Ask The Gift Basket Expert » Controversy

Do You Publicize the Brands in Your Baskets?

Shirley George Frazier — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:04:17 +0000

Carr’s crackers, David Alan Chocolatier, Neighbors Cocoa, Figi water – they’re all brand names that are popular in gift baskets.

Do you believe it’s important to tell customers, either by phone or in print, the brand names you’ve chosen to include in your designs, or is it better to not name names and keep everything generic?

Brand names are great. Products known for quality can do a lot to sell your baskets. But what if you can’t get the brand-named item because a supplier is out of stock? How do you explain it to customers?

Is it acceptable to slap a “products may change due to unavailability” notice in your store or on your site to cover the problem? Will customers be satisfied with substitutes, or will they go to the competition because you can’t deliver a brand?

Share your feelings here about whether it’s good to name brands or keep everything generic.

[tags]gift baskets business, brand name products, gift basket wholesale supplies[/tags]

© 2008-2010 Shirley George Frazier. All rights reserved. Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the leading authority on the gift basket industry. She is author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. Visit GiftBasketBusiness.com for videos, CDs, reports, tips, online newsletter, and much more to learn, grow, and profit with gift baskets.

Is PayPal Really that Bad?

Shirley George Frazier — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:39:07 +0000

This picture represents the usefulness of my online shopping cart. I didn’t like it when I installed it, and in today’s market, I like it even less.

So guess what? I’ve just added a PayPal option in an attempt to make the order experience more friendly. It:

Collects money worldwide (isn’t that why we’re in business?)
Offers credit card payment options
Lets customers order without becoming a PayPal member

A payment system that’s kind to customers is always better for business.

But there’s the other side to the story. Colleagues have told me that some of their customers don’t want to use PayPal for orders. Here’s what I’ve heard.

I can’t stand it
I had a bad experience once and won’t go back
Isn’t that just for people on Ebay?

I remember when “reputable store owners” wouldn’t dare put PayPal on their sites, but time seems to have been on PayPal’s side. I easily added my product roster into the system and am ready to roll. Many customers have used this option in my traditional cart, so why not set it up as a separate store?

What type of payment collector works best for you? Is PayPal one of your payment options, or do you think you’ll be branded as an “unsavvy business owner” if you paste their logo on your site?

[tags]gift baskets, PayPal, payment processors, payment options[/tags]

Who’s Frustrated with Liquor Laws?

Shirley George Frazier — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:07:49 +0000

I admit it. I put a small bottle of liquor, packaged in a beautifully-shaped, black bottle, in a gift basket in my early years when I didn’t know you needed a license do add so. Cuff me now.

It’s still not easy to understand the rules for adding liquor, because every U.S. state has their own laws.

The situation is mind boggling, and to make it worse, it seems that you can’t get a straight answer from anyone at the state department that controls the laws. Or maybe I’m wrong.

When you called your state’s liquor authority, what did they tell you?

If your customers ask for liquor, and you can’t legally add it, what alternatives do you offer?

If you can add liquor, how much did it raise your revenues? Tell us it was worth the trouble!

What are your concerns about this gift basket gray spot? Or perhaps you’re not adding liquor in your baskets and never will?

Gift basket designers outside of the U.S. — tell us if our sketchy laws are the same in your country.

[tags]gift baskets, wine and liquor in baskets, state liquor laws[/tags]

Can I Take a Picture of Your Baskets?

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:02:05 +0000

If there’s one thing that gift basket retailers will not tolerate, it’s someone coming into their shop asking proprietary questions.

And there’s something else on most designers “do not do” list — don’t come in a take pictures. Or is that okay in your shop?

Here’s a photo taken “on the sly” in a specialty shop near me. This shop sells lots of goodies, and their gift baskets are housed way in the back where employees don’t monitor what’s happening.

What would you do if someone came into your store and started taking pictures? Is that grounds for instant expulsion? Would you put the person on your “don’t come back” list?

Just how serious is this infraction?

[tags]gift baskets, photography, retail store policy[/tags]