You only get one chance to make a first impression, and for a new business that's the grand opening. It's an opportunity to generate goodwill, get word of mouth started and connect with the community.
But it doesn't always go right.
``The most important thing you can do is be sure that your business is ready for business when you have your opening,'' said Barry Johnson, executive vice president of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson is a man who has seen his fair share of kick-offs. ``There have been openings that are - let's say - not fully operational. And that certainly puts a damper on the whole enthusiasm.''
In one case, a retail store he refused to name was fully stocked but couldn't take credit cards on opening day.
In some cases companies get carried away by the social ``wine and cheese'' aspect of a grand opening and forget that the people they are entertaining are also customers, said Nubielena Medina, the principal at NMG Consulting, a Miami public relations firm.
``A lot of people feel like the grand opening is more like party time,'' she said. ``And sometimes it can't be a social type thing if you want to have a business impact.''
The Cereal Bowl dealt with that issue by having a soft-opening a few days before the main event. The invite-only affair gave them a chance to socialize with family and friends but also an opportunity to check for kinks in the system. On opening day, they were all business.
Timing is also a major consideration. New ventures need to be aware of sports games, conventions and other activities that might leach away customers or create menacing traffic snarls.
``You have to be aware of what else is happening in the community,'' Medina said. ``Then you either leverage those opportunities or you stay away from those things that can make your opening not go so well.''
But perhaps the most important function of an opening is connecting with the neighborhood and the community where your business is located. Many new companies use their opening to make a charitable donation.
``[Businesses] that connect to the local community in some way special can separate themselves from everyone else who has a ribbon cutting,'' explained Johnson.
While most start-ups would love to have the media at their openings, the reality is that kick-offs are rarely newsworthy, said Medina. But businesses can increase their chances of coverage by trying to lure VIPs to the event and being aware of media timelines and deadlines.
``Of course, people parachuting from the sky and those type things seem to go over very well, too,'' she said.
The Cereal Bowl had no sky divers but had made solid contacts with local chamber of commerce and elected officials in both South Miami and Coral Gables.
And, of course, they had Lucky Charms on their side.
