-Free Offers
The buy-one-get-one-free feature is popular for businesses planning a grand opening. The concept is a feature where clients pay for one product but leave with two. Most clients offer this deal for a short period, just enough to attract clients to try the products or services of the business. A buy-one-get-one-free event is one of the top grand opening giveaway ideas. A company will usually explore this option alongside other activities.
13. Games and Prizes
The grand opening for businesses can be a fun event with various on-site games and winning prizes. The games and prizes should be relevant to the business service or product to attract players. Businesses may also consider giving family-friendly or couple-friendly games and prizes for companies relevant to these niches.
Examples of these games include:
- a stationary claw machine
- password guess
- spin the wheel
- trivia
- super punch games
- shoot the hoops
These games need to be easy, simple, and fun with an elaborate alarm or noise. Winning players will receive a prize. If possible, the business should brand every game prize or give out their own products to winners.
14. Red Carpet
For a grand opening event, a business can host a red-carpet event for customers. The event can include a formal introduction to the company, team, and owner as well as an overview of services and products. The business can even offer showcases and samples of the services and products available. However, the day’s highlight should be a red-carpet event that allows customers to dress up and mingle. Holding this event in the evening is ideal, and the business should share an open invitation to all members of the public. At this event, companies can fill in on potential client details, build email lists, and get more folks to follow their social media pages.
15. Local Business Partnerships
Opening event ideas can also include local business partnerships. These partnerships can be between new or older businesses in the community. Companies that can get on the good side of neighboring firms can quickly build a client base. Local partnerships can be as little as sharing a coupon for each other’s company. Partnerships can also be significant events, such as a partner-hosted game or a community-wide charity and sponsorship. Businesses looking to connect to the root of any location can consider a local partnership and include other mini-events and activities in the company’s grand opening.
16. Modern Media Advertising
Modern media advertising is undoubtedly an excellent way to begin a business. Creating catchy, entertaining, and detailed modern media adverts for a grand opening can reach more folks quickly. Modern media includes social media platforms, blogs, influencer pages, YouTube, podcasts, and online advertising agencies. These current media sites help businesses narrow down which audience the firm is interested in and target the desired crowd. Modern media advertising has many rules, so companies should contact experts to ensure the adverts come out well. Businesses should also choose popular channels for the critical task because specific platforms favor certain types of ads, companies, products, and services.
17. Email List
One grand opening idea is to send an email showing details about the business and its operations and services. A new business can buy email lists for this purpose. Many companies and agencies sell a list of emails of potential leads to businesses that want to send bulk messages. The good side to this type of event is that companies can reach many folks at once and gain a lot of clients. However, the downsides include messages falling under spam, several recipients ignoring the message altogether, and not reaching the desired target audience. Despite that, email lists are still a useful tool, especially for a partnership business. With a partnership with local clients, a company can use the partner’s email or SMS list and offer a promo for the partner and their business.
18. Press Release
A traditional press release is still one of the most viable opening event ideas. Businesses can get an in-house writer or commission a freelance writer to draft a detailed press release. Some news outlets might agree to write the press release themselves. A business should choose a news site that connects to the desired audience and has a broad reach and reader base. A written press release on a notable news site can result in an excellent opening for any industry. Firms should ensure that the press release covers all of the significant points of the company.
19. Fliers and Billboards
Businesses can use fliers, banners, and billboards for advertising traditionally. Although conventional advertising only reaches a limited number of viewers, this method can still be a powerful tool. Businesses should ensure that the designs of fliers, banners, and billboards are excellent and attractive. Companies should keep details to the bare minimum without forgetting the essentials.
20. Party and Multi-Event
Businesses can have a grand opening party that includes free meals, drinks, and product or service advertising. The party can be open to the public or select individuals handpicked from the crowd of potential clients. The firm should offer a lot of entertainment and freebies. A company can also consider a multi-event that may last a few days and include various daily activities. The function can have a final closing day with a grand prize winning. This option will give businesses enough time to reach many locals and advertise the company to the crowd.
21. Community-Interest Event
If you are considering grand opening promotion ideas, then hosting and promoting a community-interest event is a great activity. The business will need to do a lot of research to see what local or community events attract more of the business’s target audience and work to sponsor, host, or promote the function. Hosting this activity while opening the company can be a great way to connect with locals. The business space can be the center for promoting the event. For sponsoring or hosting a community-interest event, a business can brand the event with a logo or slogan. Companies should give out merch or product samples to improve advertising and encourage patronage.
22. Mascot
A simple and easy grand opening idea is using a business mascot to attract clients. The mascot can be a live entertainer with a spirited performance. The mascot can also be a humanized animal or object. As a whole, the mascot can visually represent the brand and serve as an ambassador for the company’s products or services.
23. Banner
Businesses can place the banner in a strategic location outside the building. The area should be such that attendees can see the grand opening sign from any angle. Businesses can keep the banners for a very long time, even after the grand opening, since these options are excellent in advertising and bringing in clients.
Conclusion
Choosing a grand opening idea requires a lot of planning and preparation. This event is a business’s one shot to introduce itself. If possible, a trial run or soft launch before the main launch is a great way to try out the grand opening idea with a select crowd before opening up to the public. Firms should also consider the financial cost of every event idea and ensure that planning for emergencies and unforeseen situations occurs. In every case, companies must get on the good side of the community and neighboring businesses, as these neighbors can be helpful in the future.
Next, check out these promotional product companies that can make high-end swag for your event attendees.
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