Tag Archives: Business

How to Choose Your Specialty Gift Baskets for a Gift Basket Business, Gift Shop, or Sideline

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If you have an existing gift basket business, or are planning to start up a gift basket business or home based gift basket business or just add a sideline to a business you have now, one of the most important things to consider is the type of gift baskets you’ll offer.

You can offer a wide range of gift baskets, focus on a unique specialty gift basket or do a combination of both. I recommend doing both.

For the newbie, start out with a focus on one type of gift basket, and then later add a strong line of gift baskets, after you get your foot in the door. This is often the best approach when you’re new. You’ll be tying up less money in inventory too.

Here are two possible specialty gift baskets to consider. The first is a gift basket for nurses. Make up a demo gift basket. I know marketing. For marketing your specialty gift basket you may have to get really creative. Take your demo to one of the local hospitals and wander though the cafeteria and set it down on a table while you have a beverage. People will assume you are delivering it to a patient.

Take plenty of business cards. Ask administration if you can post your business card on the hospital message board. Stop at the gift shop, show the demo gift basket and ask if they would take any on consignment. If they do and get enough orders, they’ll probably start ordering regularly from you without consignment. If you know of any health professionals, show them your demo baskets or even give them one and ask for referrals in exchange.

Nurses don’t have time to shop. They love to get and give gifts. They can’t get out of the hospital for breaks or at lunchtime because it’s usually against hospital policy to leave the premises. I know. I used to be a nurse. They are prime candidates for your baskets. You can have gift baskets that are full of nurse specialty and other medical items, a nurse’s relaxation gift basket and so on. They like the medical theme baskets because they can use the items or give some of the items in the gift basket to other nurses and other health professionals they work with or know.

Once you get a few nurses buying you’ll find they are good repeat customers. Plus they have plenty of associates they can recommend you to. Make sure you supply them with business cards. Fliers get lost or thrown away. Business cards are easier to keep track of. Business cards are cheap or you can make your own. They don’t have to be fancy but make them a little appealing. Your business is going to be judged by your baskets though, not the cards.

Another idea would be to approach brew pub and tavern owners. You could provide an endless supply of gift baskets for them to use for their giveaways to customers. They usually have contests and various kinds of drawings for their customers. I know a lot of restaurant and tavern owners. I used to list and sell restaurants and taverns when I had my real estate company. I know how they think and work.

Just make up two or three or more good demos for them to choose from. Have different price ranges from less to more expensive and two or three differently filled baskets. Have two or three different types of containers if possible. Traditional wicker baskets are good. Try a totally different kind of USEABLE container if you can think of something appropriate.

For this crowd make your gift baskets humorous, not serious. Include things you think brewpub or tavern patrons might like. Specialty cheeses, crackers, pretzels, chips, nuts, other food items. Unfortunately they probably don’t want healthy snacks. Maybe specialty beers, specialty coffees, hot chocolate mixes, t-shirts, baseball caps, coffee mugs, corkscrews, bar items, playing cards, auto-related items and small auto safety items. These are just a few of the items to consider.

Magic shop items will make your baskets unique and lots of FUN. Make sure you get some of these in every basket. Visit your local magic shop, usually found in the larger cities. If you don’t have a magic shop try to find a magic catalog. You should be able to find some on the Internet. Even retail prices are usually cheap for these items if you can’t arrange wholesale. You may not be buying enough wholesale in the beginning to warrant a wholesale account. Often minimum orders may be too high to make sense.

There are dozens of other specialty baskets you can make of course. But for the other gift baskets in your gift basket business you will want to focus on gourmet food gift baskets, fruit baskets if you come from an area that has plenty of fruit all year, corporate gift baskets which are real money-makers, but competitive, and bath and body gift baskets. Custom or personalized gift baskets are another option too.

With these tips, ideas and suggestions, you should be well on your way to choosing a specialty gift basket line for your new, existing, or work-at-home or home based gift basket business, gift shop or as a sideline to another business.

Helen Hecker heads Twin Peaks Press since 1982. Help publishers. Online marketing, mailing lists,press releases, Helen Hecker’s Biz Hotline, How to Make Gift Baskets DVD. http://www.TwinPeaksPress.com http://www.HowToMakeBeautifulGiftBaskets.com http://www.SellCookbooks.com

How to Make Corporate Gift Baskets Cheaply for Your Gift Basket Business, New Business or Add-On

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Corporate gift baskets can give a big boost to any gift basket business. They are often ordered in large quantities by companies, corporations and businesses, large and small, to give as gifts, to employees, clients and colleagues as a way to say thank you.


And just a few tips, ideas and help here will give you the information you need to help make corporate gift baskets affordable for you and your corporate clients.


By making unique, good quality demos cheaply, and buying products and supplies at wholesale prices, without buying up a lot of inventory, you can save a lot of money in the process. And if you can work from home you’ll save more money on overhead.


Although usually filled with more expensive, gourmet items, corporate gift baskets can be a good money maker for your gift basket business, a sideline or a new business. If you already have a gift-related, craft-related or home based business of any kind, or if you just want to start up a gift basket business, making corporate gift baskets is a good idea.


