Are Your Gift Baskets Protected?
I’d be in a Miami hospital right now from heat exhaustion had it not been for the umbrella that shielded me from sun rays during my short walk to the convention center to demonstrate gift wrapping techniques at the Miami Beach Gift Show.
The protection of fabric, stretched by a wire frame, provided comfort in the sun. Insurance protection provides similar coverage for your gift basket business.
In the 1990s we used to only be concerned with product liability protection, but now there’s more on the insurance plate. There’s protection against:
Buying insurance can be a significant yearly expense, but what’s worse is having no coverage if a suit begins.
I’m personally covered by an umbrella in the sun and insurance for business protection. Are you?
Learn more about insurance options here and also about the CD, Legal Tips to Keep Your Company Out of Court.
Make Gift Baskets, Not Excuses
A woman in my town who owns a flower shop asked me to critique her gift baskets.
She has a beautiful mix of themes, and her enhancements complement each design.
This woman also sells fruit baskets, which were subcontracted through another firm.
“I’m through working with them,” she told me. “They tape all of the fruit, and then my customers tell me the fruit comes apart when the tape is pulled off. I used to make excuses to cover myself, but I lost some customers.”
Her solution? To find another firm for this outsourcing task.
Customers don’t want to hear why a gift basket wasn’t delivered, was made sloppily, etc. They just want it right. Don’t you?
Stop making excuses for situations that can be solved. Make changes, and start handling business professionally every day for every client.
What’s In Today’s Back to School Baskets
I find that the people who buy back-to-school gift baskets most often are grandparents, aunts, uncles, and godparents.
It validates what I’ve realized through my marketing and the results achieved by other designers: parents are busy paying the bill and aren’t primary gift basket buyers.
Other well-wishing relatives are the ones who order.
The article also points out what today’s students are receiving in their baskets.
“The baskets were filled will all kinds of goodies and useful items. From packs of popcorn, highlighter pens and a t-shirt, to notebooks, pens, bubbles and a lanyard key chain, you could see some other great edibles tucked inside as well.”
What marketing approach are you using to get back-to-school gift basket orders, or what’s keeping you from pursuing that market?
How to Link Your Gift Baskets with Libraries
An Oklahoma library sponsored a contest through their adult reading program, and they recently awarded one of their patrons with the winning prize: “a gift basket full of books by authors with an Oklahoma connection.”
Here’s a photograph of the winner and her gift basket prize published in News-Star.com. The shrink wrap that closes the books and gifts within the basket is nice and tight.
The bow may not be the big, puffy enhancement we make, but the rectangular-shaped gift tag is very noticeable.
It’s not easy to assemble numerous books in a creative way within a basket, so the method in which books are placed inside is adequate, especially if a professional designer did not make this basket.
Libraries often sponsor events to increase readership. Does that give you any ideas on working with them to increase your promotion through their events? There may be potential depending on your region.
School is almost back in session, and that means there will be more people of all ages visiting libraries. If you think there’s a chance to gain exposure through this facility, speak with the main librarian or other person in charge to learn about events on their calendar.
Your gift basket design talent may bring you exposure through linking with a worthy institution.
Back-to-School Baskets, the short version.
Back-to-School Baskets, the long version.
Related Post: Mixing Charities with Gift Baskets
Why Photographs Benefit Your Gift Basket Business
My camera is with me wherever I travel.
It’s easy to pull the camera from my bag and snap a photograph that’s inspiring, thought provoking, or simply sweet.
I’ll take pictures while walking in New York City, waiting in a car at a stop light, and also from hotel windows at heights that would otherwise prohibit the photo.
I even ask friends or family to take pictures of me posing with clients or baskets or both. Thanks to Flora Brown of Gift Basket Business World for snapping the above photo while I was on stage at the California Gift Show.
Most of all, I snap photos of gift baskets I display at trade shows and find in places where picture taking is permitted.
Are you this passionate about taking pictures of each design you create, of snapping photos outside of your competitor’s storefront (from a distance, please), and of creative opportunities that easily transfer to your basket design style?
The best part about today’s digital photography technology is that you can delete whatever isn’t helpful or needed, which saves money once spent to develop photos. The cheapest camera is an investment in your business longevity.
Here are two more reasons why photographs are beneficial:
A designer recently asked me about the backgrounds chosen for my gift basket pictures. Read my response at Ask The Gift Basket Expert.
Then visit the photography page for more information on choosing a camera and putting it to use.
Is your camera a faithful friend and partner, by your side wherever you travel?
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