Ask The Gift Basket Expert

Where are the Gift Trade Shows?

Shirley George Frazier — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:43:44 +0000

Gabby asks:

How can I find gift trade shows that are near my location?

I don’t know your exact location, but if you’re in the United States, here are three tips to find trade shows in your area.

1. Ask gift basket designers you know on Twitter or Facebook for information on where they attend shows, and give them specific information on where you’re located. You may learn of a show that’s in your region and also meet the designers who recommend the show.

2. Look for an online listing such as this trade show locations page at WebSitesForRetailers.com.

3. Place the words gift trade show into your preferred search engine and click on the results that match your request.

A blog article entitled, Where Are Trade Shows Outside of the U.S.?, will help you locate non-U.S. events.

© 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 There a Better Place than Retail Stores to Buy Enhancements?

Shirley George Frazier — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:15:25 +0000

Ruby asks:

“I go to retail craft stores to buy picks and other enhancements, but there must be another place where I can get them for a better price. Where do I look?”

Start by finding a local floral supplier in your area. You’ll find this resource by learning where wholesale flowers are delivered for distribution to local florists.

These companies are usually open for trade business (not the general public) selling baskets, containers, enhancements, ribbon, and other supplies to retail companies just like yours.

A Yellow Page directory will help you locate these wholesalers, which are usually listed under “floral suppliers.” If you no longer receive the directory and are in the United States, look for the same term within a search engine. For example, if you’re located in Maryland, you enter the search in this exact manner:

“floral supplies”+Maryland

If outside of the U.S., this same search term may be helpful by typing the name of your city, province, or country in the space where the word Maryland is shown above.

This is how I found four floral suppliers in my area. You may not find as many, but there’s a good chance you at least find one that sells low-cost, high-quality enhancements and other items to create gift baskets.

Is it Better to Make Cheap Gift Baskets or Quality Designs?

Shirley George Frazier — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:31:28 +0000

Dawn asks:

“What can I say when customers tell me that they can buy gift baskets cheaper from another place?”

This problem is common, especially if you’re new to the gift basket business and are still searching for clients who recognize your talents and service.

People who tell you that they can get gift baskets cheaper elsewhere are not clients for you. These are individuals who want everything for a budget price, people who don’t separate price from quality.

You may not realize this, but hearing these words from people to whom you’re trying to sell is an advantage.

You get to see individuals, up close and personal, who are not part of your target market. This lets you bypass them in the future and head straight for people who only buy quality goods from reputable and reliable designers. That’s you.

There are many phrases you can say to people who favor budget buying that separates you from discounters. Here’s my favorite:

Here’s my card. Come back when you’re ready for quality gifts and outstanding service.

Designers: What do you say when people tell you about low-quality, mass market baskets they buy elsewhere?

Which Gift Basket Products Do I Buy?

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:31:29 +0000

Ashley asks:

“I’m trying to decide what products to buy for my business, and I can’t make up my mind. There are so many choices. How can I choose the best products to offer my customers?”

Before you buy one product, you must thoroughly understand the people who will be buying your gift baskets. What are their likes and dislikes? Popcorn, nuts and chocolates are products that regularly appear in baskets, but plush animals are a specialty item.

If customers aren’t the plush-loving type, the decision to buy such a product will be a waste of your inventory money.

Many designers start their businesses by buying enough inventory to make 12 designs. Your decision will depend on the amount of investment money available and the initial size of your business.

Try not to buy products that you think are cute. Chances are that if it’s too unique, customers won’t want it in their baskets, and that case of product will become yours alone. Good luck!

How to Pack the Inside of a Gift Basket

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:28:45 +0000

Paula asks:

“Can I use Styrofoam peanuts to elevate products in my gift baskets, or is newspaper better?”

Unprinted newspaper, the type that resembles brown grocery bags, is a popular item that’s placed inside of baskets or containers. Newspaper is also acceptable. Many designers shun newspaper because of the ink transference from the paper to hands.

Some designers add peanuts inside of baskets, but this technique seems to be reserved for those who know how to stabilize them properly.

Peanuts have a habit of shifting inside of a basket or container, and if products are not set on top firmly, snacks and gifts can shift, causing the design to become unattractive when it finally reaches its destination.

Try adding peanuts as part of your exploration into gift basket designing. You’ll know if that material is best or if newspaper will make gift basket creation more manageable.