A Bundle of Gifts for Niche Markets - Lynn Rogers
Refuse to participate in the Recession!  By creating a business niche for your company, you’ll create a broader business awareness and more satisfying sales.  This course will focus on the wedding/hospitality industry and show you how great “gift bundling” and creative packaging make a winning combination!

Anything But Gourmet - Ronda McConnell
Have you ever had a major panic attack because your best customer just told you they’d like something different from the ‘gourmet’ baskets they usually order?  After all, 90% of our inventory usually consists of baskets and food, right??  In this class, we’ll explore some options for adding non-food designs to our repertoire of gift basket offerings!

Basket and Bow-Making Basics (Hands On) - Jimi Taylor
Basic fundamentals of building the perfect foundations for unique and creative designs. This class will demonstrate many containers and techniques that are necessary for the perfect finished design. Preparing your container is one of the most important details to creating a substantial and beautiful design for your client. If the basics are not correct, the designing can be very difficult.

Our bow making technique is so simple and easy on your hands. We developed this technique during an order of 300 baskets many years ago. A method that husbands, children, friends and anyone can do. A beautiful bow that can be made with any size or type of ribbon. When you leave this class you will make that perfect bow!

Beyond The Photo - Cherie Reagor
From the camera to the printed page, this class will give you tips for creating dramatic images that will enhance your website and printed collateral marketing pieces.  This class will define the lights and materials needed to get great shots.  Further, it will cover editing procedures for knocking out backgrounds and enhancing images.  This is not a beginner’s class.  You should be familiar with your camera’s capabilities.  You will be shown step by step procedures for optimizing your pictures, and you should be prepared to take notes and practice the suggestions on your own computer when you return home. The tips are invaluable, but like anything you want to excel at, you will need to put in the necessary time to get comfortable with the lessons provided.  A little practice will make your work picture perfect!.

Birthday, Get Well, Thank You! - LeeAnn McGuinness
When the holidays are over, there's no need let your business slow down! Cororate America can still utilize your services! Birthday, Get Well and Thank You rank high among reasons companies buy gifts. This class will show you a variety of great designs that fit these popular themes! Learn how to Create a "Gift Reminder" service that makes it easy for your clients to order Birthday, Get Well and Thank You Gifts!

"Branch" Out - Tree Decor - Helen Tosto
In these trying times, you have to "branch out" if you plan to survive. Learn to decorate a permanant pre-lit Christmas tree from start to finish. Discover the tricks of the trade using a theme, ornaments, silk florals hand made bows and more. Helen's larger versions have sold for $3000! You're creative! Use those talents to make money!

Business Communications & Etiquette - Teresa Nelson
No matter how great your product or service, if you do not communicate effectively with your clients, you may lose the opportunity. Proper writing and computer skills, as well as business etiquette all work together to brand you and your company.  Come and learn tips for letter and note writing, proper business handshakes, proposals and contracts, and other crucial information to set you apart from the competition and gain you the respect you deserve!

Create Big Money Centerpieces - Helen Tosto
Everyone would like a beautiful, custom designed, silk floral piece that looks and feels real on their holiday table! It's a gift they can enjoy year after year!  You can make it and increase your annual income. Open the door to increased corporate sales, too, as centerpieces are a hot item for corporate functions! Don't let the fact that they may not want gourmet baskets cut you out of the picture. Learn it all and reap the profits!

Get It Together - Organization - Claudia Johnson
If the photographs of Claudia Johnson's shop in the March/April issue of Rave Reviews Magazine suggested one thing, it would surely be "organization." A place for everything and everything in its place. This class will cover ways to "Get It All Together and, more importantly, "Keep It All Together", with organizational habits that will give you more time to focus on the marketing of your business!

Growth Management - Teresa Nelson
It's tough to manage the growth you have, while finding the growth you need. We all want to grow our business, but many may not survive due to mismanagement.  Learn skills that will help you plan your growth for long-term health through planned scenarios, process organization, managed marketing, listening to your clients, and many more proven skills.  We will also cover ways to jump start your growth pattern once you reach the inevitable plateau.

Inexpensive Marketing with BIG Results! - Teresa Nelson
Marketing and networking are only one part of your overall branding portfolio. Come and hear many creative ways to market for less money and be more memorable. We will share ways to brand your logo, colors, style, and many other ways that impact your company no matter how many years in business.  You will also learn followup techniques to gain positive results after your networking events making the most of your time and investment.

