You Asked for It

Tuesday August 19, 2008 • Please leave a comment

A few months ago I began asking readers to give me feedback about this newsletter in a survey that appears near the bottom of every issue. Here are some of their comments from the survey followed by my responses.

Reader Comment–I’m finding too many links to businesses that have “ready made” gift baskets. I make my own gift baskets and am not interested in “ready made” baskets. I would like to know where to get supplies without having to download your ebook.

My Response–All of my ebooks and e-courses are free, so I suspect that this reader is referring to my product directories that give the contact information for as many as hundreds of wholesalers. I created those directories to save my subscribers and visitors tons of time, energy and frustration searching for this information.For those of you who prefer to locate the information on your own, you certainly may do that. To learn where to get supplies without buying my product directories you only need to go to the same sources I researched to get that information: directories distributed when you attend tradeshows, searches on Google and other search engines, combing through message boards, networking with other gift basket retailers, reading gift basket blogs and visiting the listing of wholesalers in your state. I compiled my product directories over 17 years of being in the gift basket industry.

Reader Comment–I like your newsletter, but I just wish it was longer.My Response–My newsletter was a lot longer in the beginning, but readers requested that I shorten it so they could read it more quickly. For more extensive coverage on the gift basket business, visit my blog and gift basket websites listed near the bottom of each issue.

Reader Comment –I would like to have more experienced gift basket owners tell of their success, and give ideas on how they found clients to make baskets for. Also, prices to charge based on the size of the basket and the contents.My Response–The recent interviews of gift basket owners covered these very issues and appear in my blog. To learn more about pricing your designs, see Price Right for Peerless Profits.

Reader Comment–Some of the tips in your newsletter are sometimes too general.My Response–Detailed tips are inGift Basket BusinessWorld Blog
The Gift Basket Library
Easy Gift Basket Ideas
Make Gift Baskets Now

Reader Comment–I’d like to see topics on creating an advertising schedule, business plan, and different types of online contest to ENTER TO WIN A GIFT BASKET.My Response–Shirley Frazier, author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business and The Gift Basket Design Book, has covered these very well in her many materials, tutorials, DVDs, CDs, websites and blog. I encourage you to invest in the treasure of resources Shirley has provided based on her 18 years of experience. Visit her site now.

Filed Under Gift basket business

Keep Your Business Alive

Tuesday August 12, 2008 • Please leave a comment

August 12, 2008–Issue 208

If your business is feeling the effects of the economic downturn, you are not alone. In a few years when the economy uprights itself and returns to good times, some businesses will still be alive. Will your business be one of them? That all depends on what steps you are taking today to keep your business afloat.

I recently received the following email from one of my subscribers who is concerned about this very issue. Perhaps you can relate to her situation and be helped by my response .

“I make beautiful baskets. My good customers praise my work.
I have a cute little shop on a busy street.

I read articles on how to market and watch videos all the time. My question is how to get the cars to stop. I am carrying tea in my shop now and the other day I advertised for a week and had a tea tasting party for two hours. I had one customer. That was heartbreaking.

I put products out on nice tables and a side walk sale and put sale signs every where. They don’t stop. I am busy for the holidays, but summer is hurting my business.

I need to take my baskets out to the people. I have joined my local chamber and business women’s group. They help a little, not much. We need more ideas on how to talk to corporate clients and how to sell our baskets.

My husband says that people have a WalMart mentality. I love my business and I don’t want to lose it. “

This gift retailer is already doing many things right in her business: tea tasting party, sidewalk sales, advertising and participating in networking groups. I advise her to keep doing these things, but even more aggressively.

Make note of what other businesses are doing to stay afloat and use the techniques that can work for your business.

Lower prices, offer specials, tighten the budget.

Retailers probably resort to these strategies first. The popular sandwich chains, for example, began offering $5 options and the fast food stores stepped up their $1 menu.

I don’t advise you to lower prices of your custom gift basket designs, but you can consider offering more stand-alone gifts and even less expense alternatives such as balloon bouquets.

Don’t try to compete with WalMart, Costco or other big box stores. They can survive on a much lower profit margin, especially since their gift basket offerings are loss leaders.

Tightening the budget can be done by taking a hard look at your expenses and cutting what you no longer need.

My phone company, for example, charges a higher fee for voice mail on business lines than they do for residential lines. I decided to go back to an answer machine rather than pay for the voice mail service. With modern answer machines you can retrieve and manage messages remotely, so there’s no longer a need for the phone company’s overpriced voice mail.

