What to Consider When Scheduling a Grand Opening
From new restaurants and swim schools to remodeled convenience stores, Largemouth excels in executing successful grand openings for its clients. In our experience, we’ve learned that when it comes to planning and logistics, there are several things to consider for scheduling grand opening events.
Timing is Key
A lot rides on throwing the perfect kick-off for a new business. Grand openings can be derailed by even the smallest of details. To make sure your event goes off without a hitch, keep these tips and best practices top of mind when setting the date and time for your grand opening:
- Scan for competing events. Before setting the date of your grand opening, be sure to review local event calendars, such as Eventful.com, to see when events are already happening in your area. Be wary of concerts, sporting events, festivals or competing grand openings that could minimize your event’s attendance on a certain day.
- Consider your audience. It’s important to think about the people you’re aiming to attract and their schedules. For instance, if you’re targeting students, make sure your grand opening doesn’t conflict with school hours or popular extracurricular activities.
- Check key dignitaries’ schedules. To garner attention for your business, it helps to invite prominent public figures, like the town mayor, to participate in grand opening festivities, including ribbon cutting ceremonies. You’ll want to avoid overlapping with other events, such as town council meetings, so connect with dignitary contacts to determine their availability.
- Consult with partners. Communicate with any vendors, cause partners or organizations you’d like to attend your grand opening celebration. Work to align your event around their calendars.
- Identify best times for media attendance. Inviting media to attend your grand opening is great way to spread the word about a new business. Plan your event with their busy schedules in mind. For instance, 10 a.m. on a weekday may be less hectic than 5 p.m. for a weekday evening anchor.
Scheduling a grand opening event is all about finding the best day and time to appeal to your audience and constituents. By following these tips and best practices, you’ll be able to cross-reference availability across different parties to determine the right time to kick off your new business.
