| Excitement is in the air! The store's windows are | | | | cow outside your store? The sign might read "Keep |
| covered in paper. That's a sure sign that a new | | | | Mooooving along...for great bargains!" Any large |
| business is soon to open. | | | | graphic will be a traffic-stopper. The goal is to catch |
| Whether you open your new business on a | | | | the attention of the public. |
| shoe-string budget or spend a lot of money - the | | | | Does your storefront have a big window? |
| key to success is in the grand opening plan. Just | | | | Create a wonderful vignette that tells a story - |
| remember that the plan should have two goals - | | | | preferably about your business. Or for the grand |
| firstly, to increase the flow of traffic and introduce | | | | opening, you could have a "live" model. The big |
| potential customers to your product and service and | | | | merchants do this, you can too. Is there an artist in |
| secondly, to heighten awareness and create a buzz. | | | | the family? Ask your artist friend if they would like |
| Buzz! There's that word again. Why is it so important | | | | to promote their art in the window. What about |
| to create a buzz when you open a new business? | | | | staging a huge branch of a tree, large enough that |
| The answer lies in the timing. This is the perfect | | | | you could hang product from the branches. Or what |
| opportunity to attract some free publicity and | | | | about asking a photographer friend to snap photos |
| excitement. Customers are attracted to new | | | | while positioned inside the window display. Submit the |
| businesses as they are curious, and they will publicize | | | | photos to the local newspaper with a creative press |
| your business to their family and friends. A successful | | | | release and generate some publicity. |
| grand opening can generate financial rewards and help | | | | Hold a colour sale! |
| finance that costly start-up. And you will succeed in | | | | What are your store's colours? Are they blue and |
| announcing to the business community that you have | | | | yellow? Then hold a blue and yellow sale! Announce |
| arrived and are open for business. | | | | that everything blue and yellow in the store is |
| So how do you "wow the crowd?" It's important to | | | | discounted. Decorate with blue and yellow balloons |
| plan a grand opening around some unique and fun | | | | and streamers from the ceiling - in fact, cover the |
| ideas that will distinguish your business from others. | | | | ceiling with blue and yellow balloons. How about a blue |
| Unique enough that customers start talking about | | | | and yellow gumball machine on the counter by the |
| your business, and unique enough that the media's | | | | cash register? |
| curiousity is piqued. Just remember that the unique | | | | Hold a Sneak Preview |
| idea should fit the business. | | | | Send out invitations to family, friends, the local media, |
| It isn't difficult to generate ideas - you just have to | | | | and the chamber of commerce and invite them to a |
| allow time for the ideas to flourish. Ask friends and | | | | special preview of your grand opening. Hold the gala |
| family for ideas, brainstorm, and read marketing | | | | event after hours and serve wine and cheese. Think |
| books. You don't have to duplicate the suggestions, | | | | about promoting a local trio for entertainment. That |
| only expand on them and make them fit your | | | | will surely impress the crowd. You might want to |
| business. Here are some ideas or "seeds": | | | | invite one of your suppliers or designers as a special |
| Balloon Arch | | | | guest. Ensure that you greet all your guests and |
| I once asked the business across the street from | | | | welcome them. You should have press packages |
| my store if she would be interested in creating a | | | | ready for the media. You can also have a product |
| unique balloon creation for my store. The owner of | | | | display as the main centerpiece of the room, or you |
| the party store had just completed a balloon course | | | | could have an informal fashion show. |
| and agreed to create an "arch" of balloons that | | | | You don't have to have a big marketing budget to |
| spanned the street from her business to mine. Talk | | | | generate fun and unique ideas. You can distinguish |
| about traffic stopping! Literally! | | | | yourself from the crowd on a low budget. Just |
| A Row of Chairs (or other items) | | | | remember to "wow the crowd." Customers will talk |
| How about lining up a row of chairs outside your | | | | about your business for the next few months. You'll |
| storefront? Have a sign printed that states | | | | generate some free publicity and impress the |
| "Everyone is lining up for our grand opening." | | | | business community. That should sustain your |
| Black and White Graphics | | | | business until you promote the next "traffic stopper! |
| Why not position a large cardboard or pressboard | | | | |