GBR Member in the News
02/09/10 10:08 Filed in: In the News
Nancy Stingone, owner of Unique Designs, is hard at work, getting the name of her business out to community. As a featured Business of the Week in her local newspaper, Nancy will establish a marketing presence, make progress in branding her business, and give herself a platform for holiday marketing. While newspaper and other media coverage do not necessarily generate phone calls for immediate sales, the coverage goes a long way in building the foundation for future revenue. Take a cue from Nancy and contact your local press. They need you for advertising, and you need them for community outreach. Invest in longterm advertising to build name recognition. The phones may not ring off the hook after running an ad, but you may be surprised how much it builds business down the road.
8 Ways to Schmooze Sales
02/09/10 09:21 Filed in: Success Scoop
Enjoy this sneak peak at the bonus mini-articles included each month for subscribing members of Gift Basket Review Online. Members also have unlimited access to thousands of gift basket design photos, 20,000-plus pages of articles, business and marketing tools, videos, along with 16 years of archived back issues of Gift Basket Review magazine. To learn more about subscribing member benefits, go to: www.gbreview.com.
Eight Ways to Schmooze Holiday Sales
The holidays are nearing, the planning stages are upon us, and you are strategizing about how to land that account again. Consider hosting your own event. It will allow you to give something back to those important clients, and will further solidify relationships with prospects.
Design by Lisa Streibling, FL
1. Be a Schmoozing Small Luncheon Hostess.
Be a facilitator for business introductions by hosting a luncheon. If planned carefully, the role of hostess can be vital to schmoozing sales.
Invite a group of community business people to lunch. Sweat over each name added to the list. Seek help from any number of clubs, organizations, volunteer groups, churches, and charities to establish a strong guest list. Select a group that will benefit from getting to know one another. For example, young upstart career women. Research each woman to learn something about her. Putting extra effort into planning the guest list will ensure the success of the event, and make the job of hostess easier.
Finding a strong connection between several people can be key. If the guest list is just right, facilitating conversations is guaranteed to go smoothly. Here are some possibilities that come to mind:
- Advertising Agency Rep
- Newspaper section editor
(business, entertainment, lifestyle, etc.)
- Publicity agent
- Local television producer
- Young executives at a
large charitable organization
- And you.
Keep the guest list small enough to send a stunning “gifted” invitation. An elaborate gift, like the martini glass, should peak their curiosity just enough to attend.
Plan a directed luncheon by arranging seats with name cards on decorative holders. Encourage business card exchange and networking. Make personal introductions fun by having everyone tell something about themselves (tell us who you are, where you work, something about your life, and what persuaded you to come to a luncheon where you don’t know anyone). As the luncheon progresses use what you’ve learned about a person to shift the conversation at the table. For example: “Sally, - I understand you’re going to be in the charity walk-a-thon. Beth is going to be there, too. Is this something either of you do every year?” Then guide the conversation to pull in the television producer and charity rep, and newspaper editor. This may sound challenging, but stay focused on the reward of building a sincere relationship with these prospects.
2. Host a Hot, Hot, Hot! Holiday Summer Schmoozing Social.
Host a late summer/early fall Holiday VIP mixer (open house) at an exclusive country club for the top 25 clients on your list (include an invitation for a guest of their choice). Deliver “gifted” invitations in person (Mrs. Clause would be fun!) Your cost for the evening: about $1,000. Outline the planned agenda. Then welcome the guests with the purpose of the mixer — to get to know other business folks, and to get them thinking about the important role gift-giving plays in their business.
After dinner, Play Silly Santa. Start by making sure each person gets a numbered card. Starting with 1, the person holding that card picks out a gift basket. Plan a dialogue for each basket; similar to how a fashion show emcee describes the clothes on the runway. Talk about the many ways this basket could be used in business, the etiquette of the gift, and the benefits to the business. The person holding the #2 card can choose another gift basket, or take the basket #1 selected. This continues until everyone has received a gift basket, and has had a lot of fun swapping with one another. Include some very funny baskets, some for children, one for the executive who has been naughty, nice corporate styled baskets, and so on. Take instant snapshots through the evening. Give one to the person as you take the picture and keep one for your own files. End the evening with an array of door prizes or fun awards, and be sure to place a presentation folder in each guest’s hand. If you plan to host a second mixer, ask guests to nominate someone they know for the next guest list.
