Let’s talk Christmas!

[Glendadrumnc]

Afterall, this is the #1 topic on all our minds right now, right? So, I’ll come up with a few starter questions, then y’all come up with some more. 1- What new trends for 2025 are you seeing? I’m seeing snowmen, snowflakes, candy canes, Christmas villages 2- Are you trying out any new type of design looks? I’m trying out a stack/tower with nesting boxes this year. It certainly is easier! Harder to ship undoubtedly. 3- Are you mainly designing to market to the individual consumer or corporate customer? I have both, but the corporate is usually for a group, so I try to minimize the emphasis on the container, i.e. a platter that can just hold a lot of individually wrapped items. 4- How will you solicit their business? I recontact my customers from the last year at least by email or text to start with. Still trying to think of how to reach new prospects. Ok, how ’bout that sharing?

[Lise46]

I’m terrible this year.
1. Haven’t been paying attention to trends
2. Not really changing my design style.
3. I always aim for the corporate market – I find even my corporate clients send a lot of packages to individuals, so my designs are both for homes and offices.
4. Weekly newsletter, google ad words, social media posting, joined a few small business websites, and I have someone making calls for me.

Not really a great list of answers.

[Glendadrumnc]

What do you mean you’re terrible this year? Terrible expectations? Sounds like you have the plan that works for you! Thanks for your answers. You’re in a huge city, so it’s probably not hard to find lots of corporate clients. Good luck with your 4th quarter!

[pamelacohen]

It’s been a little slow this year, which was good as I e been under the weather. But I did notice a new trend in pink, white and black decorations. I researched and it is popular this year, so I am going to use it in my baskets. I’m also using more winter colors.

[Glendadrumnc]

Thanks for your feedback, pbac151, could you please tell us who you are, as we can’t tell by your username. Don’t forget to introduce yourself to us in the introductions topic. Feel free to offer up any other topics or suggestions you may have for us.

[creativegifts]

Glenda makes a very good point. I asked everyone to register using either their business name or their first and last name and perhaps even adding the state. A very few failed to do that using something pbac151 did. The reason I made this request is because I want this forum to be completely transparent and that means who is posting. That can make a difference depending on where you are located, or even if you are brand new or an old timer. If you registered using just letters and numbers, please introduce yourself in that section of the forum so that we know who you are.

[Lise46]

Glenda, I mean that I am not paying attention to trends, not changing my design style, not doing anything new with marketing, just chugging along.

[Glendadrumnc]

About the trends, I would like to add Nutcracker and all things gingerbread! It’s big in the stores!
I don’t have a great number of corporate orders-customers, but for those that I do, I sometimes use a “trendy” theme or more generic. If it is for a group it’s just “Christmasy” but no specific theme.
Another question to add here, do all of you have a “Christmas” category on your website? I do. I like to put up my holiday or occasion-related categories as they come up in the year to my website, otherwise, they’re hidden until it’s time. Therefore, another question, do you all make new prototypes, which I call demos, for my purposes inhouse, for each new holiday or occasion or do you just reopen your category from yesteryear or both? In my case, I do both, usually if it’s a big holiday or occasion. I don’t think prospective customers would know the difference if it’s “new” this year or from yesteryear, sometimes I don’t even remember what I did. If they become irrelevant or unavailable due to container or contents, then I delete them. I kinda like making new designs for Christmas, especially.

[SherryCooter]

Joyce, I posted a long post for this thread, it was taking a long time to upload, I tried to copy it in case something went wrong, but the function wasn’t working during the upload, but then it looked like it did upload.  I went back and couldn’t find it.  Do you happen to be able to retrieve the post?  Thanks!

[creativegifts]

No, I’m not able to retrieve any posts.  I certainly didn’t delete it so I’m not sure what happened to it.

[SherryCooter]

Ok thanks!  I know you didn’t delete it.  I looked as soon as it looked like it updated.

[Kelly Aldridge-Smith]

Answer to the first question; how am I doing this year?  I had started off on a decent start, and then from February to about August has been rough.  In January, I had a LIVE Sale on my FB business page.  I only had a few sales, but I still take that as a win.  I had also started the course for the certification for gift design.  February to August, my family’s health came first.  My mom had two minor strokes, my sister had several eye surgeries, my son had testing for his stomach issues.  My own health took a turn.  I decided that I would go into craft events as a vendor, because I thought with what I have already in stock, I could sell.  So far, so good.  Sells have increased each time (3 events) and receieved positive feedback.  I’m waiting to hear back from one more event coordinator for an event in December. I do have one custom order from my previous work place.  The Director wants a particular order for the teachers ~ Returning business order for Christmas gifts.

 

1- What new trends for 2025 are you seeing? While I’m in the gift basket business, my area is slightly different with the crocheting and knitting.  I did some research.
~ Colors:  On my end; jewel tones and neutral tones seem to be a combo for blankets, sweaters, etc.  I don’t sell either of those; but I do use them for ideas color schemes for seasonal items.  More purples, reds, teal blues, and taupes for facial scrubbies.  More greys, soft pinks, caramels/gold for ear warmers.  Same thing with coffee cozies.  In my Square Library, I have all items marked for their colors (Aqua, Teal blue, Amethyst – light purple), I can see what area and people go for certain products and colors.  Which is what I’m already seeing.
~ Items: Practicality! I have noticed that some people love crochet snowmen, candy canes, oranments, and stocking stuffers along with every day items.  Times are tough.  Eco-friendly & reusable items are the way to go.  Espeically if the items can last more than five years.  They are loving more useful items; chap stick cozies, coffee cozies, coasters, loofahs, facial scrubbies, wash cloths & dish cloths, kitchen accessories, and baby items.  Baby & wedding season will be here soon. They are also liking some box sets. So people love to keep things simple.

2- Are you trying out any new type of design looks? Yes!  I have found boxes on Amazon for smaller box sets and great larger mailing boxes for bigger gift baskets purchases.  Bubble wrap for save keeping.  LOTS of tape.  The delivery services aren’t always friendly to packages.  For my seasonal holiday crochet baskets: I’ll be branching out into new shapes –> Heart Shape, Pumpkin Shape, Acron Shape, & Star Shapes.

3- Are you mainly designing to market to the individual consumer or corporate customer? My main customers are individual.  However, I do have one customer that is a Director of a private preshcool academy.  She is also a friend of mine.  She has purchased twice from me for her teacher gifts.  Either as thank you for her staff or Christmas gifts.  So, technically one business.  I am open to selling to other businesses.

4- How will you solicit their business? I’ve been semi-okay about keeping in touch with everyone.  Some better than others.  I’m hoping next week, that I can contact everyone via Facebook messenger.  By events, I don’t really have a way of contact unless I have their email and phone number by custom orders.  The majority for small to medium purchases are cash.  Bigger medium to larger purchases are card by tap to pay.

Additional notes: I have received more positive feedback than negative.  When I do get negative feedback; I take that as a learning experience.  Once I was told my loofahs were too big.  So I went down in knitting needle size and made tighter stitches.  That helped with the size.  I also get to play around with the feel/texture of yarns.  Cotton yarns can be semi-rough (great for dish cloth) to extra soft (great for hygiene products).  It’s a learning experience.  Every-now-and-then, I like to run a poll on my FB business page.  That does help get feedback of where everyone stands.

[Author]

Posts