Nov
30
Insurance Protection, Getting Orders, Writing Contracts
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INSURE YOUR SUCCESS
Years ago I recall gift basket businesses being disrupted by floods and fires that occurred in their neighborhoods. The same has no doubt happened again to designers located in Southern California.
Wednesday’s newsletter reminds you why insurance is crucial to protect your inventory and other supplies that support your business. The bottom line: take pictures, and get enough coverage for your investment.
WHAT RECESSION?
In past newsletters I’ve mentioned that one of your best defenses against corporations canceling orders is to make slim, yet tall gifts that are less in price than your grand baskets. The lower-price alternative is working for some designers, as examined in an article mentioned here.
You’ll also see a photo of the partial contents for the grand prize in the gift basket business contest, which ends today. My apologies for stating in recent blog posts that the contest ends Monday. Good luck to all!
SECURING CONTACTS WITH CONTRACTS
A designer who’s preparing to work with a hotel wonders if a contract is necessary. I share my advice on this at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. What do you think? Will a contract ensure that the hotel does the right thing?
Nov
26
The design part of making gift baskets is truly the fun part, and best of all, you get paid for your expertise! But there are also parts of running this business that must be taken seriously.
Sooner or later, a mishap may occur. Three problems I can immediately think of are a:
Liabilities happen at the least-likely moment, and you must ensure that you and your firm are protected against circumstances that may end your business and lifestyle.
Insurance is not as glamorous as designing gifts, but it’s a product that lets you continue to create beautiful designs while maintaining your peace of mind.
Many insurance carriers call our specific type of coverage “crafter’s insurance,” but don’t let those hobby-sounding words fool you. This coverage contains a minimum $1 million in liability protection and more to let you sleep soundly at night.
Click here to review your insurance options before another day goes by. This holiday season, you want the media talking about your glamorous gift baskets, not damages incurred by a customer you’ll meet in court.
Remember to enter the gift basket contest with three prizes valued between $100 and $300. Deadline is 11/30. Get details here.
Nov
23
Earning a Profit, Giving to Charity, Male Buyers
Filed Under Donation Requests, Money | Leave a Comment
YOU’RE WORTH MORE
Anyone who’s been making gift baskets long enough to remember the AOL gift basket board will recall a designer who asked if it made financial sense to put $19 worth of product into a $25 gift basket. Many of us immediately advised her about lowering her costs in order to increase profits.
Wednesday’s newsletter encourages you to check your own profit margin to ensure that your income is as high as possible this holiday season and every other day you’re in business.
GET INVOLVED
This charitable season brings people together to create gifts and baskets for the needy. Are you involved? Your design expertise will put smiles on faces of children and other family members who receive gifts wrapped by you if you donate a few hours of time to a local charity.
Here’s a link to a story, with photos, of such an event to get you into the spirit. You’ll also see a photo, in the blog, of the trunk that’s part of the grand prize in the gift basket business contest.
MALE CALL
Men continue to be avid gift basket buyers. One designer notices many more men coming into her shop, and she wants to capitalize on sales to them.
Her question on increasing sales to men is at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. Read my response, and join the conversation.
Nov
19
Make Sure You Earn What You’re Worth
Filed Under Money | 2 Comments
As a gift basket designer, you deserve to make as much as possible from your expertise, creativity, and time invested honing your craft and expanding your education.
After all, what you create has a huge impact on the lives of many people and industries. Your gift baskets:
Review your profit margin before another day ends to ensure that you properly compensate yourself for this very unique and special talent.
Are you able to make a gift basket, charging three times the price of wholesale goods, or is your profit margin closer to a two times the markup? In either case, covering all costs and still having some left over to provide for personal needs is a good indicator.
From there, you continue searching for quality inventory at lower costs that continues to excite customers.
Contrary to some beliefs, everyone cannot design a custom, visually-appealing masterpiece that cements new and lasting bonds between people and companies. Your earnings must reflect this unique ability.
Articles that focus on making sure you make money:
10 Steps to Become a Successful Designer
Your Options to Find Cash on the Internet
Remember to enter the gift basket contest. The grand prize is valued at $300, and there are two more prizes. Deadline is 11/30. Get details here.
Nov
16
Donations, Gift Basket Contest, How to Ship
Filed Under Contests, Shipping and Delivery | Leave a Comment
CHARITY STARTS AT HOME
One year, I donated gift bags for a secretaries’ luncheon, thinking it would increase sales. It was a total bust and also a good lesson. My next donation included a ticket to the exclusive event. Boy, did my sales take off from meeting movers and shakers.
Wednesday’s newsletter shares insights on when to donate and when to say “no.” These tips are imperative if organizations frequently contact you.
A CONTEST WITH CASH AND MORE
A luxury gift basket kit, a set of resource materials, and cash are prizes in this gift basket contest. And it’s so easy to enter! Click here for prize information, deadline, and other details.
A SIMPLE WAY TO SHIP
I was nervous the first time I packed a gift basket for shipping to another state. Were you? One gift basket designer wants to know how it’s done, and I provide a quick tutorial at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. Does my response resemble your technique?
Nov
12
How Donations Bring You Business
Filed Under Donation Requests | 2 Comments
Holiday orders are arriving slowly, especially in this economy, but one request arrives consistently, sometimes on a daily basis – telephone calls from representatives of non-profit organizations asking for gift basket donations, usually over $100 in value.
These black tie, auction, and charity functions are usually scheduled this month and in December to coincide with holiday giving.
What’s your action plan for holiday requests? How do you decide which events to support?
Donation decisions boil down to three factors.
1. Causes that impact your family or community life get top consideration.
2. Perks that include an invitation to mingle with guests make the cut.
3. Groups sending less-than-formal requests without certain documentation (requests in letter format, a Web site presence, background information on the group, etc.) receive a “thanks, but my donation budget is filled” response.
You’re not necessarily looking for a “must get something back when I give” scenario, but as a business owner, certain incentives are mandatory in order for you to thrive so that you can continue supporting charities.
Remember that opportunities to meet auction attendees in person, during the event, are more valuable than a promise to receive an attendee list, so get the invitation in hand before making the donation.
This is one of the savvy marketing ideas revealed in 101 Ways to Market Gift Baskets, now available in book and ebook formats.
Attending charitable events allows you to shake hands with potential clients. Then you can follow up after the event and continue these relationships by phone, mail or Email to increase your holiday sales and start the New Year with new opportunities for higher profits.
Nov
9
TIME OFF FOR EARLY SALES
You pull out all the stops and convince clients to buy, and sometimes that means spending less time with family and friends because a client calls on December 24 to place a last-minute order. Does that happen to you?
It’s also happened to me, but now I know better. Wednesday’s newsletter gives you permission to say “no” to last minute buyers and provides other regulations to keep you sane and happy.
THESE THREE MAKE BUSINESS THRIVE
Why reinvent the wheel when you can pattern yourself after successful designers? These savvy retailers have three things in common to make sure they connect with customers and choose the right marketing strategies. See which three items I refer to in this article, and I also mention two more to keep in mind.
BASKETS WITH BRAND NAME PRODUCTS
Is it okay to put Victoria’s Secret, Hershey’s and Trader Joe’s products in your gift baskets without permission from these companies? That’s what a designer wants to know. You’ll find the answer at Ask The Gift Basket Expert where you’re welcomed to join the conversation.
Save Time – Gift Basket Biz Plan
Popular Gift Basket Books
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