Open House? Tips

[Allyson]

I want to do an open house for a new business that i am opening in January.  I never had one before or went to one, reading the post on other post really got me inspired to do it. I'm really nervous and excited about it I grew up here (real small town)  so comming out has all those elements.  Can I please get some help?  What should be important and that i should focus on that day .  i don't have anyone else in their just me.  I have a waiting room and one treatment room.  Any suggestions? ???  thanx to all on this forum who contributes, it has been a place for me to go to with such rich fabric and threads.......Thanks in advance, puamaeole

 

[Faith S]

Open House? Tips

Are you a member of a local Chamber of Commerce? If so, you could get them to help spread the word, and maybe get them to help with introducing people, etc. If it's only going to be you, I would bring someone to help with greeting people at the door, and having them serve snacks / drinks while you are showing others your treatment room or giving chair massage samples. I work with 1 chiropractor and 1 professional counselor. When we had our grand opening / open house, we had myself, the chiro, the chiro's wife, the counselor, and the head of the local chamber of commerce greeting / meeting / serving people. Once I got behind my massage chair and had one person sit in it, I instantly had a line. I always had at least 3 people in line and 1 in the chair, and the others were taking a tour of the offices. I'd say our open house turned out okay. With minimal advertising (word of mouth and Chamber fax), we had about 30 people show up, mostly small business owners. Also, as much as we'd have liked the guests to eat the veggie trays, the main thing they ate was cookies and coffee. Maybe offer some low-fat cookies and coffee (regular and demassageplanet)?Another point, try to have a start and end time for the open house. I believe ours was from 1pm - 3pm on a Thursday, but I do remember it being only two hours. That gave people time to come in and see the office, schedule any appts if they want to, and lets you have time to still schedule appts for current clients, clean up before going home, etc. Hope this helps!

 

[missmojo78]

Open House? Tips

How exciting!Seforum.xxxg has some great ideas -- I especially like the idea of recruiting people to help you; you'll be frazzled enough as it is without worrying about every single detail!I would also have a mailing list sign-up sheet available, for e-mail &/or snail mail. Then send out a follow-up note within a few days after the open house.Maybe have a special going so that if they book an appointment at the open house, they receive X% off that first appointment? Have some informational brochures or cards out about what you do, how massage can help, price sheets, etc. And of course business cards!And be sure to invite everyone you know/knew in the town (since you grew up there). Good luck, and be sure to let us know how it goes!Y.

 

[Voudu]

oh thank you! you 2 for the great tips.  My husband is a musician and he wants his band to play or just him what do you think about that?  his cd should be hot off the press and he is really talented.  this cd is inspired because i wanted some relaxing music.  it is called kroon by candlelight.  traditional and new hawaiian music.  do you think that is appropriate?  in hawaii we know how to party big luau's with hula dancers lots of food and entertainment.  I have alot of friends and family that would help with all of the above...  thats how they do open house here   (lol)  or should i keep it small or luau style?  also because i am going to be the only practioner in here now, should i invite other therapist(other therapist from different parts of the island) here there is only 3 other therapist that has a shop) nice people brother and sister teamand one kupuna.    all the others practice traditionally without license.  not much actually.  do you think i should invite some kupuna (elders) that do traditional medicine and hold mini workshops that day.  i have alot of elders that are excited for me and would come out and do these work shops? that do lomilomi and show case the elders and do like a spiritual theme with different types of people like life coach, card readers, reiki practioners, dream interperters.......any suggestions? Thanks for stiring my juice's I am really exicted!!!!!!!! ;Dagain mahalo!

 

[MOMIN]

During an open house that I had, I offered what I called a "mini massage class".  I made a handout and had everyone get a partner to practice on.  I did the demo in front of them while they tried to follow along with me and the handout.  Then I went around to the individual groups and help them with the specifics.  It went over well and drew alot of attendance overall.  It was only about 15 mins long and I had sent postcards about the open house stating a specific time for the class.  I actually had people that came earlier, come back for the class.Have fun!

 

[ginkgo]

Open House? Tips

oh thank you! you 2 for the great tips.  My husband is a musician and he wants his band to play or just him what do you think about that?  his cd should be hot off the press and he is really talented.  this cd is inspired because i wanted some relaxing music.  it is called kroon by candlelight.  traditional and new hawaiian music.  do you think that is appropriate?  in hawaii we know how to party big luau's with hula dancers lots of food and entertainment.  I have alot of friends and family that would help with all of the above...  thats how they do open house here   (lol)  or should i keep it small or luau style?  also because i am going to be the only practioner in here now, should i invite other therapist(other therapist from different parts of the island) here there is only 3 other therapist that has a shop) nice people brother and sister teamand one kupuna.    all the others practice traditionally without license.  not much actually.  do you think i should invite some kupuna (elders) that do traditional medicine and hold mini workshops that day.  i have alot of elders that are excited for me and would come out and do these work shops? that do lomilomi and show case the elders and do like a spiritual theme with different types of people like life coach, card readers, reiki practioners, dream interperters.......any suggestions? Thanks for stiring my juice's I am really exicted!!!!!!!! ;D

again mahalo!

