It's a tough economic time for many of us but for some of the organizations attempting to raise money for charities, research, etc. it's tough. If you can consider giving back, I'd love it if you signed up to receive an email twice a week from Peter Shankman. If you don't know him, you should. He's brilliant and amazing and has added a lot of value to my life in so many ways.
Twice a week, he publishes an email of people looking for donations. Some are asking for gift baskets to auction off, some asking for little items for goodie bags, etc. All in all, they need our help and while there is no promise of business to follow it, they are very good at giving sponsors visibility.
I invite you to join at: http://www.helpareporter.com/gb/.
We're looking to expand our partnership with him so watch for news to come!
Debbie
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
What's your goodness today?
Those of you that know me, even a bit, know that I'm a big fan of giving back. I've received so much support, goodness and cheer from so many around me that I find it humbling and somewhat embarrassing at times. I love the term "pay it forward" and use it quite often. For me, I've learned that "what goes around, comes around" is true and being a good person, doing the right thing and so on, are all a part of my daily life. I could on with more anecdotes because my friends send them to me all of the time. I must have enough books on the subject to start my own library.
This morning, we've already received 6 requests for donations and I approved all of them. It's just one of those days, I guess. We, as I'm sure you, get a lot of requests for donations and giving back is important to me but sometimes, its just so much. It's hard to draw the line on the amount of donating so until I can figure out a happy medium, I'll always support my community and those around me.
What's your goodness today?
Have you done something for yourself today, too?
This morning, we've already received 6 requests for donations and I approved all of them. It's just one of those days, I guess. We, as I'm sure you, get a lot of requests for donations and giving back is important to me but sometimes, its just so much. It's hard to draw the line on the amount of donating so until I can figure out a happy medium, I'll always support my community and those around me.
What's your goodness today?
Have you done something for yourself today, too?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Audio Blog 4.19.09 has been sent!
Hi Everyone,
If you're already a member of GBA and you're a gift basket company owner, you should have already received this weeks audio blog. Please feel free to respond here or submit your questions, comments, etc. at: http://www.debbiequintana.com/Tips.html.
If you aren't a member yet and are interested in joining: www.giftbasketassociation.com and www.findyourgiftbasket.com is where you need to go.
Have a great week. I'm hitting the pool. :)
Deb
If you're already a member of GBA and you're a gift basket company owner, you should have already received this weeks audio blog. Please feel free to respond here or submit your questions, comments, etc. at: http://www.debbiequintana.com/Tips.html.
If you aren't a member yet and are interested in joining: www.giftbasketassociation.com and www.findyourgiftbasket.com is where you need to go.
Have a great week. I'm hitting the pool. :)
Deb
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Upcoming Events
I wanted to comment on a few important events that are coming up.
Pam and Tom Newell are having their convention in July and if you haven't heard about it or weren't planning on going, you should. Information about the convention is here: http://www.giftbasketprofessional.com/ and its packed full of exciting stuff including Mary Ann Jacobs. Fun stuff and I'm sure will be a great time!
Sherry Allen is holding her No Limits Conference at JDW Distributors in June. You can find details here: http://www.nolimitsconference.com/Events.html. Being on the West Coast myself, I might just try to get to this one.
Here's to continuously learning,
Deb
Pam and Tom Newell are having their convention in July and if you haven't heard about it or weren't planning on going, you should. Information about the convention is here: http://www.giftbasketprofessional.com/ and its packed full of exciting stuff including Mary Ann Jacobs. Fun stuff and I'm sure will be a great time!
Sherry Allen is holding her No Limits Conference at JDW Distributors in June. You can find details here: http://www.nolimitsconference.com/Events.html. Being on the West Coast myself, I might just try to get to this one.
Here's to continuously learning,
Deb
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Last minute requests on the rise?
Is it me or are customers waiting until the last minute to order gifts? We've been watching our metrics and we're seeing a trend in same day deliveries, next day pick ups, overnight shipping and they're certainly on the rise. I needed to understand why it's happening, change some operational processes and be prepared.
My opinion of why its happening is two fold. First, I think people are busy and easily forget what's on their plate. Although they don't mean to forget that special birthday or anniversary, it happens. Second, people are trying to save money and not shop but when the day comes, they regret not doing something. Where else can you get a birthday present delivered the same day? A gift basket company.
In terms of our operational processes and being prepared, we've made some changes.
First, we factor in a pit stop back at the shop for our drivers. Instead of packing their schedules with solid deliveries, we do leave some time for them to return back to pick up additional deliveries. If we don't have them, its ok - they get off early.
Second, we're keeping stock of our top 10 gifts - just two each but it helps - it doesn't interrupt our regularly scheduled production and allows us a head start on the gifts our customers are asking for - all we have to do is customize it (if they want), wrap and off it goes.
Lastly, we take our shipments up to UPS at 11am and then they pick up at our shop at 4pm. Before, we just shipped out once a day.
