Cover Your Assets, Insure Your Gift Basket Business

Tuesday January 15, 2008 • Leave a Comment 

accident.JPGOn an episode of the popular TV show “Crossing Jordan,” a mysterious toxin causes the illness of the medical examiners and even the death of one. The toxin is traced back to a food item that came from a gift basket provided by one of the sales reps.
 
This episode may be fictional, but the possibility that food you place in a gift basket could make someone ill is scary but real. To protect your assets and yourself you must have insurance for your gift basket business.
 
Need more reasons to get insured? 

  • A UPS delivery person slips on your icy driveway while delivering office supplies to you for your home office.

  • A recipient of one of your baskets breaks a tooth while biting down on a biscotti and decides to sue your company.

  • A customer cuts her finger on a sharp piece of wire sticking out of the end of your French-wired bow

  • In addition to protecting yourself in the event of one of these incidents, you may also be required to show proof of insurance when serving some corporate clients and holding events at certain venues.

  • Getting insurance is spending money you can afford (a premium) to cover a risk you can’t afford (being sued or losing your inventory to theft or fire.)

Start your search for business insurance with the same company that provides your homeowner’s insurance. Others have relied on RLI, a specialty insurance company that insures many gift basket businesses. They don’t sell directly to policyholders, but you can use their locator to find an agent near you.
 
Some basket designers have been pleased with the services of other companies such as Nationwide and Zurich.
 
You just can’t count on good luck and good intentions to protect you from unfortunate events. Get insured so you can adequately cover the assets you’ve worked so hard to acquire.

To be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to prevent problems.  Learn how on the audio CD, Legal Tips to Keep Your Company Out of Court.   Get your copy now.

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Many of you have asked me to recommend a website hosting service.  I recommend my host, SiteGround web hosting for websites and blogs.

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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.
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Ready to design gift baskets? Watch the step by step tutorials and listen to the audio tips on our newest site, www.MakeGiftBasketsNow.com

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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.
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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. 
 
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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.

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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



Embrace Valentine Profits

Tuesday January 8, 2008 • Leave a Comment 

valentinebag1.gifIn modern times the celebration of Valentine’s Day has grown far beyond flowers, candy, cards and jewelry. Although Valentine expressions are still mainly personal, they are often exchanged in business settings as well.
 
If you expect to enjoy profits from Valentine’s Day sales you must start your marketing immediately. Send postcards or mailers to your general consumer and corporate clients offering Valentine’s gifts and gift baskets.

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.

To learn how to make a Valentine design step by step, see A Lovely Design, a photo story.

Continue reading to learn more about the origin of Valentine’s Day,

Please help us make improvements to this newsletter by completing a very short survey. You will find it here. Thank you.
 
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Many of you have asked me to recommend a website hosting service.  I recommend my host, SiteGround web hosting for websites and blogs.
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Looking for easy gift basket ideas?  Discover what to put in popular themes at  http://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.
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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. 
 
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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.



Make This Your Best Year Yet!

Wednesday January 2, 2008 • Leave a Comment 

happypeople1.JPGIt’s been a wonderful year for me and I’m grateful for your support.

 

 

Here are some ways to ensure that your new year is “happy.”

  • Send New Year’s greetings to your customers.  Be sure to remind them to order Valentine’s gift baskets early.

  • Review the goals you set at the beginning of last year. What worked well and what didn’t? Which goals need reworking or discarding? One of my goals last year was to offer you more information via a wider variety of websites and products. I plan to generate even more sources of help and motivation for you.

  • Plan to expand your knowledge and skills by attending classes, seminars or a tradeshow. The California Gift Show is January 18-21, 2008. To find the tradeshows in your area, go here.

  • Contact your local visitors and convention bureau to get a list of events scheduled in the new year. Locate the conventions and meetings on the list that you can approach to offer your services.

  • Plan to expand your marketing strategies adding at least one idea, maybe a newsletter, a blog or a website. I plan to submit more press releases.

  • Decide how you will use the major holidays and celebrations to promote your business. February is National Cat Health Month, for example. Perhaps veterinarians in your area plan to celebrate and can use your services. For more ideas, get your copy of my audio CD “99 Sizzling Marketing Ideas to Make More Money: January through June.”
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    Ready to design gift baskets? Watch the step by step tutorials and listen to the audio tips on our newest site, www.MakeGiftBasketsNow.com
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    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.
    ===============
    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.