3. Be a Courtesy Club Schmoozer.
If planning your own event seems overwhelming, start out small. Offer to provide courtesy refreshments for one of the most influential civic organizations in your city. Use it as an opportunity for an inexpensive open house. Decorate the banquet room the club has reserved for the meeting with Holiday Ice-themed gift baskets, gifts, and decor. Place decorative sampling plates of goodies on every table. Along with that, leave a presentation folder for each guest. Give away as many door prizes as you can afford. In return for your efforts, request a 3-minute segment to speak on the topic of building customer loyalty through a gifting program.
4. Speak Up for Schmoozing Success.
Gifting specialist have found that corporate clients respond well to a presentation that identifies the benefits of having a gifting program. No cold calls or hard sells necessary. Simply secure as many speaking engagements as possible at local business networking meetings and civic clubs. Develop a program about business gifting etiquette. Provide each guest with a presentation folder including facts about business gifting etiquette. Have large, professionally photographed samples of what a creative corporate gifting program might include, such as customer appreciation gifts, apology programs, employee appreciation, and ‘get-your-foot-in-the-door’ promotions. Always include your business card, and a listing of holiday business gift suggestions.
5. Schmooze Up to Families.
Host an early fall Family Fun Day for your top clients. Cater a cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids and barbecue chicken or ribs for the adults. Remember to provide grilled veggies, too. Sponsor a couple of party rides for the kid and family-styled fun and games. Inside the facility, create “ooh-ahh” displays of your holiday gifts as well as everyday selections. Give double-delight coupons: one with their name printed on it ($10 - $20) and another to give to a friend. For your invitations, consider an in-person delivery of a casual snack basket or inexpensive picnic basket. Getting to know the entire family will help to solidify the business relationship, plus it provides an opportunity to reach the spouses who may have their own gifting needs.
6. Summer Schmooze Clients with an Appreciation Gift Program.
Deliver a bountiful basket packed with thank-you themed merchandise to all past, present, and prospective clients. Take the time to personalize each gift by imprinting the company’s name on the ribbon. Include a questionnaire regarding their holiday gift needs for staff and VIP customers. Ask about company events or dinners that are being planned. To entice their response, provide a $20 gift certificate toward the purchase of a basket for each returned questionnaire. Also tuck in a nicely printed brochure about business gift-giving etiquette. With the returned information in hand, call with proposals for the specific events and gift-giving needs listed on their questionnaire.
7. Schmooze the Specialists with Profession-Specific Promotions.
Small business professionals such as dentists, specialists, and attorneys can easily find their way to your VIP client list. Often these professionals seek the assistance of appreciation gifts to keep the practice thriving. Try selecting a specific profession and designing an appropriate gift. Send the gift with a nicely designed, large-printed listing of 20 ways to build customer loyalty (with gifts, of course!). The dental design shown would be perfect as a ‘hang-in-there’ gift for patients having extensive dental work, or for a first patient visit. As always, include a fact sheet about business gifting etiquette and/or building customer/client loyalty. Asking for an appointment call is a good add-on tag for this gift.
8. Schmooze the Husk off the Corn!
Plan a September Fall Fellowship Night for your clients and their families. Roast ears of corn, and smoked turkey legs, or sausage and corn dogs. Serve pumpkin pie, hot cocoa, and cider. Host a pumpkin-carving contest, or have a ‘make-your-own-scarecrow’ activity area. Fair food is also fun, so have caramel apples, fresh popcorn, and cotton candy. For the kids, consider booking a petting zoo (costs about $100 to $150), offer face painting, and have a hayride. For entertainment, book a jammin’ bluegrass band. Better yet, sponsor the local high school band. Decorate a tent or facility with gift basket displays and fall-related decor.
