Congratulations on your grand opening, expansion, or move! Hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony is a great opportunity to attract new business, raise awareness, publicly thank your stakeholders, and celebrate your accomplishments. Keep in mind, this resource isn’t strictly for ribbon cuttings—life time achievements, notable anniversaries, and events and milestones of similar scope can also warrant this package. In order to take advantage of this valuable resource most effectively, consider the following:
What audience are you targeting for your event? Current or prospective clients? Local dignitaries and politicians? Family members and friends? If you are looking to attract a broader crowd, is there a special demographic you want to attract?
Keep your audience in mind every step of the way.
The Chamber can provide you with a list of political contacts.
Day & Time:
What will work best for your business and your demographic? If you sell products to students, a ribbon cutting during the school day would not be ideal. If there is a guest of honor, you may need to plan around their schedule.
Refreshments:
Food and drinks are always a good idea to attract and please attendees. Consider the time of day, your audience, and the size of your expected crowd when choosing your order. Need help finding a caterer? Contact the Chamber for a referral.
Promotion:
As part of your membership, you have access to the full list of contact information for our members in ChamberMaster. Consider taking advantage of this resource to send out invitations. You can also ask us to post about it on social media.
Media coverage:
While local media outlets such as the Osceola News-Gazette, El Osceola Star and Positively Osceola don’t often cover these events in person, they will sometimes publish a press release and photos if you provide them. The Chamber can provide you with a list of local media contacts.
Photography:
Your photographer doesn’t need to be a professional; it can just be someone comfortable with a camera. If there are certain shots you definitely want (the ribbon cutting itself, for example), make sure to put together a list of those shots and review it with the photographer in advance. Post these on social media and your website as soon as possible
Attendees:
Get the names and contact information for those who attend your event. You can do this with a simple sign in sheet, or by having a raffle that requires attendees to leave their business cards.
Sometimes, this is done right at the beginning of an event, but more often it’s done about a half-hour into the event, once people have had a chance to mingle.
This could be the company owner, a local dignitary, someone from the Chamber, family members, or any combination of these. Will anyone be asked to speak? Are you planning a toast of any kind?
The Chamber has one pair of wooden scissors with the Kissimmee Osceola County Chamber of Commerce name on it.
Follow Up! Send out your press release and photos to the local media outlets. Post photos on your website and social media and ask your followers to share. Send out personalized “Thanks for coming” notes. You can even include an incentive to come back tot he business, like a coupon.
More Chamber Resources: Send the Director of External Affairs the press release to post or write a blog if you’re an Opportunity, Unity, Visionary or Champion member. And don’t forget, we’re here to help every step of the way.
On Tuesday, August 6th the Celebration Area Council held their first Business Spotlight, which they hope will become a regular event going forward. The Business Spotlight series aims to offer a “Celebration 101” crash course and to bring Celebration businesses and people together. This first outing had a bit of a tourism theme and was held at the offices of Experience Kissimmee at 215 Celebration Place. Attendees heard presentations from several local companies before taking some time to network and enjoy champagne in Experience Kissimmee’s Google Bar. Here’s some of what we took away from the presenting companies:
Debby Guertin, Director of Community Relations with Experience Kissimmee explained how tourism impacts us in Osceola County. The annual economic impact of the tourism industry in Osceola County is $5.3 billion. (Yes, billion…with a “b.”) 8.9 million people visit Kissimmee each year and spend an annual total of $3.8 billion while they are here. Their impact generates 45,000 jobs in Osceola County. Experience Kissimmee is Osceola County’s destination marketing organization (DMO), and therefore it is their mission to “create economic opportunity for our community by driving visitation to the destination.”
If you are living under a rock, or have been on an extended vacation, you might have missed that Florida Hospital is now AdventHealth. Erika Vera, Director of Business Development with AdventHealth clarified that this change does not reflect a merger or change in ownership. AdventHealth’s system of hospitals has always been owned by Adventist Health System, and they are simply unifying their properties around the country under one name for reasons of clarity and easy recognition. Some exciting changes coming to the AdventHealth Celebration campus include expanded women’s health services, a dedicated pediatric emergency department to open in October 2019, and advanced neurosurgical care and comprehensive stroke program. A new patient tower and expanded parking will open soon.
