Thank You from Wicked Wicker!

What a wonderful holiday season it was!  Thank you to everyone who chose Wicked Wicker, we know you had a choice and we appreciate the fact that you chose us!  

So from Wicked Wicker, here's to everyone having a safe and wonderful holiday season with your friends and family!   

Why Buy Local?

Phoenix was hit very hard by the recession and there was an estimated 4,000 businesses that had to close in the Phoenix area due to the recession.


"Every time you make a purchase, you're exercising the power of choice.  The choice is yours.  You have the power to help strengthen and enrich our community." - Local First Arizona

So show your support to a local business today.  
We really do appreciate it!  

Below are some interesting statistics:
 Source: www.elocal.com

Got Clients?

I get asked questions all the time about gifting.  The number one question I get asked is "What is the value in showing clients appreciation?".  With all the recent economy changes that have taken place it is almost imperative to show your clients some kind of appreciation (read this Past Article that I wrote that has some more information).  And the holidays have been the number one time to show that appreciation.  Clients can be pretty savvy shoppers and will find another similar business for a much lower rate.  They may not get the same great service that your company offers, but they saved money.  Don't get me started on those "assembly line" gift basket companies, ugh!  Showing your clients appreciation will help to maintain your current clients, create new referrals, make a memorable impression, and help strengthen your business relationships.  Here is something to always keep in mind...it will cost your business more to get a new client than to keep an existing one.  And as business owners we want to save time and money too, right?  

Wicked Wicker's mission from the beginning has been to help our clients create a memorable impression for their families, friends, and clientele.  Read our about us page.  So whether you choose Wicked Wicker or another company, remember to show your clients that they are appreciated this holiday season and throughout the year!  

Holiday Schedule Reminder

December 12th will be the last day for any "Customized" Holiday Gift Basket orders.  


December 16th will be the last day to order Gift Baskets from our products page.  


Thank you!   


Wicked Wicker, LLC

Coffee Gift Basket - Restocked!!!

Items Included:

12oz Holiday Blend Coffee

2 Coffee Mugs

3 Biscotti's

Holiday Ornaments

Hot Chocolate Basket - Restocked!!!

Items Included:

8oz Holiday Hot Chocolate

2 Coffee Mugs

3 Biscotti's

Holiday Ornaments

Marilyn Monroe Gift Basket

Items Included:

Directors Cue

Marilyn Monroe Cinema Book

Black Boa with Gold Tinsel

White Gloves (child size)

Basket (size/shape/color may vary)

Spa Gift Basket

Items Included:

White Robe

34oz Pear Vanilla Bath Salt

22oz Pear Vanilla Lotion

Black Shawl

Body Buffer

Basket (size/shape/color may vary)

*Wicked Wicker uses FULL size products in their gift baskets*

Cyber Monday Sale - Blue Holiday Food Gift Basket!!!

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SALE!!!


Buy this Blue Holiday Food Gift Basket...

Items Included:
16oz Cookies
7oz  Potato Chips
4.25oz Crackers
3.5oz Cheese Spread
8oz Sausage
16oz Peanut Butter Pretzels
8oz Lacey's Cookies
Holiday Ornaments




...and get a Holiday Hot Chocolate Basket for FREE!!!*

Items Included:
8oz Holiday Hot Chocolate
2 Coffee Mugs
3 Biscotti's
Holiday Ornaments







*Prices valid 11/28/11 only.  Offer is good while supplies last, quantities are limited.  Cannot mix or match the free item. All products are full size (not trial size).  All orders will be delivered locally or shipped to a United States address(es) provided on or before December 16th, 2011.  Delivery could be delayed if there is no address listed on the invoice.  Shipping charges will apply to addresses outside of the United States.  Size/shape/colors may vary.  Offer is not combinable with any other coupon offers.

Please list shipping addresses under "add a note to the seller".


Thank you!

Cyber Monday Sale - Red Holiday Food Gift Basket!!!

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SALE!!!


Buy this Red Holiday Food Gift Basket...

