Jan

12

Three Things to Check Before Showing Gift Baskets at a Trade Show

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The postal mail’s been delivered, and in it is an invitation to show your gift baskets at an upcoming regional trade show.

It promises to be visited by local businesses, from temp agency managers to land developers.

You see this as an opportunity to introduce your gift baskets to hundreds of potential corporate clients. Will you exhibit?

Here’s what to consider before signing up.

1. Get the facts about last year’s attendance numbers.

2. Decide on your marketing tools and follow-up strategy.

3. Enter prospects’ names and addresses into your database when the event is done.

Making contact is a crucial component to exhibiting at a trade show. If this is something you are not willing to do, consider hiring a part-time helper to make these calls for you.

Trade show exhibiting is a great way to meet prospects whom you normally have no access to and a fantastic way to increase your sales throughout the year.

NOTE: Be sure to sign up for Basket Biz, the online newsletter written by Shirley George Frazier and delivered to your email box every Thursday. Click here to subscribe.

Jan

20

How Would You Shop The Fancy Food Show?

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The Fancy Food Show, currently underway in San Francisco, is a true culinary experience.

It’s said that if you cannot find a particular food or beverage there, it doesn’t exist.

What would be on your list of “must haves” at the show if you attended? That’s the question posed on the Gift Basket Business Facebook group page.

There are many answers and room for yours, too. Join the conversation through this link:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=74453386284&topic=12685

Dec

9

Three Things to Learn Before Participating in a Trade Show

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Do you plan to participate in a regional trade show sponsored by your local chamber of commerce or similar organization?

Make sure you complete your research before signing up, including:

1. Determine if the audience is the type that’s interested in gift baskets.

2. Ask past exhibitors for their insights and advice.

3. Request a list of participants from the host association.

There’s much more research to compile before agreeing to participate, so consider all of the pros and cons ahead of time so that you benefit.

Dec

2

What to Do at the January Trade Shows

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Although Christmas has not yet come and gone, this is the time when savvy designers begin reviewing their inventory and planning what to buy at the upcoming trade shows.

Which ones will you attend, and what merchandise is on your “must buy list?”

That’s two questions to ask and determine before arriving at the show.

Aside from that, here are some long-standing rules and habits to ensure that you spend your time and money wisely.

1. Create an purchasing list to follow in order to buy items that sell quickly.

2. Bring business cards, and hand them out to request mailed catalogs so that you don’t carry them.

3. Wear comfortable footwear, although it may not matter, as walking for hours is hazardous to your feet.

4. Locate the nearest exits (for safety) and lavatories (for comfort) as you browse up and down aisles.

5. Take breaks if you plan to be at the show for two hours or more.

6. Try not to spend all of your money buying beautiful baubles in the cash-and-carry section.

You’ll find a list of trade shows on this page at WebSitesForRetailers.com.

Feb

25

How to Make Sense of Trade Show Dollars

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Which gift trade shows have you attended or are preparing to attend?

In between filling orders, it’s crucial for you to check inventory items before attending a show to determine which products need replenishing, which won’t be reordered, and what new products match your clients’ profiles.

Checking stock allows you to:

1) Purchase a considerable amount of wholesale merchandise to ensure that you don’t run out of stock before mid year.

2) Take full advantage of trade show specials, including free freight.

3) Keep retail store purchases to a minimum, specifically to maximize your budget and time competing with general consumers for store merchandise.

As an example, you may be a designer who has $1,000 to spend until the next season’s show. This is a conservative amount but a good round figure as a model.

The bulk of the funds is usually allotted for foods, gifts, baskets, containers and enhancements. Less will be spent buying shred and cellophane, as these items are most likely on hand from prior seasons.

A small portion of your budget may be allocated for new products that match customer requests. Review their wishes very closely before deciding what to buy.

If you’re not located near a gift trade show, invest the travel dollars saved on a subscription to gift industry magazines. These publications deliver monthly trade shows and seminars to your door through ads and articles.

Out of eight gift industry magazines I know exist, three are fee based totaling an average of $100 per year, so pursuing subscriptions is a wise investment.

Make a concerted effort to plan your buying list before attending a trade show. Planning helps you stay in control of your dollars, and that makes sense to keep growing profitably.

See my trade show speaking schedule here, and if you attend, please introduce yourself after the event. I’d like to meet you.

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