You can easily add corporate (or sometimes called business) gift baskets to your existing line of gift baskets. You may have some of the baskets, items or products right now. You’ll need to know: what are the most popular types of corporate gift baskets, what products or items usually go in them and what the competition is doing in terms of items, products and pricing.


Three of the most popular types of corporate gift baskets are gourmet – fancy foods, fancy fruits with cheese collections, and fancy coffees with chocolate collections.


Products or items you might usually find in corporate or business gift baskets are: seasonal mixed fresh fruits, freshly baked cookies, fancy crackers, deluxe wrapped chocolates and candies, truffles, biscotti, muffins, scones, sausage, pistachios and other nuts, gourmet cheese, cheddar cheese, gourmet jams and preserves, gourmet hot chocolate mix packets, fancy flavored coffees, chocolate covered raspberries or blueberries, and other gourmet goodies. You may have some or many of these items or products already.


It’s not advisable to include any controversial items like alcoholic beverages. Although beer, champagne and wine gift baskets are popular, I wouldn’t include any beer, wine or champagne in your demo gift baskets. You can make these available, if you choose, if they customize an order, but be aware you may need a license to sell beer, wines or other liquors.


Besides possible health issues – by giving alcohol gifts unknowingly to recovering addicts or closet addicts, you and the business or corporation may have legal or liability issues from the consequences of providing the alcohol to the employees, colleagues or clients.


Containers can be traditional, finely crafted wicker baskets or fancy, small to large hampers. In any case they need to be of excellent or high quality.


Next you’ll want to check out the competition. Check out several websites carrying corporate gift baskets to get an idea what they’re offering, what items or products they include in their gift baskets and the price range.


The online gift basket websites carrying corporate gift baskets are competitive. So concentrate first on selling your business or corporate gift baskets locally to large companies and corporations. You may have no competition. You can always put up a website after you get your business going.


You’ll need at least two gift basket demos in more than one price range. Three or four demo baskets would be better. They may be giving a gift basket in one price range to clients and to colleagues or employees in another price range. Be prepared also to offer custom gift baskets. They can choose the gourmet items they want to go into the baskets, hampers or other containers. They may also want to choose the containers.


After your demo gift baskets are assembled, call around to the larger companies and find out who is in charge of purchasing or public relations. It may take two or three calls to find out whom to talk to, to set up an appointment. Just ask who you can make a short presentation to.


Make sure your prices are competitive and offer quantity discounts. Offer free shipping if they need to be shipped out of town or if they have regional offices they need them shipped to. Make sure to adjust your pricing in advance if you’re going to offer free shipping. Know what it’ll cost to package and ship your gift baskets and whether you’re going to use the postal service or another shipping service like UPS, Fed Ex or Airborne Express.


Good times to make your phone calls are at least two months in advance of a major holiday, at the year’s end or at the beginning of the year. But make your calls every month all through the year. They may give gifts to clients throughout the year. And they may give gifts to employees at any time of the year.


If your presentation doesn’t result in any orders, ask for feedback. Perhaps it’s the type of items or products you’re presenting. Perhaps the gift baskets are overpriced.


Starting up a business to specialize in corporate gift baskets is easy to do. If you can, work from home – make it a home-based business. Make sure not to order in a lot of inventory. To keep your costs down, only buy enough products in the beginning to put your demo corporate gift baskets together.


After your presentation and resulting orders, you’ll know what items, products and supplies to order for the gift baskets. This is a good way to start on a shoestring budget.


Adding business or corporate gift baskets to your current line of gift baskets can help boost your bottom line. A few of the tips here should get you going in the right direction. If making gift baskets is new to you, you’ll find plenty of ideas to make a few demo corporate gift baskets and give it a try. This is an inexpensive or cheap way to add to your gift basket business, start up a gift basket business, or add on to another home based or work at home business.

Helen Hecker heads Twin Peaks Press since 1982.Helps business owners promote,market,sell anything.AP style press releases. How to Make Gift Baskets DVD.
Get Free Gift Basket Tips – Weeklyat http://www.HowToMakeBeautifulGiftBaskets.com

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Holiday Gift Giving For Business Purposes

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The holidays are rapidly approaching and with them is that time of year, where gift giving abounds. There are many people to buy for and on a limited budget; you may be trying to cut back your gift giving this year.

This is not the time to cut back on your business gifts. With the right selection and the right gifts, this season’s giving may just help you ring in the new year with enhanced business.

The best advice is to use this promotional opportunity to help stimulate business. And one way that you can look at your holiday spending is as a business building activity perhaps applying some funds from your advertising budget for this purpose.

Promotional products make the best holiday gift items because they are multi purpose, you can offer someone a nice gift, something that they will use, and something that will help advertise for your business. Most promotional products companies offer nice gift sets, golfing items, bags and so forth for the holiday season; items that make lovely gifts and still serve their advertising purpose.