Avius is a company that offers real-time feedback solutions. Ben Story, CEO of Avius, shared their technology, which helps provide insights into customer experiences for major companies that include Macy’s, Legoland, and Los Angeles International Airport. Locally, they just started atrial program with SeaWorld, where their devices provide the park with real-time feedback (within 30 seconds), and have already collected 600,000surveys in the last 4 months. To see Avius’ technology in action, visit Chick-fil-a in Celebration. Take the customer feedback survey, and also let them know where you’re from and check out the real-time map of world wide visitors to Chick-fil-a’s Celebration location!
Mark Ortenzo with Main Street Strollers explained their solution to experiencing Central Florida with toddlers in tow. They offer stroller rentals that can be used throughout all parks, retail locations, and even on out-of-area excursions, and then returned before the customer flies home. They offer an affiliate partner program to make the stroller booking process easy via hotel, travel agency, rental company, visitor information center, or other local business.
Old Town has been a staple on West 192, just down the street from Celebration, since1986. Todd Larkin shared some of its history, reported on some new offerings, and outlined further changes that can be expected in the coming months. OldTown offers events for all ages every night and continues to be home to the Saturday Classic Car Show and Cruise, which is now America’s longest running weekly car show! A 13,000 square foot expansion is in its final stages of construction and new restaurants, including anew-concept Shoney’s, and retails spaces will open soon. The long-awaited garage bar is also almost complete.
It’s no secret that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 29th. Sylvia Tough, Sales Manager with Walt Disney World Meetings & Events, shared that Galaxy’s Edge is the largest single-themed expansion ever created in a Disney park. This 14 acre, $1 billion expansion will mean1,700 new operations jobs, plus an additional 5,500 temporary jobs created as part of the construction period. The new themed area will include two attractions, seven food and beverage locations, and eight immersive shops. Sylvia also reminded attendees that Disney Meetings & Events can offer meeting and event planning services to local businesses and organizations in addition to those that travel in from out of town.
If you missed out on the August Business Spotlight, and would like an opportunity to get up-close with Celebration area businesses, please attend the CAC’s next Business Spotlight event on October 1, which will have more of a Downtown Celebration theme!
● DANKIN AVE CRUISE IN
Classic Cars * Live Music * Raffles
3 Sisters Speakeasy
Friday, August 2 | 6 PM
● 1ST FRIDAY SENIOR BINGO
Devoted Health sponsors free Bingo for local seniors
Kissimmee Diner
Friday, July 5 | 1:30 PM
● DOWNTOWN BACK TO SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY
* Free school supplies * Scavenger Hunt Raffle * Giveaways & More!
Dakin Ave
Saturday, August 3 | 4 PM - 6 PM
● AMERICAN LEGION BIKE NIGHT
Bikes * Live DJ * Raffles and Prizes
3 Sisters Speakeasy
Saturday, August 17 | 5 PM
● KISSIMMEE ROCKS EXHIBIT
View and paint your own rock
Wednesday, August 21 | 6 PM - 7 PM
● GALERIA NIGHT
A night of music, art, and networking
Matador Tacos & Tapas
Thursday, August 22 | 5:30 PM
William Burroughs Makinson came to Kissimmee from Marly by steamboat and train in 1883. At the time, Kissimmee was the last stop on the railroad. In 1884, Makinson partnered with J.M. Katz to establish Makinson & Katz. In 1900, the partnership dissolved and Makinson Hardware relocated to 308 Broadway. Makinson was known to trade with pioneers and the Seminole Indians. Makinson made sure to meet the needs of the local cattlemen. Today, Makinson Hardware is the oldest hardware store in the county and the state of Florida.
