Trends and Tips Online Magazine
Trends & Tips Gift Basket Magazine Contributors
by Debbie Quintana on 02/24/11
We're pleased to announce that the latest issue of Trends and Tips Gift Basket Magazine is shipping on Monday, March 1st and there is quite a surprise! Three new contributors - Teresa Nelson, Terri Wendt and Sherry Allen.
All three are seasoned professionals with much success in the gift basket industry under their belt. We know you'll appreciate their talent and will benefit from their experiences.
Creating an Extra-Ordinary Experience by Cheryl Pietro
by Debbie Quintana on 11/26/10
Having a myriad of "experience" as a shopper, my most appreciative experiences are those when I feel the "business" is intuitive to my needs. When I feel they are focusing their attention on my needs (even if I'm not sure what they are), I find the experience to be extraordinary and find myself smiling, appreciative and relaxed.
Many of our clients expect us to be intuitive to their needs. They want us to make suggestions, be personal consultants and designers just for them. In today’s world, people want creative ideas and value added services when they spend their money and they hope for an "extraordinary" experience. Our level of success depends on providing just that – extraordinary.
Using language like, “we’ll design something specifically for you” and “how can we change that gift to best reflect what you want to convey” gives your customer the direct feeling of “special”. You’re willing to create a gift that is specific for them – not just an off the shelf gift. It can easily be your “VIP” service path – of making people feel you are “their” gift company. Having a customer call and say their good friend has breast cancer and is going through chemo is a red flag to you. It’s the time when you tell your customer that you will personally design something that will help her friend go through this life threatening and extremely challenging time by making her an extra special gift.
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer and having had chemotherapy personally, I appreciated the basket that was delivered to me. It was the most challenging time of my life and to have someone hand me a gift that has all of the items that my doctor and numerous books told me I should have, was amazing. Receiving a beautifully designed basket, upbeat and encouraging with simple things like Chamomile Tea, eye mask for sleeping; meditation CD, a book of encouragement and lip balm was specifically directed at what I was going through.
Taking the time to truly care about what you’re doing, how you’re doing it and making everyone happy will result in repeat business and as they always say, one person can tell another, and another and another. . .
Maximizing Your Front Window
by Debbie Quintana on 09/07/10
Do you have a captivating website?
In the same way a physical storefront has a front window for display, so does your website. Go shopping in any mall and you'll see it flooded with visuals of the products they offer - not text or signage. They have their best products on display hoping to catch your attention as you walk by and sometimes you'll walk into their store and sometimes you'll keep walking. The same concept applies for your website. Create attractive front pages that allow you to show them what you have to offer immediately. Get them to "walk in" by having a variety of photos ready to answer their question, "Does this company have what I need?" Customers will not read a lot of text so if your introduction is more than a sentence or isn't bulleted, you might want to reconsider. Marketing is emotional and visual. Concentrate on both.
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.
