GrandOpeningHelp.com

Make the Grand Opening Sale Special

No matter if this is your first or your 100^th store grand opening; people will expert some type of sale.  In fact most store grand openings use sales as a tool to lure in customers, but be creative in your sales marketing and reap profit and create loyal customers.

Many businesses try to discount the entire store thinking this will give them the greatest

exposure and the largest variety of customers.  This works great if you’re a convenience store and not specializing in a horizontal market. If you’re a specialty store, you want to make sure you attract customers who will use the products you’re selling and develop loyal customer base.  Understanding your consumer demographics is as important to your grand opening, as well to the success of your business.

Sale items should be clearly marked and should show savings.  Make it easy for the customer to see the saving you’re offering.  If you offer repair services, show a comparison chart of your rate compared to competitors.

Become creative in your grand opening sales.

• Offer useful products on sale that will brand a particular product or service to your store. The goal is to generate sales, but also create loyal customer base who will retune for future sales.
• Offer discounts on multiple product if purchased the day of the grand opening.
• Offer discounts on related products purchased together - Snow shovel, salt, and door mate reduce greater if purchased together.
• Offer free assembly or delivery on large ticket items, if purchase at grand opening.

Making your store grand opening profitable is not difficult, it just take serious planning.  The sales planning you do now; will pay off in future sales.

Do you know what the best type of Marketing is for your company?

How about a Yellow Pages advert? Pay per click? Maybe some direct mail followed up a telemarketing campaign?

Well whilst each of these are perfectly valid marketing routes and one’s any forward thinking company should at least test the very best type of marketing for all types of business is the type that is FREE!!!

That’s right Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’re working with a tight marketing budget (or indeed with no set marketing budget at all) then you can now get exposure for your product, service or company in the form of PR (or Public Relations).

For large companies PR is big business. They will think nothing of employing staff with the sole intention of getting the name of their company in the media (be it written press, television, radio or online). And because the PR market is seemingly dominated by the larger companies small companies shy away from using PR in their marketing mix.

If this applies to you then good times could well be ahead as PR is a vital part of the marketing mix for smaller companies in particular as they often don’t have the time or money to spend on often expensive advertising or other marketing.

Successful businesses of all sizes use PR to promote their business, build their reputation and become a recognised expert in their particular field. And the beauty of PR is that everyone is an expert in something. And by passing on your expertise in a particular subject in the right way you become newsworthy.

And that is the real secret when it comes to good PR. It has to be interesting and newsworthy. Nobody cares that you’ve just launched a new website or that Mrs Jones in Accounts has just become a Grandmother for the second time (both subjects I’ve seen in press releases and both subjects I’ve seen in journalist’s bins!!). And if you’ve ever attempted PR only not to have it published then I wouldn’t worry too much about it as you’re amongst the 99% of companies who send out PR that isn’t newsworthy or interesting.

Here are a few words on Why PR is important.

Communication lies at the heart of today’s modern society. Be it on the internet, television, pod casts or whatever medium you choose. And with so many firms competing for the same business as you, how do your customers differentiate between you and your competitors?

The answer lies not particularly in the size of your Yellow Pages advert but how you project yourself and what your firm has to offer.

PR has a huge sway in the minds of consumers as the perceived third party endorsement that comes from editorial coverage can be substantial, maybe even more so than advertising that can cost hundreds or thousands of pounds.

PR done well can result in increased exposure, increased business and increased profits. And if you want your business to be the best it can be then becoming good at PR is something you want to do.

And remember, it’s FREE!!!!

This post was submitted by Marketing Buzz.

Trying to figure out what marketing ideas will work and won’t, is always a difficult choice for a business.  Trial and error are how most people start a business while cleaver people do some research and find clever, innovative marketing ideas to help them achieve their financial goals.  Here is a document on Creative Marketing Ideas that can help small businesses improve their marketing along with improving their current marketing positions.

This post was submitted by Dale Obrochta.

Jewel-Osco of Chicago will be having it grand re-opening on November 1, 2008. Magical Balloon-dude performing his kids balloon entertainment form the hours of 11:00-2:00 pm.

Company : Jewl - Osco

Contact Name: Anthony Zuehlke

Email: na@yahoo.com

Event Address: 1224 South Wabash

City, State, Zip: Chicago, IL

Telephone Number: 312-663-4477

This post was submitted by Dale Obrochta.

We would like to invite you to the GRAND OPENING of Bliss Novelty Shop on Saturday October 4, 2008 from Noon to 10pm. Festivities will be located on Court St. between W. Cherry St. and Collier in Troy, Mo. Come join us for live music, karaoke, free food, games, raffles, attendance prize and lots of fun. Hope to see you there!

Company : Bliss

Contact Name: Lisa Sambo

Email: bliss_main@yahoo.com

Event Address: 171 W. Cherry St.

City, State, Zip: Troy, Mo 63379

Telephone Number: 636-462-2520

This post was submitted by Dale.

Grand Opening of 2 great stores located in Algonquin, IL

Grand Opening sales happening Oct 24-26

Company : Toyrs”R” Us

Contact Name: N/A

Email: na@yahoo.com

Event Address: 826 S. Randall Road

City, State, Zip: Algonquin, IL

Telephone Number: 847-458-0439

This post was submitted by Dale Obrochta.

Scents N Stuff Invites you and your friends to celebrate the opening of our new store in Downtown Oak Park!

