Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Grand Branch Office Opening

Posted by larry.sebbens on 3/22/2012 at 9:07 AM ET 25 Points
We are an investment firm opening a new branch office in a suburb of Pittsburgh. Any creative ideas to promote the office and encourage visits during a grand opening day?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Gail@PUBLISIDE on 3/22/2012 at 10:04 AM Member
    A promotion for an investment firm should be chock full of numbers that demonstrate how your clients have benefitted from your service. Print them for takeaway, post them around the branch and share them verbally to visitors.

    I think a simple open house with letting potential clients ask questions and nibble on small sandwiches is just fine for a business like yours.
  • Posted by mholdener on 3/23/2012 at 12:23 PM Member
    As a possible alternative or addition to hosting an event, it may also make sense to have employees of the new branch take part in community beautification efforts. Operation Brightside or similar groups would love to have the help, and your team could wear shirts with phrases such as "Branching Out" or "Investing in the Community" and the new location printed on them.

    The advantages of this approach are many -- no hard costs to your firm, showing rather than stating your commitment to the neighborhood, putting a name & face to the firm, etc.

    Numbers, rates and success stories are absolutely critical in your field, but to set yourself apart you must do more. When it comes down to it, most people would rather hand over their money to someone who has demonstrated some level of trustworthiness in addition to the requisite competence.
  • Posted by babbsela on 3/24/2012 at 4:10 PM Accepted
    If you do want to have a one-day event, do more than just open your doors & hope people will show up.

    Since most investors are typically business professionals and owners, host a networking event where they can socialize in your new location. In addition to inviting your existing clientele, and asking them to bring guests, you could join the local chamber and ask them to co-host the event.

    A local bank has been very successful doing this. They have greeters to take coats & hand out tote bags that have their logo, and are filled with promotional materials and goodies. They bring in a local sports figure who shows up to have pictures taken, and signs autographs, all for charity. They also serve great appetizers & beverages, which is another great draw.

    I've attended several of these events, not for the freebies, but because they draw the type of people who are my target market. If you do this successfully, everyone who attends will be talking about you.
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