Posts Tagged ‘home business’
Written by Sheri Beckham, Gift Professional on 03 April 2010
Don’t Forget Your Administrative Professional
In 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) started honoring office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. Now, Administrative Professionals week is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and other major holidays. This is truly the time to thank those tireless administrative professionals who keep our offices running like clockwork and make our jobs easier.
In 2000, the International Association of Administrative Professionals changed the name for what was then called Professional Secretaries Week and Professional Secretaries Day to what we now know as Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day. This was done to keep up with the changing job titles and added responsibilities that are now taken on by a modern day Administrative Professionals.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor statistics, there are over 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants working in the United States. There are over 8.9 million working in other administrative support roles. Canada employees over 475, 000 administrative professionals and millions are working in offices worldwide.
This year, Administrative Professionals Week is April 18-24 and Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 21.
This year, you might consider a versatile gift that will remind your administrative professional how much you value them for long after this special week. Here are some ideas to help you with giving the perfect gift this year.
- Coffee Mug filed with delectable goodies such as chocolate, coffee, tea, cocoa, or other snacks. Wrapped in beautiful cello with a festive bow, this simple gift will certainly get your administrative professional’s attention. The coffee mug can be used over and over, which reminds your admin how important they are day after day. Gifts such as these run $15-$25 on average. This makes it affordable for the whole office.
- A pen and pencil holder or tray for their desk can be filled with tasty treats that are sure to put a smile on their face.
- Lunch Tote gift baskets are the gifts that keep on giving. Have it filled with “tear & share” items like
caramel corn, cheese straws, truffles and other delicious snacks that can be shared by all. Tote gift baskets are a little more expensive, but how valuable are your administrative professionals? It’s a small price to pay for those who do so much for us.
- A popcorn bucket makes a really cool and fun gift for your administrative professional. You can put your administrative professional’s favorite DVD in the popcorn basket along with some other movie snacks. Not sure what your admins’s favorite movie is? Then get them some movie tickets or a gift certificate to Blockbuster.
- Finally, any basket, music box, crate, or other unique container can be a perfect gift basket. Large or
small, a creative gift professional can make it into the perfect administrative professional gift.
So, there are five ideas on how you can show your appreciation for all that your administrative professionals do for you. Don’t delay or wait until the last minute. Think ahead and order now so you can be sure to get the perfect gift this year. A regular old store bought gift just won’t due these days. You need to stand out really show your appreciation with something unique, new and original. To all the Administrative Professionals out there reading this story, send the link to your boss. They will get the hint! Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
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Sheri Beckham is the owner of THE original basket boutique, gift basket franchise in Gulf Breeze, Florida serving the Pensacola area. If you are looking for something original, contact Sheri at (877) 622-3248. THE original basket boutique can ship nationwide or deliver across town. We have gifts in all price ranges and can handle one or one hundred, which ever you need. You can also find us online on our gift basket store at http://www.obbpensacola.com.
Tags: basket business, branded gift basket, business gifts, chocolate gift baskets, creative business, customer appreciation, gift basket, gift basket business, gift basket franchise, gift baskets, gift business, home business, home business opportunity, Marketing, original basket, recognition programs, Top 10 Reasons for Gift Baskets
Posted in Business Gifting, Client/Customer Appreciation Gifts, Gift Baskets, Marketing, Specialty Gifts | 1 Comment »
Written by David Beckham, MBA on 10 March 2010
Let’s face it; your current customers are your business life’s blood. They are generally your primary source of revenue you should be spending a good percentage of your marketing budget focusing on them. A good rule of thumb is that 60% of your marketing budget should be spent on your current customers or marketing directly to them. Remember, it costs far more to gain a new customer more often that it does to keep a current one.
One of the most important things you can do is to take the time to get to know your current customer’s better. Phone calls, visits or emails that just check on them and get to know them better will do wonders for your relationship. In a down economy, your customers are more than likely looking for ways to save money which means they are probably looking at your competitors or substitutions for your product. Never miss an opportunity to reach out and touch a customer other than just trying to make a sale.
