First, most of the major gift shows include a gourmet marketplace: an area devoted to showcasing gourmet food products that you can use in your baskets. You’ll have an opportunity to see new products and talk with suppliers of those products you already include in your designs.

If you’re not already including gift items in your gourmet designs, you’ll see 1000’s of innovative products from premier manufacturers. Think about how you might add these products to your designs:

• Candles
• Photo frames
• Cookbooks
• Tableware such as napkins, coasters, & placemats
• Small cookware items including  decorative and practical utensils
• Plush
• Stationary
• Mugs & Small Ceramics

Most shows include educational events that offer “best practices” for any type of business. You could learn about internet marketing: building web sites, social media marketing blogging. You can get new ideas for merchandising, branding, and more. You’ll have opportunities to talk with others and share ideas.

This summer and fall, you can attend a gift in cities across the country. Some of the largest shows include:

• Dallas Gift Show, June 21 – 28
• Atlanta Gift Show, July 13 – 20
• Philadelphia Gift Show, July 24 – 27
• Las Vegas Gift Show, August 1 – 5
• San Francisco International Gift Show, August 6 – 9
• Seattle Gift Show, August 13 – 16
• New York International Gift Fair, August 13 – 18

You can also find regional shows on-line web sites:

• Great Rep
• Sullivan’s Gift Shows & Showrooms

I was just browsing through some of my old blog posts, and came across an article that I wrote about GBA: the Gift Basket Association. Since Debbie Quintana founded GBA in 2009, the organization has grown to over 500 members and includes many new resources that will benefit you and your gift basket business.

Visit the Gift Basket Association web site and learn the 12 reasons to join the organization. Join discussion forums, shop the Gift Basket Supply Marketplace and enjoy discounts from supplier members. Get unique ideas from Trends and Tips Magazine and if you’re so inclined: become a contributor! Learn how you can creatively use internet marketing to promote your business.

Join the Gift Basket Association and become part of a collaborative effort to “uplift the global gift basket industry in the spirit of support and collaboration”.

Do you include baby baskets in your line of gift basket designs? Are you looking for new products that will “wow” your customers? Look no further: the 9th annual ABC Kids Expo is being held September 23-26 in Louisville, KY. At this premier juvenile products show, you’ll see baby gifts, gear, and toys, as well as apparel, room decor, diapering accessories, plus lots of products for mom!

Dress up your line of baby designs with the hottest new products in the marketplace. For more information about the show and registration instructions, go to the ABC Kids Expo.

“The products showcased in the National Stationery Show include greeting cards, invitations, imprintables, giftwrap/ribbons, stationery, specialty party supplies and paper tableware, bridal accessories, customized/personalized products, in-store printing equipment, decorative home office products, luxury leather goods, writing instruments, paper-crafting supplies, frames, journals, calendars, specialty giftware, scrapbooking and back-to-school.” As you check out this global marketplace, featuring over 900 vendors, expect to find a wide variety of new products that to fire your imagination for your summer, fall and holiday gift basket creations.

For a preview of what to expect at the show, check out the online April issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor Plus.  For show and registration details, go to Paper Power.

If you’re curious about who chooses what colors will be featured each year in the marketplace, check out the Pantone web site and learn about this company that inspires the fashion, home furnishings, automobile and accessory industries.

If you’re planning a special gift basket promotion for Teacher Appreciation Week, how about giving your customers an opportunity to send in a “virtual card” to express their thanks to teachers all across the U.S. for a job well done! Go to the NEA web site for more information on how you and your customers and create virtual cards and join the “Teacher Thank-You Project”.

1. April 1: April Fools Day
2. April 2: International Children’s Book Day
3. April 6: National Day of Hope
4. April 10: National Siblings Day
5. April 16: Husband Appreciation Day
6. April 17: Family History Day
7. April 19: Passover
8. April 23: Movie Theater Day
9. April 24: Easter
10. April 27: Administrative Professionals Day: Check out the photo above. A calculator, a picture frame, a decorative pen and pencil holder plus some chocolates, snacks and candies, all wrapped in beautiful papers. What a terrific gift for any professional!

For more information about special holidays and events, see the “Idea Calendar” in the March issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor magazine.

Three days of seminars will include design and business tips, information about social media marketing, and book signings by well known industry authors. Vendors from across the country will be displaying their wares.

Don’t miss this opportunity to attend this convention filled with 13 hours of seminars, demonstration classes hands-on workshops, 10 hours to browse the trade show plus unlimited opportunities for networking.

Check out the Ultimate Gift Show and the National Gift Basket Convention today.

I know that you’re still recuperating from the Christmas rush, and you’re still winding down from Valentine’s day, but this is a perfect time to start researching ideas and trends for Fall & Christmas, 2011. Additionally, take the time to talk with your staff to find out what products were most popular from the 2010 season. Put all this information together and you can start talking to your suppliers about the products you might consider for the upcoming season.

Check out these resources for more ideas and trends:

Specialty Food Magazine

Gourmet News

Gift, Gourmet & Decor Magazine

Fancy Food Magazine