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Have you just started up a small business of your own?

Then why not have your own launch event? It might sound like a cost you don’t want to deal with right now, but an opening night/launch party is a great way to introduce yourself to the community and allow both potential leads and future contacts to get a look behind the curtain.

Who doesn’t love an excuse to have a party? Whether you decide to send round invitations or you’re happy to let in as many people as possible, this is your chance to set the scene perfectly. And if you like the sound of that, we’re here to help you plan your event the right way!

Provide Some Free Refreshments

You’re on a budget, so you don’t have to make the entire event totally free, but you should offer some free refreshments for your guests. Food and drink goes a long way to helping your attendees get in the right mood for the evening ahead!

You can offer them a free glass of bubbly after they come in, and then have a couple of waitstaff going round through the night with a few trays of free drinks for people to take.

However, if there’s a bar in the venue you’re using, make sure it’s staffed and stocked for the event and let your guests know they can purchase more if they want to. If your event is going to be outdoors, you may want to hire a catering truck and then split the profit both ways.

Make Sure Free Samples are Available (and merch!)

Everyone loves a free sample! So make sure you’ve got a table of them for your guests to take at any point during your launch event. Whether it’s a mini version of your products or a set of related merchandise (such as stickers and badges, pens and notebooks, or even t-shirts).

Have Various Opportunities for Entertainment

The more chances to have fun, the more likely your opening event will be memorable and exciting. So try to include more than one form of entertainment within your event.

If you’re going to have music performed live by a DJ or local band, that’s great. But make sure you hire a photo booth to sit in the background for your guests to use in their own time. Similarly, make sure there’s a quieter area available, for anyone who wants to sit down and relax, or strike up a conversation with their fellow guests.

You can also incorporate entertainment sources related to your product. For example, if you’re launching your own boutique makeup line, set up a product testing table, or hire a makeup artist to allow guests to get a mini makeover. That’s the kind of entertainment that puts your product right in the centre of things!

If you want to make a splash with your new business, set up a launch event. The tips above will help set the best impression!

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