Please join us for our
Grand Opening
October 11th - 12th from 1pm to 6pm.
1107 Westgate Street
Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone # (708)524-1066

www.scentsnstuff06.com

Company : Scents N Stuff

Contact Name: Toni

Email: scentsnstuff@gmail.com

Event Address: 1107 Westgate Street

City, State, Zip: Oak Park, IL 60707

Telephone Number: 708-524-1066

This post was submitted by Dale.

The Small Business Administration offers a Free Podcast on small businesses topics.  These are free podcast provided in mp3 format for users to download and listen too.  Here are the most current podcast topics:

Getting Started:

Simply click on the podcast icon () to listen to each program.

SBA Programming:

Financing a Small Business
Featuring Jim Hammersley, Director Office of Financial Assistance Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA’s business loan programs provide a key source of financing for viable small business that have a real potential, but may not qualify for loans from traditional sources.
( Transcript )

Patriot Express Initiative
Featuring Bill Elmore, Associate Administrator Veterans’ Business Development
U.S. Small Business Administration
Members of our nation’s military community now have increased opportunities to start
or expand small businesses thanks to the Patriot Express Initiative.
( Transcript )
The SBA’s Long-Term, Fixed-Rate Loan Guaranty Program

Featuring Jim Hammersley, Director
Office of Financial Assistance Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration

SBA’s Certified Development Company (504) loan program provides long-term, fixed-rate loans for small business owners who want to expand their businesses. Learn more about this loan program.

( Transcript )

Check List for Starting a Business

Featuring Wendy Baumann, President
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

How can a prospective entrepreneur know if he or she is ready to start a business? This checklist helps you identify what you need to know and what you need to do to start a small business.

( Transcript )

SBA Programs Support Entrepreneurial Veterans

Featuring Bill Elmore, Associate Administrator
Veterans Business Development
U.S. Small Business Administration

U.S. veterans who want to start or expand their own small businesses can receive assistance including  SBA loan guarantees, management advice and government contracting programs to sell products and services here and overseas.

( Transcript )

Is Entrepreneurship for You?

Featuring Cheryl Mills, Associate Deputy Administrator
Office of Entrepreneurial Development
U.S. Small Business Administration

Each year more than 600,000 new businesses are started in the United States. Many will succeed while others fail. Find out if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur and how training maybe be the key to success.
( Transcript )

The SBA Small Business Training Network—Log On!
Featuring Jim O’Connor, Director
Small Business Training Network
U.S. Small Business Administration

To succeed in business entrepreneurs must stay competitive. An essential ingredient to being competitive is training. Learn how SBA’s online Small Business Training Network—a virtual campus—can help potential and current small business owners start, grow and succeed.
( Transcript )

Selecting a Business That Fits
Lou Davenport
SCORE District Director Eastern Pennsylvania

It is said, the secret to starting a successful business is to “Find a Need and Fill It.” However, starting a business must be pursued for the right reasons or it is destined to fail. It is important that you select a business that blends with your interests, skills and expectations.
( Transcript )

Disaster Preparedness for Business Owners
Lori Adamo
President, Code Red Business Continuity Services

Business disasters can occur at any time and any place. It’s a good idea to have an emergency plan, before the disaster hits.
( Transcript )

Financing a Small Business
Carl Knoblock
District Director, SBA Pittsburgh District Office

Many entrepreneurs lack the financial resources to start or expand a small business themselves, so they seek financing from family, friends, venture capitalists, and small business loans.
( Transcript )

Creating a Business Plan
Don Martin
Business Counselor and Trainer from the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center at Kutztown University

If you are thinking about starting or expanding a small business, having a good business plan may be the difference between success or failure. Learn how to develop a good business plan.
( Transcript )

Making Your Business Plan Work for You
Featuring Ernie Post, Director
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center
Kutztown University
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
A business plan is a tool to help you effectively manage your business. But if your business plan is sitting in a drawer somewhere find out how to put it to work for you.

(Transcript)

1. Define what the press release is going to highlight.
2. Keep it to the point-press releases are no more than one page.  Structure the first ten words of the first paragraph to be the focus of the press release. These ten words are the most important and will determine if the reader continues reading.
3. Write the press release so it is interesting, informative and newsworthy.
4. Print the words “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” in the top left-hand margin in all caps. Follow this line with relevant contact information: name, title, address, phone number, FAX, website URL, email address and event location.   Assume they know nothing about your company.
5. Create a headline, centered, bold type just above the first line of the body of the press release. A headline normally highlights the important, significant or shocking fact in the press release.
6. Create a dateline - the first line of the body of your press release - that includes the city where the release is generated and the date (i.e. Chicago, IL. - March 28, 2008).
7. Begin with a brief description of the news, who is attending–making sure you cover the who, what, why, when and where.
8. Center these marks, ” # # #” at the bottom of the page to indicate the end of your release.
9. Wrap up the last paragraph with a “for additional information” line, a place to find more details at and give the URL to link to more PR information.
10. Ask yourself, “Do they have all the information?” Make it as easy as possible for media representatives to reproduce this information and make sure you have enough substance to issue a press release.

Click here for press release templates and examples

The Woodhouse Day Spa cordially invites you to our Grand Opening September 20th. Spa Tours will be held 4:00pm-6:00pm. Cocktails and Hor d’oeuvres will be served 6:00pm-8:00pm. 20% of the nights proceeds will benefit The Valerie Fund. The Valerie Fund supports children with cancer and blood disorders.

Company : Woodhouse Day Spa

Email: montclair@woodhousespas.com

Event Address: 56 South Park Street

City, State, Zip: Montclair, NJ 07042

Telephone Number: 973-509-8488

This post was submitted by Dale Obrochta.