Trends and Tips Online Magazine
Stuck in a Rut?
by Debbie Quintana on 06/22/10
I love ruts. For me, they're a challenge and everyone knows that I love a challenge. Over the years, I've had my own ruts, helped others with ruts and on top of all of that, have had my fair share of success and challenges.
But, one thing is for sure - if you don't allow yourself to recognize when you are in a rut, you're going to cut yourself short. Here are some tips:
- Pay attention to your stress, frustrations and depressive states and get up and do something about it.
- Make a list of the things that are weighing on your mind. For me, Friday is my "solve difficult situations" day. Anything that is complex is done on Fridays.
- Get inspired. Go for a walk, read a book, pick up an interior design magazine or call me.
Don't let it take you - take it!
File Names and Your Pictures
by Debbie Quintana on 05/26/10
For those of you who manage your own websites or have someone that does it for you, make sure that your sites are fully optimized. A common mistake (one that I made already) is to keep the file name that your camera gave your picture. When you take your digital photo, make sure that before you put the photo on your website, you name the gift basket something that search engines will pick up.
For example, if your digital camera names your latest birthday basket design, DSC0090, change it to birthday basket. You can do this by highlighting the file name, right clicking and choosing "rename". Just make sure the file extension stays the same.
If you think your processes and how you run your company is going to work for all of your customers - think again.
by Debbie Quintana on 03/28/10
If you think your processes and how you run your company is going to work for all of your customers - think again.
So you have your website, your ordering process, the process by which you assemble and ship and hopefully, you even have a follow up process to make sure everyone is happy. But, what if that doesn't work for your customers? Maybe your customer doesn't want to order off the website. Maybe your customer likes what you have but its not exactly what they want? What if your customer is using their iPod?
Studying and thinking about how your customers want to work doesn't mean you have to throw out your processes or accommodate every customer type there is but I am suggesting you think about how your customers in different age ranges, different occupations and different styles - maybe want to work. Just a thought.
...and yes, I'm teasing :) The full article is in the magazine. It's worth reading.
Combining Flowers & Gift Baskets
by Debbie Quintana on 03/28/10
When I met Kristeen Sopeju Edwards, I was delighted to hear that she did gift baskets and flowers. I find that interesting - the concept of combining real flowers. I'm not a huge fan of silk flowers but I'm also not willing to stock flowers. However, I was excited to read her article and thought her use of flowers in her gift basket was absolutely gorgeous.
I personally have used green plants in gift baskets, as a matter of fact, I do it quite often. For sympathy, get well and spa baskets, it adds so much. And, its easy to pick up a cute small plant. The plant needs to breath so wrapping it up in cello isn't the smart thing to do - as I learned by mistake, of course. Now, leave the sides of the cello open to give it plenty of breathing room.
A Different View of Competition
by Debbie Quintana on 03/26/10
Another question I get a lot is, "Deb, aren't you worried about your competition?" And my answer is always, "No, why should I be?" Some have had experiences of having their designs stolen, some have lost business to competitors but here's the deal, for me. I strongly believe there is plenty of business out there for all of us. And, if what I do and how I do is good, then my customers will remain mine and I'll find new customers - same goes for my competitors. There is a world of people out there that aren't even buying gift baskets yet - those are my future customers; not the customers of my competitors.
Just my thoughts on competition.
