This the season not to delay!

This year I will plan to ship corporate holiday gifts ahead of time. Horror story. Last year I thought there was no hurry and that I would get true deals by waiting until mid December to buy gifts for my clients. Client gifts of appreciation for their business is very important and if you falter to send a holiday gift you have botched the regular gift that has come to be expected yearly. Don't forget how important and necessary these thankfulness tokens are. Three years ago I decided to forego the gifts because of a budget crunch. Thinking it made little or no difference I felt quite glib about the amount of money and time and headache I would save for this extra frivolous expenditure. Was I ever completely wrong. In fact many of us were wrong. The other firm people I meet with weekly all talked it over and were in agreement that one year couldn't make that much difference and we were quite smug about our money saving tactics. In my business my major competitor is someone who has tried to get my clients but I've always won their allegiance. Unfortunately for me he chose to take the risk and send out gifts early. The next year I found I was losing some of my clients because they had decided to take a look at other organizations that could deliver the same or equal service. As we asked new clientele many of them had already signed up with the major competitor and my laid back and risk-free style that I would easily keep clients was slipping away. I had to work really hard to keep the clients I had and put in a lot of time and effort for the next few years to get some of my primary companies loyalties back. Maybe it wasn't just the holiday present, but the next year I took note. Listening and asking questions of buddies and relatives about what made them devoted and things that made a difference I noted that follow up letters of thanks,telephone calls, and gifts aren't just tokens they are are reminders and stamps of assurance for the clients. So two years ago I made sure I had money for gifts at holiday time calculated. I started looking for gift ideas and sent them out the first of December. What I observed was that I immediately got cards and calls from clients. They loved them plus mine were the first gifts to arrive at their workplace. My secretary and I were talking and she pointed out the gift we got at Thanksgiving one year with the note that here's your first holiday gift to enjoy. Since it was the first and only gift at that time it did make a difference. Most gifts of food, gifts baskets, and cards come that last week before December 25 and although we appreciate them they sometimes get tossed in and mixed up and we can't remember exactly who gave what. Besides workers are bringing in treats and food for each other all week. So my secretary and I started talking and analyzing that the first gifts that come in are the most observed and appreciated and you normally remember them. That brings me to our plan for this year. We have already contacted a basket business to send out holiday gift baskets to be delivered no later than December l. Why? Because last year we thought we'd order them later and they were sold out of the one we really wanted. Since we have clients in 10 states we had failed to note that many would not arrive on time because of shipping days needed. We gave up after checking about sending flower arrangements or poinsettias which seemed useless for a few days in the office. As a last resort we scrambled to get gift cards for nearby restaurants or bakeries near each client. It took way too much time. We were able to find some gift cards in grocery store, but they were not the right denomination. We also felt uneasy that the exact amount we were spending was obvious, putting a dollar value on the client. But we got the cards sent out. It was fine and at least we sent a gift. However one of the more vocal and brazenly honest secretaries called to thank us and did say she preferred the gift baskets because she was the one who had to order and go to the eatery to bring back what was ordered with the gift card. She also made it clear that to feed everyone they had to add more money. Yikes, not a good strategy. This year I called Baskets by Rita the first of October and placed my order for gourmet gift baskets and Rocky Mountain Gift Baskets to be sent out just before Thanksgiving so they will arrive that first week of December. They explained to me that they have to order all holiday products in August and September to have enough stock to not run out in addition suppliers run out early. We're feeling really smug. Our clients will know these are gifts of appreciation, there are food items to be shared by all, they come packaged amazingly giving that WOW factor and our card and gift will be the first one they get and will be hanging around the break room all holiday season. It won't get lost with all the other gifts. Since there is not a dollar amount attached you are not blatantly telling them what money amount they are worth. Plus my secretary is so happy because this is a slower time for us and she was able to make all preparations in a more relaxed way. We discovered another money-saving hint for giving holiday gifts. We will have baskets shipped to 9 other states, but the majority are in the Denver area. My secretary has arranged to save some of the shipping and delivery costs by going to pick up most of the baskets and deliver many herself. We've added a wine and cheese FAC the first Saturday in December in our office for clients and we'll give most of them out then. If not, it would be good for me to take them and give them myself and make the personal call. The lesson of the story is do not underestimate the power of the holiday thankfulness gift and order early.

Are you hosting a Conference in Denver?

