Ribbon Cuttings & Grand Openings
A ribbon cutting is a ceremonial opening of a brand new or newly renovated/relocated business. It can inaugurate an organization's first day of business, or it can take place weeks after the soft opening. It can also be an opportunity to celebrate a milestone anniversary. New or relocated businesses can request a ribbon cutting within the first 90 days of business.
Because the ribbon cutting marks a very significant moment in your history, this is also a great photo opportunity. The ceremony gives the business owner or manager a chance to say a few words to those gathered, and publicly thank financial backers, employees, friends, family, and/or business partners.
A ribbon cutting includes a photo op, representation from a Chamber official, representation from city officials (pending availability), the ceremonial ribbon, and the jumbo scissors. An announcement email will also be sent to all Chamber members and interested subscribers leading up to the event.
A ribbon cutting ceremony carries a fee of $150. If you are interested in scheduling a ribbon cutting, contact the Chamber at (954) 432-9808. Please allow up to four weeks advance notice for scheduling. For more information, continue reading below.
Because the ribbon cutting marks a very significant moment in your history, this is also a great photo opportunity. The ceremony gives the business owner or manager a chance to say a few words to those gathered, and publicly thank financial backers, employees, friends, family, and/or business partners.
A ribbon cutting includes a photo op, representation from a Chamber official, representation from city officials (pending availability), the ceremonial ribbon, and the jumbo scissors. An announcement email will also be sent to all Chamber members and interested subscribers leading up to the event.
A ribbon cutting ceremony carries a fee of $150. If you are interested in scheduling a ribbon cutting, contact the Chamber at (954) 432-9808. Please allow up to four weeks advance notice for scheduling. For more information, continue reading below.
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What is a Chamber Ribbon Cutting?
A ribbon cutting is the ceremonial opening of a brand-new or newly-renovated/relocated business that has opened within the last six months. It can inaugurate an organization’s first day of business or it can take place weeks after the business’ soft opening.
Because the ribbon cutting marks a very significant moment in the business’ history, this is also a great photo opportunity. The ceremony gives the business owner or manager a chance to say a few words to those gathered. Business owners have used this time to publicly thank their financial backers, their employees, their friends and family, and/or their business partners. They also take the opportunity to talk about what their business does.
You must be a new or current Chamber member in good standing (including dues paid) for the Weston Florida Chamber of Commerce to host a ribbon cutting at your place of business.
Who qualifies for a Ribbon Cutting?
The Pembroke Park West Park Chamber of Commerce is available to conduct/participate in your ceremony if your business has:
What are the benefits of holding a Chamber ribbon cutting?
Is there a cost to have the Chamber participate?
There is a small fee for the Chamber to participate. For $150, the Chamber will provide the following:
Is the Ribbon Cutting a Chamber event?
This is a joint event between the Chamber and your business. Through our Ribbon Cutting package, the Chamber will promote and market the event to our members, elected officials and the business community. Since it is a special occasion, there is typically a certain protocol with the event, so the Chamber reserves the right to create and moderate the agenda for the event.
While the Chamber will extend the above-mentioned invitations and list your ribbon cutting on our Calendar, we strongly encourage you to conduct your own PR campaign to increase the attendance and awareness of your business’s opening. You should also consider inviting your business partners, financiers, contractors, employees, customers, friends, and family to be with you to celebrate this momentous occasion in your business’s history. Please understand that you should not rely solely on the Chamber to attract your audience.
What do we do?
Because the Ribbon Cutting is your event, there are no set rules. To make your event successful, carefully consider the following:
Other details to enhance your event:
What have other businesses done to make their ribbon cutting and/or grand opening unique?
Please note: Pre-registration with the Chamber for Ribbon Cuttings is required with three to four weeks' advance notice. Events are scheduled based upon availability during business hours only (Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) Note: The Chamber cannot guarantee the number of guests in attendance. Events are scheduled based upon availability. There are no refunds on cancelled events; a $50 fee applies for rescheduled events.
A ribbon cutting is the ceremonial opening of a brand-new or newly-renovated/relocated business that has opened within the last six months. It can inaugurate an organization’s first day of business or it can take place weeks after the business’ soft opening.
Because the ribbon cutting marks a very significant moment in the business’ history, this is also a great photo opportunity. The ceremony gives the business owner or manager a chance to say a few words to those gathered. Business owners have used this time to publicly thank their financial backers, their employees, their friends and family, and/or their business partners. They also take the opportunity to talk about what their business does.
You must be a new or current Chamber member in good standing (including dues paid) for the Weston Florida Chamber of Commerce to host a ribbon cutting at your place of business.
Who qualifies for a Ribbon Cutting?