If you still feel like you need to cut back on your gift giving budget, then consider sending group gifts to the workers at the post office, the bank, and at neighboring businesses. Sending a lovely promotional gift basket or coffee arrangement to the entire office can offer you the opportunity to advertise your business while still allowing you to cut back a little on your holiday spending. Give smaller promotional items out to your customers during the holidays as well. Pass along promotional pocket calendars or promotional candy canes. And don’t forget to choose some incredible promotional items to give the staff this year. Remember they are the core of your business, so make sure to acknowledge them with promotional products that can serve as a great gift and a future advertisement for your business.

promotional pens make a great inexpensive giveaway during the holiday season. Many companies who sell promotional items offer holiday or winter themed pens which are perfect for regognizing for all the winter holidays.

Business Holiday Gift Ideas

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Here are some well thought holiday business gift ideas. They are creative and unique ways to reward your clients and employees this holiday season.

Corporate gifts that are unique, usable, and long lasting are the best. Set yourself apart from others this season with well thought business gifts.

Corporate gift pens are great business holiday gift ideas due to the fact they are so useful. These are items that will be used over and over again.

When giving business gift pens you can make what’s extremely functional equally fashionable. That of course makes them more appreciated and more likely to be kept around after the holidays.

A huge variety of pens suitable for corporate gifts come from the Waterford company. One pen perfect for a business gift from Waterford is the Lismore. The Lismore has one of Waterford’s most popular crystal patterns. Classic Gothic Architecture of the Lismore castle inspired this pen’s design. Giving a holiday business gift with this kind of history makes something to be remembered.

Custom fountain pens also make great holiday gifts. Designed in Italy Romet Fountain Pens are ideal corporate gifts. They are made from rolled and layered resin. The way these pens are made form a unique pen where no two are exactly alike.

A tried and true holiday business gift idea is giving corporate gift baskets. Perfect for an office or department holiday gift baskets are a holiday favorite. It’s great to give a business gift that can be shared. Everyone loves to get gift baskets, they’re always well appreciated.

Easily shipped and enjoyed by everyone in the office Christmas business gift baskets offer the perfect holiday business gift idea for most.

Different than other gift baskets, Corporate coffee gift baskets are well received gift baskets. Remember, America runs on coffee.

A perfect gift everyone is sure to enjoy, Chocolate corporate gift baskets are one of my favorite types of gift baskets to give and receive.

Holiday baskets with aromatherapy candles are perfect for the stressed out over worked client during the holidays. You can even find baskets that have massagers, scented oils, relaxing compact discs, and other thoughtful items that will be kept long after the holidays.

When giving gift baskets make sure yours stands out. Look for gift baskets that have usable items that will be kept long after the holidays. Business holiday gift ideas should be unique.

Items that have a sport’s theme show your clients you know their hobbies. Golf balls, water bottles, and caps would all make great business gifts. Creativity is key to memorable holiday gift giving.

Callaway, Nike, Taylor Made, and Titleist are all fine companies to associate your brand with. Custom logo golf balls from any of these companies make ideal business gifts. Golf balls with your company’s brand on them are appreciated and usable. The recipients of these gifts get a fun item and you get repeated voluntary exposure of your logo during a very popular past time. Custom logo golf balls make relatively inexpensive holiday gifts. Using this business holiday gift idea will reward the recipients and you for a long time to come.

Sports bags, back packs, golf bags, or totes will all make appreciated corporate gifts. Custom imprinted bags should be specific to your clients. How many of your clients are golfers? A custom golf bag makes a great corporate gift. You can even give custom PGA tour bags. Custom imprinted Nike bags make great business gifts. Go even further with your gift giving and marketing fill the bag with custom logo golf balls.

Promotional bags are one of the most functional business gifts available. The fact they are so functional means a great gift for your clients. Repeated use by the client means exposure
for your business name, logo, or message.

Custom clocks are business holiday gift ideas sure to be kept and used years past the holiday they were received. These corporate gifts can decorate offices or homes. Your loyal clients will proudly show off your well thought gift for years to come.

You can have your business’ logo associated with such names as Bulova, Seiko, Thomas Tompion, and Waterford. A well respected name in clock making Bulova, would be company you could be proud to give. Seiko is a great name that has been around for years. Thomas Tompion was a master clock maker from England. Thomas Tompion is known today as the father of English watch making. The Waterford name has been associated with fine gifts for years. You can proudly have your clients associate your company with all of these names.

Watches make unique corporate gifts. Customized watches stand out in the minds of the recipients. They are also easily branded with your logo making them more personal. They are very usable guaranteeing repeated exposure of your brand.

Bulova, Charles Jourdan, Cititzen, Jean-Louis Scherrer, Movado, Tommy Hilfiger, and Wittnauer
all have watches you can customize and give as great holiday business gifts. Branding with one of these guarantees you will have a reusable and truly unique corporate gift.

Giving great business holiday gift ideas takes creativity and thought. If you wait until the last minute your customers, clients, and prospects won’t think you care for them like you should. The life blood of your business deserves something as great as themselves so be creative. Start looking now for your business holiday gift ideas.

http://www.my-promotional-products.com/business-holiday-gift-ideas.html

http://www.squidoo.com/business-holiday-gift-ideas

Eric Luna, helping business owners build their business.


www.my-promotional-products.com