This month I am excited to share my interview with Boris Mahovac from iBizAcademy.  Boris is a Social Media Guru whose methods of growing an online business are tried, tested and true.  Enjoy as he shares his expertise and some tips with,  ‘The Business of Gift Giving’.

WQ: Can you please provide an Overview of your Business?

Boris: I work with small business owners and “solopreneurs” who are looking for ways to grow their business using online marketing. I build business blog sites which work 100x better than regular web sites in attracting new clients, enabling them to engage in conversations with the site owner. My blogs are always connected to social media and email marketing systems, which are crucial components of my online marketing system.

Once the systems are up and running I teach my clients in private, one-on-one coaching sessions not only how to use the new tools they have at their disposal, but also marketing strategy.

WQ:  What makes you stand out from the crowd?

Boris: It’s certainly not my height,  so I guess it must be something else. I think, most of all it’s my ability to speak in layperson’s terms, so my clients know that I’m like them, not some geek on a high horse. I try to understand their needs and they feel understood.

WQ:  If you had only one suggestion/tip based on your expertise for small  business/entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Boris: I tell my clients that they shouldn’t try to come up with a “unique sales proposition” or “marketing plan”—those concepts are now outdated. Instead, I try to instill in them a vision of their personal brand, where they don’t need to compete: to be better, smarter or cheaper than the competition, but simply be themselves.

This type of “marketing approach” is much easier to implement on an on-going basis as it really means that you’re simply yourself all of the time. If you can accept this, there will never be such a thing as competition for you.

WQ:  I have noticed that you wear shirts and hats with your own logo and brand; can you explain why?

Boris: My first shirt said “Spam Kills” and I had it printed specifically to wear to a conference on email marketing.  It was a hit – I walked away from the conference with thousands of dollars worth of new business.  It also served as an ice breaker – you see, I’m an introvert and have a hard time starting up conversation in a room full of strangers.

WQ:  Can you provide tips to our readers on how you select your promotional pieces or swag?

Boris: First, I simply created pieces I liked myself, but then I tapped into my social network for advice: I used Linkedin polls to find out what kind of gifts/promo items people like to receive, and the vast majority said they like useful gifts, such as pens, notebooks, etc.

WQ:  You give your clients various types of promotional gifts throughout the year, what type of feedback do you receive from your clients?

Boris: We all love to receive gifts, don’t we?  So do my clients, especially because the gifts I use are very practical, usable items. For those special occasions I send gift baskets which may contain a mix of promotional items but also items such as chocolate, coffee, etc.   I am very grateful to know you, Kristeen, as you’ve always been able to create very elegant gift baskets for me.

WQ: Without giving away all of your secrets, what other simple ways do you use to say thank you to your clients.

Boris: I use a system called  Send Out Cards to create custom postcards and greeting cards. This online tool send out actual cards through the mail, and I use it to send quick thank yous, and also retail gift cards.

WQ:  You have a very busy and successful company; can you tell our readers what you do for fun?

Boris: My wife and I had waited many years to have our first child, so now that we have two kids, we try to spend all of our leisure time with them. When I grab some “me time” I usually spend it with a fiction book, or listen to classical or jazz music, or a good BBC drama or comedy on DVD.

WQ: Thank you so much Boris.  I appreciate you for taking the time to speak to me and offer your experiences on and expertise on ,” The Business of Gift Giving”.

Contact Boris at: www.iBizAcademy.com

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Last week, I received a call from a new client who wished to have a selection of British treats, movies, books and more gift wrapped for someone very special.

The challenge was to take a selection of gifts that were red, black, green and other assorted colours and produce a pink and white based gift, that the recipient would like….

Below is the end result, I hope you like it.

Wishing the recipient a speedy recovery,

Kristeen

If you liked this blog post, you may also like: The Eat,Love Pray Gift

Chopsticks, Chinese rice paper, mini lanterns, fans and other little trinkets were picked up as we walked from store to store looking for fabulous pieces to decorate this gifts.

Enjoy,

Kristeen

If you liked this post , you may also like, Culturally Inspired Gifts: Today we are in Poland.

Did you know that I choose only one new Spa Line per year? This allows me a full year to get acquainted with a new line.  Between my kids, husband, family, friends and clients; we all determine our favorites and from this feedback I know exactly what to carry.  The Wreath Queen View: If we do not know the product then how can we sell it to our clients?

A Quick Little Story

A client sent me an email a few months ago asking me if I carried Spa Sisters Products and I did not. Within no time at all I received another inquiry.  It was time to take a look into adding another company to my growing list of great Canadian Spa Product Lines.  Needless to say, I made a call to Spa Sisters, processed an online order and in less than a day my order was ready for pickup.