Internet Business That Sells! - Joyce Reid
The techniques, tools, and insights on how to create and build a successful online e-commerce business.  This class will cover the mistakes that many make when creating a website as well as how to increase your visibility online.

Inventory Management & Cash Flow - Cheryl Pliskin
Always a popular class, this year it is imperative to achieve mastery in these areas or just save time and close up shop now!  I taught these a few years ago as separate classes and think combining them is a terrific duo. You'll learn:

• How to increase available funds:  cash-back credit cards for purchases, bank lines of credit, tighter control over receivables, accepting credit cards in-house, decreasing collection costs.
• How to spend “better”:  vendor discounts, vendor sales, geographical selection, free freight (my personal favorite!), show specials and how to stretch them, when terms work and when they cost more.
• How much inventory to keep on hand.
• How frequently should you turn your merchandise.
• When is buying on sale too costly.
• Maximizing product versatility.
• The kiss of death: impulse purchases (I have samples!!!).
• How to shop at the trade show.
  

Keeping It In Their Price Range - Budget Ideas - LeeAnn McGuinness
It's our job to offer pleasing gifts, even for those budget-minded clients! This class will explore creative ways to offer beautiful holiday designs in the $35 and under price range. You'll see a variety of labor light designs, as well as stacks, trays and stand-alone gift ideas that are low in cost, but still able to make a statement of great taste!

Make It Personal - Ronda McConnell
If you're looking for a way to set your baskets apart from the competition, you've chosen the right class!  This seminar will feature ways to offer unique, personalized items for your customers.  Join us as we explore the many possibilities that are available - within the gift basket industry - to offer your customers name recognition and set yourself apart from your competition!

Marketing By Month - Ronda McConnell
Unless you already have more business than you can handle, you’re probably familiar with that old adage “out of sight, out of mind”, right?  In this class, we’re into adage-busting!!!  Remember - every day is a reason to celebrate!  Every day is a reason your clients need gifts!!!!  We just need to help them remember that!!!  We’ll discuss at least a year’s worth of creative marketing ideas to catch their attention and help keep your business uppermost in your client’s mind so you’re NOT “out of sight, out of mind”!!  Come with your calendars and we’ll craft a plan!!

Networking In Tight Times - Cheryl Pliskin
There is a trend out there to join, join, join as a “solution” to increasing business in the current economic climate.  This session will teach how depth, rather than breadth, is a wiser response with stronger, more lasting results.  The secret to success is simple; it’s in the relationships. We'll explore:

• Why networking builds a business.
• How to evaluate current memberships & when to “jump ship”… which ones should be retained.
• Why joining extra groups is not the best response.
• Identifying the ideal groups to master and how to “dig deeper”.
• The loyalty factor and how to capitalize on it.
• How to afford to network because you can’t afford NOT to.
• Co-networking: what is it and who pays.
  

Not Your Traditional Holiday Gifts - Tammy Shapiro
This seminar will take you outside your comfort zone of the usual Christmas/Holiday gift giving ideas. You will be introduced to unique and creative ways to capture your client and their order year after year, all while keeping them excited about what you have to offer. You will see the hottest trends in products, colors and patterns out there. We will share the importance of offering new, unique and non-traditional holiday selections. We will also explore creative and unique ways to market these new products.

Over The top High End Designs - Ronda McConnell
Making your business stand out requires "big" thinking on your part! Our customers often look to us for gifts that will make "them" stand out from the crowd! They're willing to go all out, and want their gift recipients to be “wow’d” like never before!  If you're intimidated by this type of request, you'll want to join us as we explore some fun, extravagant, holiday designs that are over-the-top and just-what-your-customer-ordered!!!  You'll see baskets and other containers that create "larger than life" impact!

Price It for Profit! - Jimi Taylor
The beautiful design has been created and now you want to know how to retail the product. This is not a guessing game. Estimate the look and you will be out of business in no time, wondering what happened. You are in business to make money. This class will teach you simple and easy ways to price your designs to make money. Learn how to take the product cost and the labor of your hard work to make a profit for your business.

