Encouraging your clients to buy spring gift baskets is your major focus now that Valentine’s Day sales are counted. Are you ready for the challenge? It’s the topic for this sixth edition of the Gift Basket Blog Carnival.

Creating a dynamic Web site is a huge part of the process. Lorie Obernauer of Apex Gift Foods helps you to untangle your options and cast a net of sales online.

Her suggestions are right on target, as it’s some of what I share with Golden Basket Club members.

What about some visual inspiration to create great gifts? Sarah Botchick of Pioneer Wholesale Co. not only focuses on your Web site design but also shows you samples of beautiful containers clients will adore.

I showed some of these same examples within gift baskets at a recent garden industry conference. Attendees were amazed at how watering cans, tools, and snacks combine together to make extraordinary gifts.

Speaking of visuals, look at the sweet spring design that accompanies Flora Brown’s success ideas.

No. 3 on Flora’s list is a fantastic Web site blueprint, and if you follow it, I bet you’ll get more sales.

I encourage you to share your ideas, comments, questions, and feedback on each of these sites or on this one. Start with answering this question:

Which information gave you an idea spark that will create a new online opportunity for your spring gift basket success plan?

Shirley George Frazier

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Don’t put away those red-colored baskets and supplies.

Valentine’s Day is just one month away and with it the opportunity to create an avalanche of sales on this high-income occasion.

Welcome to the fifth edition of the Gift Basket Blog Carnival where industry experts share their wisdom on creating gift baskets that clients and recipients will remember long after the chocolates are gone.

Flora Brown of Gift Basket Business World explains three ways to start the Valentine’s Day sales process now.

Her first idea was a hit for me a few years back. Along with the flier that Flora mentions, I included a box of Red Hots with each presentation, and that put a smile on many corporate clients’ faces as they placed orders for delivery to their spouses and female relatives.

Lorie Obernauer of Apex Gift Foods tells how to expand your reach through collaborative efforts with neighboring stores.

Lorie’s suggestion is an opportunity that may be overlooked because of the Internet’s popularity. You might find that community strength brings you more sales than first realized.

Finally, here’s an article I wrote several years ago detailing the types of containers and products that have been popular in my designs and may be good candidates for yours, one of which is shown in the picture above from The Gift Basket Design Book.

How do you intend on approaching clients with your Valentine’s Day message?

Shirley George Frazier

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WEB SITES: How…

By Shirley George Fr…

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Gift Basket Blog Carnival. This month’s topic is all about increasing your gift basket sales in 2009.

Lorie Obernauer of Apex Gift Foods encourages you to watch your numbers to boost business.

Be sure to review sales gained on a monthly basis throughout 2008 so you can plan on increasing revenue next year. The numbers will also reveal where to decrease expensive advertising in exchange for marketing campaigns that target loyal buyers.

Also, remind customers why buying from you is a better option than gift baskets from an unknown producer. You’ll find 10 reminder tips here to add to your marketing materials.

Marketing will also become crucial on the Web in 2009. If you’re brand new to Web sites or are updating a current one, the book Web Sites: How to Create, Promote, and Profit Online contains details to boost your search engine ranking and take advantage of selling through social media sites.

I wrote this book as a companion to the Web Sites for Retailers site and seminar, which I’ll conduct at trade shows in 2009, and to share my knowledge about good business practices on the Web.

A photo of this brand new book is above. Orders received before midnight on Tuesday will arrive before Christmas.

Shirley George Frazier

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Welcome to the third edition of the Gift Basket Blog Carnival. This month’s topic is all about hostess baskets.

Lorie Obernauer of Apex Gift Basket Pros suggests many wonderful products to include in your hostess gifts in her article Perfect Holiday Hostess Gift Baskets.

She also explains why this arrangement can be a lucrative addition to your general holiday assortments.

Finally, Lorie links you to a worthwhile story about holiday giving.