Corporate clients are becoming strong Thanksgiving gifters. Many want to avoid being politically incorrect. But often, cutting edge companies just want to stand out by being the first one to send a gift. Besides, Thanksgiving is an appropriate time to thank clients and customers.
Award gift-basket prizes for the best scarecrow, and best pumpkin contests. Oh yes — the most important activity is the fortuneteller. Each adult’s fortune reveals that their clients are feeling neglected. To keep them loyal, the crystal ball shows a Customer Appreciation Program in their future. As the fortuneteller looks closer, she can see more clearly. The gifts and baskets have been ordered through (your) company! The fortuneteller then gives them a brochure of Thanksgiving Baskets she sees in their future. Each guest might also be given a goodies bag, including your Thanksgiving and Holiday Gifting Programs, gift selections, and a double-delight coupon of $10 - $20 toward the purchase of a gift basket (double-delight is one coupon for them, and another for a friend.)
Summary
In today’s market, a key to success, especially for business owners, is having an effective and diverse network of contacts, and clients. Trying some of the schmoozing techniques outlined here will improve and develop these critical relationships.
Eight Ways to Schmooze Holiday Sales
The holidays are nearing, the planning stages are upon us, and you are strategizing about how to land that account again. Consider hosting your own event. It will allow you to give something back to those important clients, and will further solidify relationships with prospects.
Design by Lisa Streibling, FL
1. Be a Schmoozing Small Luncheon Hostess.
Be a facilitator for business introductions by hosting a luncheon. If planned carefully, the role of hostess can be vital to schmoozing sales.
Invite a group of community business people to lunch. Sweat over each name added to the list. Seek help from any number of clubs, organizations, volunteer groups, churches, and charities to establish a strong guest list. Select a group that will benefit from getting to know one another. For example, young upstart career women. Research each woman to learn something about her. Putting extra effort into planning the guest list will ensure the success of the event, and make the job of hostess easier.
Finding a strong connection between several people can be key. If the guest list is just right, facilitating conversations is guaranteed to go smoothly. Here are some possibilities that come to mind:
- Advertising Agency Rep
- Newspaper section editor
(business, entertainment, lifestyle, etc.)
- Publicity agent
- Local television producer
- Young executives at a
large charitable organization
- And you.
Keep the guest list small enough to send a stunning “gifted” invitation. An elaborate gift, like the martini glass, should peak their curiosity just enough to attend.
Plan a directed luncheon by arranging seats with name cards on decorative holders. Encourage business card exchange and networking. Make personal introductions fun by having everyone tell something about themselves (tell us who you are, where you work, something about your life, and what persuaded you to come to a luncheon where you don’t know anyone). As the luncheon progresses use what you’ve learned about a person to shift the conversation at the table. For example: “Sally, - I understand you’re going to be in the charity walk-a-thon. Beth is going to be there, too. Is this something either of you do every year?” Then guide the conversation to pull in the television producer and charity rep, and newspaper editor. This may sound challenging, but stay focused on the reward of building a sincere relationship with these prospects.
2. Host a Hot, Hot, Hot! Holiday Summer Schmoozing Social.
Host a late summer/early fall Holiday VIP mixer (open house) at an exclusive country club for the top 25 clients on your list (include an invitation for a guest of their choice). Deliver “gifted” invitations in person (Mrs. Clause would be fun!) Your cost for the evening: about $1,000. Outline the planned agenda. Then welcome the guests with the purpose of the mixer — to get to know other business folks, and to get them thinking about the important role gift-giving plays in their business.
After dinner, Play Silly Santa. Start by making sure each person gets a numbered card. Starting with 1, the person holding that card picks out a gift basket. Plan a dialogue for each basket; similar to how a fashion show emcee describes the clothes on the runway. Talk about the many ways this basket could be used in business, the etiquette of the gift, and the benefits to the business. The person holding the #2 card can choose another gift basket, or take the basket #1 selected. This continues until everyone has received a gift basket, and has had a lot of fun swapping with one another. Include some very funny baskets, some for children, one for the executive who has been naughty, nice corporate styled baskets, and so on. Take instant snapshots through the evening. Give one to the person as you take the picture and keep one for your own files. End the evening with an array of door prizes or fun awards, and be sure to place a presentation folder in each guest’s hand. If you plan to host a second mixer, ask guests to nominate someone they know for the next guest list.
