A launch party can be the best way of getting a new brand or product out there and noticed by your target audience. However, they can also be a nightmare to organize – finding a venue, arranging the catering, organizing a guest list and chasing up the RSPV’s, and all the other things associated such as decor and goody bags.

Get it right, and your brand will be remembered for all the right reasons. Get it wrong, and well…we do not need to tell you the damage it can do. Fear not, however, as we have put together a little guide to help you plan an epic launch party.

Ensure You Are Prepared for the Launch of Your Company

Though the prospect of a launch party is exciting – especially as it provides you (and your brand) with the opportunity to hit the ground running, it’s important that you do not host a launch prematurely. After all, this is the stage where you need to put your best foot forward – meaning that you don’t want to showcase a product or service before it’s quite ready. You should also ensure that you have a solid business plan in place ahead of time – so that you can answer any questions that might be thrown your way. For example, you should be ready to discuss the following:

• Your plans for expansion and growth.
• Your profit margins.
•  Your target demographic.
• What makes your products/services different.
• What you offer to potential investors.

Furthermore, you may also want to ensure that you have an office or workspace ahead of this time – so that you can begin offering your products and services to your clients immediately. While many small businesses operate from their own home or rented spaces, you can save a lot of money over time by building your own commercial site. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to expensive, as you can work with a range of construction providers, such as a Concrete Supply Company, to procure all of the materials you need to build the perfect workspace from the ground up. Once your company is ready and raring to go, it’s time to nail down the details of your epic launch party.

Invite the Right People

Depending on what industry you are in and the scale of your company, you may have a PR person helping to organize this, and they should be managing the guest list. However, it is ultimately down to you who comes and who does not, and you should have the final say over the guest list. Make sure that you invite a range of people, but make sure that they are relevant. Do not, for example, invite high powered politicians to a street fashion brand. It is not your target audience, and it is likely to drive your target audience away. When creating your guest list, consider your goals. Is it to create a buzz and get your brand in the media? If so, high profile guests and celebrities are relevant. If it is to drive sales off the back of the event, work with your sales team, inviting people who are in your target demographic.

Plan a Range of Entertainment

If you want your launch party to go with a bang, it has got to be fun, and that means providing a range of entertainment. You want something that is going to encourage people to talk and mingle and find out about the product or the brand. Where possible, make the entertainment relevant to the brand. If you are launching a new line of makeup, perhaps you could offer free makeovers. If it is a street fashion brand, maybe some street dancers could put in a performance? Other things that always go down a treat are photo booths, selfie mirrors, and magicians for hire.

Give Them a Reason to Attend

This is especially important if you are inviting people from within the industry or celebrities. They may well get tens of invites every week, all in a cool London venue. It would help if you gave them a reason to want to attend – a USP, as it were. If you have experience of throwing a legendary party, include a little snippet of something that in your invites, or give them a hint to your superb entertainment or the contents of your goody bag, if you are giving them out.

Relax

Throwing a launch party can be stressful, especially if you have high profile guests and the success of your business is riding on it, but if you are uptight, this will show. Take some deep breaths and relax – you will be much more able to deal with any issues if you are not wound up and will be able to mingle more confidently with your guests.