Dec

8

If You Want More Publicity for Your Gift Baskets, Check Out These Tips

Filed Under Publicity/Media Attention, Startup Help | Comments Off

Small businesses are known to use the same techniques year after year to gain attention through the media.

They know not to re-invent the wheel when tried-and-true methods work.

Here’s a list of popular ways to get press attention:

  • Making presentations to large and small groups, at corporate events and morning business meetings.
  • Appearing on radio talk shows that focus on general business and financial issues.

The final three tips are revealed in Basket Biz, the newsletter solely for gift basket professionals published every Thursday.

Subscribe by clicking on this page link to learn, grow, and profit with gift baskets throughout 2012.

May

27

How to Determine Start-Up Costs

Filed Under Startup Help | Comments Off

SUMMER IS TIME TO SIZZLE, NOT FIZZLE

Vacation plans are on the rise and with it opportunities to sell gift baskets while you’re in the office, attending an event, or relaxing on the beach.

This article shares three ways to promote your gift baskets this summer in ways that keep sales coming.

START-UP COSTS AT A GLANCE

How much does it take to start a gift basket business? The answer to this question cannot be quoted as one number. It’s different for every designer.

Learn, in this article, what costs are associated with starting your business so that you calculate a realistic answer.

Apr

29

Free Advice Can Be Hazardous to Your Business

Filed Under Enhancements, Startup Help | Comments Off

FREE ADVICE ISN’T ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE

How many times have you shared your dream of gift basket business success with someone who gave you advice that didn’t work? You’re not alone.

Click here to find out how I learned not to listen to other people so that you benefit faster than I did.

WHERE TO FIND ENHANCEMENTS

Buying from a retail craft store is sometimes advantageous, but being in business requires you to buy products for a low cost that can be sold for maximum profit.

A designer recently asked where she can buy enhancements, and here’s my response.

Feb

10

Who Thinks You’re Wasting Time with Gift Baskets?

Filed Under Startup Help | Comments Off

You’re surrounded by two types of people: the ones who believe in your dreams and the others who can find every reason why your goals won’t work.

It seems that the people who are negative about what you want to accomplish make the most impact on your decisions. Why is that?

My gift basket business may not have started if I had listened to an uncle who was dead-set against it. Read the story here entitled, Who’s Telling You Not to Start a Gift Basket Business?”

If you’re surrounded by people who put down your dream, how do you plan to push your fears aside and begin turning your dream into a reality?

Feb

15

Crafts Equals Cash, Time to Sell, Name Your Baskets

Filed Under Planning, Sales-Increasing Strategies, Startup Help | Comments Off

CAN CRAFTS MEAN MORE CASH?

Two years ago, I helped a gift basket designer write a press release with the title, “Her Craft is in the Basket,” and it was published in her state’s largest newspaper, along with her picture. The story piggybacked on March’s National Crafts Month. She received lots of calls, and best of all, she gained lots of sales.

Wednesday’s newsletter explains how this crafty focus can turn into big business for you, even if you want to be associated with business and not crafts.

BAD TIME TO SELL BASKETS?

I’m receiving lots of Emails from aspiring and current designers who, because of the economy, are nervous about starting and selling. Most of all, family members and friends are discouraging too many of us who believe carving out a career now is the right thing to do.

Here’s the story of how I started with gift baskets when a family member tried to convince me I was crazy. Does my experience remind you of your own?

THE NAME GAME

One of my Valentine’s Day baskets, named “Prisoner of Love,” was such a hot seller every season that it often sold out weeks before February 14, no matter how much inventory I bought.

That’s one of the reasons I encourage you to name your baskets, the subject of this Ask The Gift Basket Expert question. Read it to learn why design names are an important part of the sales process, plus read the numerous comments below my suggestions.

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