Ribbon Cuttings & Grand Openings

Congratulations! Are you planning a grand opening or ribbon cutting ceremony? The Village of Plain City is here to assist you in celebrating this special occasion! A grand opening ceremony holds great significance in a business's marketing and advertising plan and serves as an excellent way to kick off an exciting new journey. It also provides an opportunity to connect with key community leaders, meet your neighbors, and engage potential customers.

To be eligible for our support, your business must meet the following criteria:

The business has opened its doors within the last 6 months.
The business has recently changed ownership or is now under new management.
The business has relocated to a new location.
The business has completed a remodel or expansion project.

Please note that the Village may choose not to participate in an event if the business has not satisfactorily completed all necessary project requirements, permits, fees, etc.

The Village of Plain City is excited to assist you in planning a successful grand opening event for your business. Here is a breakdown of the responsibilities:

Village Responsibilities:

The Village will bring "giant" scissors and ribbon to the event.
The Village will coordinate with Village leadership to ensure their presence.
The Village will extend invitations to local media, although coverage cannot be guaranteed.
The Village will deliver remarks during the event, if desired.
The Village will draft and distribute a press release following the event.
The Village will promote the event on its social media accounts, including generating graphics, if desired.
The Village will take informal photos during the event, including of the ribbon cutting.
As a courtesy, the Village will invite the Madison and Union County Chambers of Commerce. If your business is a member of either Chamber, we recommend utilizing their services for planning and organizing the event.

Business Responsibilities:

The Business should notify the Village at least 30 days prior to its intended event. While Village will work hard to accommodate the scheduling preferences of businesses, we must also consider the availability of staff and Village officials. Ideally, it is best to work with the Village before selecting your date.
We recommend Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday because these dates have been shown to result in the highest attendance. We also recommend late afternoon (3:00 PM or 4:00 PM) because more people are able to attend by ending their workday early. Avoid booking events near major holidays, on weekends, or during other busy periods.
The Business should arrange for a professional photographer, if desired.
The Business should arrange for hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and giveaways, if desired.
The Business should send invitations and announcements to anyone they wish to include on their special day.
The Business should email the Village a paragraph or press release about the event no later than two weeks prior to the event.

REMEMBER: This celebration is all about your business! Don't forget to invite your partners, vendors, customers, family, and friends! Generate excitement by sharing your event online.

Businesses or organizations interested in holding a ribbon cutting or grand opening ceremony with the Village need to submit an application. This will ensure the availability of Village leaders and staff. Completed applications can be submitted to the Development Services Department by email or in person at the Municipal Building.

GRAND OPENING FORM

A grand opening ceremony serves as an important event to mark a major milestone for your business. To maximize this unique opportunity to spread the word about your business and attract customers, below are some helpful tips and suggestions.

DECIDE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW:

Who: Decide who you want there and who you would like to speak at the event. Does the owner want to make remarks to inspire the staff or engage the community to want to visit the business again? Generate an attendee list that you will use for sending out invitations. Invite neighboring businesses, vendors, family, and friends to attend.
What: Determine what you want the ceremony to be. For example, are you holding a happy hour social with refreshments and drinks for attendees? The more engaging your event is, the more likely people will want to come back.
When: Determine when you want to hold your event. We recommend late afternoons on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Having your event later in the day allows other business owners to complete most of their workday prior to attending. This time also prevents attendees from having to rush back to other commitments.
Where: Grand opening events are most often held at the place of business because it gets people to your location to learn about your services. Because this is a photo and marketing opportunity, you also need to decide where the best place is to take the ribbon-cutting ceremony photo and who you would like to be included in the photo.
How: Send out invitations a couple of weeks in advance with an explanation of what you are celebrating, where it will be held, the specific time of the ribbon cutting, as well as any special guests or speakers. Include an RSVP request so that guests who plan to attend will notify you. This is especially important if you are serving refreshments so you can plan accordingly.
Develop a Program: Consider creating and printing a program to distribute at the event. Include welcome and introductions, speeches, ribbon-cutting, recognition of contributors, and closing. Find a heartfelt way to thank everyone who worked hard to bring the project to fruition!
Plan a Short Speech: Take a moment to plan what you would like to say during the event. This is your opportunity to tell attendees what you would like communicated about your business, as well as who to recognize for your success.
Offer Perks: To effectively promote your business, consider incorporating coupons, discounts, giveaways, samples, etc. into your event. Additionally, prepare informative handouts that attendees can easily take with them to learn more about your offerings. Enhance the overall experience by providing enticing food and beverages, as it will attract people and encourage them to spend more time engaging with you.
Social Media: Take advantage of the power of social media to maximize the impact of your grand opening. Utilize various platforms to advertise your event before, during, and afterward. Create enticing posts, share sneak peeks, and build anticipation by highlighting special promotions or giveaways. Encourage followers to spread the word and engage with your content through likes, shares, and comments. Consider running targeted ads to reach a wider audience. Leverage the reach and viral potential of social media to ensure your event receives the attention it deserves!
Have a Backup Plan: When planning your event, it is important to consider potential challenges such as inclement weather, unexpected delays, or unavoidable issues that may arise. Have a backup plan in place to accommodate any changes or disruptions that could impact the event. Consider reserving an indoor or covered area as an alternative in case of bad weather. Be prepared to communicate any updates or changes in a timely manner through various channels, such as social media or email.

Questions? Please direct questions to Jason Stanford, Development Manager, via email or by calling 614-873-3527 ext 119.