Gifts galore for dads, grads, birthdays, newlyweds, and parents-to-be

Thursday, May 28, 2009  by Susan Julien-Willson
Category: sales, Ribbon, retailing, customers, buying, beauty, Personal Accents, jewelry, shopping, gift, Nutrilite, product

Life is full of celebrations. Don't know about you, but I find the invitations are rolling in these days for graduation celebrations, birthday parties, wedding showers, baby showers -- and Father's Day is coming soon. (It's June 21 in the USA.)

Here a few of my faves for gift giving, a few recommendations from marketers, and let's hear recommendations from IBOs and your customers, too. What do you like to give as gifts? Artistry? Tolsom? Ribbon Gift Collections? Personal Accents Jewelry? Do tell!

Let's start with Graduations. My absolute fave for both high school and college grads is Celebrate Gift Collection ($40 retail), but Guy Gear (74-9210), Treasure (74-8310), and Pamper (74-8910) are good choices, too. Our Personal Accents marketer recommends the Time Management Watch for him (74-5359) or the Croco-dial Rock Watch for her (74-5210).

Did you know Father's Day is the fourth biggest gift-giving occasion in the USA? (Mom's Day ranks higher.)

What could be better than the gift of choice for your dad or for grampa? Ribbon Guy Gear (74-9210) Collection is a popular choice, and we predict many of the new-for-2009 Omaha Steak (74-9181) and Sony (74-9161) Gift Collections will be given to guys this year. I also recommend these three collections for birthday boys.

Have you considered the Tolsom Skin care products for Dad? These products are specially formulated for men and they feature the exclusive T-10 Complex that conditions, smooths, and moisturizes men's skin. Sounds too good to be true? Maybe, but guess what? It IS true! Check out the full line of Tolsom, from shave gel (10-0917) to protective lotion with SPF 15 (10-0049).

Don't forget Nutrilite health and fitness products if Dad is active and health-conscious. Check out the full line of products for energy, strength, hydration and recovery. If Dad hasn't tried the energy bars and sports drinks before, he's in for a real treat!

Maybe Dad needs a more stylish gift like Metal Aally Cufflinks (74-5364) or the Handle It Jewelry Valet  (74-5368) from the Personal Accents Collection. There's also an array of men's celebrity and designer fragrances online.

Showers and weddings coming up?

Ribbon I Do (74-9510), Gourmet Gear (74-9610) and Distinctive (74-8210) are excellent choices. But check out all the Ribbon Gift Collections for the perfect collection for the newlyweds. They all contain name brand products, from functional to fun, stylish to practical. I know from the thank-you notes I've received, Ribbon Gift Collections are a BIG hit with newlyweds, even if they're registered at a retail store. This gives them an opportunity to "fill in" if they still need pillows or a blender -- or to treat themselves to something special.

For parents-to-be and baby, consider Arrival (74-8810) Gift Collection and for the new mom, Pamper (74-8910) Gift Collection. You might also want to consider Kozy Kids diapers and baby supplies. The new moms that work with me rave about the diapers and wipes. Even if you don't give them as a gift, you may want to suggest them to customers who have babies and toddlers. Oh, just thought of something. You could add some SA8 laundry detergent and L.O.C. multipurpose cleaner to the Kozy Kids supplies and create a basket of goodies -- a gift that's sure to please if the newbie parents are on a tight budget.

Gifting should be a pleasure for the giver as well as the receiver. AmwayGlobal.com helps make gift-giving the pleasure it should be. Enjoy your celebrations this season! And let your gift-giving customers know what's available through your business for their gift-giving needs.

The following trademarks are registered by Amway Global: Artistry, Tolsom, Personal Accents, Nutrilite, Kozy Kids, SA8, L.O.C.

Comments

# visioneer said on May 29, 2009 7:29 PM:

Thanks for the ideas Susan! I didn't think of the Celebrate album for a graduation coming up!

# Best Credit Cards said on May 30, 2009 4:26 AM:

Fantastic! Thanks for the info! You may want to check out Best Credit Cards.

# CJ said on June 1, 2009 9:46 PM:

Not sure the purpose of Best Credit Cards, but it absolutely has no purpose on this post.

Hi Susan....of course this is my favorite topic and post- thanks for the info!

Thanks, CJ. I could get rid of the post, but I encourage everyone to comment so i put it up. I am sure it's just someone trying to sell Best Credit Cards. Hope you're doing well with Ribbon. Sure is good to hear from you. I miss hearing from the IBOs. You all have such good ideas to share!

# visioneer said on June 3, 2009 10:02 PM:

CJ, Have you had much success in retail sales with Ribbon? I haven't been focused on it as much as our upline has a Nutrilite contest going on. I do however have a business owner interested in looking at the program. Any tips on what's working?

# CJ said on June 10, 2009 6:35 PM:

Hey Visioneer!

I've been a bit unfocused, but I'm gearing up to make some things happen with Ribbon again. Already started sharing the program with a few people here and there and ready to grab some more B2B sales. I'll keep you and the rest posted in the very near future.

# Dan Cook said on June 17, 2009 3:55 PM:

All my family and friends love Ribbons gifts, I've never had a complaint!

# Cheryl Gnad said on July 25, 2009 6:17 PM:

Hey Visioneer!  

