Organising the opening of your new premises in Marseille

Why hold an opening for your new premises?

An opening serves three audiences at once. Your clients and partners discover your facilities and your growth. Your employees make the place their own and take pride in it. Your local area (elected officials, neighbours, chamber of commerce, local press) gets to know you. For a shop or restaurant opening, there is a fourth audience: future customers from the neighbourhood.

An opening is also a great communication opportunity: photos of the ribbon, a video tour, an article in the local press. Plan for them from the outset.

What running order for an opening?

1. 5.30pm, welcome: guest list, badges, first drink, background music.
2. 6pm, guided tours: groups of 15 people, one employee per group, a 20-minute route.
3. 6.45pm, speeches: the managing director, then an elected official or partner, 5 minutes each, on a wireless microphone.
4. 7pm, ribbon cutting: official photo, cold sparks or a confetti drop depending on the venue.
5. 7.05pm, cocktails: bar, canapés, saxophonist, façade lit up as night falls.
6. 8.30pm, close: a keepsake gift on the way out.

How much does an opening cost?

Hosting at your own premises saves on venue hire, but means bringing everything in: shelter, furniture, bar, technical equipment. Our benchmarks for equipping your premises:

Opening in Marseille or the wider metropolitan area: what changes

In central Marseille, space is often tight: cocktails on the pavement or a square require a permit to use public space from the town hall, which needs planning ahead. In the business parks of Vitrolles and Marignane, Aubagne or Aix-en-Provence, space is not a problem, but you need to think about parking and outdoor lighting, as night falls early for much of the year.

What entertainment for an opening?

• A saxophonist for the welcome and cocktails, without a heavy sound system.
• Keyring engraving with your logo, a useful souvenir of the visit.
• A photographer for the ribbon photo and portraits with key guests.
• Stilt walkers for a shop opening that gets noticed from the street.

What mistakes should you avoid?

• Inviting an elected official three weeks ahead: their diaries fill up two months in advance.
• Exceeding your premises’ authorised capacity: your building’s maximum occupancy also applies on the evening of the opening.
• Inaudible speeches in a workshop or on a forecourt: one microphone and two speakers make all the difference.
• Forgetting the neighbours: an information letter, or even an invitation, prevents noise complaints.

What does ADJM Événementiel take care of?

We equip your premises (equipment, sound and lighting, gazebos), provide the bar, music and photography, prepare the permits and coordinate the running order with your team.