Posts filed under 'Basket Enhancements'
There’s a new trade industry magazine for gift basket business buyers who want to expand their product line. Gift, Gourmet, & Decor Plus is for the buyer who wants to stay ahead in the competitive marketplace. Presented by Giftware News, a long time resource for gift basket businesses, Gift, Gourmet, & Decor Plus will allow buyers to view products in a variety of market segments, identify trends, find out about industry trade shows, and discover new opportunities for cross merchandising.
Check out the August issue of this new online magazine and find the perfect products for your gourmet and gift sales. Go to the Gift, Gourmet & Decor Plus website, and sign up for your complimentary, online subscription.
September 1st, 2010
Mark your calendars and make your travel plans: The Ultimate Gift Show National Gift Basket Professional Convention will be held in Canton, Ohio, July 23 – 25. Don’t miss this opportunity for 13 hours of seminars, 10 hours of trade show, unlimited networking and hands-on workshops.
Check out the fantastic selection of educational seminars and workshops. Top leaders in the gift basket industry will be sharing their best ideas! You’ll learn how to organize your design room for maximum efficiency and your displays for maximum impact. Debbie Quintana, from the Gift Basket Association, will tell you how to promote yourself and your business. Learn how to expand bridal events with Mary Anne Jacobs. Get tips on managing your inventory, handling your customer service phones and much much more.
You still have time to take advantage of special registration and hotel rates. Don’t miss this premier industry event!
June 26th, 2010
Packaged Facts, a marketing research company, estimates that total coffee market sales, including food service and retail, rose to $48 billion in 2009, with annual growth of 4% in 2008 and 2009.” And according to Consumer’s Reports, “The average coffee drinker consumes more than 1,000 cups of coffee a year, and for most people, it’s coffee blends.” With these numbers in mind, it certainly makes sense for gift basket retailers to continue to include a coffee in their basket designs.
Check out the variety of appealing coffees at Apex Gift Foods. You’ll find coffees in attractive colorful packaging that will complement many of your basket designs. Choose from coffees with liquor flavoring, sweet flavors including double chocolate or chocolate raspberry coffee, unusual flavors such as including blueberry muffin and sticky toffee buns, or more traditional blends such italian roast. Mention that you read this blog posting and receive 5% off your coffee purchase!
March 14th, 2010
As we move into the Fall and Holiday season with assurances that the economy may be making a comeback, we still need to think about ways to attract customers. Many people are still being very careful about what they spend. So it’s up to us to think about ways to assure our customers that we are still trying to give them the best quality products and service that we can offer.
With this goal in mind, Apex Gift Foods is introducing several new programs this year.
- With the “Apex Xtras Value Priced Items” program, Apex has designated many popular products that have been priced so that customers receive the best values in the marketplace. These are all “name brand” items from major manufacturers who cater to gift basket businesses such as Ghirardelli, Mille Lacs, First Colony, Vision Pak, Lindt, Walker and Nikkis Cookies. As a buyer for your gift basket business, you can be assured that your customers will receive high quality gourmet items while you save on your purchases.
- A new line of “Recession Buster Gourmet Assortments” is also available this year at Apex. The same fine quality nuts, snacks, candies and chocolates that Apex has sold for years, have been repackaged in smaller bags. Once again, you can feel confident that your customers will receive the excellent products they have grown to expect in your gift basket designs.
In your gift basket business, you can offer the same type of “value” in the baskets that you design. By pricing your most popular baskets at prices that are a lower than in the past, you may make up in volume what you will lose in your mark-up. For customers who are willing to spend a bit more, offer similar designs that include more products, a fancier container, or more enhancements.
You may also want to consider a line of “Recession Buster Baskets”. Design a line of gifts that are a little simpler than some of your current baskets. Use a fewer products or choose a less expensive container. Take advantage of sales offered by your vendors to purchase the products that you like. Continue to offer “good value” by creatively presenting the basket design accented with an inexpensive, colorful wired ribbon bow. Show these “Recession Buster Baskets” alongside more expensive versions of the basket for those customers who are willing to spend a bit more.
Now is the time to think creatively. Let your customers know that you have their needs and concerns in mind. You’ll be satisfying your existing customers while attracting a new group of buyers who will come back again.
August 16th, 2009
Visit from Beth Groundwater, Author of the Claire Hanover Gift Basket Designer Mystery Series
Many thanks to Lorie for inviting me to submit a guest article to her blog as part of my virtual book tour to promote the second book in my series, To Hell in a Handbasket. This book, along with the first, A Real Basket Case, stars a Colorado Springs gift basket designer as an amateur sleuth who solves murders that fall in her lap (literally, in the first book!). Claire has a part-time gift basket business in the basement of her home and puts together different types of baskets in the books.
I’d love to answer any questions you have about what it’s like to write a mystery series based on someone in your profession, and anything else you want to talk about. Every person who comments is automatically entered into a contest for a free set of both books autographed by me. If you have any funny or embarrassing stories to tell me about baskets or deliveries gone wrong, I’d love to read those, too, and may even use them in a future book!
