Why announce a site opening
An opening matters first and foremost to the local area. It is one of the announcements most widely covered by local media because it concerns jobs, the neighbourhood and economic activity.
- Recruit. Local media are read by candidates in the area.
- Thank your funders. Local authorities and banks expect public recognition.
- Meet local representatives. The opening is an opportunity to invite them.
- Raise your profile in the neighbourhood. Residents, local suppliers and prospective customers.
Press invitation and press release: two separate sends
Send the press invitation one to two weeks beforehand. Include the date, time, address, programme, attendees and a contact for registration. Send the press release on the day, after the event, with photos and quotes from the occasion. Don’t confuse the two: a long invitation won’t be read, while a press release without photos is less likely to be picked up.
Welcoming the press on the day
- A dedicated point of contact to welcome journalists
- Signposted parking or access
- A short tour scheduled for a set time
- A senior representative available for a ten-minute interview
- Photos taken by a professional and delivered that day
- A printed and online press pack
What to include in the press release
- The address and town
- The date and time of the opening or inauguration
- The investment amount and floor area
- Jobs created or transferred
- Attendees
- Access arrangements for the press
On Clarsource, these details are extracted into the announcement’s structured record, under Investment and business locations.
Example opening press release
Fictional example Press release
Forges de Vendée opens new production line in La Roche-sur-Yon
The €18m facility will be officially opened on 5 June 2027 at 10.30 am, in the presence of elected representatives from the Pays de la Loire region.
La Roche-sur-Yon, 20 May 2027. Forges de Vendée will open its new production line for offshore wind forging components on 5 June at its Ajoncs site. The line has already led to 41 new hires out of the 64 planned.
For the press. Welcome from 10 am; tour of the line at 11 am. Please register with the press contact.
About Forges de Vendée. Founded in 1962, with 312 employees.
Opening press release template
[Company] opens [site / factory / shop] in [town] [City], [date]. [Company] will open its [site] on [date] at [time], at [address]. [Description: floor area, activity, facilities]. This investment of [amount] will create or transfer [number] jobs. The opening will be attended by [attendees]. “[Quote: what this site will change]”, says [first name last name], [job title]. For the press. [Welcome times, tour, registration, access, parking] About [Company]. [Four lines.] Press contact. [Name], [email], [telephone]
Find more templates on our free templates page.
Why publish an opening on Clarsource
The location is verified against its INSEE code, so the announcement appears in your region and department.
Available for local media to download from the announcement.
Prepare the invitation and press release together, then send each on the right date.
Opening announcements feed into the map of business locations monitored by analysts.
What can make an opening miss the mark with the press
- Leaving out the full address and time
- Sending the press release on the day without inviting the press beforehand
- Not arranging for photos after the event
- Leaving out jobs, the first thing local media will ask about
Planning an opening?
Prepare the invitation and press release, and publish each on the right date.
Prepare your announcement