3. Be a Courtesy Club Schmoozer.
If planning your own event seems overwhelming, start out small. Offer to provide courtesy refreshments for one of the most influential civic organizations in your city. Use it as an opportunity for an inexpensive open house. Decorate the banquet room the club has reserved for the meeting with Holiday Ice-themed gift baskets, gifts, and decor. Place decorative sampling plates of goodies on every table. Along with that, leave a presentation folder for each guest. Give away as many door prizes as you can afford. In return for your efforts, request a 3-minute segment to speak on the topic of building customer loyalty through a gifting program.
4. Speak Up for Schmoozing Success.
Gifting specialist have found that corporate clients respond well to a presentation that identifies the benefits of having a gifting program. No cold calls or hard sells necessary. Simply secure as many speaking engagements as possible at local business networking meetings and civic clubs. Develop a program about business gifting etiquette. Provide each guest with a presentation folder including facts about business gifting etiquette. Have large, professionally photographed samples of what a creative corporate gifting program might include, such as customer appreciation gifts, apology programs, employee appreciation, and ‘get-your-foot-in-the-door’ promotions. Always include your business card, and a listing of holiday business gift suggestions.
5. Schmooze Up to Families.
Host an early fall Family Fun Day for your top clients. Cater a cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids and barbecue chicken or ribs for the adults. Remember to provide grilled veggies, too. Sponsor a couple of party rides for the kid and family-styled fun and games. Inside the facility, create “ooh-ahh” displays of your holiday gifts as well as everyday selections. Give double-delight coupons: one with their name printed on it ($10 - $20) and another to give to a friend. For your invitations, consider an in-person delivery of a casual snack basket or inexpensive picnic basket. Getting to know the entire family will help to solidify the business relationship, plus it provides an opportunity to reach the spouses who may have their own gifting needs.
6. Summer Schmooze Clients with an Appreciation Gift Program.
Deliver a bountiful basket packed with thank-you themed merchandise to all past, present, and prospective clients. Take the time to personalize each gift by imprinting the company’s name on the ribbon. Include a questionnaire regarding their holiday gift needs for staff and VIP customers. Ask about company events or dinners that are being planned. To entice their response, provide a $20 gift certificate toward the purchase of a basket for each returned questionnaire. Also tuck in a nicely printed brochure about business gift-giving etiquette. With the returned information in hand, call with proposals for the specific events and gift-giving needs listed on their questionnaire.
7. Schmooze the Specialists with Profession-Specific Promotions.
Small business professionals such as dentists, specialists, and attorneys can easily find their way to your VIP client list. Often these professionals seek the assistance of appreciation gifts to keep the practice thriving. Try selecting a specific profession and designing an appropriate gift. Send the gift with a nicely designed, large-printed listing of 20 ways to build customer loyalty (with gifts, of course!). The dental design shown would be perfect as a ‘hang-in-there’ gift for patients having extensive dental work, or for a first patient visit. As always, include a fact sheet about business gifting etiquette and/or building customer/client loyalty. Asking for an appointment call is a good add-on tag for this gift.
8. Schmooze the Husk off the Corn!
Plan a September Fall Fellowship Night for your clients and their families. Roast ears of corn, and smoked turkey legs, or sausage and corn dogs. Serve pumpkin pie, hot cocoa, and cider. Host a pumpkin-carving contest, or have a ‘make-your-own-scarecrow’ activity area. Fair food is also fun, so have caramel apples, fresh popcorn, and cotton candy. For the kids, consider booking a petting zoo (costs about $100 to $150), offer face painting, and have a hayride. For entertainment, book a jammin’ bluegrass band. Better yet, sponsor the local high school band. Decorate a tent or facility with gift basket displays and fall-related decor.
Corporate clients are becoming strong Thanksgiving gifters. Many want to avoid being politically incorrect. But often, cutting edge companies just want to stand out by being the first one to send a gift. Besides, Thanksgiving is an appropriate time to thank clients and customers.