The Pembroke Park West Park Chamber of Commerce is available to conduct/participate in your ceremony if your business has:
- Opened its doors within the past three months
- Moved to a new location due to expansion
- Has been remodeled or has expanded its current location
- Is celebrating a milestone anniversary
- Groundbreaking
What are the benefits of holding a Chamber ribbon cutting?
- Introduce both the public and Chamber members to your business
- Announce your ribbon cutting on the Chamber’s Community Calendar
- Familiarize the public and Chamber members with your product/services
- Familiarize the public and Chamber members with your physical location
- Begin a customer base
- Generate leads and sales from attendees
- Publish photos of your ribbon cutting on the Chamber's Facebook page
- Market your business to over 2,500 individuals throughout the West Broward areas
Is there a cost to have the Chamber participate?
There is a small fee for the Chamber to participate. For $150, the Chamber will provide the following:
- Notify the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Ambassadors Committee and Chamber membership about the event through two notifications on our Monday weekly email and one notification on our Wednesday Ribbon Cutting email
- Invite local officials on your behalf
- List your ribbon cutting on the Chamber’s Calendar
- Have a member of the Chamber’s Leadership Team provide congratulatory remarks and emcee the event agenda
- Bring the “giant scissors” and ribbon
- Take pictures at the event and publish a photo album to our Facebook page
- Stream the ribbon cutting ceremony on Facebook Live
Is the Ribbon Cutting a Chamber event?
This is a joint event between the Chamber and your business. Through our Ribbon Cutting package, the Chamber will promote and market the event to our members, elected officials and the business community. Since it is a special occasion, there is typically a certain protocol with the event, so the Chamber reserves the right to create and moderate the agenda for the event.
While the Chamber will extend the above-mentioned invitations and list your ribbon cutting on our Calendar, we strongly encourage you to conduct your own PR campaign to increase the attendance and awareness of your business’s opening. You should also consider inviting your business partners, financiers, contractors, employees, customers, friends, and family to be with you to celebrate this momentous occasion in your business’s history. Please understand that you should not rely solely on the Chamber to attract your audience.
What do we do?
Because the Ribbon Cutting is your event, there are no set rules. To make your event successful, carefully consider the following:
- Schedule your event at least four weeks in advance. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are usually best days during the week for business people, not earlier than 9:00 a.m. and avoiding later evening functions, unless this is the type of business you have. We’re sorry; the Chamber cannot assist with ribbon cuttings on Fridays, weekends or holidays.
- Determine who will cut the ribbon. The owners or top executives most frequently do the honors, but each business is different and can pick whomever they like.
- Decide who will be in the photo(s). Some businesses will take multiple photos with various groups of people before actually cutting the ribbon. Photos might include employees, family, Chamber members, business partners, and Ambassadors for example.
- Prepare your remarks or speech. This is usually done when everyone is gathered before cutting the ribbon and is captured on Facebook Live on our Chamber's Facebook Page.
- Invite everyone you know! Invite your family, friends, past, current and potential customers, business associates (including your accountant, banker, and property owner), suppliers, your employees, the media, neighboring businesses, and government officials.
- Consider having giveaways, especially logo items that guests can take back to their offices. The Chamber is happy to provide you with members who can help you create gifts.
- Food and beverages are not required, but for open house events it makes a nice touch. The Chamber is happy to provide you with members who can help you with catering.
- Have plenty of business cards and brochures available.
Other details to enhance your event:
- Refreshments, drinks, door prizes, and decorations are optional and up to you. Many businesses add these extra touches when conducting a public grand opening in conjunction with the ribbon cutting.
- A special invitation. The Chamber can provide you a member mailing list if you would like to mail an optional special invitation to the entire membership. This is especially encouraged if you are conducting a grand opening with prizes, business specials, and refreshments.
- Organize a separate PR campaign. If you would like to invite the general public, you should explore other advertising avenues and/or consider sending a press release to the local media. You can do this yourself or hire a marketing company to help you with this. The Chamber can provide you with a list of the local media contacts and a membership directory to locate a marketing firm.
What have other businesses done to make their ribbon cutting and/or grand opening unique?
- Sent a special invitation to the whole Chamber membership
- Sent a special direct mail piece/invitation to area residents and/or non-member businesses
- Conducted a separate PR campaign to try to grab media attention
- Invited lots of clients, employees, and/or board directors from their organization, and invited corporate staff from out-of-town corporate headquarters
- Offered complimentary appetizers and beverages from fancy to simple, from a few selections to a large buffet and/or chocolate fountains, champagne fountains, and sweets
- Invited sports or business mascots and superheroes in costumes
Please note: Pre-registration with the Chamber for Ribbon Cuttings is required with three to four weeks' advance notice. Events are scheduled based upon availability during business hours only (Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) Note: The Chamber cannot guarantee the number of guests in attendance. Events are scheduled based upon availability. There are no refunds on cancelled events; a $50 fee applies for rescheduled events.