Retail Detail - Jimi Taylor and Ronda McConnell
Have you been pondering the possibility of venturing into the retail arena with your gift basket business?  If you're wondering if a retail setting is right for you, be sure to join Jimi and Ronda as they share the good, the bad and the ugly of their 20+ years in retail gift basket business. The 'devil is definitely in the details'! Laugh and learn from their mistakes and glean tips to help you make informed decisions about whether or not a retail location is right for you!!!

Selling To Men - Cheryl Pliskin
With all of the progress and change that the Feminist movement has created, the vast majority of businesses are still owned and/or managed by men.  Selling to them, dealing with them, talking with them is just plain different.  Over 95% of my clients are men, my vendors are men and I do most of my primary networking with men.  This class will cover:

• How to dress/how NOT to dress: should it be different?
• What to say and how to say it… timing, content, delivery and presentation.
• What to bring to an appointment and why.
• Caution flags… what works with women, but not with men, and why.
• Food for thought… what works with men, but not with women, and why.
• How men make buying decisions & how to make that work for you.
• How to work with men who “shop like women”.
• Networking with men: who pays & what are the “rules”.
  

Show Me Your Çreativity! - Valerie Trescot, Facilitator
Click Here for a full description of this bonus session.

Staying Ahead of the Pack - Trend Targets - Cheryl Pliskin
Paying close attention to niche target groups and trends can help you stay ahead of the pack! This class will help you stay in touch with the needs of the Jewish Community and also take a look at the trends toward healthy baskets and "going green."

Jewish Baskets

• What is “kosher” and when do gifts have to meet those standards.
• What are kosher products that the trade show vendors carry.
• What are the holidays to target.
• When does it NOT make sense to target this market and what is the alternative.
• What is a shiva basket.
  

 Healthy Baskets

• Does low carb, low sugar, transfat free have to mean no taste.
• What about gluten free.
• Dealing with nut allergies.
• Product choices for all of the above.
• Marketing to chiropractic/wellness centers, physicians, dental practices and fitness centers.
  

“Green” Baskets/Businesses

• When & what to recycle; what not to.
• Bringing “green” into your shop to save money.
• Gasoline: self-deliveries vs. alternatives.
• Shipping choices to be environmentally friendly
  

Time Management for Business and Family - Tammy Shapiro
Keeping it together, all while staying sane is not easy. Soccer, Dance, Football Mom or Dad, Single Parent, two kids - or ten kids - it all presents a juggling act. This class will explore the many ways of holding it all together while running your own business.  As creative people we tend to have our hands in several pots. This class will class will teach you the importance of balancing each project, all while creating a positive way to market your business.  We'll explore:

• The right time to delegate and hire help.
• How to know when to say “NO” especially when it is not in the best interest of your business and its overall growth.
• Incorporating everyday parental activities into marketing ventures for you business.
• We will explore new and strategic concepts that will benefit the home based business, while maintaining a professional image and growing a successful business.
• Taking your business to the next level, when is the right time of your business, you and your family.
• Time Management.
  

Using Diversity to Increase Income - Joyce Reid
This class will cover a variety of options that you can add to your existing gift basket business to increase your income.  It will provide insight into the promotional products industry as well as other products and services that can help increase your cash flow.

Words That Persuade - Joyce Reid
Using fiction-writing techniques to create marketing materials that your customers will read.  This class will cover how to create an effective ad, brochure, flyer, and marketing letters. 

Wrap It Up, Stack It Up - Tammy Shapiro
Let's explore creative ways to create gifts for any budget while not using a gift basket.  We'll work on ways to stack and wrap product creatively for budgets of all sizes. This class will also add finishing touches that will wow your clients, all done while not breaking the bank.  We will introduce you to a wide variety of creative containers other than baskets that will be available on the tradeshow floor.

Wrap Made Easy - Cello, Shrinkwrap and Shipping - Jimi Taylor
It is time to ship. What do I do? You can make profit in delivering your product to any location, including world wide. This class will share great techniques on cello wrap of unusual items and the time to shrink wrap your design to ensure it is delivered PERFECT. With internet service we want to ship our design all over the world. Learn the techniques of boxing your gift basket and the system used to protect the gift basket, bow and enhancement. .Your gift basket will be perfect when if arrives.. Major money is made in shipping. It is easy and simple!!!!!