Award gift-basket prizes for the best scarecrow, and best pumpkin contests. Oh yes — the most important activity is the fortuneteller. Each adult’s fortune reveals that their clients are feeling neglected. To keep them loyal, the crystal ball shows a Customer Appreciation Program in their future. As the fortuneteller looks closer, she can see more clearly. The gifts and baskets have been ordered through (your) company! The fortuneteller then gives them a brochure of Thanksgiving Baskets she sees in their future. Each guest might also be given a goodies bag, including your Thanksgiving and Holiday Gifting Programs, gift selections, and a double-delight coupon of $10 - $20 toward the purchase of a gift basket (double-delight is one coupon for them, and another for a friend.)
Summary
In today’s market, a key to success, especially for business owners, is having an effective and diverse network of contacts, and clients. Trying some of the schmoozing techniques outlined here will improve and develop these critical relationships.
Target Good Prospects
02/09/10 09:15 Filed in: New from Gift Basket Review
Enjoy this sneak peak at the bonus mini-articles included each month for subscribing members of Gift Basket Review Online. Members also have unlimited access to thousands of gift basket design photos, 20,000-plus pages of articles, business and marketing tools, videos, along with 16 years of archived back issues of Gift Basket Review magazine.
Target Good Prospects and Sell More Holiday Gift Baskets
Stumped for leads? Look through this list to give your brain a nudge. All of the following corporate categories are qualified past-year gift basket prospect buyers. Use cold-calling, letters, catalogs, networking, and advertising to target and successfully earn a broader client base.
Home is Where the Hearth Is”, Design by Mindy Lang, New York
Good Prospects for Gift Basket Sales
Chamber of Commerce - Will usually trade baskets for advertising opportunities.
Construction Firms - In an economic downturn, jobs are scarce. These companies may be more open to thank you gifts.
Funeral Homes - Sympathy & Bereavements baskets are more common. Work out a deal with the funeral homes and sell your baskets through their floral departments.
Gas Companies - Companies that specialize in commercial and industrial work are often good prospects for marketing gifts.
Heating/Air Conditioning - Commercial and industrial firms may send appreciation gifts to corporations contracting for year-long maintainance contracts.
Insurance Companies - May purchase client appreciation, and family baskets for employees.
Interior Decorators - Image is all important; thank you, appreciation, and other gifts are a ‘must’ expense.
Mall offices - Baskets are often compiled at Christmas for all the retail tenants. Contract labor for gift basket packing (using gifts from mall tenants) is a strong prospect.
Museum/Art Affiliations - Large contributors often receive enormous thank you baskets. Also, small gifts may be ordered to send with Welcome Member kits.
Real Estate Offices - Every sale is cherished when business is down. Gift baskets to thank investors who buy up larger chunks of real estate may be appealing suggestions.
Spa Resorts - Holidays are prime time for gift baskets packed with spa luxuries. Contract packing services are often available when spas choose to assemble and mail catalogs.
Temporary Services - When businesses are unsure of the economic future, they will hold off on hiring permanent workers, and instead, use temporary services to staff positions. These temporary services may have large corporations under contract for dozens of temporary workers.
Printing Companies - More internet sales and marketing can mean fewer printing contracts. Printers will want to remember precious clients with holiday appreciation baskets.
And the list goes on and on . . . keep adding your own!
Who to Contact:
Management assistants are the first contacts. Marketing departments are a good place to start with larger firms. When placing a cold call, ask the operator which department or person handles gift purchases for the company. In-person visits with a courtesy gift for these gatekeepers often opens the door to the right contact. Make friends with the gatekeepers. For more information on cold calls, and getting past gatekeepers, see the Article Index on the Gift Basket Review Online website (Article Index and articles available only with subscribing member password). For membership information go to: www.gbreview.com.
Target Good Prospects and Sell More Holiday Gift Baskets
Stumped for leads? Look through this list to give your brain a nudge. All of the following corporate categories are qualified past-year gift basket prospect buyers. Use cold-calling, letters, catalogs, networking, and advertising to target and successfully earn a broader client base.
