MEC NANAIMO Grand Opening
EVENT STRATEGY + EXECUTION
the situation
MEC was opening a new store in Nanaimo and needed a launch that felt authentically local.
Not a ribbon cutting. A genuine community moment that would establish the store as a hub for the outdoor community from day one.
the work
I led the full planning and execution of the grand opening activation. Strategy, event design, budget management, partner coordination, community engagement, and on-site operational delivery.
Nearly 15 brand and community activations including Patagonia, The North Face, and Salomon. Local clubs, regional creators, food trucks, and live programming. The Mayor and MLA attended. A tiered prizing strategy kept energy high from open to close. I built the run-of-show and managed every moving part through to close.
The goal was simple: make it feel local, make it feel real, and make sure customers showed up in droves.
the result
Over 2,000 customers through the store each day.
Strong partner engagement, smooth operations, and immediate community credibility for the new location.
The planning frameworks and playbook built for this activation are now MEC's model for future store openings.
