Jul

20

Trade Shows, Asking Questions, Imprinting Machines

Filed Under Customers, TRADE SHOWS, Wholesale Suppliers | Leave a Comment

FROM CHAOS TO CALM
There are certain expectations when you begin making gift baskets. First, you wonder if you’ll get sales, and when they arrive, you wonder how to organize everything, including travel. Wednesday’s newsletter provides trade show alternatives when you cannot travel, which includes magazines to get this month to read gift basket articles.

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION?
Learning about the receiver, before you begin designing, ensures that the gift basket matches their preferences. What do you ask, and are the questions organized on paper rather than by memory? Here’s what I asked a client before dazzling 25 members of her day care staff.

HOW TO PRINT UP SALES
What type of ribbon imprinter is in your workspace, and can it do more than imprint on ribbon? One designer is searching for a special imprinter to satisfy her clients with different types of personalization. Her question is at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. Can you help her?

Jul

16

How to Manage Your Time, Travel, and Money

Filed Under TRADE SHOWS, Wholesale Suppliers | Leave a Comment

Managing your time while marketing, selling, and attending trade shows is often a difficult process, but there are alternatives to keep order and sanity.

Rather than attend trade shows, some gift basket designers choose to stay close to their stores due to time or budgetary constraints. This dilemma can leave a big void in the items offered to customers who count on you to surprise them with every order.

But how can you take time away from business to visit trade shows when the ones you really want to attend are thousands of miles away? Here are two solutions.

1. Speak with suppliers. Call wholesalers that plan to exhibit. Ask the representative if you can take advantage of specials through a phone order. New items are usually shown online, and the rep may have approval to give you a “heads up” on sales specials.

2. Re-review trade publications. Gift and gourmet trade magazines often feature new items for each season, introducing you to what will be in style in terms of colors and trends.

The July issues of Gifts & Decorative Accessories and Gift Shop Magazine include gift basket articles. Try and get a copy of both before month’s end.

Don’t let schedule, location, or budget keep you from finding new products to refresh designs. Your customers are counting on you be their premier, trend-setting gift consultant.

Gift Basket Wholesale Supplies lists wholesalers and distributors in state order and throughout Canada. It’s a resource that may be beneficial if you absolutely cannot get to a show.

Jun

11

Buying All the Wrong Things

Filed Under Wholesale Suppliers | 2 Comments

When I began buying gift basket inventory, I was a pro at purchasing cute items that didn’t sell.

* Toilet tissue labeled “after dinner rolls”
* Fruit-shaped bath sponges too rough for the skin
* Ladders for bird cages I thought would be great for congratulations gift baskets

They all bombed.

You don’t have money to waste, and that’s why I’m telling you where I goofed.

Here’s a review of what to consider when choosing or replenishing your inventory.

1. Basic. Crackers, cheese, sausage, nuts, cookies, and beverages work well in most baskets.

2. Crossover. Look for items that fit into multiple themes. Items mentioned above apply, and also consider choosing colors over words (burgundy or green-colored packaging rather than Happy Father’s Day, etc.).

3. Specific. Items for baby, spa, and gardening baskets will sell briskly as long as your clients are partial to those designs. Try not to make a heavy financial investment in these products until you know that customers will buy often.

Baby and spa gift basket samples are found at Gift Basket Tutorials, and you’ll also find a sample list of products to put into several basket themes.

The toilet tissue and bath sponges are long gone, but I still have those bird ladders. Anyone interested?

Jun

1

Videos Online, Gift Basket Podcast, Finding Products

Filed Under VIDEOS/TRAINING, Wholesale Suppliers | Leave a Comment

TAP INTO ONLINE TRAINING
Videos that provide basic training are just a click away. Wednesday’s newsletter guides you to the three popular online gift basket videos, and you’ll find more on the same site. Take advantage of this complimentary assistance.

WHAT’S A PODCAST?
Have you heard the gift basket online radio show? It’s available through the blog, and if you don’t know what a podcast or blog are, a quick and easy-to-understand tutorial is here to bring you up to speed. Now you can listen and work in your studio at the same time.

SURPRISES IN YOUR STATE
One gift basket designer wants to know how to uncover supplies in her state. I guess she’s looking to save shipping expenses, which is a good idea in this economy. There are three ways to find products, and they’re listed here.

Mar

9

Gift Basket Supplies, How to Network With Others

Filed Under Startup Help, Wholesale Suppliers | Leave a Comment

FINDING WHAT YOU NEED TO DESIGN
There are times you need sausage, cheese, crackers, and other main stays to create a design, but you also require specialty products when making a masterpiece the client will always remember.

Wednesday’s newsletter leads you to product sources in your state and in other regions to sell more of your gifts and baskets every day.

HOW TO MAKE NETWORKING EASIER
Is it difficult for you to meet new people during networking sessions? Sometimes it’s not easy for me either, but I bet that three steps I outline in How Not to Work a Room will help you make the most of each event.

HELP THIS DESIGNER
A designer asked a question on how to name gift baskets made with Amish products. Do you have any ideas? Read her dilemma (and respond if you wish) at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. Do you have a question about gift baskets? Send it through the Question Submission Rules link at the top of each page.

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