RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES

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 Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce to participate in your ribbon cutting.

Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce is available to assist with your ceremony if your business:

• Opened its doors within the past six months
• Moved to a new location
• Has been remodeled or has expanded its current location
• Is celebrating a milestone anniversary (10th, 25th, 50th, etc.)
• Groundbreaking

By hosting a ribbon cutting, you can:

• 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/expand a customer base
• Generate leads and sales from attendees
• Publish a photo of your ribbon cutting in the Chamber’s newsletter and social media pages

There is a small fee for the Chamber to participate based upon membership level:

• General membership – $50.00 for ribbon cutting. Prepayment is required.
• Executive partners – this benefit is included in your membership
   

*Ribbon cuttings scheduled outside of Chamber business hours (8AM-5PM Monday-Friday) or on holidays include additional fees

The Chamber will gladly assist you by doing the following:

• Notify the Chamber’s membership of your ribbon cutting and encourage attendance
• List your ribbon cutting on the Chamber’s community calendar and ribbon cutting page of our website
• Have a member of the Chamber’s Leadership Team provide congratulatory remarks
• Have a photographer at the event taking pictures*
• Make a Chamber branded ribbon cutting flyer about your event
• Market your event on the following platforms:

                   - Emailed newsletter
                   - Chamber website
                   - Chamber Facebook page

• Market your event at the luncheons in the following manner:

                    - Announcement to the attendees about the event
                    - Chamber branded flyer in the rotating slideshow 
                    - Chamber branded flyers on the tables 

• Members of the Chamber staff will be present at the event
• Provide minimal audio/visual assistance (depending on what we have available to use and if it fits your needs)
• Bring the “giant scissors” and ribbon
• Publish photos of your event on our Facebook page

While the Chamber will extend the above-mentioned invitations and list your ribbon cutting on our community calendar, we strongly encourage you to conduct your own PR campaign to increase the attendance and awareness of your business’ 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.

*If you would like to have the pictures taken by our photographer for commercial use, you will need to purchase them directly from him.

Because your ribbon cutting is your event, there are no set rules. To make your event successful, carefully consider the following:

• Schedule your event using our Ribbon Cutting Reservation Form at least two weeks in advance. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are usually best days during the week for business people, not earlier than 8:00 a.m. and avoiding later evening functions unless this is the type business you have. The Chamber can assist with ribbon cuttings on weekends and holidays for an additional fee.
• 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, and business partners for example.
• 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 a list of members who can help you create gifts.
• Food and beverage is not required, but for open house events, it makes a nice touch. The Chamber is happy to provide you with a list of members who can help you with catering
• Prepare a quick speech and be sure to have plenty of brochures available.

Other ways you can enhance your event:

• A mailed invitation - the Chamber can sell you a member mailing labels
• Additional marketing materials, such as a Facebook event or a custom poster
• Emcee for event
• Volunteers (for help with set-up, tear down, and other event logistics)
• Banners
• Recording of ribbon cutting
• Name tags (for staff &volunteers)
• 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 contact list of member marketing firms.

You may consider marketing on:

• Your business’s Facebook page
• Radio
• Newsminer
• Television

Please note: Pre-registration with the Chamber for Ribbon Cuttings is required with two weeks advance notice. Events are scheduled based upon availability Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The chamber can conduct an after-hour or weekend event for an additional fee. 

(907) 452-1105
info@fairbankschamber.org