Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Fall Line-Up


With a gust of wind, summer is over, and school is back in session. We're in the midst of football season, either spent by the TV or tailgating, and the Holiday Season will soon be upon us! Excitement is in the air at Baskets by Bonnie where great new products are streaming in. Whether helping you tackle your Fall entertaining needs or helping you to get a jump on your Holiday Gift List, Baskets by Bonnie has your back!
New to Our Fall Line-Up

We are dedicated to ensuring that we have the best quality of foods for your gift-giving needs. In addition to our expanding Gourmet Kosher line, we've added a handful of Certified Gluten-Free items that can be incorporated into any customized gift.



School is Now In Session

Send The Care Package to show you care
Care Package Feeling a bit guilty about enjoying the benefits of a smaller household now that college is in session? Need to make up for turning your child's room into your bonus room without their consent?

Or perhaps you are actually starting to miss them.

Provide energy and endurance with a Care Package of treats that will help get your scholar through their most challenging school days. It's a great way to show your love and support.

Buckeye Bucket

This bright red tin is the perfect gift for your favorite Buckeye Fan. The Buckeye Bucket is the Scarlet & Gray way to send any message in style. With a combination of snacks, chocolates, pretzels, popcorn, and much more, this gift is the perfect plan for any type of fan!


Go Bucks, Not $ - Great Wine Deals

Barefoot Pinot Grigio
On Promo for $6.99 (Front Line $7.99)
with 10% Case Discount for Pick-Up Only
As leaves begin to fall, we look for any excuse to fire up the grill a few more times before the bitter winds drive us indoors again. When gathering together with friends from around the block or heading to the nearest tailgate party, we like to have something delicious to offer without breaking the bank.
Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a light, yet flavor-packed, wine that comes to us from the sun-drenched vineyards in California. Like sunshine in a glass, this wine will delight your friends and neighbors, and have them asking for more!


Gato Negro Shiraz
On Promo for $4.99 (Front Line $6.99)
with 10% Case Discount for Pick-Up Only
Who says tailgates are just for beer? We certainly don't! This Shiraz is tasty, balanced and ready to take on all foods you can throw its way. With notes of cinnamon and dark fruits, this wine will wow everyone from the wine novice to the wine enthusiast.

*Baskets by Bonnie Wine Policy: prices do not include tax;
we sell at state minimum; sales and shipping are subject to Ohio wine laws.

GiftsExpressed


Gifts Expressed is a new website, subsidiary of Baskets by Bonnie, created for people seeking quick, professional services without any unnecessary discussion. Order baskets at any time, and be assured that we will get it done promptly. We have a diverse selection of baskets in order to send your gift, and your message, via the express lane!

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Thanks for allowing Baskets by Bonnie and Gifts Expressed to be part of your winning season. Stay tuned for our next episode devoted to the holiday season.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

An Ounce of Prevention


There's an old saying:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" - Ben Franklin.


When a basket is to be hand-delivered, we request the recipient's daytime phone number. To insure proper delivery, we like to arrange for a convenient delivery time as well as confirming the delivery address.

Occasionally we will have a customer that will question this procedure and ask why we can't "just leave it with a neighbor" or "at the door" if no one is at home.

The answer is simple. We will do this if the sender is willing to accept all liability for lost, stolen or damaged gifts. i.e. " We will get paid no matter what the outcome". Fortunately when put that way, most clients will let us call ahead.

Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?

Recently we received an order where a mother ordered a birthday gift for her daughter. Knowing that this was time sensitive, we left a message the night before and followed up in the morning to arrange for a delivery. Luckily we reached the Birthday Girl just as she was getting ready to go out the door for work.

Turns out the information we were given was five years old!

Had we not insisted on sticking to our delivery protocol of reaching the recipient before sending a local hand-delivered gift, the outcome would have been disastrous .

Fortunately we were spared the "pound of cure"!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Into the Express Lane!

At Baskets by Bonnie, we make customer service our golden rule. We strive to get to know the customer, and customize any basket to send according to the message. We work hard to take the time to make each gift perfect and sincere. Though in times of a fast-paced world, we want to offer another solution for the customer on-the-go...

Gifts Expressed is a division of Baskets by Bonnie, LLC that specializes in quick customer service with no conversation necessary.



Gifts in the Fast Lane

Gifts Expressed was created for people seeking quick, professional services without any unnecessary discussion. Including such categories as Baby, Bath, Gourmet, Ohio, Wine and Themed Baskets (such as Indoor Gardener),we can have a diverse selection in order to send your message, and your gift, via the express lane!


At Gifts Expressed, we treat all of our clients in a prompt, perky and professional manner, and when making any potential substitutions or minor variations, we want each individual to have complete confidence that their order will deliver the expected message, and for payment conveniences, we have the ability to securely accept credit card information.


Next time you need to order a gift on the fly, give our sister site a try!



Thursday, July 15, 2010

Turning Cucumbers Into Peaches - The Power of Twitter



In his blog post today, "Social Media is not a Vocation", Chris Brogan makes the point that Social Media is "tools and a method", not a profession. Brogan also carefully shows in his book, Trust Agents, how when used the right way, Social Media, helps build a network of trust and influence.

Twitter, a type of Microblogging, is one of the instruments in the Social Media Toolbox that assists in forming relationships, 140 characters at a time.


