All of the activity surrounding holiday gift basket orders and deliveries takes most, if not all, of your energy right now.
Even though your focus is squarely on this year’s profitability, investing time this month to concentrate on how you will market to prospects and clients in 2010 is just as important.
Large, traditional firms begin their next year’s planning in August and no later than early September. That’s because each department must calculate raises, bonuses, and other costs to make sure that the company’s yearly profits are higher than the current year.
This is the one lesson I’m happy to have learned during all the years I worked for outside employment.
Most of my years were spent in an administrative role, looking at numbers and seeing that no matter how valuable or dedicated certain employees were, they received just 2 or 3 percent raises each year while their supervisors received astronomical raises and bonuses.
That’s the way it was in the places where I worked. On the flip side, when you dictate your own future, it’s just as imperative to map out your plan early in the year so that you, too, can deliver great value to clients and high profits for yourself.
Part of your planning is deciding how you’ll alert potential buyers about the products, service, and value offered when buying your gift baskets.
What marketing items have you or do you plan to purchase to spread the word and ensure your profitability next year?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I think brochures are really nice if you are marketing your baskets locally. They need to be high quality color brochures.
A website is a must if you are marketing online.
Shirly, what do you use?
Postcards are my best ally, and when someone requests an extended brochure, I send one that represents basic designs available for every day and special occasions.
This year we used adwords but what’s new? When people ask for a catalog I tell them the online catalog is better then any paper model catalog. Catalog sales is another business in its self. Maybe I am wrong if your postcards worked out. Adwords eats all the profits though so I will be watching for ideas.