One of the best places to find all of these things is at tradeshows. While the major tradeshows seem to take place in January and July, there are hundreds of other gift, beverage and gourmet tradeshows throughout the year where you can benefit, some of them near or in your area. 

If you don’t know about these shows, of course, you can’t participate. So, each day this week I will spotlight a tradeshow on my blog. Not only will you get links to registration, but also a sampling of a few of the exhibitors who will be attending that show.  

Yesterday I spotlighted the Las Vegas Souvenir and Gift Show. Check out which show I spotlight today and the rest of the week. 

Not all suppliers will exhibit at tradeshows, however. I’ve discovered some great sources of baskets, enhancements, shipping supplies within a few miles of my studio. You can too. To learn how, listen to Shirley Frazier and me share simple techniques for finding products in and around your town, on a special audio CD , “How to Find Products In and Around Your State.” 

You can also see what you’ve been missing in your area by searching the tradeshows grouped by state on my website here. 

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.

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.
                                     

                                       Related Articles and Posts
 Keep Your Gift Basket Business in Step with the Times
Which Comes First–The Customer or the Gift Basket?
Promote Your Gift Basket Business or Else

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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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.
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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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                              Related articles and posts
 Ten Tips for Cashing in Online
 Before You Start a Website
 Use Drop Shipping for Your Gift Basket Business
 Make Money from Google Adsense
 Make Your Customers Feel Secure

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February 19, 2008
Issue 184
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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

•  Create Gift Baskets Using Products You Already Own
• Want More Customers? Ask for the Order
• The Psychology of Pricing Gift Baskets
• Are Discounts Good for Your Gift Basket Profits?
• Price Right for Peerless Profits

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

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

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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

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February 12, 2008–Issue 183
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When Apple revealed its newest laptop, their commercial became another example of marketing genius. Watch it now and see if you can spot why it has appeal.

Did you figure out that this ad has appeal because of its simplicity, clever use of song that helps convey its message and its focus on a single benefit: thinness which implies lightweight, easy portability, easy storage and heightened customer satisfaction.

You probably don’t have the deep pockets that Apple has to produce such an ad.
But you do have a great product and service that meet the needs of your target audience. Zero in on the most significant and powerful benefit of your business and create an ad around it.
 
Your most significant benefit may be fast turnaround, highly customized designs, 24-hour ordering, or unique themes. Select a photo or image that portrays that benefit.
 
You might choose to create your ad on a postcard rather than in a costly TV commercial, but you get my point.  We can learn from a company like Apple how to capture attention with an uncluttered, single-focused campaign.

Get great marketing ideas especially suited to the gift basket business from the audio CD, 99 Sizzling Marketing Ideas to Make More Money–January through June.  Buy now and increase your cash flow tomorrow.
 
Related articles and blog posts
 –Sell-a-brations for Your Gift Basket Business
 –Promote Your Gift Basket Business or Else
 –Every Business Must Market
 –Market with Postcards
 –Marketing Works!
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• 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.

====================================
 
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.

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

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

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

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.
===============
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.

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.”
   =============
  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.
  ===============
  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.