Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Open House Suggestions

Posted by Anonymous on 5/15/2006 at 9:10 AM ET 125 Points
I am marketing/pr for a printing and publishing company in east TN with customers nationwide. We want to plan an open house with a program that would make our customers want to pay their way here. The majority of our customers are in the tourism industry, but we have customers in other industries. Should we focus on those customers within a "day-trip" distance? Are there any suggestions as to what we can schedule other than a tour of our press and facilities?
Thanks for any help.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by narthur on 5/15/2006 at 12:09 PM Accepted
    You may also want to think about adding a learning component to your day.

    With the aging of the work force there is an increasing brain / experience drain in many companies raising the need to get GenXers / Millennials better equipped to do their jobs. Trade Shows are seeing more intense and varied seminar/workshop offerings drawing more attendees for that very reason.

    My exerience in print/publishing industries makes me think that a day of multiple topics in 1-2 hour sessions on things like technology use, materials specs, design, communication, sales...even HR issues would be well recieved and position you as an expert resource and partner.

    I know from experience that you could get vendors to conduct some of the sessions...just be very cautious that those sessions do NOT become selling sessions. That will give you more negative response than not doing the session at all.

    I have significant experience and resources around all this. Contact me through my profile if you would like to discuss

    Best of luck. It should be a fun event / activity.

    Neil
  • Posted by ReadCopy on 5/15/2006 at 3:45 PM Accepted
    You always have this problem with this type of event, where if its free and something else crops up, they are less likely to attend. SO you need that compelling factor.

    Neil is right, the learning aspect is spot on. Can you think of a topic they would be interested in? Something like "Save 50% on your printing costs" (just as an example, you need a compelling Headline offer, and follow it up with examples of saving money), or get an industry keynote speaker in.

    The key here is that the Event MUST BE compelling, is maybe the venue! Could there be a tie-in with NASCAR, Chattanooga Zoo etc?
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