Jumping In

On Twitter, it's not so much about what you say. It's more about how you respond. The trick is to find a "Tweet" or conversation and just jump in. You never know where it will lead. You can make a new friend, have some fun, learn something new, or as was the case yesterday, "Turn Cucumbers into Peaches".

It all started with a tweet that caught my eye:

July 13th @ 7:57 a.m.From @DraperyDiva : Peaches anyone? http://twitpic.com/24wxri
The rest of the conversation:

@DraperyDiva http://twitpic.com/24wxri - Yum! I'll trade you cucumbers & tomatoes (once they ripen)!

@basketsbybonnie You're on! They were really good last year. So many this year I'm afraid the branches are going to break!

@DraperyDiva We should form a #ProduceExchange for local gardeners. I have some cucumbers left and will have ripe tomatoes soon.

@basketsbybonnie Great idea! Not much time this year so peaches is about all I have ,especially if Alvin & friends have their say!

@DraperyDiva - This is Today's Harvest. Let the garden exchange begin! #GameOn http://twitpic.com/256xc7

@basketsbybonnie Mmmm, I can taste the cuc salad now! :)
@basketsbybonnie is bringing me cucumbers from her garden! Yummo! I'm giving her "peach credits" for when they are ripe! Twitter rocks!
Turning cucumbers into peaches with @DraperyDiva. Now I am waiting for my credits to ripen! #PeachCredits http://twitpic.com/259gqp


@basketsbybonnie The begs the telling of the "10 Uses for a Cucumber Joke" but I'm not even going to go there! Thanks Bonnie!

@basketsbybonnie Cucs are delicious! Thanks. Poor peach tree branches are almost bent to the ground from the weight! Ripen soon I hope!


Twitter Magic

As I wait for my "Peach Credits" to ripen, I am excited about what is possible with Twitter. Not only was I able to trade surplus produce for a desired commodity, I made a new friend.

That is the true power of Twitter!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Fuel for the Engine!




A glowing review is the force that keeps the people building the business, and helps us help you. Great feedback is pure gold! We jump for joy receiving feedback with comments like "The basket was PERFECT!" or "EXCELLENT JOB!" It's a real motivator to know we're doing a good job, and when one good review comes right after another, we put the gears into overdrive.



Kickin' it into OVERDRIVE!


Just last week, these two precious pieces of feedback came within 5 minutes of each other.

"Thanks Bonnie.....The basket was PERFECT! She loved it. One of the other girls in the office saw the wine and said "OH MY GOSH, I love Moscato" Katie is very excited. You did an EXCELLENT JOB!

Thank you again.
Cindy"


And shortly after...


"Hi Bonnie, I heard the basket was beautiful! Thank you so much for putting it together so quickly, I really appreciate it. I will hold onto your contact information and look forward to working with you again.

Thank you again,
Gina"


It's been an exhilarating week, and we're finally coming off our high. We're ready for a refuel!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Small Business: Saving the economy...one job at a time.

There's a growing trend to support small business. Consumers are finding it much more fulfilling to shop at a local Mom & Pop's store rather than a "Big-Box" retailer. People nowadays are looking for appreciation as well as service. They enjoy feeling welcomed and comfortable in an environment that satisfies their need. Sometimes, a listening ear and a caring embrace is worth more than that extra little "Rollback."

The Importance of Feedback

It's a real motivator to know we're doing a good job, and it fuels the fire to put the gears into overdrive. Positive reinforcement is a fantastic way to show your gratitude! Whereas Feedback fuels the customer service engine, telling others drives the economic engine. Word-of-Mouth promotion is critical to the success of small business.


Magnet from Ann Taintor, Inc. 2x2 - $4.95

The more places your voice is heard, the greater the likelihood your favorite corner store will be there when you need them. Aside from telling your friends, another way to show your support is by sharing your experience on Google Places, Yelp, Twitter, and many others by writing a review. You have the power to save the economy...one review at a time!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Father's Day Is On Its Way!



Father's Day is approaching, and fast! On Sunday, June 20th, let this Father's Day be a way to have a heart-to-heart with dad. At Baskets By Bonnie, we want to help you send dad the message that sums up a year's worth of hard work. Is he a "Number one dad", or maybe he's the coolest dad in the world? Treat dad to some sweet-tooth goodies, a bottle of wine, or even some hand-picked items that are fit for a king!

Dad's are one of a kind. And let's face it! Being a father can be hard work! So, make him feel extra special by putting that little bit of extra into your gift this year. Besides, dad has taken that little extra step for you! You have the ability to choose from a wide variety of items where the basket can be completely customized by your own hand-picked items. Just give us a call, and tell us what you want and how much you want to spend. Dad has a basket personalized just for him!




Helping you make Dad a happy camper!

Not quite what you want? Visit our brother site!
Oh Boy! Toy Company

Oh Brother!

When dad's retro ties and power tools don't cut it anymore, show him how you really feel with a gift just for him. At our brother company, Oh Boy! Toy, we have a wide variety of gifts just for dad. So, if you just want a hand-picked gift to add to his sparkling personality, the choices are endless! As a bonus, we offer special gift packaging and a tailored card for each gift purchase.



Don't forget about Dad! Give him something to really make this Father's Day a special day!