Gift Baskets Newsletter » Donation Requests

How Volunteering Increases Gift Basket Sales

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:18:12 +0000

There are opportunities for volunteering your time that you simply cannot pass up.

It may be because a loved one was treated for an ailment, or perhaps caring for homeless dogs and cats is tops on your list.

No matter what the cause, it’s a situation that blends well with the spirit of gift basket giving and gift basket sales.

That’s the topic this week’s newsletter, and to receive your copy each week, sign up through this link.

Gift baskets provide joy and comfort in every situation, and if you align your business with a worthy cause, you’ll reap benefits beyond monetary gains.

© 2008-2010 Shirley George Frazier. All rights reserved. Shirley George Frazier is the world's expert on the gift basket industry, professional speaker, and author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business: Solutions You Can Use Today. Visit GiftBasketBusiness.com for DVDs, CDs, reports, tips, and more to learn, grow, and profit with gift baskets.

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Start-Up Money, Get Organized, How to Donate

Shirley George Frazier — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:48:08 +0000

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.

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Earning a Profit, Giving to Charity, Male Buyers

Shirley George Frazier — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:42:02 +0000

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.

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How Donations Bring You Business

Shirley George Frazier — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:01:28 +0000

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.

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Welcome to Gift Baskets, Create a Brochure

Shirley George Frazier — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:03:22 +0000

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.

Technorati Tags: donating gift baskets, making a gift basket brochure, starting a gift basket business

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