Trends and Tips Magazine by Debbie Quintana

FALL/WINTER 2019

TRENDS AND TIPS ALL NEW INTERACTIVE ONLINE VERSION

Meet James Joseph

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HOW DO YOU WRAP? CELLO THAT IS... LEARN

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CELLO!

DESIGN

Crinkle, Snap, Pop!

As gift designers, we all have our favorite method for presenting gifts. Whether you prefer to wrap or shrink your designs, a clean, professional look will always give off the perceived value of the gift. The type of wrap style you choose may change from design to design. In the packaging industry, “cello” has often been used more as a general term for any clear plastic bag or sheet, even if it is made from an oilbased film such as polypropylene, which is common for wrapping baskets.

What’s the Difference? Cello is short for cellophane, a cellulose product made of plant fibers like cotton, hemp, or wood. It is not in the plastic family. Since it is plant based, it is an attractive choice to package food products. Cellophane has a low permeability, which means it resists water, air, bacteria, and grease. It allows moisture to pass through in order to prevent condensation. True cellophane may also have a yellow tint to the film rather than the crystal-clear look of polypropylene typically used to wrap gifts. It is also biodegradable within 90 days of being buried.

Polypropylene is a vinyl polymer, crude oil-based product used to make plastics. It is easier and less expensive to produce, and is stronger than cellophane but must be taped or tied closed, heat-sealed or shrunk. This type of plastic wrap may lose its shape when exposed to temperatures. Extreme heat may melt it, while too cold may cause it to loosen or buckle. This product is not breathable and is nonbiodegradable, however, it may be recyclable.

DESIGN

Using Bags & Rolls Polypropylene and cellophane bags and gift-wrap rolls provide a flexible way to wrap oddly shaped items and gift baskets. Wrapping with this clear film is an excellent way to showcase your gifts by providing customers a view of the products you offer.

Very large designs may require the use of roll wrapped plastic. With smaller to medium sized gifts you may decide on shrink wrap. Luckily, in our industry, we can chose from lots of options.

Basket bags come in flat and gusseted sizes. Flat bags may be used for small to large items such as shallow food trays or boxes. Basket bags may come in a dome shape that are perfect to fit over the top of a traditional tall handle wicker style basket. Sizes vary from small gift bags starting from 3 inches by 7 inches to very large 30 inches by 40 inches. Rolls may be used for gift baskets or items that are too large or have too much of an odd shape to fit a cello bag. Widths vary from 20 inches to 40 inches, and lengths vary from 100 feet to 1,500 feet. You are sure to find the right size for your project. These rolls also come in a variety of prints, colors and patterns. Depending on your style and your project, you may use a smaller bag to snugly fit your gift, or use a larger bag to create a plume at the top of your gift. Perhaps you prefer the shrink-wrapped look. Maybe you find the roll wrap method works best for you. Ultimately, you want a neat, professional finish with very little waste at a low cost. Be sure you are adding the cost of your wrap to you finished designs. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the bow.

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Do you have the same hair style, glasses and clothing you had 20 years ago? We hope not! Times change, styles change and so should your company branding. Logos don't need to last forever, as a matter of fact, old logos send the wrong message of the type of progressive company you are - or aren't. Take a fresh look at your logo - is it time for a new style? Here are some fun logo transformations!

MARKETING

Logo Transformations

MARKETING The benefits of Facebook Creator Studio... what can you do with Creator Studio you ask? the question should be what cant you do ? It may seem overwhelming at first, but when you take a little time to get to know Creator Studio, it will save you a lot of time and money. What it does is integrate all the tools you need to manage your Facebook & Instagram Pages, including posting, monetizing, and measuring content across all of your pages.With Creator Studio, you’ll be able to better measure your pages’ performance, streamline and simplify your Facebook management. Management Features Your Content Through the Content Library in Creator Studio, you can see an overview of all of the content you have published on your Pages, as well as insights on each post. You also have the ability to edit, boost, or delete specific posts by clicking the checkbox next to the post.Another time-saving benefit of the Content Library is the Crossposts feature, which allows you to reuse a video on multiple Pages without having to share it or upload it again.The Rights Manager tab helps you detect audio and video content that matches yours on Facebook and Instagram to help you protect your copyrights. To use this feature, you’ll need to apply to be approved from the Pages tab. Once approved, you’ll set up rules and conditions for detecting copyright infringements. Manage Messages & Comments From the Inbox tab in Creator Studio, you can manage the comments that are left on your Facebook and Instagram posts as well as the messages left on your Pages. You can then read and reply to messages and comments all from one place. The Inbox also allows you to filter by and assign your messages to unread, follow up, done, or spam folders.

Creator Studio is a powerful social media management tool that can help you gain a new perspective and understanding of your social media actions. It arms you with a slew of information and can help you streamline your efforts across multiple Facebook & Instagram Pages. This free tool is definitely worth looking into for those who primarily use Facebook and Instagram. Dont know where to start? Need help understanding the basics? Call Valton Consulting today and use the promotional NEWSLETTER for a 20% discount on any package Bridget Brooks Valton Consulting

V.O.C. The Voice of the Customer

Debbie Q.

