It's not all Lollies and Chocolates here!

January 2013 - another busy Christmas period was over, Christmas pressies and turkey were a distant memory and the start of another year was at hand and so was an almighty thump! January always brings with it a big old sigh and a bit of a 'fall in a heap' feeling - every year! So this year I decided I'd had enough and need to 'get away' from work, full stop.

A week after making this decisions someone smiled down upon me because I came across the bargain of all bargains and booked myself a cruise, leaving in 5 days time! I could not wait and thankfully I didn't have to wait too long, all hands on deck and away we went.

10 nights, which actually turned into 11 nights, at sea with NOTHING to worry about except for 'buffet' or 'dining room'? It was just what I needed to really relax and not think about my business AT ALL.

Pacific Jewel - Vila

January is typically very quiet so I didn't mind shutting up shop for a few weeks, orders still came in but they were all processed when I returned (and the customers were aware of this delay). The only thing I did wrong was not allowing myself a day back on land to aclimatise to 'work' again - lesson learnt!

2013 is proving to be one of my most difficult years in business and I have been finding days when I just don't want to go to work - my love for it just isn't here at the moment. I am sure (fingers crossed) that it will pass and my enthusiasm will return but at the moment I spend more time dreaming of another cruise than I do working on Rainbow Designs! This is one reason why I have started getting into blogging again. Last year I had a few issues with my blog so, frustratingly, had to remove it. I did manage to keep some of my older posts and put them onto this blog but most were gone. I am hoping I can get back into the swing of blogging more regularly, things like behind the scenes, generally small business issues, products, reviews (maybe of other small business and maybe even from customers??), feedback, ideas, babbling etc anything really that forms part of my life, business and personal, that I feel like sharing.

I've been using Facebook as a promotional tool for Rainbow Designs but it's just not working - I haven't find the right way to use it yet. Will keep trying or will just delete the dam thing!

Anyway, almost time to head down to the couriers - I generally walk or drive each day and only get the courier to pickup when I have a lot of parcels, as they charge $8, this is generally in the busy time like Easter and Christmas. I've got one parcel that I need to drop at the Post Office as it's for a PO Box so need to leave a bit earlier. I don't mind doing this as it's a great way to get out of the office, get some fresh air and enjoy some 'away from the compuer' time.

Till next time,

eat some lollies!

Jacqui

Lolly Hampers

It's a Lolly kind of day today it seems! So many of the searches included the word 'Lolly' and it is something we have a LOT of here at Rainbow Designs! I think I might be missing something though? There are so many of these types of searches that don't end in an order, why? Maybe they are after more 'traditional' style Hampers? Maybe we don't have the types of lollies they want? Maybe they need it faster than we can delivery? (even though we do have Next Day delivery) I'm starting to think I need to include some different types of Lolly Gifts but what? I've tried Sugar Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Peppermint, Licorice, Freddo Frogs, Kids styles BUT none of them did very well. What am I doing wrong?

I'm going to try another style of Lolly Gift soon, still using the gift box that a lot of my Lolly and Chocolate gifts come in but in a different style/colour. These new lollies are chocolate coated lollies and are made in Australia. They will be individually packed in 150g bags/boxes making it just over the kilo - pricing will be about $65 and this will include the delivery charge, as all my gifts do. I am hoping this style of gift will be more suited to the people who search for 'Lolly Hamper' and end up at Rainbow Designs. I guess I'll find out in a few weeks! (fingers crossed)

I've also been deciding on whether to have a Cadbury Gift box?? Made up of a variety of different Cadbury Bars and Blocks - "Cadbury Cravings" maybe??

A couple of weeks ago I added an option to many of my Lolly/Chocolate Boxes to add a Bear to their gift - I don't know why I didn't do this sooner! It has proven quite popular and I have realised that the Pink bear is a big favourite! I sold out too quickly - I feel sorry for the other colours. Luckily the company I get my bears from are pretty speedy with their deliveries so generally bears aren't out of stock for long. One of the hardest things is updating the website to reflect this - it is very fiddly and time consuming and more often than not an order will come in before I have had a chance to put something out of stock! Typical!

A few months ago I added a gift called 'Cravings' where you can select exactly what you want to go inside the box - popular! I've just added a larger Cravings gift called 'Cravings Overdrive' for the BIG sweet tooth.

I try and use lollies and chocolates that are known ie Allens, Mars, Nestles, Trolli etc so people know what the quality is like and can be happy ordering something for a far away friend or relative. The new gift I plan on adding soon is from a small business called Freckleberry so is a sort of unknown to most people but I hope over time my customers will realise that the quality is great and is just something a little bit different but still yummy and priced well.