Here’s a favorite gift basket recipe that I hope you’ll enjoy and use for someone who adores all things mysterious.
Recipe for a Mystery Lover’s Gift Basket
Color scheme: black, red, and either white or gray
Container: black-painted basket, bucket or box, with a lid or handle sticking up, from which you hang fake spider webbing
Stuffing: dried Spanish moss or red-dyed tissue paper, shreds, or wood shavings
Contents:
- A Real Basket Case and/or To Hell in a Handbasket mystery books (email me at beth07@bethgroundwater.com to find out how to obtain discounted copies)
- CD of eerie music such as Mystery Movie Scores or Mystery Sound Effects
- Pocket-sized mystery party game or travel Clue game
- Movie DVD: Clue, Mousetrap, an Alfred Hitchcock or Sherlock Holmes movie, or a movie collection (Mystery Classics: 50 Movie Pack)
- Chocolate or bubble gum coins or other mystery-related chocolate shapes such as blood drops, knives, or guns (see http://www.chocolatepen.com/pieces.html for a sample vendor)
- And a selection from the following list:
– Magnifying glass
– Pair of play handcuffs and/or sheriff’s badge
– Rubber knife
– Glasses, nose, mustache disguise
– Skull-shaped/logo item(s): tea-light candle holder, squeeze ball, notepad, drinking cup (see the Halloween collection at www.orientaltrading.com)
– Bottle of stage blood from a costume or makeup supply store, or make your own (see chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/fakeblood.htm)
I hope many of you gift basket designers will use this idea for a Mystery Lover’s Gift Basket, and don’t worry, you won’t have any competition from me! Unlike my amateur sleuth, Claire Hanover, I do not have a gift basket business of my own. My business is writing mystery novels. My debut, A Real Basket Case, was released in March, 2007 and was nominated for a 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award (named for Agatha Christie). To Hell in a Handbasket, the second in the Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, was released May 15th.
I live in Colorado Springs, where I defend my garden from marauding mule deer and wild rabbits and try to avoid getting black-and-blue on Colorado’s black and blue ski slopes. I have loved to read since I was a child and savor those monthly meetings with my Book Club, and not just for the gossip and wine. For more information about me and my books, and to sign up for my email newsletter and enter a contest for free books, go to: http://bethgroundwater.com/. You’ll also find the schedule for my blog book tour there.
So, readers of Lorie’s blog, do you have any more ideas for creative ingredients to add to a Mystery Lover’s Gift Basket? Do you have any interesting stories that I can use in future Claire Hanover novels?
May 29th, 2009
National Pet Week will be observed the week of May 4th and this is a grand opportunity to introduce some new basket designs to your line. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturer’s Association, almost 40% of U.S. households include a dog or cat. Moreover, pet owners are mad about their pets! (That’s me with my wonderful, loyal, best friend!) “Amidst one of the worst economic downturns in decades, the pet industry continues to remain robust. Total pet spending topped $43 billion in 2008, and a 4.9 percent increase to $45.4 billion is projected for 2009, according to the American Pet Products Association.
Check out Gift Basket Business.com for resources on pet products. Create some new baskets for dogs and cats that also include a gift certificate for a local pet spa or pet day care facility. This way, you can double your marketing efforts by joining forces with these other businesses to promote “luxury” items for the family pet.
April 14th, 2009
Even though we may be trying our best to land new accounts and keep our old customers satisfied, it seems these days that customers are hesitant about buying. Sometimes, instead of trying to push the features and benefits of what we want to sell, it may be a good time to listen more closely to the reasons why customers say they’re not buying. Then, we can target our efforts in the direction of overcoming their objections.
There are many different responses that we can make to customers once we understand why they’re not buying. Although in the current economic downtown, when customers tell you that “they’re not buying anything right now”, you may nod your head in understanding. But you have to wonder: how are they staying in business? While they may not be buying as much, they’re still buying somewhere. So when customers say “no”, that’s the time to start asking questions.
One common objection you might hear is that your prices are too high. If a customer says they’re not buying your products because of this, it’s time to ask where they’re buying and what prices they pay. If they’d rather not share that information, you might ask what price points are comfortable for them. You can point out alternate items in your line that are more in their price range. Offer your designs at three different price points. You can use the same basic theme and the same container, but use different products in the basket. Or use a less expensive container but still offer the same gourmet items in that container. Enhancements, such as ribbons or flowers, are an inexpensive way to add more value to a design without drastically increasing it’s cost
But customers may not be buying your products due to other reasons, possibly related to service issues. If this is the case, your responses will be much different. Now, you need to find out what services the customer wants and decide if you can make changes in your policies to meet their needs. For example, if a customer gets free shipping from another gift basket company, you may want to consider whether your profit margin would allow for this service. If the order is large enough, the increase in volume may allow you to eat some of the shipping charges.