Items Included:
7oz Barbecue Chips
4.25 oz Crackers
16 oz. cookies
6oz. Peppermint Pretzels
3.5oz Cheese Spread
8oz Sausage
8oz Lacey's Cookies
Holiday Ornaments





...and get a Holiday Coffee Basket for FREE!!!*

Items Included:
12oz Holiday Blend Coffee
2 Coffee Mugs
3 Biscotti's
Holiday Ornaments






*Prices valid 11/28/11 only.  Offer is good while supplies last, quantities are limited.  Cannot mix or match the free item. All products are full size (not trial size).  All orders will be delivered locally or shipped to a United States address(es) provided on or before December 16th, 2011.  Delivery could be delayed if there is no address listed on the invoice.  Shipping charges will apply to areas outside of the United States.  Size/shape/colors may vary.  Offer is not combinable with any other coupon offers.



Please list shipping addresses under "add a note to the seller".


Thank you!

Wanna FREE Gift Basket?

Thank you for stopping by Wicked Wicker!  

Here is a sneak peak at one of our Cyber Monday deals:

This could be yours for FREE!!!

Deals will start on Monday, November 28th at 9am Arizona time.

Offer is good while supplies last!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Holidays have arrived. The plans are being made. The food is being bought. Everyone is getting ready to enjoy Thanksgiving with their nearest and dearest. Even the stores are getting into the spirit a little bit extra this year by opening up their Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving night! So, from Wicked Wicker, here's to everyone having a safe and wonderful holiday with your friends and family. May you have the best Thanksgiving dinner you've ever had and may you have good luck with all the wonderful shopping deals afterwards!

What is Black Friday?

The annual Friday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday as it has been named, is known for having some of the best bargains of the year.  And is officially known for the start of holiday shopping season. Almost all stores come out with "Door Buster" sales or "Early Bird" specials to attract consumers to their stores. People stand in line for hours before the stores are opened, just to grab that bargain of the year. Almost every store has something that interests everyone and for bargain hunters, myself included, this is our "festival" of the year.  This year I am ready to go, my running shoes are on...So bring on Black Friday!

Central Neighborhood NAWBO

Wow, this month is flying by very fast!  Can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving?  That means this week will be full of things to do and meetings to attend!  And this week will be the last Central Neighborhood NAWBO of 2011.  But don't worry, our meetings will be starting back up in January 2012!  Our speaker this month will be Kristi Trimmer from Orange Dragonfly.  She will be presenting "Blogging for Businesses".   

The Central Neighborhood NAWBO meeting is this Thursday, November 17th from 11:30am to 1pm.  We meet at The Good Egg located at 50 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix, AZ.  If you would like more information or would like to attend email jill@wicked-wicker.com.  

Let it Roll!

The WEF's Bowling for Dollars event at Let it Roll was such a great success! Thank you to everyone who participated, donated raffle prizes, and the board of directors.  All money raised helps emerging women business owners in the Phoenix area.  Raffle winners will be contacted soon!  

Thank you!

Wanna Bowl at Let it Roll???

Your favorite 501(c) 3, The Women's Enterprise Foundation (WEF), is at it again.....(drum roll please) it's time for our 3rd annual bowl-a-thon!!!

Let it Roll, will be hosting our event this year on Sunday, November 6th, 2011.  Registration begins at 12:30pm.  With the Awards Ceremony happening at 3:30pm.


How can I help, you ask?

• Be a Team captain and form a team– Gather friends, family (we are kid friendly), or coworkers to have a great time!  Challenge another team to a friendly competition.

• Sponsor a team - Don't worry we will get the bowlers for you!  And you can cheer them on!!  

$50/person to bowl - includes food, soft drinks, 2 hours of unlimited bowling, shoe rental and (5) raffle tickets and the opportunity to make new friends on a team that needs you!!

$225/team to bowl (5 people per team) and you will save $5 per person!!! - includes food, soft drinks, 2 hours of unlimited bowling, shoe rental, and (5) raffle tickets for each bowler!!

