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
22
Trade Shows, Your Own Toolbox, Getting Past Gatekeepers
Filed Under Customers, Enhancements, TRADE SHOWS | Leave a Comment
TIME TO TALK TRADE SHOWS
There was a time when trade shows intimidated me. I didn’t want to go because exhibitors tried to sell me products that weren’t on my buying list. Wednesday’s newsletter puts your product needs in center focus, helping you to determine how to navigate each aisle so that you leave knowing you’ve made smart buying decisions for your best sales year.
GIFT BASKET DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
After 18 years in business, a design repair toolbox is still part of my workspace arsenal, and it’s inside each vehicle during deliveries. The photo shown with this article is my exactly toolbox; you’ll see some of the items always on board. Read the article and tell all of us what’s in your toolbox.
NO MORE GATEKEEPER GAMES
We’ve all heard of the gatekeeper, the person who stands between you and the one with the power to buy your gift baskets. Do you know that there are ways to bypass this person? I share my top three ways to meet your prospect so that the gatekeeper is no longer a factor. Now’s the time to try these ideas so that you’re sure to earn your Christmas bonus.
Jun
18
What’s Your Trade Show Plan?
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It’s exciting to prepare for the trade show season.
Even if you plan to buy from favorite manufacturers and distributors who won’t exhibit at the shows you attend, you’ll still see great ideas, displays, and products to consider buying in the future. This is very important to keep your designs and marketing approach current and effective.
Here’s a list of things to look for before and during your visit.
1. Review the pre-show directory that arrives by mail. See which seminars and demonstrations are a good time investment, and highlight exhibitors that are a “must see” on your list.
I’m conducting gift basket, Web site, and marketing seminars in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Miami, which you’ll find listed on the Gift Basket Class site.
2. Some exhibitors schedule impromptu demos at their booth rather than on the seminar stage. Packaging and ribbon manufacturers are very adept at this. Go to their booths to see if a demo roster sheet of days and times is available.
You’ll see ribbon-making ideas, such as the one in this video, and packaging options, similar to what’s shown on the Retail Wraps site.
3. Request catalogs by mail rather than weigh yourself down with needless paper. It slows your productivity due to a sore back, arms, and legs.
Most trade shows prohibit wheeled carts, so do your body a favor: bring plenty of business cards with the correct address for catalog mailings. This will also guarantee that you continue to receive new issues when ready.
This article explains how to compile your catalogs for easy access.
Not able to attend your favorite trade show? Here’s what do to when travel is not an option.
May
4
Trade Show Exhibits, Shoe Marketing, Business Cards
Filed Under Marketing Materials, Sales-Increasing Strategies, TRADE SHOWS | Leave a Comment
HOW TO SHOW OFF AT THE SHOW
My first exhibit at a business trade show was nerveracking. Another exhibitor had gift baskets piled high in her booth, but once I explained to executives the differences between her gift baskets and the services attached to mine, the orders arrived in no time. Wednesday’s newsletter gets you ready for trade show exhibits, explaining in three steps what it takes to go from show to sell.
STEP THIS WAY
I explained how I use infant and toddler shoes as marketing tools, and one savvy designer questioned me about what the client does with the shoe when the contents are gone. Here’s a link to the original article, comment, and my suggestion. What’s your thought about this?
HIGH CARD WINS
Are your business cards the traditional one-sided type, printed on both sides, or designed in a trifold format? Here’s the lowdown about today’s cards and reasons why you might create two or more styles to present to different clients.
Technorati Tags: gift baskets business, how to exhibit at trade shows, business cards