I think now you're starting to take the focus off you and your business. I personally wouldn't bring in any other therapists or health practitioners unless they are going to be working in the office with you. You should invite them, I'm sure they'd love to see your office. And for your husband, why not just play one of his cd's in the background while you show your office? Remember, this is your day to show off YOUR office. I also wouldn't bring in the hula dancers, just doesn't seem to fit a massage office. Just try to keep everything focused on your business, as this could be a GREAT advertising campaign for you. Bringing in elders that have been experienced with massage for years could drive business their way instead of yours. As much as they may be your friends, they are still now considered competition as far as business goes. Just remember, have fun with this!

 

[glowingdevil63]

thanks for the comments, seforum.xxx in hawaii alot of times for open house they use the parking lot for entertainment, food ect and the business area would be where people would go and see whats going on in there and then hangout to hear music and eat food.  i know it sounds kinda funny, but here we like to eat and dance. And about the elders theyall live far away well and some live near.  but even the elders come to me for lomi they love what im doing.  because of course im doing all kinds of modalities rolled up in one.  plus hot rocks, back facials and all the little extra's.   i'm not really worried about losing customers, maybe i'm weird but i've never been intimidated by another practioner.  i believe we all have our own gifts, and i feel very confident with mines, all ego aside.  I truly feel this, and if a client wants to try different practioners i think they should.  i don't really believe techniques is everything which it can be very helpful to know, i believe it is about energy ect.  and thats where i trust my own and feel that it sets me apart from alot of therapist.  i sometimes turn clients down not cause i'm so busy but i actually am very picky with who i see and work on.  and refer them out.  clients don't know this, but when i work on them and i am left with a real yuky feeling i don't want to massage them again... i'm very i think the word is empathetic.  i'm very sensitive to energy around me.  and i guess i haven't mastered to protect myself yet.  I started a massage for kupuna(elders) here where i live and it's all free.  I've invited 35 therapist from around the island to help me.  Even then i didn't feel like business would be taken away.  infact i feel that there is a therapist for everybody and not one therapist fits all bodies.  just what i feel .......................yeah a celebration is a luau and it is synonymous with celebrations, i think opening a business calls for celebration.  what do you think now here about what is the norm here? maestra that is what i was thinking just exposing our people to different holistic practices out there.  by having little mini workshops, our elders would love to be a part of it and besides these guys are kinda hard to get to come to functions so i think its a blessing to have them come. whatever knowledge they have this would be a time for them to share with the people in our community.  keeping the mana going..............

 

[baba buttons]

Open House? Tips

Knowing what the norm is there, I'm sorta jealous. It sounds like you live in a great community. Are you having your open house on the grand opening day? You could advertise it that way with flyers and whatnot, OR you could work in your office for a week or two and tell all your clients about the open house, to bring their friends and family, etc. We waited a while before we had our grand opening ceremony, and I think this made it turn out better than it would have if we held it opening day. Good luck, I'm sure it will turn out great!

 

[Acorn]

This sounds neat.I am inclined to go with Seforum.xxxg on highlighting your business and not everyone else -- just because sometimes clients and potential clients really can become confused.  I think he brings up some really good points.However, after reading your most recent post, it seems your island is mainly used to having the whole community come out to these things, so, maybe doing the whole she-bang is the way to go.  One thing for sure, if you have friends and family who are willing to help, you could probably really pull in a crowd. آ Music and dancing may even pull in people from a local hotel. آ And while I am on that thought, you peobably should invite the hotel people (at least the managerial staff) around you, since you are in Hawaii and people do travel there for relaxation.As for the open house (which was more like a re-location open house / I had moved the office), we sent out about 70 invites and only about 10 people that showed up. آ I held it from 4-7pm. آ Hmmm. آ That was a really long time ago and I had to do it on a super budget of practically nothing. آ I bought a few food trays of fruits and vegetables from our local Sam's Club, as well as some creme' puffs and had juice, water, cokes and sprites to drink.I think there may have been some chocolate chip cookies. آ I must say, I also did not have many people eat off the vegetable tray. آ They did like the fruit though. آ Stange, since so many people are always talking about veggies in my office. آ I don't like veggies and they always want me to be eating them. آ ;D Any-hoo. آ Sounds like you could have a huge party!  Party's are fun and fun means crowds. آ So, that may well be the way to go if it is the norm. آ As endearing as it sounds, I probably would not have the mini-workshops though. آ But, what you may consider is having the sign-in sheet with a portion for therapists to check a box if they are interested in attending future workshops at your office. آ It could look good in the public eye that you are on the cutting edge and offering classes in your place. آ Just a thought. آ Who knows.As for the live music.. if it is going to turn into a party (and it sounds like that is what you have planned)... music sounds really nice.  It will be a good way to promote the hubby's CD too.Happy grand opening!