What are your best ideas for a small retail business GRAND OPENING EVENT?

My local retial store will be hosting a grand opening in the next month and I need some creative ideas. I'm sick of the whole bounce house and hot dogs idea - I want something new and unique. What are the best things you have seen and best attended events you have held?

THANKS

contact your local radio station and see if you can get them to do a remote at your locale. We did one for about $300 and it was well worth it. Have a few free drawings and have a good grand prize drawing if you purchase something. Try to get a couple local bands to perform for free advertising while the radio station is there. Get a couple of nearby retailers involved as well, make it a street celabration or street sidewalk sale, etc. Try your local cable station as well, see if they'll stop by for a neighborhood plug.

Here are a few ideas that work:

- Do joint ventures with local merchants / retail stores in your immediate area. Print up coupons and place them at the stores in your area. For instance: A pizza place had a coupon for 10% off at the dry cleaners next door and the dry cleaners had a coupon for buy 1 large pizza get a 2nd one for free.

This type of JV / Cross promotional can drive a lot of traffic to your grand opening.

- Offer the usual prizes to those that attend. Have a tiered structure of prizes:

1st place: Ipod
2nd place: $25 gift card
3rd place: Coffee mug or something like that.

Don't forget to have a supply of giveaways like pens, pencils, coloring books (for the kids), small inexpensive promotional products are always a good choice.

- Check your local area to see if their are any clowns for hire. It sounds funny, but a clown draws a crowd. Include plenty of balloons (helium filled).

Turn it into an "Event." A celebration. Instead of going with hot dogs go with popcorn - it's always a hit.

- Most importantly...think about what you want to achieve with your grand opening: introduction to your store, sales, etc.

Good luck & Press on to Success!

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