So you think you’re ready to host a ribbon cutting? First and foremost congratulations! You have put a lot of work into your business to get to this point.
What is a ribbon cutting and is it right for your celebration?
Ribbon cuttings are meant to celebrate big milestones for your business including:
Opening a new brand, location, or franchise,
A major anniversary,
Moving to a new building,
Reopening under new management,
Reopening after a devastating event,
or reopening after a major remodel.
What is the best day for a ribbon cutting?
The key to ribbon cuttings is a crowd to celebrate with.
If you are interested in having elected officials and other business owners attend weekday mornings are recommended. The business community is more likely to attend during the week and have time to bring their employees to celebrate. Elected officials like the Mayors and County Commissioners are more likely to attend during the week. Keep in mind Tuesday mornings the County Commissioners have their regularly scheduled meetings and are unavailable.
If you are more interested in celebrating with your customers we recommend the weekend. Customers are often more available to stop in on the weekends, but is often a smaller crowd over all.
If you find yourself wishing you could have both…. You can! You can host a ribbon cutting during the week with elected officials and business leaders. And welcome them back on the weekend for an open house celebration for customers. That way officials are encouraged to come back as a customer too. If you need ideas on hosting an open house check out this blog post from Randall-Reilly.
Now that you have a purpose and a date let the Chamber of Commerce and Business Alliance know you’d like to host a ribbon cutting! Fill out this form to notify both.
The Spanish Peaks Chamber of Commerce and Spanish Peaks Business Alliance are working together to provide ribbon cutting events. We will help promote your event, bring the big scissors, and take nice pictures but you as a host still have responsibilities for the event.
Here is an downloadable checklist of what you need to do as a host for a successful ribbon cutting.
What can you do to ensure success?
Promote! Promote! Promote!
The most important duty you have is to keep promoting your event! Advertise like the event depends on it because it really does. While the SPCC and SPBA will help invite people you are your best advocate. Remember to invite anyone who has gotten your business to this point. It is better to invite too many people than having an empty celebration.
Snacks and prizes are also always welcome. :)