Posts filed under 'Basket Enhancements'
I recently made a post on my blog about using data about consumer buying habits to develop marketing strategies for your gift basket business. (Target Your Gift Basket Business to Today’s Specialty Food Consumer). Since the research showed that many consumers are buying specialty foods that they can consume at home, I suggested making baskets that include products for a “full meal”.
Much to my surprise, I read an article in the most recent issue of Rave Reviews Magazine (Volume 5, Issue 5) called “Now Serving…Meals in a Basket”. First, the article lists ideas of things you should consider when making a “Meal in a Basket”:
- Convenience Factors: “Your job as a gift basket professionals is to make life easier for your customers…and give convenience in the gifts you prepare for the recipients.” The author states that “Meal in a Basket” can do all of this by providing the food, beverage, table and ambiance”.
- Portability Factors: “There’s a tremendous freedom in getting something you know you can use anywhere.” Providing the edible and non-edible items for a complete meals makes this type of basket ready to use in any setting.
- Excitement Factors: A “Meal in a Basket” is a fun gift to receive. It is sure to delight any one with a busy schedule!
The Rave Reviews article also includes ideas for specific “Meal in a Basket” themes. Gourmet products plus containers to match the theme, and design ideas are all included in this great article.
If you are not a subscriber to Rave Reviews Magazine, I highly recommend that you subscribe now. As the only published trade magazine in the industry, I find it to be chock full of valuable ideas every month. Go to Rave Reviews for subscription information or call 888-RAVE101 and tell them that you heard about their magazine in this blog.
By the way, in the article, it is suggested that table settings be included in a “Meals in a Basket” design. Go to Apex Gift Foods to see table accessories for the holiday season that would be perfect for a holiday meal!
October 14th, 2008
I always like to see the newest issue of The Gourmet Retailer because it includes a promotional calendar that lists all the special occasions and events of the upcoming month. These “national holidays” can provide a plethora of ideas for gift basket promotions that your business can offer.
Here’s the list for November and some of my ideas for gift basket promotions:
- General Election Day is November 4th. All during the month of October, ask the customers who come into your store to vote on their favoritie cookie. Let your customers know ( by email or text message) that you’ll be sampling cookies all month. Then, on November 4th, promote a gourmet basket that uses the top three winners.
- November is Peanut Butter Lover’s month. Create a basket that includes all the peanut butter products in your line. And don’t forget the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzels!
- November 11th is Veterans Day. Offer a holiday discount to military families who want to send something to a loved one overseas. Check out Apex’s Treats for Troopers basket.
- Mickey Mouse’s 80th birthday is on November 18th. Design a new birthday basket for kids using Disney products.
- Thanksgiving fall on November 27th. In mid-October, start notifying your customers that you will have a variety of “Thankful” gourmet baskets that they can send to friends and family. Use email and promotional fliers to show customers your designs. Use a cornucopia basket and fill with fruit plus cookies, cakes and chocolates for a bountiful design. Don’t forget to add a beautiful bow that suggests the Fall season.
Please share your ideas for more Fall Promotions that will bring customers to your store.
September 14th, 2008
“Question: What was the hottest accessory in the United States in the past year? Jewelry? Designer handbags? Oversized sunglasses?
Answer: None of the above. It was reusable shopping bags, sales of which jumped 72 percent from May 2007 through May 2008, according to consumer and retail information company the NPD Group. The bags are at once practical, eco-friendly and trendy, and they’re as likely to be seen on the arms of shoppers in the aisles of your local supermarket as they are on celebrities.” Full Story
Go with the trend and include a reusable shopping bag in your next gift basket design. Available in trendy prints and bold, solid colors, these bags are small enough to fit into a purse or pocket.
You might even create a “Green Gift Bag” promotion featuring these bags. If you sell individual products (in addition to selling finished gift baskets), use the bags to encourage people to return to your store. If you include a reusable shopping in your design, offer customers a discount on some of the products that you sell “over the counter” when they bring their bag to your store. Or ask other merchants in your neighborhood if they’d like to include a coupon in the bag you put in your gift basket design. In return, they could promote your “Green Gift Basket” in their stores.
September 4th, 2008
“As more than 2 million U.S. couples sort out their wedding budgets–which averaged $28,732 in 2007, according to The Wedding Report Inc.–they’ll collectively be spending more than $62.8 billion this year to make the experience as memorable and personal as possible.” Full Article
Wow! So how can you create a niche for your gift basket business within this lucrative industry? Maybe it’s best to start in your own community and find out what goods and services are already being offered to brides and grooms. Over the slow summer months, visit some of these businesses in your neighborhood.
- Florists
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Bridal Shops
- Tuxedo Rental Shops
- Hair and Nail Salons
- Bakeries
- Photographers
- Caterers
At each stop, make sure you leave information about the services that you offer and discuss how you might work cooperatively. For example, a florist who only does bouquets and reception flowers may be willing to give your name to the bride who is interested in “welcome” gift baskets for guests who are coming in from out of town. The photographer might allow you to leave one of your samples in his showroom.
Also check out your Yellow Pages for “bridal or wedding consultants”. In the past decade, the need for someone to “take care of all the details” has grown and consultants are involved in all phases of planning and organizing the wedding. Creating a good working relationship with the local wedding consultant may go a long way to helping you get involved in the wedding business.
