Support local this holiday season with GROW Nebraska gift boxes

Support local this holiday season with GROW Nebraska gift boxes

by | Sep 23, 2021 | GROW Blog

Support local business this holiday season with GROW Nebraska gift boxes

Boxes that say "this box supports Nebraska businesses"

Every holiday season, millions of dollars leave local economies as gifts are purchased at big box stores and national chains. 

gift box with popcorn, beef jerky and pickled asparagus

In the rush to complete Christmas shopping lists, consumers often pick the big retailer that only leaves 43% of the sale in the local economy. When the same amount is spent at a local business, 68% of the money stays local. 

For the second year in a row, the GROW Nebraska Foundation is offering shoppers an easy way to make sure they’re supporting their state with customizable gift boxes. 

“When you choose to build a gift box with GROW, you’re making an intentional choice to support Nebraskans,” said GROW Nebraska CEO Janell Anderson Ehrke. “Every item you chose to put in there supports a small business who can truly use your support. It means the world to them.”

GROW’s program allows for individuals to build their own boxes and for corporations to order hundreds of boxes for employee or client gifts. 

In either case, gift buyers can build a box, starting at just $20, picking Nebraska-made items from a selection of more than 3,000 products available at the Buy Nebraska Store and BuyNebraska.com. 

All purchasers need to do is choose the items they want, tell GROW Nebraska where to ship them, and then sit back and relax. 

Boxes can also include a personalized note or logo sticker, so the recipient knows who the generous gifter is. 

Last year, corporate gift boxes sent from just one Nebraska organization proved to be a light at the end of the tunnel for 28 small businesses after the tribulations of 2020. 

For example, RCK Creations, located in Alda, sold around 1,200 tumblers. Nutt Family Jams & Jellies of Ravenna completely sold out of their inventory. 

“Though 2021 is proving to be a more positive year than the last, a fluctuating economy and continuously changing health regulations still leave clouds of doubt over the holiday season for many small business owners,” Anderson Ehrke said. “We’re hoping our gift boxes can again be a lifeline for Nebraska businesses.”To learn more about the program, or inquire about creating your own gift boxes, email info@grownebraska.org.

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Corporate Gift Baskets are Making Their Way Across the Nation

Corporate Gift Baskets are Making Their Way Across the Nation

by | Aug 30, 2020 | GROW Blog

Corporate Gift Boxes are Making Their Way Across the Nation

 

The popularity of GROW Nebraska gift baskets is growing, and they aren’t just for holiday giving.

GROW Nebraska gift baskets make it easy for businesses to thank board members, employees, customers or donors. Companies are ordering GROW Nebraska gift baskets for retirement gifts, work anniversaries, birthdays and appreciation events all year long.

September 13-19 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and some companies ordered GROW Nebraska gift baskets for truckers.

Grand Island Express, a family-owned trucking company in Grand Island, ordered 75 GROW Nebraska gift baskets for its truckers and families. The baskets are themed as a “family snack box” and will include Sue’s Confection’s homemade marshmallows, Gold Dust kettle corn, Baker’s Candies, Lucky’s Teriyaki Jerky, chokecherry jelly, Ely Farm’s Pickled Asparagus and Mystic Rhoads Jamaican Spice.

Tammie Dimmitt, leader of human resources/benefits and driver retention for GIX, said the gift baskets benefit the company’s drivers and Nebraska businesses.

“We wanted to show appreciation for our drivers’ families for allowing their loved ones to be away from home to work at Grand Island Express,” Dimmitt said. “We wanted to share Nebraska items to allow them to see the great things that come straight from Nebraska and support the local businesses.”

Janell Anderson Ehrke, CEO for GROW Nebraska, said the trucker appreciation basket orders were the result of a GROW board member reaching out and presenting the idea to companies. She encourages all GROW Nebraska supporters and members to think of promoting the gift baskets in their every-day work.

Holiday GROW Nebraska gift basket orders are already starting to come in, so any anyone considering large quantities of holiday gift baskets is encouraged to order early, there are quantity discounts available.

Janell said GROW Nebraska staff work with members to determine wholesale and retail pricing, and that gift baskets are a great way to do a cost analysis. She also encouraged members to consider creating smaller packages or sample-sized products.

“If you normally sell a 7-ounce jelly, a 2-ounce jelly would be less expensive to ship,” she said.

Gift baskets can be ordered in any size or price range. The purchaser can select certain GROW products and themes or leave it up to the GROW staff to create. Pre-packaged gift baskets can be ordered on GROW’s Buy Nebraska site https://buynebraska.com/collections/gift-baskets. 

For more information about GROW gift baskets or corporate giving opportunities, contact info@grownebraska.org.

 

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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