Any $$$ amount can be pledged to Jill (that's me!) or any other WEF board member, team captain, or single bowler...all donations collected help fund scholarships, grants, and mentoring programs for emerging women business owners in the Phoenix area.

Boobies and Business

Gettin' more and Givin' more - welcome to a dual fundraising event!

Some things are just better when done in pairs......

Boobies and Business Wine Tasting!

Please join us on October 21st from 6:00-8:00pm and be amongst a great group of women supporters as we get together for a night of wine tasting to benefit both the Women's Enterprise Foundation and the Susan G Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure!  

Board members from the Women's Enterprise Foundation and Team members from Team Booblicious for the 3-Day will both be at this event generously organized by the best little wine shop in Phoenix - Vino100!

Come show your support for women's health AND women owned businesses in one great evening!

If you have not been to Vino100 yet, you will be pleased to find a great wine store that organizes wines by flavor and body - not simply by type of grape or region!  So, if you know you like sweet, light wines or fuller, heartier wines, finding the right wine for you will be easy...and they have over 100 wines for under $25!  If you don't know which kind of wine is your favorite - come and find out!

All ticket sale proceeds from the night will go to the fight against breast cancer and support team members walking in the Susan G Komen 60 mile 3-Day Walk for the Cure AND will help support the Women's Enterprise Foundation granting scholarships and grants to women owned businesses to help keep businesses growing!

Your cost is only $15 each for the wine tasting if you order your tickets online through eventbrite.

Tickets at the door will be $20 each.

THANK YOU for supporting women's health and women owned local businesses! 

We all want to give our pets the very best, right?  How about some Pumpkin Pupcakes for Halloween??


My friend Angela is the owner of an all natural pet bakery called Furbabies Delectable Delights.
Here is a list of her upcoming Furbabies Delectable Delights events in the Phoenix area (tell her Jill sent you!):  

• Fri.10/7 ~ AJ's Fine Foods (Camelback Rd.)  from 11am-2pm
• Sat.10/8 ~ AJ's Fine Foods (Central Ave.) from 8am-10:45am, AJ's Fine Foods (Thompson Peak Pkwy.) from 11am-2pm, and Wholefoods  Market (in Chandler) 11am-2pm
• Sat. 10/15 ~ Dog's Etc. (Peoria)                      from 11am-2pm
• Sat. 10/22 ~ Wholefoods Market (Mayo Blvd.) from 11am-2pm
• Sat. 10/29 ~ Wholefoods Market (Tempe)     from 11am-2pm

She will be handing out FREE treats at all of the

above events!

It's Ticker Time!

What a busy week it is going to be!  I have been working on several gift basket orders and this Thursday is my monthly Central Neighborhood NAWBO meeting.  

Kristi from Orange Dragonfly (FYI.....she is one of the Women's Enterprise Foundation scholarship recipients for 2011-2012!!) has agreed to be our awesome speaker this month.  She will be presenting on Facebook (and explaining all the new updates too) including the new Facebook Ticker!  

Here is what Kristi's website says about social networking:  

"Social Networking sites are a great way to network and connect with business prospects.  When done properly, it can be an incredible tool for any business, whether a Fortune 500 company or an at-home business venture.  Social Networking is becoming the number one way to brand yourself and your business."   

Kristi explains some of the updates about Facebook on her blog.  You can click here to be redirected to her blog to learn more about some of those changes.

The Central Neighborhood NAWBO meeting is Thursday, September 29th from 11:30am to 1pm.  We meet at The Good Egg located at 50 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix, AZ.  If you would like more information, please email Jill (that's me!) at jill@wicked-wicker.com.

Keeping it Cool!

Wow....I cannot believe that today is already September 1st and that the last weekend of summer is almost here!  While surviving the "haboobs" and "excessive heat warnings" (which we are continuing to participate in, yikes!) for the Phoenix area, cooling off was my summer mission for wherever I decided to travel.    

How did you spend your summer?

