Apr

14

Here’s 3 Ways to Stay in Touch with Past Clients

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Taking care of the administrative side of business isn’t fun, but it’s highly effective.

Just think: if you only make gift baskets and do nothing to market them, you’ll have a lot of beautiful designs with nowhere to go. That won’t make you any money.

This newsletter issue reminds you that persistence fuels growth, and both keep your name in mind when customers require your products and services. Value customer interactions, and you’ll always be profitable.

Missed receiving this newsletter edition? Click here to sign up for your copy of Basket Biz, which arrives every Thursday by Email.

Sep

9

How Postcards Add Punch to Promotions

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What the best way to design a postcard for maximum attention and sales no matter what the occasion or holiday?

That’s the subject of this week’s newsletter. You’ll also get tips for increasing your cash by entering business contests.

Join the Basket Biz membership by clicking here. You’ll receive a weekly newsletter, a monthly newsletter by mail, and an online monthly video where you’ll watch and learn a great design technique.

Aug

11

Basket Biz Newsletter Update

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Thanks to all of you for subscribing to Basket Biz. I appreciate you allowing me to enhance your gift basket businesses every week with insights and information.

Many of you and my staff have convinced me to enhance the publication, and that will occur next month as the newsletter you depend on moves from Wednesday to Thursday.

On September 4, Basket Biz will change its format from the news you now receive to a more-rich and robust publication.

If you are part of our paid membership, you will receive:

  • A longer weekly version of what you receive now
  • A printed issue by mail each month (or in PDF format if outside of the U.S.)
  • An online link each month to access a how-to video

    • All of this – the longer online format, printed monthly version, and monthly video – will be available through the paid membership.

    If you are not part of the Basket Biz membership, you will still be able to read a summary of each weekly edition through this blog. Samples of the summary are on the blog now.

    Click this link to upgrade your membership.

    I look forward to welcoming you to new experiences for your profitability.

    Nov

    5

    Six Commandments for Holiday Success

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    We pull out all the stops to satisfy our customers, and we fill as many orders as possible, even when they arrive late. However, we’re learning to scale back on orders that shorten our own holiday fun.

    Consider these six commandments to stay stress free during the holidays.

    The successful designer shall:

    *Make early contact with every business professional that she/he has contacted during the year.

    This includes everyone that provides a service, whether private or public, as these individuals order gifts for family, friends and staff. Your gift baskets must be foremost in their minds, and early contact is critical to getting orders.

    *Upsell every basket. This means that when a person calls to order, you will mention a better, higher-priced basket for purchase or offer additional enhancements that add value and a higher profit percentage.

    You’ll be pleasantly surprised how many times customers agrees to your recommendations. Check out these gift basket forms, which includes one for upselling.

    *Ask for referrals. This will dramatically increase your customer base. In appreciation, send a small, complimentary gift to customers who provide referrals. People love to be recognized for their support, and a small gift works to keep the referrals coming.

    The successful designer shall not:

    *Buy products with the words “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” written on the packaging. Instead, buy products with red, gold or green-colored packaging so that it can be used to complete New Year and Valentine’s Day orders.

    See these three quick tips to increase holiday sales.

    *Accept large orders that arrive after December 15. Although what constitutes a large order depends on the size of a business, it is generally viewed at holiday time as 25 baskets or more.

    We encourage early orders, and to that end, decide on and stick to a large order amount and cut-off date.

    You’ll find more about this in the two-part, pre-holiday Q&A.

    *Do any personal shopping unless absolutely necessary and totally profitable.

    Your inventory generally contains enough stock to design hundreds of gifts and baskets. Since most customers are unwilling to cover the costs associated with the time and mileage required to find specialty items, your time is best spent fulfilling the needs of individuals and corporations who want the items already in stock.

    By following these commandments, you’ll not only be profitable at season’s end, you’ll also be rested and ready to spend time with loved ones. It’s the ultimate accomplishment you’ve worked so hard to enjoy.

    Oct

    1

    Welcome to the Gift Baskets Newsletter

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    Since the early 1990s, it’s been my pleasure to share gift basket design ideas, news, tips, and more to aspiring and veteran designers.

    I remember driving to Office Max to make copies of Basketell, one early version of my newsletter. This eight-page, bi-monthly publication was copied onto green 11 by 17-inch sheets which were stapled in half and mailed to subscribers.

    Today, the Web makes newsletter delivery quick and easy. No more driving to an outside source to publish information that increases your profits. It’s all done right here, in front of my computer, so that you can grow your business at a pace you can handle.

    This site serves as an archive to my gift basket business newsletter published every Wednesday and Sunday. Subscribe to the publication by clicking to this page. The information will arrive in your Email so you can quickly take advantage of the ideas.

    Bookmark this site and visit often. I also welcome your comments. Send me a message anytime.

    Shirley George Frazier
    Author, How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business
    Author, The Gift Basket Design Book