What are your best ideas for a small retail business GRAND OPENING EVENT?
December 24, 2009 by
Filed under Ideas for Business Events
My local retial store will be hosting a grand opening in the next month and I need some creative ideas. I’m sick of the whole bounce house and hot dogs idea – I want something new and unique. What are the best things you have seen and best attended events you have held?
THANKS
Here are a few ideas that work:
- Do joint ventures with local merchants / retail stores in your immediate area. Print up coupons and place them at the stores in your area. For instance: A pizza place had a coupon for 10% off at the dry cleaners next door and the dry cleaners had a coupon for buy 1 large pizza get a 2nd one for free.
This type of JV / Cross promotional can drive a lot of traffic to your grand opening.
- Offer the usual prizes to those that attend. Have a tiered structure of prizes:
1st place: Ipod
2nd place: $25 gift card
3rd place: Coffee mug or something like that.
Don’t forget to have a supply of giveaways like pens, pencils, coloring books (for the kids), small inexpensive promotional products are always a good choice.
- Check your local area to see if their are any clowns for hire. It sounds funny, but a clown draws a crowd. Include plenty of balloons (helium filled).
Turn it into an “Event.” A celebration. Instead of going with hot dogs go with popcorn – it’s always a hit.
- Most importantly…think about what you want to achieve with your grand opening: introduction to your store, sales, etc.
Good luck & Press on to Success!
http://www.custom-business-promotional-products.com
contact your local radio station and see if you can get them to do a remote at your locale. We did one for about $300 and it was well worth it. Have a few free drawings and have a good grand prize drawing if you purchase something. Try to get a couple local bands to perform for free advertising while the radio station is there. Get a couple of nearby retailers involved as well, make it a street celabration or street sidewalk sale, etc. Try your local cable station as well, see if they’ll stop by for a neighborhood plug.