Gift Basket Business Blog

Use “Visioning” to Plan A Open House For Your Gift Basket Business

September 24th, 2008 at 09:31pm Lorie Obernauer

“Creating success begins with picturing it” says Ari Weinzweig in an article in September’s issue of Specialty Foods Magazine. Weinzweig calls this process “visioning” and he defines it this way: “A vision is a picture of the success of a project at a particular time in the future…It’s a vivid description of what success looks and feels like for us…what we are able to acheive, and the effect it has on our staff”.

I started thinking about using this process to plan an event for your business. Let’s say that you want to have a Holiday Open House. Start by getting together with your staff and talking about what it will “look like”.

Imagine 100 people strolling through your store. Create your displays in your mind; think about your favorite color schemes. See customers tasting your products and picking up the gifts that you sell. Visualize your staff walking through the store and talking to customers about the products (ingredients, customers’ favorites, how items can be used together in a basket). Want to provide some entertainment for your customers? Envision some musicians playing holiday tunes in a corner of your store. Then, picture your customers ordering holiday baskets for their family, friends and business colleagues.

Now that you have a vision, what do you need to do to actually create this scenario? Ask questions and elicit suggestions from your staff. Your questions should be specifically related to your vision. For example:

• How can you notify as many people as possible so that you can get 100 people into your store? Should you use email, phone contacts or do a mailing? is there a way you can get your local paper to advertise your open house?
• Do you have the materials and fixtures to set up your displays as you envisioned? If not, where can you get them? Do you know someone who can help you build or borrow what you want?
• What does your staff need to know in order to discuss products and designs with your customers? What needs to be done to help them prepare for the big day?
• Do you know anyone who can provide music? If you can arrange this, what do the musicians need in order to set up?
• What products do you want your customers to taste? Do you need coffee pots, plates, napkins, etc. Have you contacted your suppliers to request tasting samples?
• What does your staff need to know to take orders? What would make this an efficient process: new order forms? more computers? Is there a location in the store where you’d like customers to go when they’re ready to order?

This is just a preliminary list of questions. The more questions you ask, the better prepared you’ll be. This process, where you visualize your dream, then work backwards to work out the details, can be applied for any special project you may undertake. I think you’ll like the outcomes!

Entry Filed under: Business Tips, Gourmet Gift Foods, Promotions