Feb

22

Start-Up Money, Get Organized, How to Donate

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IN THE MARKET FOR MONEY

Years ago, American Express and the Women’s Basketball League sponsored a small business contest. A gift basket designer, located about 30 minutes from my office, won the top prize of cash and a computer. I think about her good fortune every time I ride past her thriving location.

Wednesday’s newsletter reminds you that well-funded corporations continue to sponsor contests and other events that benefit your business. Intuit, the makers of QuickBooks, is running one now. Have you entered?

WELL OILED BUNCH OF BASKETS

A client called me to place an order. I grabbed an order form from a drawer directly under the phone. When the order was written on paper, I placed it on the front of a shelf above my worktable, similar to the way restaurant orders are positioned. That’s when I knew I had a good sales system in place.

This article shares more ways to ensure that your business is in working order, saving you lots of time and lowering your stress. If you’re disorganized, let these tips get you under control.

DONATION OR DUMPSTER?

Your inventory houses many products. Now that it’s 2009, is it time to clear out old goods that are too dated and dingy to sell? Some items may qualify as donations.

Click to read this story, which helps you decide how to discard items that clog your shelves and creative success. It’s time to dump it for good.

Nov

23

Earning a Profit, Giving to Charity, Male Buyers

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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

12

How Donations Bring You Business

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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.

Feb

10

Welcome to Gift Baskets, Create a Brochure

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DONATIONS MAY DOUBLE YOUR SALES
When an organization requests you to donate a gift basket, do you run in the other direction or review your strategy to get the most for your donation? Wednesday’s newsletter hands down three tips to make sure your donated basket produces results.

HELPFUL LINKS FOR NEW AND CURRENT DESIGNERS
Are you new to the gift basket business, this newsletter, or the GiftBasketBusiness.com Web site? This message welcomes you to the industry and provides links to informative areas on the Internet with videos, articles, money sources, and more.

DO YOU HAVE A BROCHURE?
Making a brochure is easier today than in past years. Have you created one to mail to prospects and to remind clients what’s available for special occasions? This article explains what’s in my brochure, which I encourage you to copy for your own promotions.

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Feb

6

Get Something Back When You Donate

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Non-profit organizations are preparing their donation request list, and you’re on it. They often ask for gift basket donations for their black tie auctions. The number of requests may become overwhelming for you, especially when every organization asks at the same time. Your main concern is:

Are donations worth my time, or should I focus solely on paying clients?

Here’s how to give away leftovers rather than deplete your “good” inventory and a photo of how I arranged four items in a leftover container.

Experienced designers set donation limits, and they also expect certain opportunities as part of their charitable giving. Consider these three options the next time an organization contacts you for a donation.

1. Work with groups that focus on a cause close to your heart. Homelessness, youth activities, or cancer prevention may top your list.

2. Ask about opportunities to become a board member. Many individuals on non-profit boards have the power to get your gift baskets into doors that you cannot open on your own.

3. Request tickets to the annual event as part of the donation. If your gift basket will be there, so should you.

The next time you’re asked to donate, consider the benefits that both you and the organization bring to each other. Then choose a cause, give, and get something back.

Here are four articles with insights on when to donate (newspaper links within the articles may be broken due to age).

Donate Baskets to a Good Cause
How Do You Handle Donation Requests?
How to Choose Charities to Receive Your Gift Baskets
Donating Does a Lot of Good

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Nov

25

How to Satisfy Your Customers

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CASH IN WITH CUSTOMER INCENTIVES
Most retailers are giving customers extra reasons to buy. They’re offering trinkets and baubles along with purchases. How can you join in and still profit? Wednesday’s newsletter tells how gift basket designers are increasing their revenue this season.

A GOOD TIME TO DONATE
Do you have empty baskets that simple won’t sell? It may be wise to donate these vessels to a worthy cause. Read how I found a charity that uses my older baskets and tips on how you can find one in your area.

IS YOUR BUSINESS NAME INSULTING?
It took weeks to choose a great business name, but before you print it on business cards, make sure the name doesn’t mean something negative in another language. Here’s what happened to a coffee company whose name insulted an ethnic group.

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Oct

14

Is It Time to Fire a Client?

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CALLING IT QUITS
Is it time to say “goodbye” to difficult clients? When the stress of dealing with certain customers gets to the breaking point, use these steps to end the relationship.
 
DONATIONS DONE RIGHT
Do organizations ask you for gift baskets? Here’s smart advice to make sure your donation lands you more contacts and clients.