Have a Happy Holiday. . .

Tuesday December 25, 2007 • Leave a Comment 

valentinebag.gif. . .But Get Ready for Valentine’s Day 

Before you can recover from the holidays, it’s time to plan for Valentine’s Day. Here are some tips to make your planning easier.
 
As you put away your holiday decorations and inventory, keep back the items that are solid red and white. You’ll need these for Valentine designs:

1. Take inventory that will work  for Valentine’s designs. This can include gold, silver and metallic items.
2. Decide on your Valentine designs and order products promptly.
3. Prepare promotional materials.
4. Mail and distribute your materials during the 2nd week of January.

Because Valentine’s Day comes so fast on the heels of the holidays it’s essential to move quickly to capture the profits you deserve from this popular holiday.

Need ideas for Valentine gift basket themes? Get Love It!, our directory of over 20 wholesale sources for Valentine gift and gourmet ideas plus 15 themes for your Valentine themes.
 



Change Your Phone Greeting

Tuesday December 18, 2007 • Leave a Comment 

bizwomantired.jpg. . .Before You Turn Out the Lights 

It’s easy to forget all the things you need to do when closing your studio for the holidays. One important task that will make everyone’s life easier is to change your phone greeting. Even on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day you will get callers seeking gift baskets. If you won’t be available during this period it’s simple enough to inform your customers with your phone greeting:

1. Begin your phone greeting by extending holiday wishes.

2. Let callers know the dates you’ll be closed.

3. Clarify the day and time your studio will resume business.

4. Refer last-minute customers to another source for gifts, if you wish.

5. Thank them for their business and encourage them to plan ahead for Valentine gifts.

6. Remove and change this greeting when you return in January.

Doing this simple little task is more than just a courtesy. It’s also a smart business move.

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Pop in to Get Holiday Sales

Tuesday December 11, 2007 • Leave a Comment 

popcorn.gifAs you visit potential clients to introduce your company or to finalize holiday orders, leave behind a small gift along with your business card.

Popcorn is an excellent choice. It’s popular and very affordable. It’s easy to turn a microwaveable popcorn packet into a promotional item. Measure around the popcorn packet. Using the dimensions, create a slip-on wrapper. Then add a catchy greeting and a holiday image or your logo on the front and your contact information on the back. Print it on matte or photo paper if you wish or hire a printer if you want to produce a large quantity.
 
Your gift will be low-key so you won’t appear to be trying too hard, and it’ll be welcomed by everyone. Your contact information makes it easy to reach you.
 
Here are a few greetings to get you started:

  • Just poppin’ in to say thank you for your order.
  • Great holiday gift ideas are popping at ABC Gift Baskets.
  • Pop onto our website to see our new holiday ideas.
  • Pop into our store for a taste of our new holiday treats.
  • Let our gift baskets help your sales POP !

Now it’s your turn. Get poppin!



Make Kwanzaa Gift Baskets

Tuesday December 4, 2007 • Leave a Comment 

kwanzaa_basket.jpgWhen Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 he wanted to reaffirm African American roots to Africa and celebrate family, community and culture.
 
Kwanzaa is not connected to Christmas even though it is celebrated December 26th through January 1st. It is typically celebrated at home where a Kwanzaa altar or table is set up and decorated. The set up includes the Mkeka (mat) placed in the center. Then the kinara (candleholder) containing the Mishumaa Saba (seven candles) is added. One black candle is placed in the center of the Kinara. The other candles are 3 green and 3 red. Each day a candle is lit from left to right followed by the discussion of one of the seven principles, Nguzo Saba.
 
Also placed on the table in a bowl are Mazao, fruit and vegetables.  One ear of corn for each child in the family is placed on the mat. If the family has no children they add one ear of corn to symbolize the children of the community.
 
Since Kwanzaa is still a relatively new celebration, families add much creativity and imagination to the way they commemorate it, while keeping in place its spirit and purpose.
 
Dr. Karenga encourages the exchange of gifts that are handmade, not commercially produced. But with the increasing popularity of Kwanzaa, celebrated by over 18 million people worldwide, there is no stopping the commercialization. 
Companies have rolled out a wide variety of Kwanzaa gifts, textiles, housewares, stationery, greeting cards, mugs, plush and more. Since you may be asked to prepare Kwanzaa gift baskets, here are a few suggestions.

1. A fruit basket is an appropriate and welcomed hostess gift.
2. A gift basket filled with gifts and food will satisfy the whole family. Gifts should be positive items that encourage education, promote family togetherness and a sense of community. The kinte pattern is a popular color scheme on Kwanzaa gifts.
3. A basket perfect for a child or the child inside us would be a wonderful surprise. Books, videos or other educational resources about Kwanzaa or African American heritage are popular Kwanzaa items for children.

  • To get more design ideas for your Kwanzaa gift baskets, visit EasyGiftBasketIdeas
  • Whatever you design, remember to use Kwanzaa colors of black, green and red.  These colors represent Bendera, the African flag: black (the people,) red (continuing struggle,) and green (the future.)
  • Find out more about what’s appropriate for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and other major holidays in Business Etiquette for the Savvy Gift Basket Retailer.