Home is Where the Hearth Is”, Design by Mindy Lang, New York
Good Prospects for Gift Basket Sales
Chamber of Commerce - Will usually trade baskets for advertising opportunities.
Construction Firms - In an economic downturn, jobs are scarce. These companies may be more open to thank you gifts.
Funeral Homes - Sympathy & Bereavements baskets are more common. Work out a deal with the funeral homes and sell your baskets through their floral departments.
Gas Companies - Companies that specialize in commercial and industrial work are often good prospects for marketing gifts.
Heating/Air Conditioning - Commercial and industrial firms may send appreciation gifts to corporations contracting for year-long maintainance contracts.
Insurance Companies - May purchase client appreciation, and family baskets for employees.
Interior Decorators - Image is all important; thank you, appreciation, and other gifts are a ‘must’ expense.
Mall offices - Baskets are often compiled at Christmas for all the retail tenants. Contract labor for gift basket packing (using gifts from mall tenants) is a strong prospect.
Museum/Art Affiliations - Large contributors often receive enormous thank you baskets. Also, small gifts may be ordered to send with Welcome Member kits.
Real Estate Offices - Every sale is cherished when business is down. Gift baskets to thank investors who buy up larger chunks of real estate may be appealing suggestions.
Spa Resorts - Holidays are prime time for gift baskets packed with spa luxuries. Contract packing services are often available when spas choose to assemble and mail catalogs.
Temporary Services - When businesses are unsure of the economic future, they will hold off on hiring permanent workers, and instead, use temporary services to staff positions. These temporary services may have large corporations under contract for dozens of temporary workers.
Printing Companies - More internet sales and marketing can mean fewer printing contracts. Printers will want to remember precious clients with holiday appreciation baskets.
And the list goes on and on . . . keep adding your own!
Who to Contact:
Management assistants are the first contacts. Marketing departments are a good place to start with larger firms. When placing a cold call, ask the operator which department or person handles gift purchases for the company. In-person visits with a courtesy gift for these gatekeepers often opens the door to the right contact. Make friends with the gatekeepers. For more information on cold calls, and getting past gatekeepers, see the Article Index on the Gift Basket Review Online website (Article Index and articles available only with subscribing member password). For membership information go to: www.gbreview.com.
14 Tips for Shipping Baskets
01/09/10 13:16 Filed in: New from Gift Basket Review
The advertisement is right: membership has its privileges. That’s what subscribing members are discovering with Gift Basket Review Online -- the largest gift basket information site in the world! In addition to 16 years of archived issues of Gift Basket Review magazine, members have access to videos, business and marketing tools, web templates, inventory planning, business planning tools --- and so much more in the 20,000-plus pages than can be explained here.
In addition to the stockpile of information, each month GBR gives members three or more articles for recommended reading. Normally these articles can only be accessed by members, but you can enjoy a peak at this month’s recommended reading. Read these articles and enjoy the teensiest peak at member privileges. To become a subscribing member, go to: www.gbreview.com.
In addition to the stockpile of information, each month GBR gives members three or more articles for recommended reading. Normally these articles can only be accessed by members, but you can enjoy a peak at this month’s recommended reading. Read these articles and enjoy the teensiest peak at member privileges. To become a subscribing member, go to: www.gbreview.com.
“Home is Where the Hearth Is”, Design by Mindy Lang, New York
14 Tips for Shipping Gift Baskets
Break out the shipping tape at the first sign of autumn leaves. Friends, family, and corporations will begin ordering gifts baskets to be shipped across the nation, and sometimes around the world. Take these tips to your workroom and avoid costly mistakes.
1. Select a sturdy container or basket. A basket helps to maintain the shape of the gift and to secure products.
2. Choose standard container shapes. Shapes that are unusual may be more difficult to wrap and ship.
3. Order the right box sizes. Allow a couple of inches on all sides of the gift. Save labor time, damage claims, shipping fees, and packaging expenses by avoiding boxes that are too large.