"Voice of the Customer (VoC) is a term that describes your customer's feedback about their experiences with and expectations for your products or services. It focuses on customer needs, expectations, understandings, and product improvement." (Source: Qualtrics, ) How would you like to know ahead of meeting your clients what they are looking for and waht they expect? It's like getting the answer to the test. You know what to say and how to pitch them properly? Considering VOC in your business is appropriate and necessary. The good news is that it is somewhat easy. First, consider at what point you want to seek feedback. You can generally seek feedback from your followers on your Facebook page by creating a poll. You could ask your clients to complete an online survey (use Constant Contact ). Second, how will you use their feedback? Will it drive design decisions? Will you use it to integrate new technologies? Think through what you'll do with the feedback. This will help ensure you ask the right questions. Last, make sure you thank anyone who helps you better understand the VOC. Not only is showing gratitude important, it's also a good example and gives you a reason to show what you can do for them. Consider doing your research. Whether is a simple poll or a longer survey, feedback will help you be a better business owner and make better decision. Learn from

Constant Contact about surveys

MEET JAMES JOSEPH, Jr. Husband, Father, Business Owner with a passion for gifting, James Joseph is the owner of Sharp Presents in Queensbury, New York.

Why and when did you start your company? I started Sharp Presents in 2001. I worked in graphic design and one day my supervisor came to me and asked me to create a romance basket for his wife. I had never created a gift basket, had no clue where to start. It got rave reviews. Over the next 2 months, I got more and more orders from employees in the firm. At that point I put in my 2 weeks notice. I had a great job, made good money, and spear headed a division within the department. I also did all staging for the photo shoots for the quarterly catalog. It felt like the right thing to do, to leave, and start a home based business. Why did I do it? It was exciting, new, I had a natural ability for it, and I was foolish enough to to think a successful business just happened. In the 5 years that I had my first business, I went from home, to 12x16 shop, to 10x30, to my last 35x50.

What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it? My biggest challenge is brand recognition. Sharp Presents is still fairly new, I have been in a storefront for little more than a year. It is a work in progress. I am a BNI member, a member of both major chambers in the area, sit on the chamber membership committee, chamber events committee, and chamber social sidekicks. I am also a member of the Southern Adirondack Realtors Association. I am active on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, & Alignable. In addition, I try to do as many chamber mixers as possible. I focus on vendor events in the area that focus on my target markets. Lastly, I gladly donate to fundraisers and events that give me additional visibility. We do some typical advertising during the holiday season.

What are you most proud of in your business? Starting again, from point zero to where it is now. Slowly, organically growing into a successful business with basically no debt. I never get tired of having Corporate clients telling me that my design helped them close a deal. Or simply knowing that I am creating more joy and happiness in general with what I create.

What is your recommendation to others who are starting out? What advice would you give your younger self? Get the best understanding possible of all the different elements in play that it takes to create a successful business, not an expensive hobby. Have a clear understanding of your goals. Goals can always change and grow, but you always need a defined focus to give you direction. Yes, this field is fun and creative, but if you are doing it right, it's also work.

Online. On Demand. All the way on. We're launching a brand new, robust and unique educational program so you can be even better than you already are. #turnitup

Coming 2020. Sponsored by Nashville Wraps

"Not all olive oils are the same" Wilma van Grinsven-Padberg

Many people who know a little bit about olive oil, agree with this notion and know that it’s an understatement. Let’s start with the types of olive oil that deserve the title ‘extra virgin’. It’s quite easy: if you smell grass you almost know for sure that you have an extra virgin olive oil. If there is no smell of grass: it’s not an extra virgin olive oil (anymore). Of course there are many ways to get this effect but many ‘bad’ olive oils you recognize if you just trust your nose. Passing the taste test is key. A good quality olive oil is fruity in the nose, some bitter at the end of the tongue and a peppery sharpness in your throat. The more bitterness, the more antioxidants, the healthier the oil is. It takes a while to enjoy that taste – you can compare it to when you start drinking wine or black coffee; we all know that the development of your palate needs practice.

My advice is to buy your olive oil in a specialty store, where you can smell and taste before you buy. If you do not have such in your neighborhood and you depend on the olive oil in the supermarket; buy the most expensive one and read the label carefully. The label must mention ‘extra virgin olive oil’. Words like mild, soft, delicate, light and classic olive oil will not say that it is a quality olive oil, in contrary, it means that it is a refined oil that has nothing to do with extra virgin quality. Do not be misled by a beautiful stylized label with a Tuscany landscape. If it comes from Italy the labels must say ‘product from Italy’. I see often that kind of beautiful bottles but if you read the label carefully you see that it says product from EU/NON EU. Do not ever buy olive oil that’s sold with a discount. Supermarkets do that when the shelf live is gone, along with the quality and flavor. A good extra virgin olive oil can – provided that it’s stored in a cool place (~ 60 degrees F) out of direct light – easily keep for 18-24 months from the date it was bottled. It’s good to know that producers write the shelf live date on the bottle when the order is placed so a costumer is never sure how old the olive oil really is. A specialty store can tell you what the press date was and that’s what counts. So: do not take a risk and find that specialty store!

Wilma van Grinsven-Padberg: Professional olive oil taster and sommelier - author of the book ‘Olive Oil - the masterclass’ and responsible for selecting the extra virgin olive oils sold at Oil & Vinegars

"STOP CHASING THE MONEY AND START CHASING THE PASSION." - TONY HSIEH

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Designing with

COFFEE

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designing with coffee is so easy! Coffee isn't a winter drink, its an every morning "I have to have my coffee" drink. If you look at the statistics published by eImportz, they show that among coffee drinkers, the average consumption in the United States is 3.1 cups of coffee per day. Is there a local coffee company you can partner with? Use their coffee in your gifts and ask if you can put a few gifts in their store - its a win-win for both of you!

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