Conferences are not inexpensive. They can make a big effect and comprehensive planning is necessary. Not only are thecorporate seminars expensive for the presenter, but also for the participants. Participants and companies are not easily parted with their dollars and they want to be assured and reassured that they have vested their time and funds well. Post reviews show that modest details make a major difference. Throwing a conference or convention together without focus to the smallest details can spell failure. So the steps to take as a promoter and host for the conference/convention are to find a great spot. Knowing your prospective attendees is important whether you choose a location that is a short distance for them to drive or choosing a great getaway for companies to see and experience a new city. Check out the cost of the building and ask for details. Do not choose busy times of the year for holidays, family vacations or a busy time for the businesses targeted. For example, as retailers do their buying for summer sports equipment, late spring and early summer or not the time to entice them. They are preoccupied and they have already obtained their items for the year. Next you must analyze the schedule to be sure the timing is good. If you overbook they may not have extra time to enjoy themselves. If you do not offer ample workshops or variable schedules of interest, they will not think they gained anything from the conference or convention. Try to get a key speaker or two to draw a crowd. Promote early to get them to lock into your event first on their calendars. It even works to offer a discount incentive for early signup. Do assign an pro to offer all information the convention goer will need from airport transportation to hotel registration and maps. Of course your important concern will be the conference content itself. So plan to keep it going, keep it efficient, keep it stimulating. It is better to have more short sessions with question/answer free time to chat and connect than to have participants leaving lengthy sessions because they are tired or feel they are hearing repetitive information. The first impact will make a huge difference. Efficiency and getting information to help airport/hotel/conference center logistics run smoothly will set off the tone of the convention. It is also important that when they arrive there are lots of welcome folks available to set that upbeat favorable tone and answer questions. The registration table should include all the info they will need. And you always must be willing to put out the money for freebies. Our company attended a conference in a small city in a mid-western town. It was obvious they were trying to save money and got the conference center and food cheap. We paid a alot for a rental car to drive the 2 hours to the locations and stay in a small 2 star hotel/motel conference center. The pretzels and vats of bad coffee set the tone for a long two days ahead. The next year we chose to go to the Denver Convention Center and what a significant difference. Flying into DIA was so impressive with those beautiful mountains as a backdrop. Our hotel was attached to center and there were all kinds of restaurants, night life, shopping nearby. We found a cool Wine Welcome Gift Basket from a local basket company in Aurora. It was a box with all sorts of Colorado snacks. That convention rocked and we will go again next year.

Colorado Gift From Wide Open Spaces

As a true Coloradoan, it seriously baffles me just how much our state has expanded over the last ten years. While living in France everyone would ask me where I was from. When I reported that I was from Colorado, they would all laugh and say "Oh, like Doctor Quinn!" I can tell you that in modern times, Colorado is dramatically different from the setting for Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman. Since the year 2000 the state's population has grown by over 750,000. Once acknowledged for our vast expanses of land, these are quickly becoming a thing of the past, but I suppose we are responsible for this. Colorado has become a particularly appealing place to raise a family. Louisville, Colorado was titled the number one place to live in Money Magazine's top 100 list for 2011. Aside from Louisville, four other Colorado towns made the list. Pretty impressive, huh? I imagine if we would stop getting recognized for these sorts of things we wouldn't have so many immigrants from far and wide. But who wouldn't love looking outside to a lovely rocky mountain backdrop every single day? Not only are our towns gaining recognition for the quality of life they give to their residents, but Colorado is home to countless respected companies. One industry that we particularly care a lot about here at Baskets By Rita is the gourmet food industry. Not only is Colorado known for big restaurants including Old Chicago, Chipotle, Noodles & Company, Quizno's, and Good Times, but our state is also home to lots of high-end food producers as well. At Baskets By Rita we support Colorado companies like Bhakti Chai, Bobo's Oat Bars, Celestial Seasonings, Chocolove, and Boulder Natural Foods, all based in Boulder, Colorado. It seems as though there's something about Boulder that compels people to create healthy, irresistible foods. If you aren't familiarized with every one of these companies, you may possibly be familiar with other Colorado brands such as Hammond's Candies, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Larabar, and Too Haute Cowgirls. Maybe I'm something of a foodie, but if the mountains don't bring people in, I would imagine that businesses like these would entice people to come to Colorado. Oh, and did I include that we've got about 120 breweries in the state? Colorado has been named the Napa Valley of the beer world. What more can I say? This state is outstanding! If I've managed to wet your appetite and you're now itching for Colorado made food and beer why not order a Rocky Mountain Gift Basket from us and treat yourself. A gift from the Rocky Mountains filled with a great selection of both sweet and savory gourmet goodies, this Colorado Rocky Mountain Gift Basket includes only products made in our beautiful state. Two Chocolove chocolate bars, a fresh baked cookie and brownie, a Lara bar with all natural fruit and nuts, Rocky Mountain snack mix, Colorado River Rocks candy, Boulder chips, root beer,white cheddar popcorn, a buffalo stick, Rocky Mountain salsa and tortilla chips. Maybe if you buy one of our baskets and like the products enough, you too might look into moving to the centennial state. Like this blog? Share it on Facebook or Twitter.