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Lea Ann

Lea Ann

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We are approaching our 1 year anniversary of being open. We are thinking of having a small open house (cookies and drinks). Did any of you do that? Did you find it helpful to your business?
Thanks in advance for your insight!
 
Our anniversary is in the middle of peak season. There's no way we could but it's a great idea.
If you can get the local paper to come, the chamber, etc you can get some mileage out of it.
Good luck!
 
We hosted a chamber of commerce "business after hours" networking event early in our first year; we probably had 80 people (at least) show up. I think it was a good way to tell our story and introduce ourselves to the community. I'm not sure that we can directly tie any guests to any connections made through that event, but I am reasonably sure that it has helped our business in the long run. More people in town now know that Harborfields exists, they know where we are, who we are, and many of them have seen our property first hand, so they know what kind of place it is.
This year will be our fourth season managing the business, and we will be hosting several events associated with our local HarborFest celebration this fall, which will likely also give us a lot of exposure to the community, as well as visitors. It could be really big!
Pretty soon, we'll be approaching Harborfields' 70th year -- and I do think an anniversary celebration will be in order!
(PS. Mort, you've been at it long enough now that the specific date probably isn't all that important anymore -- celebrate your Xth year in business whenever it is most convenient!)
 
Great idea. People, especially the neighbors, are dying to see the place. Locals do need accommodations sometimes and businesses will refer.
 
When I opened (and several times since) I had an open house tour for $1 at the door. The $1 went to the Lord's Pantry Food Bank and was publicized as such. People get to see what they are dying to see had help a good cause at the same time.
 
TheBeachHouse said:
Great idea. People, especially the neighbors, are dying to see the place. Locals do need accommodations sometimes and businesses will refer..
Click to expand...
Definitely. I think having occasional Open Houses for locals makes a lot of sense. Also, some Chambers of Commerce meet at a different member site each month. MIght be good to host from time to time.
 
I belong to a women's entrepeneur group that does a tour of the local businesses once a year. They Tweet and Social Media the event to death. It helps get our name out.
 
Yes, do it! Send out your media releases, the works. See who comes. At the very least, it lets your neighbors know you are there - frustrating but true I discovered neighbors saying 'oh, we didn't know you were open and we sent our relatives to stay at xxx when they were here visiting.' How did they not know? Invite the guests, too. I had an open house I think it was 2 1/2 months after we opened and I sent invites to the guests who were booked to invite them to enjoy complimentary snacks etc. They enjoyed being part of the fun.
Good luck.
 
seashanty said:
Yes, do it! Send out your media releases, the works. See who comes. At the very least, it lets your neighbors know you are there - frustrating but true I discovered neighbors saying 'oh, we didn't know you were open and we sent our relatives to stay at xxx when they were here visiting.' How did they not know? Invite the guests, too. I had an open house I think it was 2 1/2 months after we opened and I sent invites to the guests who were booked to invite them to enjoy complimentary snacks etc. They enjoyed being part of the fun.
Good luck..
Click to expand...
July begins year #20. I wear my Gillum House logo apron everywhere - it is my badge of office. I still hear - I didn't know we had a B & B in Shinnston. I have had a few send relatives though. With a population of about 2300, one would think........... I guess that is the problem, expecting them to think.
 
omy yes!~ to the apron. Would wear the apron rushing down my hill and across the road to the general store for something I ran out of. Folks would think I worked at the store then notice my color was royal blue and the store workers wore green. But my apron was dirty. I needed a b&b baseball CAP instead of the town sailing club cap. (I didn't have a boat anyway, I was an honorary member.) Promotion and visibility are constantly needed. Taking Kathleen's cue, i started keeping a clean b&b apron by the door and in the car just for when shopping or whatever. Stack of my latest rack cards or postcards in my pocket to leave or give out.
 
I say do whatever you have the energy and time to do. It is a big deal, it is not a press release, but to you and yours it is worthy of a celebration. Worthy of letting people know "Hey we're still here!" and "Thank you for supporting this small American owned business!"
All the best, we're super happy for you too!
thumbs_up.gif
 
Morticia said:
Our anniversary is in the middle of peak season. There's no way we could but it's a great idea.
If you can get the local paper to come, the chamber, etc you can get some mileage out of it.
Good luck!.
Click to expand...
Celebrate it in the off season instead....Example who's going to remember that you took over in July instead of September?
 
This thread got me counting. I bought my property in 2005, which makes 10 years in a B&B mindset. It took 2 full years to go from aspiring to perspiring, so I'm the only one who celebrates this anniversary.
 
Harborfields said:
We hosted a chamber of commerce "business after hours" networking event early in our first year; we probably had 80 people (at least) show up. I think it was a good way to tell our story and introduce ourselves to the community. I'm not sure that we can directly tie any guests to any connections made through that event, but I am reasonably sure that it has helped our business in the long run. More people in town now know that Harborfields exists, they know where we are, who we are, and many of them have seen our property first hand, so they know what kind of place it is.
This year will be our fourth season managing the business, and we will be hosting several events associated with our local HarborFest celebration this fall, which will likely also give us a lot of exposure to the community, as well as visitors. It could be really big!
Pretty soon, we'll be approaching Harborfields' 70th year -- and I do think an anniversary celebration will be in order!
(PS. Mort, you've been at it long enough now that the specific date probably isn't all that important anymore -- celebrate your Xth year in business whenever it is most convenient!).
Click to expand...
Harborfields said:
(PS. Mort, you've been at it long enough now that the specific date probably isn't all that important anymore -- celebrate your Xth year in business whenever it is most convenient!)
Click to expand...
Good idea. Maybe Sept. Things slow down a bit right after Labor Day. We could have an open house during the week.
 
I think it is a good idea. but agree with the other posts that suggest having in in the shoulder season when you are not as rushed and when locals are not off on vacation. An anniversary, a birthday, labor day, any excuse for free food and a tour will work.
When I retire from my day job and take over marketing the inn here, I plan to have open houses for the kind of businesses that have put up clients with us. [For all you partner innkeepers, you have picked up the phrase "take over". This is my tack dealing with DW complaining about my continuing to work: be careful what you wish for!]
 

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