Posts filed under 'Gift Basket Supplies'
The National Gift Basket Professional Convention has merged with the Ultimate Gift Show for a bigger and better opportunity for 2010! The convention will be filled with over 15 hours of seminars, including a 3 hour, hands-out workshops. Attendees can visit with vendors at the Trade Show to see the newest, hottest products in the marketplace. Time is scheduled for “Discussion Groups” so that you can get answers from the experts. And networking opportunities will be unlimited.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: JULY 23-25, 2010, CANTON, OHIO
Who should attend this extraordinary event?
- Retailers and Gift Providers
- Gift Basket Professionals
- Floral and Balloon Designers
- Hospital Gift Shop Managers
- Resort Gift Shop Managers
- Coffee Shop and Tea Shop Managers
- Garden Centers
- Wineries
- Event Planners
- Everyone who wants to take their business to a higher level!
Register today and take advantage of Early Bird Specials! Go to the Gift Basket Professional Convention or the Ultimate Gift Show web sites for full registration and travel details.
Representatives from Apex Gift Foods will be there to show you the best selection of gourmet products for the 2010 holiday season. Hope to see you there!
January 23rd, 2010
Well, the holidays are here. Black Friday and Cyber Monday signaled the official start of the hectic holiday shopping season. By this time, you’ve already developed your holiday designs, created advertising materials, and started to implement your marketing plans.
But there are still some last minute details that you can take care of to make these last few weeks run more smoothly.
- Chart out your employees work schedules for the remainder of the month. Make sure that all employees double check the schedule to insure that you have adequate coverage every day. During December, employees may request some extra time off to attend their children’s school pagents, help an aging parent with some shopping, or just need a little extra time for their own holiday preparations. Instead of being caught off guard at the last minute, plan for these situations ahead of time. Your employees who need some time off will appreciate your understanding and be more willing to put out some extra effort on the day that one of their colleagues takes some time off.
- Double check your shipping and packing supplies. You’ve been so busy thinking about your designs, now make sure that you have everything you need to pack those gorgeous baskets so that they’ll arrive safely and intact. Check your boxes, bubble wrap, peanuts, tape, shipping labels, or whatever else you use for shipping. Contact your delivery service (UPS, Fed EX, etc) and get a copy of their holiday pick up and delivery schedules.
- Take care of yourself! In an article in the September issue of Trends and Tips Magazine, author Mary Ann Jacobs lists some “life saving tips”: take your vitamins, cut down on your sugar, select your social engagements carefully, delegate to others. I would also add that it is especially important to not miss the important things you regularly do for yourself: keep up with your exercise, yoga, meditation or whatever it is that you usually do for relaxation. Remember that you will be able to take care of your responsibilities and the important people in your life only if you’ve first taken care of yourself!
December 5th, 2009
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
Have you ever created a great gift basket design that isn’t selling as well as you expected? This is a good time to sit down with your staff and start asking questions!
Get your staff together (with some coffee and snacks) and take a serious look at the design. Come to the meeting with some facts and figures.
- Look at the overall design. Consider the colors and shape of the basket. Does it look elegant? fun? sophisticated? feminine? masculine? Is packed full with product or include just a few gourmet items? Did you use enhancements? Is there a theme? Does the send “send the message” that you had intended? (For example, if you designed a basket full of spa products, you probably want to send a message of “luxury”, “pampering”. Does the container, product, and enhancements that you used convey that message?)
- Look at the individual products. Are these your most popular items? What is the combination of cookies vs. snacks vs. chocolates, etc? What are the price points of each item? Are the individual boxes/packages large or small; simple in design or upscale? (For example, if you created a basket for a corporate setting, does it include products that can be shared by staff instead of all “single serve” items?)
- Look at the customers who have purchased this design: male? female? corporate? For what type of occasion was the basket purchased? Is the basket being purchased by the customers you thought would buy it?
Once you’ve answered some of these questions, you can brainstorm ideas for changes to the design that might better match the goal you had in mind when you originally created the basket.
How can you use these questions to create baskets that are sure to sell? What other questions should you be asking?
June 14th, 2009
Looking for fresh ideas for your gift basket business? Think about attending the Summer Fancy Food Show, June 28-30, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. There will be over 100,000 products on display from 2,300 exhibitors representing more than 70 countries.
You can also take advantage of a great educational program that starts on June 26th. Learn from industry experts in more than 20 seminars. Check out special showcases for natural and organic foods. See the hottest, newest products that your customers will want to buy.
Get more information and details for registration and hotels at NASFT FANCY FOOD SHOW.
May 25th, 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
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
As the busy holiday season approaches, there is nothing more important than being organized. With careful preparation, you can insure that your business runs smoothly and your baskets are delivered in a timely fashion even when your phones are ringing off the hook!
Consider some of these ideas when getting ready for the holidays:
- If you’ve created holiday designs that include specific products, make sure you have the inventory needed to make those baskets. While you may prefer to buy your items from a particular supplier, at this time of year, make a point to identify alternative sources for your products….just in case!
- Post your employees’ holiday schedules early. Everyone has lots of plans and responsibilities during the holiday season and it’s only fair to give your employees plenty of notice about your expectations for their work schedules. You might also want to line up a few friends for “emergency situations”: someone that you can call if one of your regular workers has to suddenly take some time off during your busiest season.
- In addition to checking your gourmet food inventory, make sure you have enough packing and shipping supplies. Even if you stock up a little more than usual, these items are not perishable and you’ll use them quickly for the next holiday which is around the corner: Valentine’s Day. If you missed one of my recent posts, read Packing Your Gift Baskets Perfectly for some more ideas about shipping.
- Determine your delivery and shipping schedule and make sure that all your employees are aware of the last date you’ll accept orders. Taking a few last minute orders that come in very late may be less important than making sure that you deliver your existing orders when promised.
As you get organized, keep some notes and make yourself a checklist that includes all of the things you’re checking and preparing. You can use this list for other holidays and not have to duplicate your efforts.
And speaking of duplicating efforts, you may want to take a look at Shirley Frazier’s Gift Basket Forms. Shirley has done all the work for you! She’s created an order form, a customer information form, a delivery form, plus 9 more forms that will help you organize your business.
October 29th, 2008
You may be the best designer in the world, but if your designs don’t reach your customers in perfect condition, no one will know how skilled you are. And no one will call back to place another order!
During the busy holiday season, it’s especially important to take time to pack your baskets carefully. Be sure to check all of your packaging supplies before the busy season starts. You may even consider calling your shipper of choice (eg. FedEX or UPS) and ask one of their representatives to give you some advice. (Our UPS representative came to our business, Apex Gift Foods, and gave our employees in the shipping department some great tips about packaging.)
Be sure to read Flora Brown’s article, “How to Pack a Peck of Pickled Peppers” for more tips on how to pack your gift baskets so that they arrive to the recipient in perfect condition.
October 28th, 2008
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
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