By getting to know your customers, you will find out a lot of information about them. You should always try to recognize and remember the special events and days with your customers. Send them a gift basket on their business anniversary date just to say, “Thanks for being a customer!” Getting to know your customers will make it easy for you will learn important information about them, and then you can simply send a card or a small gift to congratulate or let them know you are thinking about them. Sometimes, the littlest things can make the biggest impacts on your customers.
Holidays are always a great time to recognize your clients. Be careful though about what you send. Don’t just get something off a shelf and think it will make an impact. Remember, other businesses might have them as clients too and how embarrassing would it be to give them the same gift basket from a “big box store” that some other business gave them. Your gift needs to be unique, original and stand out from others to get you noticed. This will help keep your business top of mind with your customers.
Be sure to brand your gift with your business colors and logo whenever possible. This also keeps your business top of mind with your customer and extends your brand. Remember, your branded gift could be seen by other potential clients in your customer’s office. If your brand s on the gift, it can be like free advertising!
If you are looking for ways to recognize your top clients, business partners or just to thank someone for a job well done, then consider a branded gift basket. You will be pleased with the outcome. For more information about branded gift baskets, contact Sheri at THE original basket boutique. Our specialty is making your business stand out from the crowd with original gift and gifting plans for your business.
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Sheri Beckham is a gift basket professional and owner of THE original basket boutique, gift basket franchise located in Gulf Breeze, Fl.
For more information about Sheri or THE original basket boutique please contact us or call Toll Free: (877) 622-3248 or http://www.obbpensacola.com
Tags: basket boutique, basket business, business gifts, gift basket business, gift basket franchise, gift baskets, gift business, home business, original basket, recognition programs
Posted in Client/Customer Appreciation Gifts, Marketing | No Comments »
Written by Sheri Beckham, Gift Professional on 10 March 2010
If you have never received a gift basket before, then you are probably asking yourself, “Why send gift baskets?” Gift baskets are given for almost any occasion. They can be sent on birthdays, holidays, or as appreciation gifts. They are a wonderful way to say thank you to a valued customer or even a potential client. Gift baskets are perfect for making a statement or sending a message to someone important.
A traditional gift basket is generally filled with gourmet goodies or gifts, however the beauty of the gift basket is that you can put almost anything in it depending on the reason you are giving the gift. The joy of the gift basket comes from the many items inside. It is like receiving a gift inside of gift or many little gifts. A gift basket’s items are only limited by the imagination of the giver and the designer.
Gift baskets are also great for sharing. When you give a gift basket to an office or a family, everyone enjoys the goodies in the basket. You will often hear the term, “Tear & Share” when talking about gift baskets that means it contains items that can be eaten by more than one person. Caramel corn, popcorn, chips and candies, cheese & crackers are just a few of the many items that can be shared.
More personal gift baskets can contain gifts or mementos for the special recipient. I have seen jewelry hidden inside a basket as well as gift certificates and more. You can also include wine, champagne, and the glasses for two or more people. Gift baskets make great celebrations gifts.
The container that a gift basket uses can also be a unique part of the gift. Anything can be turned in to a gift basket container. We have used hats, coolers, garden hoses, bags and boxes as well as the more traditional wicker type baskets to create our designs. You are limited only by your imagination and budget.
If you are a business owner, gift baskets are a great way to extend your brand. The ribbon on a gift basket can have your company colors, logo, & name. You can also include branded merchandise in the gift basket along with the goodies. Branded gift baskets are a great way to say “thank you” to your client, or a referral partner. When you are trying to land that new client, use a gift basket to break the ice. The branded gift basket is a simple and cost effective use of your marketing budget.
The next time you are trying to think of a perfect gift, try gift baskets. A professionally designed gift basket such as what you received from THE original basket boutique will certainly get the attention you are looking for.
Happy Gifting!