What you did not know about me….is that I love most things with a strong vanilla base scent.  I put vanilla in my Vanilla Milkshakes, Pancakes, French Toast, Lemonade and Lemon Lightening Cake.  My dad has told me for years to add a few drops of vanilla to paint to take away some of the smell.  I have even added a few drops to the laundry….Okay, so I am a little Vanilla Crazy but I m okay with it…which is why my upcoming review holds so much weight.

The Review:

I am in love!  Seriously!  The Vanilla Fudge Body Meringue has a warm, “caramel like” scent  that is perfect.  It reminds me of ice cream with caramel sauce.  I used it in the morning and did not have to reapply again for the entire day.  Lite enough for summer use but enough weight  and substance to make it great for our cold Canadian Winters.  Very nice texture and some serious depth to the fragrance .  This is definitely not just your usual vanilla scented product…A must have!

If you are looking for a long lasting fragrance, then layering is important.  I suggest starting with the Spa Sisters Vanilla Fudge Scrub. I finished my 125 ml jar of the Vanilla Fudge Scrub in 4 days…I just could not get enough!  The packaging suggests using this product a few times a week but I could not help myself.

I have been using Shea Butter for years because of its healing qualities,  Spa Sisters carries a Pure Whipped Shea Butter that is a dream to use.  I am personally changing brands.

I am currently working my way through a few other products from the line and love them all.

I am pleased to say we are now carrying the Spa Sisters Line at Wreath Queen for my wonderful clients.   Feel free to buy  directly from Spa Sisters;  they have great service, an easy to use site and I have met Kerry Foster Roberts (one half of the team)  who is as sweet as the Vanilla Fudge products that they sell.

Wishing you all a sweet smelling summer,

Kristeen

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Check out What Brian Inglehart of Travelonly said about us recently:

“Kristeen can take your idea of a gift, and with her creative knowledge and imagination create a presentation that blows you out of the water. Her gifts have help my brand recognition immensely”.

I hope you enjoy this interview with Brian Inglehart of Travelonly about the Business of Gift Giving.

WQ: Can you please provide an overview of your business.

Brain: Travelonly is a 21^st Century travel company.   Whether you are booking for a personal trip, corporate flights, or organizing group travel packages, our price guarantee ensures you get the best price on any destination.

WQ: What makes you stand out from the crowd?

Brian: You can find your travel agent in the old-style fashion by looking in the yellow pages. Or you can locate your Travelonly professional online, willing and able to come to you. Isn’t this the better way to plan your valuable vacation today?

WQ: Why and how is gift giving important to your business?

Brian: I use gift giving in two ways:

1.  As a thank you to clients that have helped me and my business.

2. To market my business by giving travel related gifts to help a group’s fundraising/ charitable event; this also provides brand recognition as they recognize that I am in the travel business.

WQ: Why was your most recent gift purchased?

Brian: To sponsor an event while receiving brand recognition.

WQ: Did your gift receive the desired effect?

Brian: Yes I received many enquires that evening about my business.  And the couple that won the gift said they would definitely be booking with me next winter.

WQ: Thank you Brian for taking the time to speak to us about “The Business of Gift Giving”.

Contact Brian at: binglehart@travelonly.com

Phone: 905 3207587

Toll Free: 1 877 9078882

I threw myself into a mini study session of all flowers native to the region and made a  traditional North American Style Wreath featuring the Protea.

With the FIFA World Cup on our doorstep and K’ naan’s amazing song, “Waving Flag”,  I am looking forward to learning so much more (over the summer) about a country that many friends of Wreath Queen call their native home.

Wishing you a wonderful summer filled with some lazy days and maybe just a little  football (or in my case a whole lot of football as I watch South Africa welcome the world).

Kristeen

Protea Up close: National Flower of South Africa. Also Known as King Protea. Wreath Featuring Pink and White Protea: Permanent Botanicals with Mixed Dried Flowers

Beautiful from all sides, mechanics completely covered.

Card chosen to be delivered with the wreath

Custom King Protea wreath from Wreath Queen. The pink protea was the size 2 adult fists put together. Traditional Wreath with an unusual flower.

Want to listen to the FIFA World Cup Song By Somali born Canadian K’naan?  Take a listen and enjoy!

Gift baskets filled with great gadgets….the latest technology or tickets to that great sporting event…let us do the work.  Call us today!

Located in Beautiful Oakville, Ontario and servicing the greater Toronto Area and beyond.

All Wreath Queen Gifts are wrapped in cellophane, topped with a tissue top and adorned with a hand-tied bow.

Let us know what you have on your mind and we will take care of the rest.  Engagements, anniversaries and graduations.  Contact us directly for specific colour selection and large quantities.  Average Cost per one dozen roses, wrapped in tulle with dimondelles is $89.00.