I’ve heard many great comments from designers regarding Apex Gift Foods. After you read Lorie’s article, check out her company’s wholesale products.

Want to see photos of two beautiful hostess designs? Then visit Flora Brown at Gift Basket Business World, where she provides sage advice in her article, Memorable Hostess Gift Baskets are Delightful and Profitable.

Flora shares four tips to delight your customers and suggests five themes destined to be popular as hostess baskets, which can also be converted to fit other occasions.

Do hostess baskets bring you big revenue? They do for me for several reasons. I:

You’ll find more tips for designing and selling in the article Make a Thanksgiving Hostess Basket.

Now you’re prepared to increase profits in the coming weeks, all centered around making the hostess feel special when your client arrives at the door.

Mark your calendars for the next edition of the Gift Basket Blog Carnival scheduled for Monday, December 8.

What success or challenges have you experienced when selling hostess baskets?

Related Blog Carnival Posts:
Three Ways to Handle Last-Minute Holiday Orders
Gift Basket Tips to Sell More During the Holidays

Shirley George Frazier

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Gift Basket Blog Carnival – Second Edition

Clients are notorious for ordering Christmas baskets during the final holiday week and especially on December 24.

Have you received orders at the last minute?

I remember trying to keep up with the frenzy, but something else got in the way – I ran out of inventory due to unexpected last-minute orders.

I considered my efforts a success rather than a failure, closed my shop’s door, and enjoyed the holidays with my family.

Experts Flora Brown of GiftBasketBusinessWorld.com and Adriana Copaceanu of GBExchange.net are right on time with sage tips to handle last-minute orders. You’ll find links to those tips in this gift basket carnival edition.

Here’s my tip No. 1: Create a sense of urgency by setting an order deadline and informing clients about the date. When they call after that deadline, begin taking orders for New Year’s gift baskets.

What if clients are undecided about what to give? Adriana’s GB Exchange Blog points out a way to clinch the deal. It’s one of her three tips, and her other two will also streamline your holiday time.

My tip No. 2: Make frequent contact with clients even if they don’t return your calls or Emails. Be sure to tell them about your easy ordering process and other benefits. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with conversions resulting from your tenacity.

Customers may love your custom-made designs, but pre-made ones come in handy in last-minute situations. That’s one of Flora’s tips at the Gift Basket Business World Blog, and be sure to review her two other tips.

I also appreciate what Flora mentions about her holiday voice mail message, which is a bonus for you.

My last tip: Organize your workspace in a manner that allows for less stretching and more designing. Place shred under the table at your feet, ribbon at eye level ready for retrieval, etc. And buy a portable heater if your workspace gets a bit chilly. A comfortable designer is productive and profitable.

I encourage you to bookmark Flora’s and Adriana’s blogs and comment on this topic as well as adding your comments here. What have you experienced with last-minute holiday orders that we haven’t addressed?

Look for the next Gift Basket Blog Carnival on Monday, November 10.

Shirley George Frazier

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Are you familiar with the term Blog Carnival?

It’s an online event where experts write about a particular topic focused around a central theme, and links to each article are featured on a participating blog.

Today is the launch of your gift basket blog carnival. This month’s theme – Tips to Prepare for Holiday Sales.

1.
There are seven ways to prepare for and gain orders. Do you practice them? Flora Brown of Gift Basket Business World pinpoints each step in Are You Up for a Profitable Holiday Season?

2.
Getting holiday sales can be an uphill battle if your Web site doesn’t stand out. Adriana Copaceanu of The Gift Basket Exchange Blog reviews an online tool in her Stomping the Search Engines 2 Review that may come in handy so you can get back to designing.

3.
How do you arrange products on silver trays? In an upright position or flat? Ask The Gift Basket Expert tackles this tough problem.

You’ll find a “Leave a Reply” or “Comments” link on each site that lets you join the conversation by adding your opinion or asking questions.

What do you think about this month’s theme, and what other issues are important to you?

Shirley George Frazier

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