Posts filed under 'Industry News'
There’s always a gift show to attend! Throughout the United States, gift shows are scheduled almost every month of the year. Some shows attract regional manufacturers and buyers; others pull in international buyers and suppliers. So why should a gourmet food basket designer attend a gift show?
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:
You can also find regional shows on-line web sites:
May 22nd, 2011
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”.
May 14th, 2011
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.
April 25th, 2011
In the March issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor, there is an article about the “popular” color for 2011: Honeysuckle, along with a suggestion that this be used for a splash of bold color in design. Read about the Pantone 2011 color of the year and where you’ll see it show up in in the marketplace. Watch out for packaging and accessories in this bright, fresh color that you can add to your basket designs.
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.
April 11th, 2011
The Ultimate Gift Show and the National Gift Basket Professional Convention have merged to present a bigger and better buying experience for gift basket businesses. The event takes places August 4, 5, 6 in Columbus, Ohio.
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.
February 27th, 2011
The Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco just ended a few weeks ago. And I’m already getting notices about the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show to be held this year in Washington, DC. Show dates are July 10-12, 2011.
One highlight of this show will be the Sofi Awards Showcase. Here you’ll see the 150+ products that are recognized for excellence in specialty food and beverages in 33 categories. There will also be a display featuring a targeted area where you can find new products as well a products in Gift & Holiday and Natural & Organic Foods categories.
You can register now or keep checking back at specialtyfood.com, the web site of the National Association for Specialty Food Trade. If Washington, DC is a convenient destination for you and if you can take time from work, I’d strongly suggest that you check out this show. Each time I attend a NASFT show, I gather a tremendous amount of information that is pertinent for all gift basket businesses. By browsing the aisles, I can see the newest color trends for the upcoming season. I get a first hand view of the most popular products that will be advertised in the magazines that my customers will read. I get to talk with gift basket business owners and find out what products they like, what services they offer to customers…i.e. how they run their businesses.
Give your self an opportunity to learn….and grow your business.
February 8th, 2011
The newest issue of Gift, Gourmet and Decor magazine is now available online. One of the best features in the magazine is the “Idea Calendar”. In the January issue, you’ll find an idea for promoting your gift baskets for each day of February and March.
In this same issue, I found several articles that prompted marketing ideas that could be applied to any gift basket business. For example, the article entitled “Lasting Ties” talks about how you can promote your business in the collegiate market. Another article, “Plush Perfection” lists the latest products and news from the plush toy industry. (Stuffed animals have long been a popular addition to many gift basket designs.) After reading “Not Your Mother’s Diaper Bag”, I realized that a diaper bag might in fact, be a terrific container for a New Baby gift basket!
Don’t miss future issues of Gift, Gourmet and Decor magazine. There’s a lot to learn! Go to Gift, Gourmet and Decor Plus to receive your own free, digital copy.
January 30th, 2011
The 2011 NASFT Fancy Food Trade show is over. Even if you weren’t there, you can still learn about the newest products and trends in the gourmet industry. During the 3 day show, a group of industry experts toured the show and compiled a list of “top trends”.
“Among the trends identified were:
- Chocolate for Breakfast, including tea, Belgian waffles, granola and hot chocolate on a stick.
- Foods for Healing, such as ancient teas, aloe and cucumber drinks, plus micro-batches of healthful beverages.
- New Noodles, made of ingredients such as yam, kelp, farro and spelt.
- Heat with Flavor, including ingredients such as ghost peppers and wasabi paired with yuzu.
- Creative Chips, made with ingredients such as pinto bean, naan, peas, mung beans, kale and wild rice.
With this list in mind, ask your current suppliers whether they carry any of these categories of products. Or, go to the NASFT web site and check out “What’s New, What’s Hot” for an extensive list of products shown at the 2011 Fancy Food Show. Included is a complete directory so that you can contact vendors directly for more information.
Note: In the January issue of Specialty Food magazine, you’ll also find an article “2011 Trends: What to Expect in Confections”.
January 25th, 2011
You may attend a certain number of industry trade shows to find new products for your gift basket designs. I recently posted a blog about one of the biggest trade shows for gift basket businesses: The NASFT Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. But there are also many trade show opportunities where you can display and sell your gift baskets.
Go to SmartTradeShows.com to learn how to find a trade show that’s right for you. The first step is to write some goals: what do you want to accomplish by being a vendor at a trade show? For example, do you want to “engage current customers, initiate new contacts, or reach future key decision makers?”
Next, you can easily find information about trade shows all over the country. “Public libraries and the internet both provide directories and descriptions of upcoming trade shows. Another good idea is to check for regional and national conventions, since many associations hold trade shows simultaneously with conventions.”
Once you identify the trade show opportunities where you might set up a display, contact the show organizers to collect some more information. Find out how many people attended prior shows and collect demographics to determine if attendees might be potential buyers of the products you sell. You can also get a list of other vendors who displayed at the show in the past and call them directly to find out about their experience.
Read the full article for more trade show tips. Also, check out Amazing Mail, one of many companies that can help you promote your business at a trade show.
January 19th, 2011
The Blogging Success Summit 2011 is for you if you’re thinking about starting a blog for your gift basket business. It’s for you if you’re an experienced blogger and want better results. This on-line business conference will take place over three weeks in February, 2011. Instructors will be presenting their sessions live… in real time…on your computer screen….in your office or your home.
You will hear from 23 of the most well respected blogging experts will be featured. “They’ll reveal all the latest techniques and proven business-building tactics that you need to know to immediately benefit from blogging.” You will learn how to:
- market your blog
- build an engaging blog presence
- increase traffic to your blog and your sales
- integrate social media platforms with your blog
- build loyal readers
You will also have opportunities to network with other bloggers, ask questions and get immediate answers.
Sign up now and save 50%. Go to Blogging Success Summit 2011 for more information.
December 29th, 2010
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