Jul
6
Bereavement Baskets, Quick Changes, Accounting Tips
Filed Under Bereavement, Money, Sales-Increasing Strategies | Leave a Comment
IT’S BEREAVED, YET BEAUTIFUL
How many bereavement baskets did you create between January and June? As with all baskets, these heartfelt creations are made with tender-loving care. Wednesday’s newsletter provides a number of options for what to place in your bereavement baskets and how to ensure that clients will choose your gifts for this and all occasions.
HOW TO BE A QUICK CHANGE ARTIST
“Can you take out the cookies and put in cranberries?” is a question one client asked me a year ago. The latter is more expensive, so I had to do some quick thinking to satisfy her and still make a profit. You’ll get pointers from this article on making sure you don’t give away the store in one basket.
ACCOUNT FOR YOUR CASH
Keeping your business records intact takes initiative and dedication, and keeping your money out of the wrong hands takes lots of double checking. Even if you don’t outsource your accounting, this article shares advice on choosing trustworthy people to watch over your money.
Jul
2
How Do You Create Comfort?
Filed Under Bereavement | Leave a Comment
Most of your gift baskets are created for joyous occasions, but sometimes your artistry must turn to providing comfort in times of sorrow.Creating bereavement baskets can be a very challenging part of your business. You need to show respect for the deceased while bringing comfort to the living.
It’s a delicate balance that many of us don’t explore as often as the fun baskets. That’s why it’s important to pay close attention to products that can be used for these special arrangements.
Some clients request only fruit in their baskets, and it’s a request that you listen to carefully. However, it’s also a good idea to inform the client about other items in your inventory that the family may appreciate and cherish after the loved one is laid to rest. This includes picture frames, poem books, and note cards.
Cookies, tea, and flavored spoons, all chosen around the receiver’s preferences, round out the making of a tasteful comfort basket for a man or woman.
You may not make bereavement baskets each day, but having the right merchandise on hand will please the client and recipient during and after the mourning period and highlight why you’re the only company to choose for baskets for every occasion.
Here’s a list of products for bereavement baskets as well as baskets made for other occasions.
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
27
Summer Gift Baskets, Photography, Marketing Materials
Filed Under Corporate Baskets, Marketing Materials, Photography | 2 Comments
MAKE SUMMER SALES SIZZLE
You’re working fast and furiously to create spring gift baskets, and suddenly, sales fall flat. It’s now summer, and you didn’t create a plan to keep sales strong. What can you do now to keep the revenue flowing? Wednesday’s newsletter reveals five methods to make the summer a sales bonanza and plant seeds you’ll reap in the fall and winter.
TAKE PHOTOS IN A SNAP
Do you remember to take pictures of each gift basket you make, whether for a customer or one made as an experimental design? Here’s a little encouragement to buy a camera that captures photos of your masterpieces.
ORDER YOUR MARKETING PIECES EARLY
I sometimes use all of my marketing materials and find that I have nothing else in stock as a substitute. Has this happened to you? Here’s a lesson in what may act as a backup and how not to let your materials deplete at the last minute.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, business marketing materials, how to increase summer sales, how to photograph your work
Apr
23
Prepare Now for Summer Sales
Filed Under Corporate Baskets, Planning | Leave a Comment
Certain questions are asked frequently at my trade show seminars, one of which is, “How do you keep sales up during the summer?”
I recall a few things before responding to this, keeping in mind that my answer doesn’t work for everyone, but at the least it provides fuel for other methods to maintain a healthy business during summer months.
First, I think about how much I needed a break versus working on designs. It’s certainly a balancing act when beautiful weather seems to call your name. Also, I remember the preparations I made in the spring to encourage sales and what other designers tell me they’ve done to keep revenues high.
Here are the five top methods that encourage summer sales.
1. Mention your collection of summertime baskets to customers as you deliver Administrative Professionals Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day baskets.
Here are ideas for Dad’s Day before you start buying.
2. Remind clients that summer baskets brighten the day for relatives whom you cannot visit during the season. Emotion is a big part of our sales message.
3. Create postcards showing a photograph of your children’s summer fun baskets, and send them to clients who have children and grandchildren. The convenience of quick delivery takes one more task off their list.
Learn more about postcard marketing.
4. Ask area colleges how you can include your back-to-school basket information in materials sent to students’ homes.
Here’s what’s popular in many back-to-school baskets.
5. Tell clients about your corporate baskets that express mid-year appreciation to independent offices or single departments within large corporations. Saying “thanks” before the December holidays stands out as a big gesture, and you’ll win loyalty.
One of these five ideas has the potential to create huge sales during the summer while you fit extended-weekend vacations into your plans.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, summer gift baskets, back to school baskets, corporate gift baskets, thank you gift baskets
