The popular adage, “first impressions last” can be applicable to all aspects of life, more so in business. If you’re looking to hold a grand launching of your food truck operation as a newbie, make it an unforgettable moment. There can only be 5 keywords that say it all to make all impressions last – plan, prepare, promote, invite and enjoy.

How to Launch Your Food Truck Business: 5 Grand Opening Tips

If you’re new in the market, what could be a better way to introduce your mobile kitchen business than hold a successful grand opening! Yes, but how do you launch it successfully? Below are a number of practical tips you can follow, as shared by the experts.

Plan ahead of time

As with any endeavor, planning in advance contributes greatly to success. The right time frame is 3 to 6 months before the big day. This is to ensure that things will go smoothly on opening day. When choosing the perfect date, take into consideration other important occasions like holidays and forthcoming local events. This is vital in order to get the undivided attention of the public; that the center of attention on that day would only be you.

Likewise, check out the weather for that preferred opening day since disasters and calamities could come unexpectedly. Should anything happen, stay calm but be prepared. Experts say that the ripe time for launching a business is during paydays or on weekends when people are off from work. Further, choose summer time to introduce your food truck since this is when most businesses are in boom. Once you have picked the date, create some teasers to stir public awareness.

Include in your planning the people you’re going to hire. Organize a team to help you out on the launching. Assign the team members specific tasks so that each aspect is attended to and all customers catered. Also, be sure to include in your plan hiring a photographer exclusively for that day.

Lastly, at the end of the launching day, don’t expect things to go smoothly a hundred percent according to your plans. But at least, you shall have done your best. Experience will now be your best teacher. What matters is, you can learn from that experience the next time around.

Prepare everything

Everything means your budget, special menu, your inspiring speech during the interactive program, guest list, invitations, giveaways or freebies, music, documentation, and even trivial things that can make a difference. If you can afford a band with a majorette or fireworks or clowns, why not? But then again, since you’re already prepared with your finances, make sure to just stay within your means. 

Promote your launching day

If you can afford paid advertising, go for it. However, there are several ways to drum-beat your grand opening without spending a lot. While you’re deeply involved with the planning and preparation, you should temporarily hire an expert for that purpose alone – to promote your thing on social media.

Leave it to the expert since presumably, the person has the right strategy to draw peoples’ attention. Optimize your social media networks to make your grand launching known. Be creative in presenting an attractive food truck and mouth-watering menu for the big day on your social media channels.

Or if not, on market day, set up a booth somewhere and spread the word yourself while handing out flyers. Never mind about extravagant promotions if your finances won’t allow it. What counts is, this is going to be your special day and you’re doing the best you can to make it special.

Invite the community and most of all, the press people and the media in general

Inviting people who can help spread the good news is sure to create brand awareness. This includes personalities from the print, broadcast and telecast media as well as social media influencers, bloggers, vloggers including known and respected personalities from your own community. Proper invitations are a must and these should be sent out at least 2 weeks prior. Word can spread fast and easily when famous people are spotted enjoying their meal during the grand opening.

Enjoy your ‘Big Day’

Of course, this is your special day and you only have to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It would be more festive with all the music, noise and laughter. Picture here, there, everywhere. Take lots of photos and post them on your social media accounts and business website for everyone to see.

The Relevance of a Soft Opening

There are entrepreneurs who prefer to hold a soft opening instead of a grand launching day. Yes, this is very much a welcome idea given that a grand opening doesn’t necessarily always have to be a one-day affair. It can be made longer and be like a grand opening week. This weeklong event is strongly recommended by the experts. So, why not?

On the other hand, a soft opening can let you ‘test the waters’, so to speak. Consumers are going to have a ‘feel’ of what your business is all about and especially if you have some giveaways and free taste during the soft opening. Just to tease their minds of what’s yet to come.Now, you’re all set to launch your kitchen on wheels. But is one food truck enough? In case you’re looking to expand,

just contact Used Vending for reliable used trucks. Here is this link that leads you to where you can find the exact vehicle that matches your needs.