Another area you may be able to cut is in buying supplies and inventory. In the early days I stock shredded filler of all the major colors. Now I primarily use green, white, and tan filler.

Use local and nearby vendors to save time and money on shipping. If you need tips on finding vendors in your area, invest in my audio CD How to Find Products In and Around Your State.

Take your product to the street

Car dealers, pizza shops and other businesses in my area hire sign twirlers to stand on business corners in costumes and twirl signs pointing to the businesses location or announcing specials.

While this may not appeal to you, how about hiring someone to pass out a free balloon imprinted with your store name, website and phone number as they pass your store or on a busy pedestrian corner. Almost no one turns down a free balloon.

Capture contact information of visitors to your website.

Every visitor to your website won’t become a customer, but they could become part of your database. For this to happen, however, you must devise a way to get them to give you their names and email addresses, but also phone number would be great.
Website visitors love to sign up for free newsletters, free reports or a free list of tips.

Create one of these and using an autoresponder such as AWeber you can begin to build a list of potential customers.

After the visitor downloads the free item you’ve offered, you can now email special offers and promotions to them on a regular basis.

Follow up on current customers.

Stay in touch with your customers. Get the contact information of your customers to your retail store, as well as storing the information of your online customers. Then, send regular email or postcards announcing new products, events or specials.

Bath and Body Works is expert at this. Almost every week I get a mailing from them offering $10 off a $30 purchase, a free gift with purchase and sometimes a free gift without purchase. Then, after you buy something in the store you receive another coupon for money off a future purchase. All of their specials have expiration dates, thus encouraging you to act quickly.

Latch on to trends

Along with concerns about the economy, people are increasingly concerned about the environment. Let your customers know that you support this movement by offering products that are recyclable, organic and safe for our bodies and the environment.

What kind of items can you add to an environmentally friendly gift basket?
organic tea
Fair trade coffee
lip balm
essential oils
Tree in a Box
Baby Tree Gift Kit
Books on organic and vegetarian cooking
Envirosax reusable shopping bags
aromatherapy and organic bath products

Read more about keeping green with your wedding gift baskets here.
For more ideas on keeping your business alive, read these articles.

Girlfriend Getaways are Hot Gift Basket Idea
Spark New Profits for Your Gift Basket Business
Sell Your Gift Baskets to the People Who Have Money
You Get an A+ for Cashing in on the Back to School Season

To best serve your the corporate market you have to find out their needs. The only way to learn this is get acquainted with the decision makers and gatekeepers and ask them or observe what drives their companies.

All small business and corporate clients want repeat and referral business. How can your gift basket business help them do that? If you can figure out how to help them do that, you can keep your business alive.

If you want to learn how to put these ideas into action in your particular gift basket business, get experienced help with my private consultation. My private clients are doing well because they get all their questions answered, they learn where to find products, how to conduct corporate presentations and they follow my guidance based on 17 years of experience in the gift basket industry.

If you’re ready to get the customized help you deserve, invest in private consultation, available by phone or in person now.

You’ve already tried struggling alone. Why do that any longer when you can invest in expert help? Get more details here now.

Filed Under Getting orders, Gift basket business, Keeping loyal customers, Marketing your business

Fishing for Clients? Use the Right Bait

Tuesday June 3, 2008 • Please leave a comment

Issue 198

Successful fisherman have many techniques that they often share with buddies. As I listen to their enthusiastic accounts I realize that going after corporate clients is much like fishing.

1. Decide what type of fish you want to catch.

Most gift basket designers have found that the corporate client is best. That includes not just decision makers in large corporations, but small to medium sized companies as well.

But you may want to mainly go after the general consumer. It’s your choice.

2. Go where your target fish gathers.

I’m no fisherman, but I wouldn’t expect to find fresh water fish in salt water.

Join the associations, clubs and networks where your type of client is active. Attend regularly and build relationships.

3. Use bait that your target will grab.

Companies use gift baskets to say thank you, to recover lost customers, to show appreciation, all aimed at increasing their business.

Gourmet food baskets are popular among corporate clients, while some lean toward non-food or themed designs. The best way to find out what your clients prefer, however, is to ask them.

Before going to a presentation, be sure you know the budget, occasion and preferred theme of your potential client. Design the sample basket in accordance with these considerations.

4. Once you have them on the hook, reel them in quickly.

After your client has stated a preference, price point and delivery date, ask for the order. Note the details and prepare a contract or agreement.

5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for future fishing success.

Whether you are just starting a website or wanting to improve an existing gift basket website, my free course will save you enormous time, money and aggravation.

