September 9, 2009

Here's what is new in business ..... yet another "Dump Truck Gift Basket" has been ordered, assembled, gently packed, and shipped on its way to Massachusetts. A construction company is interested in possibly sending these baskets more often to its clients. The basket I shipped is for the staff to see how it looks, tastes, etc. I hope that their expectations are exceeded.... and will be disappointed if they're not!

Several local and several internet orders also received and filled in the past week or two. Michigan-made food gift baskets and boxes are definitely the most popular. It is great to see the way the people of Michigan are getting on the band-wagon of promoting this wonderful state. Great websites to investigate Michigan's bounty are www.buymichigannow.com, www.buymichiganproducts.com and www.michigan.gov/buymichiganfirst.

I've been doing some maintenance work on my www.giftbasketclassics.com website. I've removed the background music (too annoying!), made my phone and fax numbers larger, as well as also enlarging the basket categories. On the home page, the main picture is re-arranged to a more central location, which makes it more appealing.

Some of these are suggestions from my SCORE counselor, Mr. P.B., with whom I met about a week ago. He offered several excellent marketing suggestions, and I intend to follow up on them. Also in the works is the "new, improved" brochure for Michigan Travels Gourmet Specialties, LLC. That website is located at www.gourmetgiftboxes.net, and I'll be fine-tuning that also in the near future. Keep checking on the improvements to it in the days ahead!

On the personal side of things, my husband and I recently celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary! The evening of our big day, we had a picnic supper on Lion's Park Beach. He had grilled some chicken breasts, and we wrapped them in foil, and took some salads and sliced peaches, went to a picnic table and watched the sun set over Lake Michigan. A few days later, we went with friends to Elkhart and Shipshewana (Amish land) in Indiana, to a large Farmer's Market, and then to eat at Das Essenhaus .... family style dinner consisting of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, noodles, stuffing, and homemade pie for dessert! Truly a feast.

Thanks for reading. Come on by again, I promise to do better about keeping up with this blog. Stay healthy and happy until next time,

Carol