Maybe your web site isn’t user friendly or your customer service staff is not providing adequate information to callers. Lowering your prices will probably not increase your sales. On the one hand, this may lead you to update your site and you can ask your customer about sites that they prefer. Go to those sites and try to place an order. Pay attention to the details and see how on-line ordering can be made more efficient. If the problems are with your service representatives, then some staff re-training is in order.
Now is the time to ask some hard questions. “I’m not buying now” may not be the final answer. Use this time to find out how you can better serve your customers. While you might not turn a specific “no” into a “yes”, you’ll gain some valuable information that you can use to reach out to other customers.
March 8th, 2009
Make sure to check out details for an exceptional gift basket convention July 9 – 11 in Canton, Ohio. Sponsored by the owners of Gift Basket School, Pam and Tom Newell, this extraordinary event will include a trade show plus a multitude of daily seminars taught by well known gift basket professionals from around the country.
If you register by March 15th, your $199 registration will include a FREE 3 hour seminar on July 9th, led by Pam and Tom and Mary Anne Jacobs, one of the top designers and teachers in the industry. You will have an opportunity to see lots of “hands on examples” with an emphasis on style and design, learn many practical tips, top secrets from the experts and special packaging ideas to wow your customers. After March 15th, the registration package including the trade show, seminars, plus the 3 hour workshop on July 9th will cost you $284. So register early for tremendous savings on this fabulous event!
According to Pam and Tom, this convention is designed for retail gift basket business owners, hospital gift shop salespersons, resort gift shop managers, florists, event planners and bridal professionals. Both seasoned and new gift basket business professionals will profit from the tremendous number of educational experiences that are planned. In addition, a trade show, including vendors from across the country will provide attendees with opportunities to see the newest products and trends. Be sure to stop by the Apex Gift Foods booth to take advantage of special convention promotions.
For more information on registration, hotel accomodations, and convention activities, go to Gift Basket Professional. We look forward to seeing you at the show and learning how we can all “survive and thrive” during the 2009 gift basket season.
February 27th, 2009
The January/February issue of Specialty News Magazine includes an article entitled “Striving and Thriving in Tough Economic Times”. Based on interviews with top retailers and gourmet food suppliers, the author describes 10 strategies for “recession-proofing” your business during tough economic times. Full Story.
While I suggest that you read the full article, there are a few points that I think are worth careful consideration. First, the author suggests that we “adapt to new shopping patterns”. As our customers become more careful about their choices, this is a good time to look carefully at some numbers and facts. While you may think that a certain gourmet cookie is the best you’ve ever tasted, it is important that you analyze what is actually selling.
For example, at Apex Gift Foods, we try to add new items to our line every year in order to introduce our customers to what we consider are the best offerings in the marketplace. I’m sure this is something that you also try to do. But at the end of each holiday season, we take a careful look at what items sold best. One of the items that we’ve carried for years is Walker Shortbread cookies, a delicious, premium cookie. Although I get tired of seeing them in our catalog year after year, our sales figures indicate that this is still one of our top selling items. So when the time comes to decide what we keep in our line, Walker cookies will definitely stay. On the other hand, we’ve seen that sales of single serve Walkers cookies far out sell Walker boxed items, so while these are the same delicious cookies, the boxed cookies may be dropped from our line.
The experts also suggest that it will be important to “package and prepare creatively”. For gift basket designers, this may mean a shift from designs that have always sold well in the past. You may need to lower your price points by using fewer gourmet products but you can still enhance the value of your design with creative containers, ribbons, and other inexpensive enhancements.While you never want to compromise the quality of the products that you use, you can still offer basket designs at prices that your customers are comfortable with.
Stay in tune with your customers. Analyze what they buy (and don’t buy). Ask your best customers for suggestions about products and service. By continuing to cultivate our customer relationships, we can learn a lot about what will help our businesses survive and thrive.
January 7th, 2009
As consumers tighten their belts this holiday season, it’s important that you pay attention to what you offer so that you will still attract customers. In an article in Gourmet Retailer’s on-line magazine, the author suggests that “Retailers need to recognize, empathize and quickly react to consumers’ need to budget their holiday gift and entertainment dollar”.
Take a look at the baskets that you were planning to offer this holiday season. While numbers from prior years may tell you that customers generally spent $75 on baskets, you may want to offer a $50 basket this year for those clients who are trying to work within a budget. Is there a way that you can “trim down” and find a more appealing price point? If you eliminate one or two products, or substitute a very expensive item with something less costly, you may be able to offer baskets that fit more into your customer’s budgets. On the other hand, it’s important to choose carefully and not eliminate products that will compromise the quality of the baskets that you design.
If you don’t want to change the products that you use in your designs, think about changing the container. Many inexpensive baskets can be turned into glitzy holiday containers with some gold metallic spray paint. Add a gorgeous bow and your design can look like a million bucks!
December 4th, 2008
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