One last comment - we started marketing the fact that we do same day deliveries and you'd be surprised what that did for us - it absolutely brought in more business, the problem - we needed to be more specific on WHERE we do same day deliveries. Once we learned that lesson - it's been just fine.
Here's to last minute orders, unorganized clients and our ability to help everyone AND make money too!
My opinion of why its happening is two fold. First, I think people are busy and easily forget what's on their plate. Although they don't mean to forget that special birthday or anniversary, it happens. Second, people are trying to save money and not shop but when the day comes, they regret not doing something. Where else can you get a birthday present delivered the same day? A gift basket company.
In terms of our operational processes and being prepared, we've made some changes.
First, we factor in a pit stop back at the shop for our drivers. Instead of packing their schedules with solid deliveries, we do leave some time for them to return back to pick up additional deliveries. If we don't have them, its ok - they get off early.
Second, we're keeping stock of our top 10 gifts - just two each but it helps - it doesn't interrupt our regularly scheduled production and allows us a head start on the gifts our customers are asking for - all we have to do is customize it (if they want), wrap and off it goes.
Lastly, we take our shipments up to UPS at 11am and then they pick up at our shop at 4pm. Before, we just shipped out once a day.
One last comment - we started marketing the fact that we do same day deliveries and you'd be surprised what that did for us - it absolutely brought in more business, the problem - we needed to be more specific on WHERE we do same day deliveries. Once we learned that lesson - it's been just fine.
Here's to last minute orders, unorganized clients and our ability to help everyone AND make money too!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Why list on an online directory?
Dear Debbie,
I'm not really up on the internet stuff and wanted to know your opinion of online directories. I mean I know you like them because your creating one but how will it benefit my company? I typically get my business from word of mouth. Does an online directory really work?
Shelly
~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Shelly,
Great question, I actually had a conversation with an internet marketing expert today so your timing is great. I'm going to give you a "before" and "after" response. You could call it "old school" and "new school" if you want :). Keep in mind this is my experience, others may have different experiences.
Old School: Mostly word of mouth business, locally. Leads from networking. Print advertising (that was all that affordable). Repeat business from happy customers; even recipients that come to you for more of what they got.
New School: In addition to the above, you now have this amazing opportunity to do business globally. But you have to be recognized. The more your on the internet the better and online directories, blogs, search engine optimization, keyword advertising work great.
I've been in one for about a year now and literally can tell that customers are finding me and clicking on my company. The one I'm on was created by Joyce Reid and its called www.giftbasketnetwork.com. It really proved to me that online directories work. Joyce's website is really organized, clean, neat and highly effective.
Know this - it's not that people are searching for online directories - its that they are "googling" custom gift baskets San Francisco" and if you've got a lot of yourself out there in the internet world, you'll come up towards the top of the search which should, increase your business!
I could talk on this for hours but I intend to have a expert on our BlogTalkRadio show soon. I hope that helps.
I'm not really up on the internet stuff and wanted to know your opinion of online directories. I mean I know you like them because your creating one but how will it benefit my company? I typically get my business from word of mouth. Does an online directory really work?
Shelly
~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Shelly,
Great question, I actually had a conversation with an internet marketing expert today so your timing is great. I'm going to give you a "before" and "after" response. You could call it "old school" and "new school" if you want :). Keep in mind this is my experience, others may have different experiences.
Old School: Mostly word of mouth business, locally. Leads from networking. Print advertising (that was all that affordable). Repeat business from happy customers; even recipients that come to you for more of what they got.
New School: In addition to the above, you now have this amazing opportunity to do business globally. But you have to be recognized. The more your on the internet the better and online directories, blogs, search engine optimization, keyword advertising work great.
I've been in one for about a year now and literally can tell that customers are finding me and clicking on my company. The one I'm on was created by Joyce Reid and its called www.giftbasketnetwork.com. It really proved to me that online directories work. Joyce's website is really organized, clean, neat and highly effective.
Know this - it's not that people are searching for online directories - its that they are "googling" custom gift baskets San Francisco" and if you've got a lot of yourself out there in the internet world, you'll come up towards the top of the search which should, increase your business!
I could talk on this for hours but I intend to have a expert on our BlogTalkRadio show soon. I hope that helps.
About BlogTalkRadio
Well good evening from a little chilly San Jose. It's been a great day and I fielded a lot of questions from you about BlogTalkRadio. Many of you aren't familiar with it so I thought I'd describe/explain it here in the way I know it, experience it and use it.
BTR is another form of social marketing/networking but via radio - and similar to radio talk shows that you may listen to but over a regular phone or your computer. There is a host, a 'switchboard', a dial in number or an IP address so you can listen live. Listeners are muted, and like radio, we can take a caller for a live question. There is also a chat room where you can ask questions. So, here's how it works for us...
Dawn (my Gourmet Gifts operations manager) started a show called, "Coffee with Debbie and Dawn". We invite guests to the show and interview them. This gives them some visibility to their business and allows our listeners and customers to hopefully, learn something new. With Nicole at my side (I'd be lost without her), the show starts with a little music clip and then its up to me to start talking to kick the show off. Nicole manages the switchboard and can tell when people have questions they'd like to ask, she'll let me know and we'll "take a call". All she does is take them off mute and off we go. There's also a live chat she monitors and will tell me if there is a question in the chat room.
