The 3 P’s to Maximizing Your Grand Opening
Whether it’s your first store or fiftieth, a well-planned and successfully-executed grand opening is key to a fast start for sales and can set the momentum for weeks and months to come. To ensure a well-attended event and maximize your grand opening success, remember the “3 P’s”:
Planning: Lay the Groundwork
Start planning as early as possible, keeping in mind your local media could need up to 2 months notice to get your event into local calendars.
- Schedule a date. Ideally, plan for 2-3 weeks after opening to allow time for employees to become familiar with procedures and to work out any kinks.
- Brainstorm details. Decide what kind of grand opening you will have – formal and elegant with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and local dignitaries or a casual family-friendly event with snacks? Determine an itinerary of activities or entertainment.
- Set a budget. Remember to contact your local Chamber of Commerce and other area businesses for help planning your grand opening. Often times they will offer free or inexpensive promotions or support.
- Finalize the guest list. Put together a list of who you’d like to invite, including potential customers, officials and staff from your local Chambers of Commerce, local government leaders, business colleagues, other community business owners and the media.
Promotion: Spread the Word
Again, the sooner the better – and the more frequent. Post regular updates and reminders on social media, email or even on your front door.
- Send invitations. A personal invitation sent to your guest list via mail or email not only reinforces your brand, but also your professionalism. Follow up with a personal phone call to confirm and guarantee attendance.
- Maximize visibility. Use a mix of signage to really draw attendance, including window signs, outdoor pole banners, vehicle wraps and more. (Make sure you check with your local government for regulations regarding ADA signage.)
- Offer incentives. Give your community a reason to come. Offer discounts or free consultations for potential customers to better learn about your products and services. Reward anyone who “likes” you on Facebook with a coupon.
Publicity: Garner Positive Press
Effective publicity will not only boost your reputation within the community, but also maximize the success of your grand opening.
- Before the event: Send out a general press release announcing the details of your grand opening. Target specific news reporters, radio stations and TV stations to distribute a media advisory encouraging them to come out for the grand opening.
- During the event: Introduce yourself to any press that may attend. Make sure they know you are available for quotes, photos or any questions they may have. A simple “thank you” is appropriate since they will be covering the event.
- After the event: Send a follow up press release about the grand opening, including who attended, event announcements or details and a photo.
While at first this may be overwhelming for a new business owner just remember there are many organizations rooting for your success, including your local Signs By Tomorrow. Good luck!
5 Ways to Design a Better Construction Site Sign
If you are a facilities or property manager, you probably deal with construction on a regular basis. And you may consider the signs that go hand-in-hand with a construction site a necessary evil. But why not stop and think of them as marketing tools? Here are 5 ways you can make your next construction site sign work for you.
1. Think big. Generate awareness and create interest for your properties with large outdoor signs that clearly and concisely inform visitors and passersby who you are, what you have to offer, why you are better than your competitors and how and when to contact you.
2. Brand your business. Don’t go with a boring online template every other place in town uses. Integrate your brand and company’s unique logo, colors, icons and even messaging into a custom sign that reinforces your brand.
3. Be specific. Provide a clear call to action that directs customers to exactly where you want them to go (in person or online) to buy or lease space.
4. Track results. Just like with any marketing initiative, you should track a sign’s effectiveness to better align future efforts. Set up a mechanism like a QR code, dedicated website landing page or verbal “how did you hear about us?” that allows you to monitor outcomes.
5. Don’t forget interior signage. Signs can be a great way to address interior facilities projects as well, from hiding unsightly work to redirecting visitors to avoid work areas.
At Signs By Tomorrow, we design, produce and install all types of architectural, construction and building development signage and messaging that often serve as the first impression to your potential customers, clients, or tenants. Call or email us today to find out more and put your construction site signs to work for you.
Real Estate Signage and Yard Signs – “Beyond Stakes and Open Houses”
Latest Trends in Real Estate Signage
Seemingly as long as people have been selling properties, realtors have been pounding “For Sale” signs on stakes in the front lawn and flying balloons to promote open houses.
But thanks to today’s new graphics and signage materials, there are more options than ever to call attention to your residential and commercial sale properties while reinforcing your brand.
Take for instance feather banners.
Leasing Feather Banners
You see them popping up in front of commercial properties but why not consider using these attractive visual signage aids to generate attention for your next open house? Easy to set up and store, reusable and durable, these can be a great option to lead prospective buyers to the front door.
Other creative and attention-getting options for real estate signs and graphics include:
- Full color outdoor custom banners that can be hung from the front of the property
- Custom interior graphics are perfect to call attention to unique features and areas in model homes
- Freestanding custom A-frames signs and stands are also easy to transport, are reusable and are available in a wide variety of sizes and materials to fit any budget
- Retractable outdoor banner stands can be brought in and quickly set up for an open house then removed for inhabited properties
- Custom vehicle graphics and wraps turn your car into a moving billboard that you can use to drive traffic to your website, where potential buyers often start
Remember the signage and graphics materials you choose do more than just impact how much attention a property receives from interested buyers. They can also have a direct reflection on you or your realty firm. So turn to the signage experts at Signs By Tomorrow who can develop a custom signage and graphics package that can help change your next real estate property from “For Sale” to “Sold”!