If I can get small quantities of some new products I might look at trialling the special diets gifts again and include sugar, dairy, nut free products - it all depends on what I can find and the prices as I still want these gifts to be affordable and value for money, like all my other gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinch and a Punch

Happy 1st of May! It's been a busy morning this morning, hip hooray! We've had a run on Buddy Boxes - this is one of my favourite gifts, I love freckles and choc buds!! I've had a bit of a tidy up in the warehouse and am also in the process of organising a new gift, which I hope to have available in the next few weeks. It will be in a new gift box and will contain an assortment of chocolate coated lollies - Australian made too. Cannot wait to show you!

I've just had to complete my first quarter BAS - well, I say I had to but all I had to do was send off all my statements and my fabulous bookkeeper does the rest. Love it. My 2012 tax was also finalised a couple of weeks ago and happily I received a small refund. Love it. It didn't go far and has already been spent but I'll take a refund any day!

Leading up to Christmas last year I had HUGE dramas with Fastway Couriers and a corporate order that they were meant to deliver. They are couriers afterall. Anyway, things did not go to plan so I had to put in a claim. May 2013 and I am still waiting for it to be approved. Very bad customer service Fastways and unfortunately my lovely franchise in Port Macquarie are the ones to lose out as I do not plan on using Fastways again. In one of the emails from Fastways regarding my claim they said 'We are unable to process the full amount blah blah blah' which I found quite amusing and told them. I said 'you're not unable you are just unwilling' - I am over it, which is probably what they want. Make it too difficult and they'll go away. Go away I will, no more business from Rainbow Designs.

Onto happy things, Mother's Day is just around the corner as is my Nan's 91st birthday! Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to her party but I did get to see her a few weeks ago, which was lovely. Have you ordered a gift for your mum yet? If you are ordering something online don't forget to take into account delivery time. We can deliver next day to most areas in Australia but it is always better to order a bit earlier to ensure it arrives in time. Deliveries will be made the week commencing Monday 6 May - and remember we do not have weekend deliveries.

Something new:



Afternoon Tea Hamper - $115 delivered




Ales and Appetisers Hamper - $69 delivered!

 

2013 - Mother's Day Australia

Mother's Day is FAST approaching (isn't this year just wizzing by??) so it is definitely time to get your orders placed! You don't want your mum thinking you've forgotten her do you? Sunday May 12 is THE day but delivery of your gift will be made during the week before Mother's Day as we are unable to deliver on the weekend.

We have a few lovely new hampers plus all of our delicious lolly and chocolate gifts that Rainbow Designs is known (and loved!) for. Prices are from $30 and as always INCLUDES delivery. Seeing as my mum is never without lollies and chocolates I thought I would shout her a lovely, relaxing lunch out so I am hoping that the weather stays as beautiful as it is at the moment.

Wishing you all a 'spoilt to the hilt' Mother's Day.


Mum's Tea Gift - $50 delivered!

Ooh La La Gift Hamper - $60 delivered!



Thanks Mum Gift Hamper - $93 delivered!

 

 

Yummy Lolly and Chocolate gift boxes and hampers from $30 including gift tag and fast, reliable Australia wide delivery!

Mother's Day 2013

Sunday May 12, 2013 is Mother's Day in Australia and it also happens to be my nan's 91st birthday!! To ensure your gifts arrive in time for your mum to open them on Mother's Day we need your orders by 2pm aest Wednesday May 8, 2013.

Here's just some of the gorgeous gifts we have just waiting to delight your mum with:

 Box of Buddies - $45

 Gourmet Golden Chocolate Gift - $40

 Swircles Lolly Box - $45

 Mum's Tea Gift - $50

 Ooh La La Gift Hamper - $60

 Thanks Mum Gift Hamper - $93

Chance of drizzle

Over the past few weeks I've got in some new gift boxes that I've filled with glorious lollies and chocolates, they're called chocolate drizzle! The gifts are available in our fabulously affordable 'satchel' style and also our gorgeous 'handbag' style.

This super yummy gift is our 3pm Pick Me Up - $22 delivered!!

And this fabulous new gift is our Bag of Goodies - $40 delivered! 800g of Lollies including Trolli gummi bears, Allens lollies (snakes, jellybeans, pineapples, raspberries, frogs etc), Mars M&M's, Cadbury bullets, freckles, Nestle Smarties and more. Suitable for birthdays, Mother's Day (only a few weeks away!), get well, congratulations also great for girls and guys!

As always you can order safely and easily on our wonderful website or call us on freecall 1800 801 227 (note: we may not always be able to answer the phone as generally it is just me, Jacqui, and I will be busy packing your orders! If you can't get through please use the contact page and I will respond asap, within 4hrs on business days)

Valentine's Day - Thursday 14 February 2013

Recently added gifts just perfect for Valentine's Day and so very affordable! Remember, ALL of our gifts at Rainbow Designs include fast Australia wide delivery!

 

 

Chocolates, teddybears and gorillas, love hearts, red roses and all available at a click of a button. Order now for delivery on Valentine's Day (to most areas in Australia but please read our delivery page).



 

Next up: EASTER!!!!