Here’s what one gift basket designer had to say about the course

I loved all the information received in this course. Especially helpful was the last lesson, that gave several very tangible ideas and priceless information on a way to accurately track the visitors and traffic on my website. That piece of information alone made me so glad that I signed up for this course. Excellent!

Ready to dramatically improve your website? I’ve created a report Prescription for a Successful Gift Basket Website. Available as an instant download this one-of-a-kind report can help you make the choices and changes in your website that lead to success and increased profits.
===================
Please note: I have discontinued the website www.giftbasketbiztips.com
Continue to get information and resources from the other sites listed below.
===================
~The Shortest Distance Between You and Your Success~
Main site www.giftbasketbusinessworld.com
Articles, mags, books www.thegiftbasketlibrary.com

~Free Help for You~

What goes in themes www.easygiftbasketideas.com
Step-by-step tutorials www.makegiftbasketsnow.com
Ideas for retailers www.addgiftbaskets.com

~Missed Newsletter Issues?~

Former newsletter issues www.giftbasketonlinenewsletter.com

Other Websites
www.smartbusinessmatters.com
www.craftideaworld.com
www.homebasedbusinessmatters.com
www.youreducationmatters.com
www.coloryourlifehappy.com
=======================
PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint the tips from the Gift
Basket Business World Newsletter in your own print or electronic
newsletter. But please notify us where they will appear and include
the following paragraph at the bottom of the tips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright©2008 Flora Brown Associates. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted from “Gift Basket Business World Newsletter,” a free ezine
featuring tips, resources and tools that increase profits for gift basket retailers.
Subscribe at http://www.giftbasketbusinessworld.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Filed Under Gift basket business

Are You Cashing in Online?

Tuesday February 26, 2008 • Please leave a comment

=============
February 26, 2008
Issue 185
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Are you new to this newsletter? Then let me welcome you. I’ve prepared a personal introduction to this newsletter and what it offers. Find it here.
==========================
If you don’t already have a website you’ve surely fantasized about owning one.

If you do have a website, are you cashing in on all the sales potential that a website offers?

In either case, here are a few benefits of owning a website.

The world is your market.

Even if your gift basket business is small or home-based, a well-done website puts you on a level playing field with larger companies. In addition to getting customers the old-fashioned way, the whole world becomes your market.

It was pretty exciting the first time I received an international order. My customer was in Australia. Her recipient was in Fullerton, CA, just a few miles away from my studio.

Corporate clients know what they want.

Your website may not come up with the top companies on a search engine search, but corporate clients can be patient. They are willing to research to find just the gift basket business that offers the value and services they want.

One corporate client told me she spent over an hour going through all the links under gift baskets before she found my company on the seventh page of listings.

Your online gift basket business is open 24/7.

With different time zones, you can earn money while you snooze. (Now tell me that doesn’t appeal to you.)

These are just a few of the benefits of owning your own gift basket website. Watch for more benefits in the March 4th issue. I’ve also prepared an e-course and e-book giving you many step by step details for operating a successful gift basket website. Look for a separate announcement of the launch of these exciting new success guides.

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Filed Under Gift basket business, Gift basket website, Profiting online

It’s All About the Benjamins, If You Plan to Stay in Business

Tuesday February 19, 2008 • Please leave a comment

=============

February 19, 2008
Issue 184
===============
You are receiving this because you signed up for it at
http://www.giftbasketbusinessworld.com
If you wish to unsubscribe you may do so at the bottom of this page.

==========================

Are you new to this newsletter? Then let me welcome you. I’ve prepared a personal introduction to this newsletter and what it offers. Find it here.

Gift basket designers go into business because they love creating impressive designs and getting admiration from their customers. Pretty quickly your business must earn more money than you spend or you will soon be out of business.I’m a great believer in “do what you love” but for the money to follow you must find someone willing to exchange their hard-earned money for what you offer. When you find these customers, you must insist on getting the profits you deserve.

Short of discovering a gold mine buried in your backyard, how are some ways to increase the cash flow and profits in your gift basket business?

1. Trim the fat

Get rid of excess on and offline. This requires making a careful inspection of where your money is going.

Automatic payments are convenient, but can be dangerous if not monitored. Back when I bought my credit card terminal, I arranged to have monthly payments automatically debited from my bank account. Several months after my terminal was completely paid, I discovered that the company was still withdrawing the payments. Jump on things like this right away, and get your refund.

I found another place to trim when I took a careful look at my PayPal account. I discovered monthly memberships and services that I no longer used or needed. Cancelling those services spared up $110 a month.