I too, am working in Ribbon fairly consistantly. I've made lots of calls to businesses to invite them to look at a great option to their Incentive Programs or empowering ther referral business. Not everyone is able to purchase, most enjoy the way the program works, and many love the gifts that are shown to pick from. Learn the "If I can show you how.....would you be open to looking at how this program can....?"  A solution, benefit statement. It is lots of fun, and you get to meet lots of neat people - some of which might be interested in your business as a whole. Jump on in!

# B said on July 27, 2009 6:54 PM:

Hi guys, I'm B, an IBO. I wanted some insight on selling Ribbon so I came here. Got any tips for a nervous noob? Also what are your thoughts on selling door-to-door, or to businesses or to people on the street?

# B said on July 30, 2009 1:28 AM:

I take it this blog's no longer active?

 

Editor's note: Still active. Just had a technical glitch in getting your comment/request posted. Sorry!

# TB 2 IBO said on August 10, 2009 11:48 PM:

Susan,

Just wanted to offer a suggestion from a customer of mine.

I am not sure how feasible it would be, but in the new ribbon albums there are nice little place to write something to the recipient.  Would it be possible for Amway to allow for an input through the web.  Say when you purchase the album--there would be a little comment box available for a personal note to be added to the album?  

This would come in handy for gift giving and a personal touch for someone that may be at a distance from the buyer of the album.  It would also save a step (and time) and a couple bucks for postage.

FTD Flowers and similar businesses offer this as a service when you purchase flowers from a distance.  Perhaps just a small card thrown into the envelope with the "little note" attached.

Thanks for listening.

TB

Editor's note: I know it's been on the Ribbon team wish list. Great idea. Hopefully, we can offer that to you and your customers in the future.

# visioneer said on August 17, 2009 5:25 PM:

Cheryl,

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely use that solution/benefit statement when I'm making my calls. Are you cold-calling straight from a yellow pages or are you using referrals?

B, if you're new I wouldn't recommend starting off with businesses unless the owner is someone you know well. Start with your family and friends. Of course, the best place to get info on how to sell Ribbon is in the Learning Center at Amway Global and your upline if they've been selling it consistently.

# TB 2 IBO said on August 20, 2009 12:49 PM:

Susan,

I also noticed we are discontinuing the store for more portion of Amway.  Is this going to affect the selections that will be offered in the Ribbon catalogs in the future as well?

 

Editor's Note: No need to worry. Ribbon Gift Collections will continue to feature some of the best and most popular national brands and great products. We have buyers devoted to the Ribbon Collections that search out the brands you want and the products that offer real value. 

# CJ said on September 7, 2009 1:39 PM:

Hi Susan!

Just saw the presentation for the Future Success Programs-can't wait. But I do have a question: are the personal retail sites (especially the B2B focused) versions of the Ribbon Program going away? All I see featured are Nutrilite and Artistry? Please let me know. Thanks!!!

 

Editor's Note: CJ, have no fear! Ribbon Gift & Incentive Program is going strong and will continue to go strong as we move forward. Keep in mind, Nutrilite and Artistry are the WIN category products so much of the focus is on them. When it comes to initial success in retailing, the focus is on Ribbon and Grand Openings/group selling and Booth and Event Sales. Thanks for commenting. sjw

# Chris H said on November 10, 2009 1:57 AM:

Hi, I noticed this a site about Ribbon gifts, a I appreciate the transparency openess and honesty here.  I've received their incentives on behalf of companies at least 2 times, and am still trying to understand the value they are being sold, because as an "end user" I can't find anything of value from them.  I would much prefer Amazon gift certificates instead of getting an airbed, a mirror, or knives for "recognition", and from there, I could obviously purchase what I would want to buy.  Is there something I'm missing on why their purchase process seems so deceptive, and also percievably lacks value and options?   Sombody please help!

# Susan Julien-Willson said on November 16, 2009 1:47 PM:

Hello Chris.

First, I'd like to say thanks for recognizing the honesty here. It is my goal to always be truthful -- what good is a blog that's full of pouf and pomp?

I like Amazon a lot too. I enjoy receiving gift cards from Amazon and many other retailers. However, when I receive a gift card of a retailer from someone, I know the exact dollar value -- $25, $50, or whatever. When I give a Ribbon Gift Collection to someone outside of the business, they have no idea what Dollar Value was spent on them. They only know they get to choose what they want -- and believe it or not, many people do enjoy a knife set or an airbed as a gift. I receive Ribbon Gift Collections frequently -- and I give them. Sometimes I get fun stuff like a sapphire bracelet or leather handbag -- and sometimes I am practical and choose a paper shredder or luggage or a knife set. Sure, the gift collections aren't for everyone but I will tell you, I seem to get a hugely favorable response when I give them as gifts, especially for baby and wedding showers.

I guess I would summarize the benefit of Ribbon Gift Albums over retailer dollar amount cards as more personal -- when you give the card and album together, it's more like a gift rather than a card with  a dollar value.

Does that make sense? Thanks for commenting.

Susan, Sales Speak editor

# Bev said on January 11, 2010 7:19 PM:

Susan Has the company ever considered (or are they working on) an online gift registry for Ribbon albums, like a bridal registry, as part of our myname.ordermygift.com websites? Pampered Chef provides this kind of thing on their personal websites for their consultants. I think the bridal market would be great for these but a registry would be almost essential in order to succeed.

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