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 at 07:40am
Lorie Obernauer
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2 – 8. In 2007, the NEA (National Teacher’s Association) launched a project to give teachers a ” big thanks” on National Teachers Day. Thousands of people responded by sending thank you cards which were used to create a huge mural that hangs in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
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”.
April 3rd, 2011 at 09:51pm
Lorie Obernauer
Little did you know! During the month of April, you can create unusual gift basket designs for 10 holidays and special occasions. Put on your creative thinking hat, think outside of the box and produce some imaginative designs that will entice your customers and create new opportunities to increase your sales. Can you come up with a unique design for any of these holidays? Please share your ideas….send in your photos and I’ll post your design with your business information!
- April 1: April Fools Day
- April 2: International Children’s Book Day
- April 6: National Day of Hope
- April 10: National Siblings Day
- April 16: Husband Appreciation Day
- April 17: Family History Day
- April 19: Passover
- April 23: Movie Theater Day
- April 24: Easter
- 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.
March 28th, 2011 at 09:45pm
Lorie Obernauer
There’s a business in Michigan that I’d like to visit: Zingerman’s Delicatessen. I’d like to stop by so that I can meet one of owners: Ari. He is a regular contributor to Specialty Food Magazine and I believe that I’ve read most of his entries over the past few years. Most importantly, I learn something from each article that I can use in business…and in life!
Ari wrote an article called “12 Natural Laws of Business” to try to answer the question he’s often asked: “What’s the secret to your success?”
So here are Ari Weinzweig’s 12 Natural Laws of Business. Read the full article to really understand how these work at Zingerman’s.
The 12 Natural Laws of Business
- You’re more likely to get to greatness if you have an inspiring and strategically sound vision.
- If you don’t give customers compelling reasons to buy from you, they won’t.
- If you don’t create a great, rewarding place for people to work, they won’t do great work.
- If you want the staff to give great service to customers, you have to give great service to the staff.
- If you want staff to give great performance, you have to give clear expectations and training tools.
- Successful businesses do the things that others know they should do but generally don’t.
- If you aren’t consistently getting better, you’re not going to get long-term greatness.
- Success means you get better problems—but there will always be problems.
- Whatever you’re good at is likely to also lead into areas of weakness.
- It takes longer to make something great happen than people think. Profit is good.
- Great organizations are appreciative and the people in them have more fun.
- Appreciate all those people with whom you work: customers, staff, suppliers….and appreciate them everyday!
March 14th, 2011 at 06:59pm
Lorie Obernauer
Ari Weinzweig, author of a monthly feature in Specialty Food Magazine, hit a home run with his article in the March issue. He proposes that our businesses have an energy of their own; that staff and customers can come into our stores and feel that energy….and react to that energy. If the energy is positive, customers love to drop in; staff is excited and creativity thrives. But if the energy is negative, you probably see a lot of flat faces on the part of your employees.
Does your company have an energy crisis? Are you asking yourself these questions over and over:
What’s wrong with all my employees? Why don’t they get it? Where are the customers who used to come in to shop? What happened to loyalty? Will the economy ever improve?
“The truth is that the (low or negative energy) issues starts with us as managers and owners. And, therefore, the solution starts with us: the people in leadership roles in any business, organization”. Read the full article and learn 4 key points that will help you put the energy back in your business. And let us know what you do to put the energy back into your company.
March 7th, 2011 at 11:52pm
Lorie Obernauer
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 at 11:09pm
Lorie Obernauer
In the January/February issue of Specialty Food Magazine, you’ll find an article entitled “2011 Trends: What to Expect in Confections”. According to the author, “the emphasis will likely be on sweet and citrusy flavors, savory-sweet combinations and products with a healthy twist”.
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
February 19th, 2011 at 02:59pm
Lorie Obernauer
I’ve been learning a lot about blogging….taking some online courses….doing a lot of reading. There’s a wealth of fantastic information that’s available for your examination. If you’d like to learn more, sign up for a free subscription 
to Social Media Examiner: Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle. “Offering a unique single source of knowledge, the site contains comprehensive articles and videos on how to use the best social media tools, along with original case studies, reviews of the latest industry research and advice direct from the world’s leading experts.”
An example of a great article: 26 Ways to Enhance Your Blog Content , posted on Social Media Examiner, on February 2nd. Sign up now…don’t miss another issue.
February 14th, 2011 at 09:09pm
Lorie Obernauer
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 at 12:04am
Lorie Obernauer
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 at 04:25pm
Lorie Obernauer
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