Is attendance at gift industry trade shows on your agenda in the early months of next year?

Going to the New York International Gift Fair was extremely important to my success when I first entered the industry.

That’s where I found gorgeous baskets, snacks, and enhancements to start making gift baskets.

Trade shows are a fantastic one-stop shopping source for your inventory. There are other places that are local to your location that fill in the other products needed to make your masterpieces.

You’ll find a list of trade shows on this page at WebsitesForRetailers.com.

I’ll speak at the Philadelphia Gift Show in January and attend other shows throughout the U.S. Which shows will you attend?

Shirley George Frazier

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Last year at this time I shared five tips with you to help make your trade show visits a success.

Those tips focused on saving time and money, and this year those two measures are still of prime importance. Be sure to review the trade show tips here before you attend.

I also encourage you to review the show’s seminars for timely assistance from experts with lots of wisdom to share. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll walk away with at least one great idea to add to your planning that will increase business.

A list of trade shows is found on this page at WebSitesForRetailers.com.

A gift-basket specific seminar may not be on the roster, but don’t let that sway you from attending these briefings. Here are some of the topics that will aid your growth:

On Sunday, January 17, I’m conducting a seminar at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco entitled, Guerrilla Marketing to Increase Web Site Sales. Let me know, through the comments link on this blog, if you’ll be there. I’d like to meet you.

Which gift trade shows do you plan to attend?

Shirley George Frazier

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Baskets reign as the most-recognizable vessel in our industry.

Containers, boxes, wire-framed items and more also keep contents intact, but the basket is what’s made this business great.

That’s why designers are so choosy about sizes, colors, shapes, and pricing. It’s all to make sure that our customers and recipients are pleased with what they give and receive.

We’re also very careful to find the best basket sources in the closest locations. If you’re located 3,000 miles away from the supplier, shipping charges will be a sizable cost. But if you happen to live close to a facility, the cost per basket will stay low. That’s a big part of the profit potential.

When you travel to trade shows in the coming weeks, my hope is that the basket styles you see in the aisles match what will please your customers.

I’ll be searching for attractive, sturdy baskets at the California Gift Show and Philadelphia Gift Show next weekend when I speak at each event. You’ll find more classes on this page. Which shows do you plan to attend?

Want to know more about your basket choices? Start with this page, and also visit the baskets Web site created for you that shows empty baskets and completed designs.

Shirley George Frazier

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An aspiring gift basket designer in Scotland asked about marketing strategies and finding trade shows in her country and in the U.K. I’ve responded at Ask The Gift Basket Expert, where you’ll find past questions and are welcomed to submit your own.

Lorie Obernauer of Apex Gift Basket Pros shares three tips to advance your Web marketing skills. I’m planning a series on this subject to help you reach as many targets online as you do through traditional mail and networking.

Flora Brown of Gift Basket Business World shares a story submitted by contest winner Melissa Schultz. It’s a riveting account and great lesson in preparing alternatives in case the first plan fails.

My thanks to all of you who submitted your responses to the survey I launched in Wednesday’s newsletter. The brief, multiple-choice questionnaire will allow me to create better tools, services, and resource materials to build your business.

Please click this link to participate. The deadline is Thursday, May 15.

Shirley George Frazier

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