Ideas to do on shop opening day?

[stacks]

I have a new home interiors shop opening on 11th July and need some inspiration!

I'm doing flyers throughout the village and surrounding areas with a 10% discount for the opening weekend but any other good ideas out to drum up some interest and make people aware?

Obviously I want the place buzzing that weekend to give it a good kick start.

 

[Fergus]

Maybe some sort of competition,where everyone that purchases something gets a raffle ticket ? to win a cool prize or so much to spend in shop ?

 

[ryansrs1]

How about asking the local radio station to pop down and do a live broadcast (though may be a bit late to sort now).

See if you can get a local celeb to come along, like a football,rugby, boxing star etc?

Freebies for first 100 customers (you decide) as people like freebies and also offer a discount on 1st day orders.

Advertise on local media-paper/radio

Keep leafleting-though in target areas and near where shop is.

Dress up in fancy dress to attract attention on day of launch and leaflet-though not too cheesy.


Cheers

j

 

[ginantonic]

I presume you are doing the usual glass of (cheapish!) bubbly and nibbles for all visitors? Or coffee/tea? Have you invited the local paper? If there are any painters & decorators in the area, invite them, both of you would benefit from some collaboration. On the actual day, have friends/staff/family outside and in the immediate area handing out leaflets and having a chat. Create a party atmosphere and hope the weather holds out...

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

11th of July = Saturday.
Saturday = families & kids.

Clown.

Keep the wee blighters entertained whilst mum and dad have a good browse in pease.

 

[avantime]

Balloons but not just for the opening. A friend of mine puts balloons out once a month on a Saturday - always a busier day!!!

 

[bronzey]

I provide balloon artistry for events and we have done a number of shop openings, we normally do a huge arch way over the front of the door in the colours that the company use, also we litter the store wit balloons.

Do you drive? if so, then you could put posters inside your car or ask friends and family.

 

[stevemac]

As has already been mentioned, get in touch with your local newspaper. You may be able to get some free publicity, story, interview, pictures, etc printed.

 

[MH1]

The best way to really get a buzz is to ahve what appears to be a wonderful amazing offer, ie £100 step ladders for £15, to the first five customer, decorating kit for £2 for the first 20 clients etc.

As long as it has a high perceived value and is an in demand item you should open to a huge que on the day, maybe the first 50 tins of paint for £5 instead of £15,99 etc.

 

[apeebles]

Go for the fun factor and be bright and bold. Window graphics, balloons and entertainment will help. I'd certainly think about an advert in the local paper to try to build up some coverage.....

 

[OutsideCreative]

have a local celebrity turn up and get it in the newspaper!

 

[stacks]

thanks for the ideas! Going to get onto some of the papers today and I know there are a couple of well known faces in the village so I'll see if I can track them down to do the opening.

 

[OutsideCreative]

I definately think you need to have a website in place too! check me out and see if I can be of service

 

[RobAtPressDispensary]

Local newspapers vary from town to town. Some will cover business stories but many (like my local paper) will generally only cover a business story if it's a genuinely big story in the town (which a shop opening is not, I'm afraid) or if there's something in it for the paper.

You can decide whether your paper will cover your opening by looking back at what else they've recently covered. If it looks unlikely but you still want local press coverage you need to give the paper a story, money or the chance to increase readership. Generally you can do this by

• bringing in a celebrity (entertainment or sports) for a photo op (the story option)
• paying for a half page or page advertorial and use the space to look as much like the rest of the paper as possible, with a write up and photos - this is probably cheaper than bringing in a celeb and should not be dismissed: it's sometimes not as costly as people expect (though you do need to think about the cost of the writing and photographer, and decide whether to use the paper's or hire your own) (the money option)
• Run a competition or discount in conjunction with the paper. The key to getting press coverage from a competition or discount is to speak to the paper and collaborate with it, so that the paper can promote it as a free giveaway (or whatever) to its readers. Normally you won't have to pay the paper anything but the paper will probably insist on a minimum spend on prizes or gifts, so that it doesn't lose credibility with readers by promoting something that in the end only turns out to be worth a few tens of pounds (the something-in-it-for-the-paper option).

I hope this helps. If you'd like professional help with approaching the paper about advertorial or a promotion, do IM me or give me a call on 0845 430 4433.

Rob
Press Dispensary