A grand opening is a great way to create interest for your new small business. Whether your business is online, hybrid, or in-person, a grand opening drums up a lot of interest. However, you want to make sure your first initial marketing and advertising stands out, which is why your grand opening ideas are so important.
What grand opening ideas are the strongest? How do you maximize your exposure to make sure your grand opening for your small business is as successful as possible? You only launch once, so keep reading to learn the best grand opening ideas.
1. Start with a Soft Launch
First, it’s normal to feel anxious before launching your small business. A soft launch is one of the best ways to ease this stress, letting you get a feel for running your new business without the same pressure. A soft launch is a way to taste the waters by inviting friends, family, and members of the community to try your business.
Not only can your team practice with customers, but you can request some honest feedback. Making improvements based on this feedback gives you room to grow before the big launch day. This is a grand opening idea that pays off!
2. Offer Free Samples
Next, one of the best grand opening ideas is to offer free samples to your new customers. Everyone loves free stuff, and there are a lot of low-cost samples that have a big pay off. Not only can you give away swag related to your company like stickers or postcards, but you can also give a bit of a taste of your business.
Consider what types of free samples are a good fit for your business. If you’re a nail salon, for example, you could offer a free basic nail trim and polish. Look at ways to offer a great experience that don’t cost a lot of money, and focus on this as part of your grand opening plan.
3. Create a Special Discount
Another way to increase the hype around your business is to offer a special discount. This is a great alternative if it doesn’t make sense to give things away for free. Create special catalogues, postcards, or door hangers offering a special discount. For local businesses, this is a great way to drum up increased foot traffic.
When you create a special discount, people are more likely to give a new product or service a try. This is especially true if you’re in a competitive market. A reported 93% of US shoppers use discounts and offers as important factors when deciding which retailer or brand to purchase from.
4. Invite Influencers
Everyone can identify influencers and leaders in your community who inspire others. These are people who seem to always know the latest-and-greatest thing in their industry or community. Not only can they spread the word, but they can build trust within your company. Who counts as an influencer?
Local celebrity
Journalists
News anchors
Bloggers
Business leaders
When you invite influencers, send them a nice invitation and include them in the daily activities. They can be a part of the action, sharing their experience with their own followers.
5. Don’t Underestimate Snail Mail
Last but not least, don’t underestimate the power of snail mail. One of the best grand opening ideas is to make sure your audience actually knows about your business. If you have an in-person business, people might not know to find it unless you tell them. The same is true for online businesses.
Contrary to popular belief, snail mail is not dead. This is a great way to get your audience’s attention, especially since it’s not something your customers see every day. Sending invitations to a grand opening event, a special mail discount, or even just a greeting can go a long way. Better yet, snail mail is affordable and accessible compared to other forms of print marketing.
Plan Your Grand Opening
Ultimately, your grand opening is a chance to make a strong first impression. You can only have one gran opening, so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity. Before you begin, consider these grand opening ideas above. Which make the most for your business?
It’s important to have a strategy for your grand opening if you want it to be a success. The customer experience matters more than ever. How will yours stand out?