Hammer down on the nuts and bolts of the masculine mission. Create a handy man’s haven with his favorite tools and yummy snacks
Happy Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day
Mom’s Time
For that special lady…
Tainted Advice?
C A U T I O N: Tainted Internet Advice On The Rise
When Gift Basket Review first envisioned opening the channels of communication in the gift basket industry, we had high hopes of reaching out and helping thousands of entrepreneurs enjoy a better chance of success through the fostered exchange of information shared among colleagues in the field. We continue to celebrate the profound sharing spirit that has developed as a result of our pioneering efforts in Gift Basket Review.
Unfortunately, all of the exchanges of advice and information available today are not necessarily reliable. One of the most troubling sources of sometimes-tainted communication is the Internet. While much of the shared advice is excellent — some of it may be dispersed by people who have a hidden agenda. Individuals using assumed names chat on the web to promote specific companies, services and individuals. Sometimes, unknown to you, even the individuals using their own names are receiving financial or personal rewards in exchange for recommending particular products, services and companies.
Due to the surge of tainted interactions, chat rooms carefully control and monitor the exchanges, attempting to shut out individuals who have differed, or are considered likely to take an opposing position to the opinions and/or financial best interests of the host company. Like it or not, chat rooms are most often extended services of profit-driven companies. And each company has the right to ward off competitors and/or unfriendly guests. But, because of these controls, a guest can be unknowingly swayed to a purchasing decision by the flagrant propaganda ruling some chat rooms. Sadly, low-ball marketing is sometimes passed off as “advice.”
How can one discern what is reputable, reliable advice on the Internet? One thing is almost certain: a steady stream of repetitious chat concerning a particular company, individual, product or service — positive or negative — should create enough of a pattern to arouse suspicion as to the motive of the chat participant(s). When something is being pedaled aggressively, the routine, predictable content should, at a minimum, be questioned as to its genuine purpose. The best chat rooms ask guests to avoid conversation directed at specific companies and individuals.
Certainly, continued information exchanges on the Internet are actively encouraged. But as you share or query, approach one another with respect, honesty, integrity, and heartfelt good intentions. Learn to recognize chat propelled by ulterior motives, and distance yourself from the promoters. Keep marketing in its place — which, in this industry, should be strictly relegated to formal Internet advertising mediums, trade shows, magazine advertising, direct mail efforts, and telemarketing. In these traditional forms of advertising, attempts to deceive a potential buyer are less likely, thanks to laws governing responsible advertising practices.
In the coming year as you chart your business strategies, develop your programs against the backdrop of admirable business ethics. Direct your investments to individuals and companies who share your high ideals and values. Discourage gossip, rumormongering, and commercial endorsements in the chat rooms you frequent. We make a difference in this world — positive or negative — by each decision we make.
Wedding Design
Bridal Bliss by Judy Brady, Trabuco,CA
Create a Fabric Tote
Sale… Sales
Can you pass up 90% discounted merchandise? No, I can’t either, as long as I can visualize how to sell it tomorrow. That’s exactly what I’ve been finding the last couple of days as I’ve shopped at some of the big retail chains.
Today at Hobby Lobby I found pink marabou feather mini boas for only 20 cents each. Sorry, but I bought them all to use around the edges of spa baskets. Also marked down to pennies where stick-on jewels — perfect accents on plain metal buckets. Beautiful white mugs with fillagree hearts were available for 60 cents each, and I can’t wait to use these in sweet, feminine coffee and tea baskets for Mother’s Day. And there was so much more — a virtual plethora of value for the resourceful designer. Hope you get there tomorrow and find a great deal for yourself!
Why Not Pink?
Mother’s Day… Delightful arrangement of pink products to capture the special day
Wedding Designs
Wedding design by Najie Culley of Gifts N Baskets
Visions of Sugarplums
“Visions of Sugarplums” designed by Linda James, NC
First step in holiday gift basket preparation? Gather all the odds and ends of late fall inventory and brainstorm for ways to move them as you roll out the yuletide gift line. One excellent way to move the end-of-line stragglers is to use them as ornaments for a Christmas “gift” tree. Everything can be part of the oddball gift buffet . . . cookies, crackers, sauces and syrups, coffee, candy . . . anything goes! Top the tree and trim it to the base with a merry holiday bow. This is an excellent design to suggest for all the holiday charity events. Ask the group to provide the tree and you’ll hang on all the trimmings! Good door prize gift, too.