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

Will Insurance Problems Hinder Your Holiday?

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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:

  • Client who trips on a stair because she insists on picking up the basket from your location.

  • Telephone call notifying you that a recipient is hospitalized because of a product consumed from the gift basket.

  • Courier who delivered your basket to a teenager who became drunk from a bottle of wine you included, a bottle you hoped wouldn’t be a problem this one time.

    • 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 | Comments Off

    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:

  • Forge new business relationships between small firms and multi-million dollar conglomerates.
  • Open new and renewed doors of opportunity between people and businesses that once seemed closed for good.
  • Express a heightened sense of comfort or joy over and above words or gestures.

    • 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 | Comments Off

    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?

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