Small Biz Expo

Wicked Wicker is participating in a
Small Biz Expo, $275 in cash and prizes!  The Small Biz Expo is hosted by Makobi Scribe and Bree Bee's.  

• First Place: $50 purchase from an Elite listed business AND $150 in cash.
• Second Place: $50 purchase from an Elite listed business.
• Third Place: $25 purchase from a Gold listed business.

For more information: Small Biz Expo

Hurry, the expo ends August 22nd!


Good Luck!

Retail Therapy

It seems like everything and anything these days is being researched. The other day I found this article telling about a recent study done in Britain about the effects of shopping on someone's mood. As it turns out, they found that buying a small treat for yourself does indeed make you feel better, even in the long run. 

Bookmans, Cost Plus, and Hobby Lobby here I come!

Grilling Giveaway!

BBQ Grilling Gift Basket

Retail Value $39.99

Wanna win a Wicked Wicker gift basket?  Wicked Wicker has teamed up with My Own Grocey Game for a grilling giveaway! Visit My Own Grocery Game for the official rules and your chance to win!

Hurry, the Grilling Giveaway ends on July 17th! 

 Good Luck!

Independents Week is HERE!!

Independents Week is here!  The goal of this national campaign is to encourage people to shop at locally owned stores for one entire week.  This year's campaign runs from June 27 - July 4.

Declare your independence and go local during Independents Week!  From June 27 - July 4, we are asking you to pledge to shop at locally owned businesses.

Use the coupon!

Go out and save! Print the coupon off the Local First Arizona website and use it at any of the participating businesses to save 20%.  Take your lunch break at a participating restaurant, start your holiday shopping early (there's only 6 months until December), pamper yourself with a haircut/massage, get your car tuned up, or spruce up the house with new furniture.

Show them some Love!

As a small business owner, one thing that is often on my mind is how important it is to show love to clients.  When all is said and done, you are all very important! 

I wondered what other people thought on this subject.  So naturally, I looked it up online and found some good tips:

A personal touch to your client thank you's makes more of an impression than any assembly line thank you - for example, a hand-written card delivered straight to the recipient is so unique anymore that it is going to be remembered.  Thank you's are all emailed or printed out from a computer - we all know those copied and pasted letters and cards that we get from various businesses. 

Another way to impress clients is by gifting them.  It doesn't have to be something big or really expensive, just something that lets them know how much you appreciate their business (they say it costs more to get a new client than to keep an existing one).  Do you have business items (i.e.: business pens, paper, etc.)?  How about creating something unique with items that you already have on hand?

Fire Up the Grill!

Walking through a bookstore today, one of the front displays caught my eye.  There was an entire table devoted to barbecue books that was set up at the front of the store.  I guess as not only is summer the season for backyard barbecues, but Father's Day is also coming up and it makes sense to have the those books front and center.  I never particularly thought about it, but there are hundreds and thousands of different barbecue recipes.  To me, barbecuing is just something you do and I never really thought about it, but as it turns out barbecuing has a long history.  People have been cooking over an open flame for a long time, but the modern barbecue grill didn't come around until the 1950's, when Stephen Weber invented it (or even more modern than that, the George Foreman Grill in the 1990's), effectively ushering in the era of the traditional American backyard barbecue party.

Happy Father's Day from Wicked Wicker!

Mother-of-the-Bride

Summer is about to begin, which means this is a popular time of the year for weddings!  Every girl knows the basic customs - veil, white dress, and throwing the bouquet of flowers.  One of the old world customs that began thousands of years ago and continues to thrive today is the honeymoon.  And the tradition of jumping over a crossed sword and broomstick to symbolize cutting ties with the bride and grooms parents is not a very popular tradition today.  But the role of the mother-of-the-bride (M.O.B.) generally remains the same, running around tending to any issues that may arise on her daughters dream day.

Does anyone have any funny M.O.B. stories?

Tragedy strikes in Joplin and retailers lend a helping hand

A big "Thank You" to Home Depot, Sears, Kroger, and Dillons!