4. Offer no more than three standard sizes of gift baskets that will be shipped. By keeping all sizes within 3 perimeters, boxes for shipping, shipping fees, and packing procedures can be standardized for cost savings.
5. Consider boxed stacks for shipping instead of gift baskets. Stackable containers are easier to pack and give the gift a high perceived value. Items inside the stacked containers enjoy an extra layer of protection, and that means less damage.
6. Height, width and depth determine your box size, and size and distance determine shipping cost.
7. Select gift basket components for baskets that will be shipped with shipping regions in mind. The interval of time it will take to receive the basket will affect your product selection, method and means of shipment. Choose items that are not perishable. Heavier items cost more to ship, so go light on weighty products.
Products that are packed by the vendor in their own boxes or see-through containers will add protection to the products themselves.
8. Breakables may need extra care. Double pack or bubble wrap fragile items. Heavy bottles tend to tip and break, so be sure to “dig” a nesting spot in your basket’s foundation and tie it to the handle.
9. Avoid putting breakable items together in one basket. If necessary, wrap them separately to avoid breakage.
10. Securing products well in the container is the key to making sure that a gift basket arrives intact. Shrink wrapping affords extra protection, but baskets wrapped tightly in cellophane (and taped on the sides) can be equally secure.
11. Know what you can ship, and where. Foreign countries have regulations on what they will accept and what won’t make it past the port, and there are regulations in many states governing the shipment of fresh produce and food items.
12. Enhancements, when used, should be of sturdy construction. Do not use enhancements that will crush or fall apart in shipment.
13. Temperature must be considered. Are your products going to melt or freeze? Discuss this with your shipping company.
Be honest with your customers. Advise them of what you can and cannot do. Offer alternatives. Inform them that you won’t have the exact shipping charges until the basket is ready for shipment. But give them estimates and be sure to call back with exact totals as soon as they’re available.
Home and Hearth Gift Basket
01/09/10 13:15 Filed in: Gift Tips
“Home is Where the Hearth Is”, Design by Mindy Lang, New York
Scrambling for design ideas for discriminating clients? Look what subscribing members of Gift Basket Review Online are enjoying? This design was one of thousands published in Gift Basket Review magazine, and/entered in national gift basket competitions through the years. As a subscribing member, you have access to literally thousands of fabulous ideas -- just like this one. For membership information, go to: www.gbreview.com.
Country Harvest Design Ideas
01/09/10 13:14 Filed in: Gift Tips
“Country Autumn Harvest”, Design by Donna Gerardi, New Jersey
Fall is trucking in and smart gift basket designers are hauling in a harvest of ideas at Gift Basket Review Online. These savvy business owners aren’t struggling for ideas ‘cause they’ve found bushels of them in the subscribing member section. This design was one of thousands published in Gift Basket Review magazine and/or entered in one of the national gift basket competitions. For years, designers from around the world, like Donna Geradi, have been sharing their talents with other gift basket artists through Gift Basket Review magazine and the national conventions. Now, this talent, amassed through the years, can be found in the archives and design galleries of Gift Basket Review Online. To learn more about subscribing member benefits, go to: www.gbreview.com.
October Beer Fest Gifts
01/09/10 13:13 Filed in: Success Scoop
“Roll Out the Barrel”
Design by Kristen Kruger, Gifts in a Basket, Cuffside Park, New Jersey
October rolls in the opportunities for door prize gift basket sales. This striking design by Kristen Kruger packs a visual pop and gets the attention of prospective clients. Whether you provide packing services only, or the gourmet goodies as well, the black, yellow, and brown-toned colors of the design shout ‘class’ and ‘style’. This design is one of thousands that can be found in the member section of Gift Basket Review Online (www.gbreview.com). Check out the member benefits.
Schmooze for Success
01/09/10 13:12 Filed in: Success Scoop
Design by Lisa Stribling, Florida
This design brought home the applause at a national gift basket convention some years ago. Today, the design is just as fresh and innovative as it was back then. Check this and thousands of other designs out in the subscribing member section of Gift Basket Review Online (www.gbreview.com). Plus, read a host of articles about business networking and “schmoozing” for success.