2. Spend cautiously.

When I’m tempted to buy inventory for an order, I determine how I will use the remaining dozen and a half items after I’ve completed the order at hand. If I can’t figure that out, I make another inventory choice.

Another example of the need to think about your spending. I recently bought a wireless modem so I can access the Internet from anywhere. After several introductory discounts the total cost was $49 (this doesn’t include the monthly fees, of course.)

As the young clerk was inputting my information in the computer, he asked as part of his company script, “Would you like to get insurance for $49 so your modem can be replaced in the event it is lost or stolen?”

“Let me think about this for a minute,” I responded. “Do I want to spend $49 for insurance for an item that only cost $49 in the first place? ”

The young clerk and everyone in hearing distance could see the absurdity. We all burst into laughter.

You don’t need most of those so-called protection plans. More money for you!

3. Don’t extend credit.

You are not a bank, so don’t get into the loan business. Process your customer’s credit cards before you prepare and ship the order. To some of you this may sound harsh, but it’s much harsher to have no money to pay your own bills because your customers haven’t paid their bills.

This goes for corporate clients especially. Medium to large companies are known to hold up paying invoices for long periods, sometimes as long as 90 days or more.
Will your creditors wait for their money that long without taking action against you?

Consumers and companies who want your business must be willing to pay for it. Ignore this tip at your own peril.

4. Create continuity sales.

Set up a program that requires your customers to make monthly payments, such as a Gift Basket of the Month program. For this service the customers receives a different theme of your choosing each month priced at the same price. They can have it shipped to themselves for delivering themselves, or they can designate at the beginning of the service where they want them go each month.

This may sound like a contradiction of my first tip, but it’s different. You will be on the receiving end of these monthly payments.

5. Raise your prices.

Most gift basket designers price their baskets too low. This is brought on by what I call the “housewife mentality.” Your compassion for your customers causes you to cheat yourself.

Every time the cost of gas, food, shipping and living in general goes up, so should your prices.

To stay and prosper in business you’ve got to keep your eye and hands on the Benjamins.

Related articles and posts

==================================
Other Websites

www.smartbusinessmatters.com
www.craftideaworld.com
www.homebasedbusinessmatters.com
www.youreducationmatters.com
www.coloryourlifehappy.com

=================================

Please help us make improvements to this newsletter by completing a short 7-item survey. You will find it here. Thank you.
===================================
Many of you have asked me to recommend a website hosting service. I recommend my host, SiteGround web hosting for websites and blogs.
====================================

How well do you know the gift basket business?
Test your skills with this crossword puzzle, “Gift Basket Wrap Up.”
Click here to get started. ====================================
Ready to design gift baskets? Watch the step by step tutorials and listen to the audio tips on our newest site, www.MakeGiftBasketsNow.com

====================================Looking for easy gift basket ideas? Discover what to put in popular themes at www.EasyGiftBasketIdeas.com . Images and ideas for baby, holidays, celebrations, pamper, real estate and more. You’ll even learn to make diaper cakes from a short video.====================================

ARE YOU FRUSTRATED WITH YOUR INABILITY TO

ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS?

Are you struggling to attract new customers to your gift basket business? Do you have a great gift basket service but aren’t sure how to let prospects know about you? You can attract more new customers, sell more to existing customers, and bring back your customers more often. Learn how in the Marketing Bible.

====================================
Have you been asked to create low-cost gift baskets? Learn how to profitably serve this market in our new our free 7-part e-course, “Satisfy Customer Demands for Low-Cost Gifts.” Sign up now . Once you confirm, you’ll begin to receive lessons in your email box.
=====================
If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will never distribute your address to anyone.
Period. Promise.

=====================

Many of you have asked how I send out my newsletter. I have tried several companies over the years, but the best is Tom Kulzer’s service AWeber.

Check it out for yourself at http://www.aweber.com/?284293

=====================

Read previous issues of this newsletter by clicking the
following link or pasting this URL into your address bar
http://www.giftbasketonlinenewsletter.com

======================

Keep up with the gift industry and stay inspired. Read the latest
post on my blog.
=======================
PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint the tips from the Gift
Basket Business World Newsletter in your own print or electronic
newsletter. But please notify us where they will appear and include
the following paragraph at the bottom of the tips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright©2008 Flora Brown Associates. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted from “Gift Basket Business World Newsletter,” a free ezine
featuring tips, resources and tools that increase profits for gift basket retailers.
Subscribe at http://www.giftbasketbusinessworld.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
446 S.Anaheim Hills Rd., #167
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

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Filed Under Gift basket business

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