You may also want to think about carrying some wedding items that you can include in your gourmet basket. Wine glasses for the couple’s first toast, a guest register book and plumed pen, or a wedding garter would be perfect accessories to add in your wedding gourmet designs.
August 5th, 2008
Looking for a new idea for creative gift baskets? Check out Moviegiftbaskets.net. The author has some great ideas for putting together baskets that include a DVD plus gourmet treats, gift cards and other items that are “educational and inspiring”.
Not only will you read about special gift basket themes for kids, coworkers and friends, you’ll find a list of popular movie titles and step by step instructions for building a movie gift basket.
Delight your clients with this new basket design. Ask them to tell you what types of movies the recipient prefers: comedies, action, drama, etc. Encourage your customers to offer suggestions about what to include in the basket. And don’t forget the popcorn!!
I think you’ll find this to be lucrative and fun! Go to Moviegiftbaskets.net for more information.
July 1st, 2008
I saw an ad in Gourmet Retailer Magazine about a new item for gift baskets: Gourmet Herb Garden Kits. These would be great addition for a gift basket with a “cooking” theme.
Go to Gifts That Bloom to learn more. The complete in-door gardening gift kits are a perfect gift for avid gardeners and beginners alike. In addition to the Herb Garden Gifts, the company offers over 250 gifts including kits for flowers, plants and trees. “Just add water and sun!”
April 27th, 2008
In January, I posted an article in this blog about bans on plastic bags and reusable totes. Well, the gourmet food industry is going green!
Now, at Apex Gift Foods, you can purchase Envirosax Reusable Shopping Bags and spread the environmental message with style.
Lightweight polyester, portable, waterproof and weighing just 1/4 oz., Envirosax Reusable Shopping Bags can hold the equivalent of two supermarket plastic bags thanks to reinforced seams.
Envirosax Reusable Shopping Bags, printed with exciting, trendy graphics, are a perfect gift idea and can easily be included in your gift baskets. Each bag rolls up into itself and snaps shut and is small enough to stow in a handbag or glove compartment.
Or, build your basket in one of these 19.5″ x 16.5″ bags and do your part for our environment.
Go to Apex Gift Foods for more information.
April 21st, 2008
May is National Barbecue Month. Go to the official web site of the National Barbecue Association for information about the history of barbecue, recipes, accessories and anything and everything you might want to know about barbecue!
In the meantime, design a Barbecue gift basket. Include chips, salsa, meats, cheeses, mustards: all the stuff your customers will want for their backyard barbecues. Check out your local Dollar Store and add barbecue mitts or grill accessories to your basket. Make copies of a few great barbecue recipes and include those in your basket. With Memorial Day coming up at the end of the month, add a red, white and blue bow to your basket and celebrate two holidays at once.
Please share your ideas for Barbecue Gift Baskets. Have fun with your basket creations!
April 23rd, 2007
Attending gourmet food trade shows is a great way to jumpstart your energy and get your creative juices flowing. In one location, you can see the newest products and learn about current trends in your industry. Additionally, you get to talk with others who do what you do everyday and can pick up great ideas for making your business better.
If you can manage time away from your business (as well as the cost), I recommend your also attending trade shows that may not be directly related to your business, but may still offer lots of new ideas. In the upcoming months, there are several trade shows that may be worth considering. At these shows, you’ll see such products as dinnerware, serveware, barware, cutlery, giftware and more. So what does all this have to do with gourmet baskets?
Take a look at the newest issues of Rave Reviews Magazine and go to the internet to see Gift Basket Review’s latest online magazine. Both magazines feature gourmet baskets that include lots of products other than gourmet foods. Wine openers, decorative dish towels, cocktails napkins, kitchen utensils, beautiful ceramic mugs, tea accessories, and grilling and picnic accessories were just a few of the “non-food” items I saw in gift basket designs. And you can source these types of products at gourmet housewares shows! Even if you don’t buy at these trades shows, you’ll be sure to come away with many new ideas about how you might accessorize your baskets with products that your customers will love.
Check out these web sites for more information about upcoming gourmet housewares shows and gift shows. You’ll learn a lot even if you just visit these sites.
The Gourmet Housewares Show
The Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market and The Atlanta Gourmet Market
March 21st, 2007
“Pantone Inc., the global provider of professional color standards, named Pantone 19-1557 Chili Pepper, a deep, spicy red, as the color of the year.” See the full story as reported in Gourmet News Magazine.
“Whether expressing danger, celebration, love or passion, red will not be ignored,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute…In 2007, there is an awareness of the melding of diverse cultural influences, and Chili Pepper is a reflection of exotic tastes both on the tongue and to the eye”.
Color trends as predicted by Pantone and other “trend” organizations usually affect home, housewares and clothing markets first. I just returned from a buying trip for our wholesale floral supply business and we saw many shades of red used in holiday decorations. Designers used multiple shades of red in a single display and also paired these deep rich reds with bright lime and sage greens.
If you want your baskets to reflect the popular trends for the upcoming year, include products in bright, bold shades of red in all your designs (not just holiday designs). Look for packaging in other bright colors that will complement the red tones such as tangerine orange, lemon yellow, and lime green. Keep up with the trends and your customers will come back for more!
February 4th, 2007
Next Posts
Previous Posts
