Grand opening plans are very important since this event will help you drive those initial customers to your business. Their positive word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can have, so you'll want to make sure the event gives customers a very positive impression.

There are lots of things you can do to make your grand opening plan successful. Three that are tried and true are the following:

1. Provide an incentive for customers to come in during your grand opening celebration.

2. Involve the local media in your event to attract more people.

3. Seek assistance from a grand opening planner.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Think of incentives to offer during grand opening event planning

If your grand opening plan is just to stick a grand opening sign on the door and wait, it's unlikely customers will be streaming in by the dozens. However, if you plan special events for the day, or even for an entire week -- such as money-saving offers, contests and refreshments -- you may have trouble keeping them away. This is especially true if you distribute fliers throughout the neighborhood, including at other businesses, beforehand.

I recommend: Read the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce's page on how to plan a grand opening. It gives advice on what to offer your potential customers as well as how to reach them in the two months prior to your event. Also, if your business is a restaurant, read MonkeyDish's article on special incentives you can try.

Solicit press coverage while you plan a grand opening event

The best publicity is often the talk that comes with creative grand opening event planning. Tipping off the local news media can help you get that buzz started. A lot of people are more likely to pay attention to their local news anchor or favorite columnist than to a piece of direct mail or a flier posted on a mailbox.

I recommend: Go to Mondo Times and find the names and contact information for all of your local media outlets. Call the broadcast stations' tip lines, or their general phone numbers, and give them the information about your event, making it sound as exciting and newsworthy as possible. Then send press releases to the local papers. If you're not sure how to write a press release, visit PublicityInsider from Stoller and Bard Communications for instructions.

Work with a PR company when planning a grand opening event

Grand opening planning, for beginners, can be difficult. You're often not sure what will work and what won't and you may worry about going over budget. A public relations company can help you stay focused and ultimately accomplish your goals. It can even serve as a de facto grand opening planner.

I recommend: Check out 1-800 Great Ad's grand opening packages. They can provide anything from hot air balloons to giant dinosaurs, as well as consulting help. Then visit Senter and Associates' website. The marketing company offers free advice for small businesses and can also work with you directly for a fee.

Planning a grand opening event isn't as easy as it may seem. This event is, in essence, a marketing tool, and you'll need to use your PR skills to attract as many potential customers to your opening as you possibly can.

The goal of grand opening event planning is to ensure that you have all your bases covered as far as advertising, food, activities and any entertainment you want to have at the event. Make sure that what you plan is professional and communicates your company's vision. This is the first marketing event of your business's fiscal life, so you need to make the most of it.

1. Think about what types of things would complement your business when you plan a grand opening event. For example, an upscale clothing boutique might want to serve nice hors d'oeuvres and champagne, decorate with fresh flowers and offer private VIP fittings.

2. Ensure that you advertise the event correctly so prospective customers will know to come check you out. Planning a grand opening is pointless if nobody shows up.

3. Consider all the grand opening planning resources you can find. This includes PR firms, event planners and supply vendors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Enlist the help of a grand opening event planner

Grand opening planning services range from full-service to bare basics. Some firms will arrange literally everything for your grand opening, from the food to the advertising to the activities of the event itself, while some just advise you as to how best to plan the opening and then direct you to reputable vendors.

I recommend: Find a PR event planner in your area by searching at Gathering Guide. Select your state to view local event planners at Corporate Event Channel.

Incorporate banners and accessories into your grand opening plans

The atmosphere of your grand opening should be festive. After all, you're celebrating the opening of your business and welcoming future customers. Keep the decor and activities in line with what your company promotes and remember that this event should reinforce the brand you're trying to build.

I recommend: Customize a banner for your opening at BuildASign.com. Make use of giant scissors during your ribbon-cutting ceremony; you can find a nice selection at Golden Openings. Roll out the red carpet to kick off your grand opening with a customized carpet and backdrop from Red Carpet Runway.

Let everyone know that you're planning a grand opening

Your event will only be a success if people show up, so promoting it is critical. There are a number of ways you can do this, depending on your budget.

I recommend: Check into the cost of using a mobile billboard through National Mobile Billboards. Get a professional press kit created for your company by KMR Communications and send it to local publications to announce your new business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you plan a grand opening, make use of all the free publicity you can get. Create a press release to send to the papers and invite reporters to attend the event and write a review.

Planning an office grand opening event is a smart marketing strategy. It provides an excellent opportunity to advertise your business and get the word out about what merchandise or services you have to offer.