Retail's BIG Blog Tragedy strikes in Joplin and retailers lend a helping hand
 

The 2nd Sunday in May

The second Sunday in May hosts the second most popular holiday for gift-giving......Mother's Day!

How did Mother's Day start?  Individual mothers did not start out as the focus of Mother's Day.  Several ancient cultures had huge festivals celebrating whichever goddess was their mother-figure and early christians in Europe celebrated the fourth Sunday of Lent by honoring the church where they were babtized (their "mother" church).  Mother's Day as we know it did not come about until 1908 and it has since spread around the world with many countries creating their own versions. 

As mothers across the United States celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday, Wicked Wicker would like to wish them all a wonderful day. 

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail. Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's on its Way!

Easter eggs, bunnies, chocolates, marshmallow chickens, and multi-colored plastic grass strung throughout the house.  What's not to love about Easter?  With Universal Studio's new movie Hop in theaters now, it got me to wondering........where did the tradition of Easter eggs come from? 

As it turns out, eggs were one of the many symbols of rebirth that has been associated with spring.  In fact, it was used by many different cultures around the world - the early Egyptians, Hindu, Russians, and Chinese.  But what about the bunny?  The Easter bunny was originally a symbol of fertility.  Now a days, the bunnies mostly bring egg hunts and pastel-colored candy, but they still keep that old association of new life by ushering in spring.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Co-Ed Baby Showers

Spring is one of the more popular seasons for baby showers, probably because it comes right after all those cold months of cuddling! Appropriately, the modern baby shower didn't exist until the post World War II baby-boom.  Even more recently co-ed baby showers have become popular, even promoting themes to appeal to the males attending the shower (i.e.: sports, barbecue, etc.).  Food often becomes the main event at these non frilly showers. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind for a co-ed baby shower:

• Invite plenty of males
• Go easy on the pink
• Keep the party favors simple
• Have the expectant couple open the gifts together

I've never attended a co-ed baby shower, but can't help but wonder what kind of games do they play that appeal to both genders?

Those Little Guardians of the Lawn and Gardens!

It's early spring and those guardians of the lawn and garden are everywhere - or maybe I'm just noticing them more this year??  Whatever the case, this seemed like a good time to entertain you with some fun facts about those little clay creatures.  First off, garden gnomes are older than you think - the first gnomes were made in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century and of the original 21 gnomes that were brought to England in 1847, only one still exists and its insured for a million British pounds or about $1.6 million American dollars.

So why gnomes for a garden decoration?  Well, local myths depict gnomes as creatures that like to help out in the gardens at night.  The travelocity mascot is one of the more famous gnomes and was created because of the tradition of gnoming.  Those gnome-nappers will snatch up your gnome just to take it on vacation....but they do return them after their trip, usually sporting a wicked tan!

Giftee's Should Dither a Little

March is National Irish-American Heritage month, but there is one day that stands out - St. Patrick's Day.  Bring on the pub crawls, shamrocks, and of course those lucky leprechauns.  For on this day, we all seem to be a wee bit Irish!

In honor of the official "green" month, I came across these Irish gift giving traditions:

•  Cost doesn't matter.  Make it personal.
•  White lillies are bad, they are used for funerals.
•  For the giftee, open in front of the gifter and don't accept it  right off the bat, dither a little.

And remember......Never, ever iron a four leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Spring has Sprung in the Valley of the Sun!

Whether you are soaking up the sun poolside with the 80 degree temperatures, traveling back to medieval times to get a steak on a stake at the Renaissance Festival, racing those large feathered birds at the Ostrich Festival (you never know who you will see volunteering there), or hearing the umpire yell "PLAY BALL" at an afternoon spring training game.......Spring is finally here!

The More Owls, the More Money!!

I love HootSuite and now they are offering you money through their affiliate program! To get started, simply register as an Affiliate and use the collection of banners, badges and links to promote HootSuite on all your channels. For every premium plan that signs up from your link – or free account that upgrades within 60 days – you'll receive a portion of their first payment. The more owls, the more money!