It's Always Christmas At Rainbow Designs

It may sound odd but it's true. We are always sending out wonderful hampers and delicious gifts, that every day feels like Christmas. We can definitely relate to the joy that St Nick brings to kids all across the world as we too, through our gifts, are putting smiles on many faces.

I mean who wouldn't want to receive a Cream Liqueur and Chocolate Hamper or a Big Chocolate Box delivered to their doorstep? We always have been the quirky alternative to flowers - and are proud of that fact!

And while I don't proclaim to know everything about business and get things wrong along the way, I do love making people happy. That's got to count for a lot, right?

So while it may not be Christmas yet, it isn't that far away - only 95 days in fact. We always keep a few Christmas gifts on our site for those who do like to order early, but will undoubtedly have a few more special gifts to add closer to the date for those last minute shoppers as well.

But between now and then, we appreciate you guys keeping us busy with all your orders and may those special times be celebrated today, tomorrow and in the future.

And as always, I eagerly await to receive that first Christmas order - it is a super exciting time for an online retailer like myself!! I just might have to don that red suit and white beard in honour of the festivities!

xx

A Is For Advertising

As any business owner knows, whether online or off, advertising is necessary to showcase your brand and get yourself noticed.  And for the team at Rainbow Designs, it is a major challenge; you need to identify opportunities for advertising which will garner successful results.  Pay too much and there may be no return on your investment, pay too little and your advertising campaign may fail to get noticed at all.  It is definitely a fine balance.

Our blog of course is one way to get noticed and we have developed Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter pages to connect with our online fans.

Knowing who your customers are can also help pinpoint your options.  As most of our shoppers are female, then a spot on Femail works in our favour.

The ability to leave online reviews makes shopping easier for people and is another positive form of advertising.  We have review pages set up on WOMO, Product Review and Google+.  It is also important to register on sites such as TrueLocal in order that people become familiar with your business and it gives you another website where customers can leave feedback.

We have a monthly newsletter which we send out at the beginning of the month which features our gorgeous gifts and other tidbits.  Repetition is a great way for people to see and recognise your brand and it keeps it at the forefront of your customers' minds.  Not too much, mind you, as you want to avoid what is known as consumer fatigue where they tune out or ignore you altogether.

Over the last 10 years we have learnt a lot about advertising but we are no expert by any stretch of the imagination.  We would love to hear any tips you can provide.

If you have a business, what do you find works for you in terms of advertising?

Happiness In A Lolly Tin

If our new Happiness In A Lolly Tin had a soundtrack it would go something like this:

"Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do"

Of course I can't take credit for these lyrics - that credit would go to the extremely talented Pharrell Williams but you get what I am saying. I can imagine this tin dancing around to the tune - lollies jumping up and down in the excitement of being featured in such a wonderful gift.

The happy flower tin seems to have a jolly personality all of its own - the goodies inside seem to be just an added bonus.

If you have not heard the song recently, know that once you start singing it, it is one of those tunes that can get stuck in your head for days. Much like our gifts. One lolly is never enough and you will soon find yourself reaching out for another and another...but you aren't alone. We admit to having the same problem with all of our delicious chocolate and lolly gifts.

And just because I am feeling happy I am going to share the fun soundtrack with you. Hope you have a happy (and lolly filled) day.

10 Years And Still Going Strong

Did you know that Rainbow Designs has been delivering delicious chocolate and lolly gifts for 10 years - over 10 years in fact!  When you think about it, 10 years is actually quite a long time.

Think of a child who has grown from a baby to a child of 10 - a lot of changes occur along the way.  And Rainbow Designs could be considered my child of sorts; we have grown together, seen a lot of things along the way and had some awesome moments together - and we have probably experienced a few tantrums and tears when things haven't quite gone our way.  But that's the way it is when you have your own business to run - there will always be something sent to test you.

They say it takes 10 years to become an expert.  Not sure what I could be considered an expert in - chocolate perhaps.  I could tell you the best loved gifts of all time and the chocolate everyone turns to when they are trying to cheer someone up.  In fact I know quite a few things about chocolate that just might surprise you. 

If I ever did decide to move on from Rainbow Designs, I am not even sure what I would do.  Chocolate and lollies have been my "thing" for quite a while now.  My customer service and management skills are, luckily for me, quite transferable so I guess I am marketable in many aspects.  But what other career choices are there which involve taste testing and quality management of something as delicious as chocolate.  That would be one of the perks that I would miss for sure.

In fact I might just go and do a bit of quality management right now!  I hear those M&Ms calling my name!

Once They're Gone - They're Gone

We have a number of gifts which are selling fast and once they are gone, we won't be getting them back in (at least not for a while anyway).

So what gifts am I talking about?

Rocky Road

400g of Australian made Freckleberry Rocky Road - milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate (raspberries, marshmallows, salted cashews & caramel fudge) and 'fun' mix (bananas, raspberries, neopolitan marshmallows, mini M&M's).  8 Pryde soft centre chocolates are also included and it is presented in a fabulous, reusable round tin.

English Sweetie Mix

This gift includes a 1kg mix of delicious English sweets including Fruit Pastilles, Pear Drops, Wine Gums and Fruit Salad Gums.  And what's more it comes in a reusable Emma Bridgewater designed Polka Dot tin.

Old Blighty Chocolates

We love this one!  A delicious mix of yummy English Chocolates includes Ashbury Caramel Cups, Peppermint Creams, Strawberry Creams and Turkish Delight (15 of each) in a reusable round tin.

Licorice Lovers

Contents may vary but will generally include a 1kg mix of licorice.  How does licorice allsorts, milk chocolate licorice bullets, dark chocolate licorice bullets, white chocolate raspberry bullets, licorice pieces, licorice torpedoes and licorice cream rocks sound?

Fudge It

 

Three stunning keepsake tins featuring 220g of delicious English made fudge in each tin.  The three flavours represented are vanilla, chocolate and rum & raisin.

Other gifts that won't be repeated include English Sweets All Wrapped Up, the Nestle Chocolate Selection and the UK Sweetie Tin.

 

So make sure you pick up your favourites before they are all sold out.  Going, going...