Consider the following resources and information about grand opening planning, supplies and equipment, and hiring a professional event planner:

1. Estimate the budget constraints before beginning to plan a grand opening event.

2. Decide on a tone and/or theme to help you make choices about the supplies and equipment necessary for the event.

3. Save money when planning a grand opening event by renting equipment instead of purchasing all the supplies you need.

4. Hire a professional who has experience with event planning for grand opening and other corporate functions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the budget for executing your grand opening plan

You need to create a budget before planning a grand opening to help you prioritize. Knowing how much you are comfortable spending on the event will aide you in making decisions about which supplies and equipment options best fit your needs.

I recommend: TheGreatEvent.com has a complete budget planner you can print and use as a guide for creating the budget for your grand opening. Thatsawrapper.com features a drink calculator to help you more accurately determine how big your beverage supply needs to be in order to accommodate all your guests.

Set the mood for grand opening planning by choosing a relevant theme

Selecting a theme will help focus the grand opening plans to ease supply and equipment decisions as well as help you deliver a marketing presentation for your business that has purpose.

I recommend: PartyPOP.com has several unique theme ideas to help you put together a memorable grand opening event. Amazing Parties offers a huge selection of event themes to choose from to make your grand opening a success.

Realize party rental companies are excellent grand opening planning resources

Rental companies can significantly reduce the cost of your grand opening planning. Supplies and equipment are probably not a good investment anyway, if you will not need to use them again in the near future.

I recommend: Clowns Unlimited has tents, tables and chairs, sound systems, light shows, concessions and a lot more available to rent for your next corporate event. BestPartyEver.com provides you with comprehensive suggestions for some important questions to ask a party rental company before contracting their services.

Consider hiring a professional grand opening event planner

Delegating the planning responsibilities to an event coordinator gives you the time to relax and enjoy your opening. It also makes the process very convenient, as the overwhelming majority of corporate event and grand opening planning services furnish all of the necessary supplies and equipment on top of doing all the work.

I recommend: Corporate Special Events Network will completely plan your grand opening from start to finish and provide absolutely all the necessary supplies and equipment required to accommodate the event. This includes theme staging props and decorum, as well as food and beverage utensils and accessories. MyPartyPlanner.com connects you with event coordinators and planners in your own state.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Event planning software is another option to consider using for your grand opening event planning to help you stay organized and on schedule.

Planning a grand opening for your business is a great way to introduce your new operations to the community and entice new customers. Before you start your planning, get a firm grasp on some key terms associated with grand opening planning. Grand opening events include many elements, such as budget planning and ribbon cutting with ceremonial scissors. It is also important to know how to get people to come to your grand opening through a grand opening press release, grand opening invitations and grand opening flags to draw a crowd.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Budget planning

Budget planning is a very important part of any event, and maybe more so with grand opening events, since a grand opening event is the first event you will spend money on as a new business. Budget planning involves a delicate balance aimed to get everything that is needed to produce an exceptional event for the allotted amount of money.

I recommend: Event Solutions explores the budget planning process in detail including some things that should be included.

Ribbon cutting

A grand opening ceremony is not complete without a symbolic ribbon cutting. A ribbon cutting employs the use of a large, exaggerated ribbon with your company name or logo on it that you or your special guests cut to symbolize the opening of your business.

I recommend: To learn how ribbon cutting can make your grand opening special, check out Conetta Designs.

Ceremonial scissors

In order to complete your ribbon cutting moment, use ceremonial scissors. Ceremonial scissors are over sized scissors that are used to cut your grand opening ribbon. They can be printed with your company name and logo to show up in pictures, and they make great gifts for your special guest who help you cut your ribbon.

I recommend: Golden Openings gives information on ceremonial scissors including sizes and printing information to ensure your name or logo will show up in pictures.

Press release

A grand opening press release is an important element of your grand opening planning. This free promotional tool is a short write up containing the most important information regarding your grand opening event that you give to the press so that they can promote the event through their outlets to get people to attend your grand opening event.

I recommend: To find out how a grand opening press release will help you market your event, and to learn how to write a grand opening press release, visit GrandOpeningHelp.com.

Invitations

It is important to invite people to your grand opening by sending out grand opening invitations. Grand opening invitations or grand opening announcements let your potential guests know that you are open and want them to be the first people to view your new business.

I recommend: Kamyra in Print offers an explanation on how you can impress your potential guests with grand opening invitations, including some sample grand opening invitations for you to view.

Flag

Draw attention to your grand opening and maybe entice some local people to come with a grand opening flag. Grand opening flags are made to withstand all weather and can be seen from afar so that you can attract people to your location.

I recommend: Explore how grand opening flags can help you draw a crowd to your grand opening at Flagline.com.