Open House

Introducing your business to the community is an important step to gaining brand awareness. It is never too late to invite colleagues for refreshments and camaraderie.

When we opened our indoor dog swimming business we had an Open House Event. We invited many dog trainers and influencers in the pet world. The thought process was if they liked what they saw, they would naturally invite their clients to check out our services. It worked. The night was filled with fanfare, cakes, dog shaped cookies, and some festive drinks. It really was a fun event.

While a grand opening event is perfect timing for an impactful experience, there are other times throughout the lifecycle of your business that a celebratory event makes sense. If you add a new colleague, throw a meet and greet event. If you add a new product, invite people to come and experience it. If you launch a new service, have a happy hour with light refreshments to discuss how it enhances your business. If you move, an invitation to see the new office space is a must. A pivotal anniversary is always an occasion to celebrate your brand.

In today’s digital world and working remote, people are often looking for an excuse to reconnect in person. Consider your brand and when best would be a good time to invite others over to mingle. If your business has a specific topic that has become popular, a celebrity guest speaker, an author, a professor or a subject matter expert may be ideal to add to the conversation and act as an additional draw to ensure attendance.

If your business does not evoke an exciting topic, consider inviting a local working K-9 team. Search and Rescue, Guiding Eye, Police K-9 teams are all excellent and interesting draws. We had invited the local Police K-9 unit to our Open House years ago. They are often willing to provide a working illustration of their talents as well. They provide a compelling reason for colleagues to stop by and be reminded that your business supports its local community services.

As your business achieves various milestones, consider an Open House event. Reminding your clients and prospects of what you do in a casual or fun setting can be a great way to increase brand awareness and productivity.

Be well.