What is a grand opening?

A grand opening is a social event that is intended to introduce the community to a new business. It can include a party, refreshments or special pricing. In addition to grand openings, many restaurants use a technique called a "soft opening" to invite special guests to try their cuisine before the general public.

How do you plan a grand opening for your business?

• Create a marketing strategy. Decide who your audience is, what you want to tell them, which channels you’ll use, refine your brad voice and solidify your content ideas.

• Start spreading the word sooner rather than later. Six weeks prior to launch is a good time to start rolling your marketing plan. This gives you enough time to build buzz, create relationships, and generate a following.

• Upload clear signage. Update your web site to say “Grand opening” along with the date clearly on every page. Promote any sales and giveaways and how long they’ll last (24 hours, first 100 customers etc.)

• Host a giveaway. You could offer a limited number of prizes for your first however many attendees or raffle off a higher value item such as a weekend getaway.

• Have an exclusive sale. Who can pass up a good deal? If you’re offering items people want and you can successfully get on their radar, then your grand opening sale will be packed. With enough promotion, you can generate a good deal of excitement and attract steady crowds, which will draw passersby as well.

• Create a branded hashtag. Chances are that some of your guests will be avid social media users. Create a hashtag specific to your event that your guests can use online to tag their posts about your grand opening. This will come in handy when you follow up with your audience after the event.

Why are grand openings important?

Grand openings are important because they help attract new customers, generate buzz, gain media attention and create goodwill with neighboring businesses.