AND, its recorded so if you happen to miss it - you can listen later!
I hope you'll be able to join us on Friday at 10am Pacific time. This entire show will be about The Gift Basket Association and I have two special guests that we're interviewing.
BTR is another form of social marketing/networking but via radio - and similar to radio talk shows that you may listen to but over a regular phone or your computer. There is a host, a 'switchboard', a dial in number or an IP address so you can listen live. Listeners are muted, and like radio, we can take a caller for a live question. There is also a chat room where you can ask questions. So, here's how it works for us...
Dawn (my Gourmet Gifts operations manager) started a show called, "Coffee with Debbie and Dawn". We invite guests to the show and interview them. This gives them some visibility to their business and allows our listeners and customers to hopefully, learn something new. With Nicole at my side (I'd be lost without her), the show starts with a little music clip and then its up to me to start talking to kick the show off. Nicole manages the switchboard and can tell when people have questions they'd like to ask, she'll let me know and we'll "take a call". All she does is take them off mute and off we go. There's also a live chat she monitors and will tell me if there is a question in the chat room.
AND, its recorded so if you happen to miss it - you can listen later!
I hope you'll be able to join us on Friday at 10am Pacific time. This entire show will be about The Gift Basket Association and I have two special guests that we're interviewing.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What's your favorite cookie?
Believe it or not, I had an interview today and one of the questions they asked me is "whats your favorite cookie?" She was more curious than anything but I had to give it some serious thought. Being in this industry is fun - we get samples sent to us regularly, we have an abundance of suppliers we use so it was hard to answer but I did it.
Tea cookies - Alice's Stick Cookies
Sandwich cookies - Gloria's lemon raspberry drops
Biscotti: Be-Bop
....but then there's Nikki's chocolate with chocolate, TGG's lime cookies, .....ok I'll stop. I'm making myself hungry!
What's yours?
Tea cookies - Alice's Stick Cookies
Sandwich cookies - Gloria's lemon raspberry drops
Biscotti: Be-Bop
....but then there's Nikki's chocolate with chocolate, TGG's lime cookies, .....ok I'll stop. I'm making myself hungry!
What's yours?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Another amazing few days. . .
Ladies who Launch taught me the phrase "what was your movement"? It's something I ask myself regularly - what did I accomplish in the last week. In the Women's Networking Alliance, we ask the question every three weeks. But ask me now - I dare you!
Just in the last three days, I've fielded (personally) exactly 115 questions, comments, suggestions, concerns and the like about the Gift Basket Association. I am so excited and overwhelmed by the support that I'm actually sending gifts out to a few people who have truly made a difference for me this week. Sometimes you just never know if you're doing the right thing - you think you are but how will you know? After receiving the feedback I've gotten in the last few days, I'm absolutely certain I'm doing the right thing.
My thanks to all of you but a few people in particular - Mary Ann Jacobs, Pam Newell, Patricia Sharkley and Rita Wilhelm for your willingness to help a girl with a truly genuine dream - push forward.
Just in the last three days, I've fielded (personally) exactly 115 questions, comments, suggestions, concerns and the like about the Gift Basket Association. I am so excited and overwhelmed by the support that I'm actually sending gifts out to a few people who have truly made a difference for me this week. Sometimes you just never know if you're doing the right thing - you think you are but how will you know? After receiving the feedback I've gotten in the last few days, I'm absolutely certain I'm doing the right thing.
My thanks to all of you but a few people in particular - Mary Ann Jacobs, Pam Newell, Patricia Sharkley and Rita Wilhelm for your willingness to help a girl with a truly genuine dream - push forward.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
It's on! Wow!
What a great day. We released the first round of the Gift Basket Association this morning with the intention of getting the attention of gift basket companies and suppliers. You never really know what's going to happen and I purposely didn't ask the team how it was going. When I got off work, I reviewed my report and wow. 27 inquiries (new members, questions and ordering of advertising). 27 in one day. Nice.
I mean, honestly, where else can you the attention of gift basket companies, find great products, share and collaboration, support your community and raise the bar on your operational practices for $8.25 a month? We're just charging enough to cover our operational expenses because now, is no the time, to be charging exuberant fees. Now is the time to make opportunities for everyone and enable them to gain visibility and new customers. I'm hoping that we'll accomplish just that.
Thanks to all of you who jumped in today and signed up. I'm amazed.
I mean, honestly, where else can you the attention of gift basket companies, find great products, share and collaboration, support your community and raise the bar on your operational practices for $8.25 a month? We're just charging enough to cover our operational expenses because now, is no the time, to be charging exuberant fees. Now is the time to make opportunities for everyone and enable them to gain visibility and new customers. I'm hoping that we'll accomplish just that.
Thanks to all of you who jumped in today and signed up. I'm amazed.
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