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Sheri Beckham is a gift basket professional and owner of THE original basket boutique, gift basket franchise located in Gulf Breeze, Fl.
For more information about Sheri or THE original basket boutique please contact us or call Toll Free: (877) 622-3248
Tags: basket boutique, basket business, gift basket business, gift basket franchise, gift baskets, gift business, home business, home business opportunity, Marketing, original basket, recognition programs
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
Written by Sheri Beckham, Gift Professional on 10 March 2010
In the gift basket business, we see all types of customers. Individuals and businesses buy gift baskets to say thank you, or show their appreciation to other businesses and individuals. Gift baskets are a great way to show appreciation because they can be tailored to match what your recipient likes or what interests them. Gift baskets can be designed for any occasion or reason but one of our favorite uses lately have been for employee motivation and appreciation.
We have a new client that just started buying gift baskets on a regular basis. They are a small insurance company with 3 offices and about 20 employees. Two months ago, we discussed a gift program with them that they truly loved. Each time one of their employees has a birthday or significant event, they give them a gift basket. The gift basket we designed is around $25 each and is generally the same for each employee. It has bottled water, caramel corn, chocolate, cookies and other feel good food and goodies.
The employees absolutely love the gifts. They look forward to their birthday and now talk about getting their “birthday gift basket”. The point is that this little gift program which will cost this company less than $500 per year has returned dividends that can’t be measured in money but is measured in happiness and motivation. A good gifting program shows your employees that you care about them enough to recognize special days in their life.
If you are a small business owner, you need to consider an employee recognition program. A small gift basket for their birthday, something for the holidays or recognizing a significant day in your employee’s life will go a long way in building a strong employee relationship. Good people are truly hard to find even in today’s economy. Recognizing your employees is just one way to motivate them and help build a stronger loyalty to your company.
Your gifting & recognition program doesn’t have to be just gift baskets. We can offer boxes, tins and other single gift ideas for your gifting and employee recognition program. The other advantage to a good gift program is the ease of use. You can simply give us your employee list with their significant dates and we keep up with when to build and deliver the basket. Our gift reminder service takes the stress of you and lets you do your job. Whether you have 1 or 100 plus employees, our gifting program will make your life easier and your employees happier and motivated.
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Sheri Beckham is a gift basket professional and owner of THE original basket boutique, gift basket franchise located in Gulf Breeze, Fl.
For more information about Sheri or THE original basket boutique please contact us or call Toll Free: (877) 622-3248
Tags: basket business, customer appreciation, gift basket business, gift basket franchise, gift baskets, gift business, home business, home business opportunity, Marketing, recognition programs
Posted in Business Gifting, Client/Customer Appreciation Gifts, Marketing | No Comments »
Written by David Beckham, MBA on 10 March 2010
THE original basket boutique is excited to announce we are Moving Up!
It has been an honor to have been picked for the Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 list the past four years, but even a great honor to have propelled up the list! We have moved up to #369 for 2010 from #464 in 2009. We have also made the Top 100 Least – Expensive Franchises at #93! THE original basket boutique is top ranked franchise that shouldn’t be overlooked in 2010. This unique business opportunity is the perfect way to showcase your creative and business skills.
You might be saying, “what if I am not the creative or business type?” No Worries! We teach you how. At THE original basket boutique, you own your business, but you are never on your own. Your original venture begins with training from industry experts with over 20 years of experience. You just need to provide the desire to succeed. THE original basket boutique has been successfully serving distinguished tastes since 1989. Are you ready to be original in 2010? Are you looking for an opportunity to be your own boss instead of working for one? Then you owe it yourself to check us out! There are no pressured sales here! We want people who are ready for an opportunity! To learn more about THE original basket boutique, you can visit our Franchise Site at http://www.obbgiftsfranchise.com or call Toll Free: (877) 622-3248.
Tags: basket boutique, basket business, creative business, gift basket business, gift basket franchise, gift baskets, gift business, home business, home business opportunity, military business, military franchise, original basket
Posted in Business Opportunities | No Comments »
