Feb
24
Do You Wrap Other People’s Gift Baskets?
Filed Under Cellophane, Shrink Wrap, Bags, Ribbon and Bows | Leave a Comment
When I arrived at a bookstore to promote the book, How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, a woman attending the event asked me to use the gift basket she brought to show people how to make and wrap it.
I declined her request, as I had my own gift basket with me. In addition, my policy at the time was to only wrap my gift baskets and not ones presented elsewhere or brought into my store.
Within months my policy changed because I began receiving many cellophane wrapping and bowmaking requests. It became a lucrative part of business because customers preferred my professional styling.
You’ll find cellophane wrapping tips and a video at CellophaneWrapTips.com.
What’s your policy on wrapping gift baskets that you didn’t make?
Mar
8
Web Sales, Basket Wrapping, Financial Tips
Filed Under Cellophane, Shrink Wrap, Bags, Money, Web Site Design/Maintenance | Leave a Comment
WEB SALES WORK WONDERS
Is your Web site’s contact page easy to find and complete? A designer in Georgia asked me to look at her page. It asked visitors to call her.
I suggested that she convert the page to a Web form, available free of charge online and easy to install. She’s now receiving regular queries, one which secured a $3,000 welcome gift basket order.
Wednesday’s newsletter reveals reasons why a Web site review and subsequent changes will increase your sales in the long run. It’s prime time to get your Web presence in order.
RAPPING ABOUT WRAP
Among the most-popular questions I hear at trade show seminars is, “How do you wrap that?” This is most often asked when I display containers such as upturned umbrellas, rocking chairs, and miniature vehicles.
I once thought that everything had to be wrapped, but that’s not true, specifically when the basket is hand delivered. This article provides insight on how to enclose these attractive, yet unusual, shapes.
CREATE YOUR OWN ECONOMIC ENVY
Designers in the Golden Basket Club have a proactive attitude about their businesses. They convince prospects to buy during casual conversations, and that’s what makes a sales drought less likely.
Some designers have opted for a different stance, one where they hope sales will increase on its own. Read this question and answer about the current economy at Ask The Gift Basket Expert, then decide if it’s better to wait or go after sales.
Jan
18
Cellophane Wrap, Baby Baskets, How to Find Wholesale Supplies
Filed Under Baby, Cellophane, Shrink Wrap, Bags, Wholesale Suppliers | Leave a Comment
CELLO-BRATE YOUR WRAP STYLE
Yesterday, at the Philadelphia Gift Show, attendees watched as I demonstrated how to wrap a small gift with three types of cellophane.
One print was an inside wrap, another enclosed the entire gift, and the third one was a fan topper. None of it clashed, which proves that multiple wraps can work together and look attractive.
Wednesday’s newsletter clears up questions you may have about cellophane and shares tips to ensure that you don’t overspend at trade shows while considering which prints will bring you the highest profits.
NEW LAWS FOR LITTLE ONES
Everyone gets nervous when government starts to intervene with product laws. That’s what’s happening in the U.S., where baby goods are now under strict examination for lead particles.
Are the products currently in your inventory destined for the trash? This article uncovers the new rules for your baby baskets, including links to explanations so that you find yourself on the right side of the law.
BASKETS IN YOUR BACKYARD
The closest wholesale supplier to my shop is just five minutes away, but that’s not true for everyone. Or is it?
A designer recently asked how to find products in her state. You’ll find my suggestions to locate sources at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. It may provide clues to help you uncover a source you didn’t know is steps away from your workshop.
Jan
14
The wrap chosen for each gift basket design determines how quickly it will sell. Isn’t that why you stock dozens of rolls in your workshop?
From pansies to paw prints, there’s a perfect pattern for every gift, and it has the ability to increase sales for such a small price.
I added flower-printed cello around saucers and tea cups filled with hard candies. That small gift sold out within days when those same cups and saucers wouldn’t sell on clearance.
Consider these three ideas before reaching for cellophane.
1. Take inventory. You’ll be encouraged at upcoming trade shows to buy more rolls, so it’s wise to know what you have, which patterns needs replenishing, and which ones are similar to current stock.
2. Create a backdrop. Photographs and in-store displays accented with fan toppers add height and elegance to designs, which for customers translates into higher perceived value.
3. Choose various widths. Many designers select 20- and 30-inch width cellophane rolls. However, veteran designers go for the 40-inch widths to promote their larger gift baskets, which is why they sell grand designs more often than petite sizes.
You’ll find photos, videos, and examples on the new Cellophane Wrap Tips site as well as 10 more design tips.
Jun
8
Father’s Day, Sales Planning, Gift Basket Wrapping
Filed Under Cellophane, Shrink Wrap, Bags, Father's Day, Planning | Leave a Comment
WHAT’S YOUR SALES PLAN?
How can you ensure that your gift basket sales exceed what you’d make working for someone else? Wednesday’s newsletter provides a simple mathematical breakdown to determine your sales goals and achieve a rewarding career in this field.
RAPPING ABOUT WRAP
Cellophane is a popular first choice as a gift basket wrap, but a shrink wrap machine is also a great long-term investment. Here’s a quick look at your wrapping options and how to view competitors during your decision making.
DADS WILL LOVE THIS BOX
Father’s Day is just around the corner. Looking for a unique way to wrap a gift box instead of or to accompany a gift basket? This Retail Wraps tutorial explains how to create a box resembling a vest, shirt, and tie. He’ll love it, and so will your customers.
Apr
13
Mother’s Day, Price Increases, Wrap a Basket
Filed Under Cellophane, Shrink Wrap, Bags, Money, Mother's Day | Leave a Comment
SHOPPING FOR MOM, SAVING FOR YOU
Designers recognize the importance of purchasing great items for Mother’s Day but might not realize how important it is to select those items this month. Wednesday’s newsletter encourages you to pair your buying with support staff merchandise to make sure you have everything needed for May.
A PRICE-RAISING EXPERIENCE
The price of doing business has increased dramatically. Are you passing those increases on to your customers? This article inspires you to raise your costs and consider incentives that keep clients buying.
HOW TO WRAP STRANGE SHAPES
When do you cover a uniquely-shaped container with cellophane, and when it is best to enclose it with shrink wrap? I respond to this not-easy-to-answer question to prepare you for handling imaginative baskets and other vessels.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, how to wrap a gift basket, mother’s day gift baskets, how to increase your prices
Oct
17
One question often asked during consulting sessions and at trade show demonstrations is: “Which wrapping product is most preferred: cellophane, basket bags, or shrink wrap?”
All three wrapping materials enjoy equal popularity. New designers usually start with cellophane because it’s a more cost-effective investment than other materials.
Basket bags make packaging quick and easy. It’s a life saver when time and labor must be kept to a minimum, especially when designing lower-cost gifts that look good without a lot of fuss.
Some designers swear by shrink wrap, vowing that they’ll never use anything else, while other designers swear at the product. It takes time and patience to gain shrink wrap proficiency. Remember that before you vow never to try it.
These three wrapping materials aren’t the only items we use to cover our baskets. There’s also tulle and Abaca. The latter is a man-made material that resembles a fisherman’s net. Crocheted carrying bags with long handles are often made with Abaca.
The wrapping products you choose to contain your designs reflect your personal style. If customers are dazzled by your work, you’ll know you made the right wrapping decision.
Learn more about your wrapping choices on the cellophane, etc. pages.
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