Ribbon Cutting

Ribbon Cutting

Do you have a grand opening, new location, new ownership or major anniversary to celebrate?

We want to help commemorate your success! Please read the information and complete the form below.

As a member, the Blount Chamber will provide you with the large, ceremonial scissors and a long length of ribbon, and Chamber Ambassadors will attend the event. The event will be added to the Chamber calendar, Facebook events and published in the weekly newsletter.

After the event, we will share the video and photos on social media, send to The Daily Times and give you copies for your archives.

Ribbon cuttings entail guests visiting your business with elected officials (when available), Chamber Ambassadors and staff.

Ribbon cuttings are a member benefit of the Community Partner and VIP tiers. A supplemental charge of $175 applies to the Business Builder tier.

Helpful Planning Tips

Date Selection

• Go to our website at www.blountchamber.com and review the Chamber Calendar. Look at the meetings/events that are already booked.
• Select three (3) choices of dates with no conflicts/community events/holidays. (This does not guarantee one of your requested dates.)
• We generally do not book more than one (1) in-person ribbon cutting per week.
• Give yourself plenty of preparation time. Three to four weeks is sufficient.
• Ribbon cuttings can be scheduled for Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are usually best days during the week for business people.

Time

Careful consideration of the time of your event determines the atmosphere of the celebration.

Invitations

The Chamber will promote your ribbon cutting in the newsletter, social media as well as on the Chamber calendar. Please consider creating a Facebook event for the ribbon cutting and share with us.

But who you invite to your event is as important as hosting the event. Your invitations may be as simple as an email or as elaborate as a formal invitation. Be sure to include the details of your event as well as a RSVP method to help plan accordingly for food and beverage.

Important: After you develop your invitation, please email it along with a hi-resolution logo to us in a PDF or JPEG format and we will take care of emailing to the elected officials and Chamber members. Send invitation and logo to jmuir@blountpartnership.com

The Chamber is happy to assist you with members that can help with your printing and public relations needs. The following are some suggestions of people to consider when creating your invitation list:

• Current, past, and potential customers
• Family and friends
• Suppliers
• Your employees and their spouses/guests
• Media
• Those that helped you get started: banker, accountant, lawyer, architects, builder, realtor, etc.
• Neighboring business people
• Fellow Chamber members

Refreshments

Providing time-appropriate refreshments is very well received. For example, during a morning event it is nice to offer coffee, juice, bagels, or pastries, while during a lunch or evening event offering light hors d'oeuvres or finger foods is appropriate.You are responsible for plates, plasticware, napkins and cake server.

Enlisting the help of a caterer is often helpful. The Chamber is able to assist you with a list of current members that are happy to cater your event.

Program Planning

• Create an event agenda. A brief program adds focus to the event. It provides not only valuable recognition for you and your key people, but it makes the event more purposeful and permits you the opportunity to explain more about your business. The timeline we've found successful is for the programmatic elements to be in the middle of your event. This allows latecomers to the chance to participate in the celebration, and offers networking time before and after the main event.
• Ideas to consider include: introduction of key people that helped you make this milestone possible, speeches from leaders in the community (keep these brief), and possibly a tour of your facility if time permits and is necessary with your type of business.
• Conclude your "program" with some ceremonial or symbolic activity to commemorate the event such as a ribbon cutting for a ribbon cutting/grand opening ceremony or shoveling the first load of dirt for a groundbreaking, or the cutting of the cake for an anniversary. This is a nice way to let guests know that the program has concluded and allows for great photo opportunities.

Additional Suggestions

• Have plenty of brochures, business cards, and handouts available for your guests. If possible have promotional items such as pens, magnets, mugs, etc. available to hand out.
• Have a drawing or giveaway. Winning a sample of your product or a gift certificate to a nice restaurant can add to your guests’ enjoyment and perhaps build attendance.