South Jersey Spotlight on Jest Notes & Baskets

By the end of this blog post, you either should be hungry or in need of a corporate gift for that special client or prospective customer in your life. And don’t forget the upcoming 2012 holiday shopping season (a hazy but hard-to-ignore fact on the horizon). There’s a (human) app for that!

I believe I’ve known Cheryl Pliskin, owner of Jest Notes & Baskets, for as long as I’ve had my own business in southern New Jersey. Let me just state this right here, right now: Nobody runs and promotes her business with as much sly humor and panache as does Cheryl Pliskin. Need proof? Read the About Us page on her website…

By All Writes: Why did you decide to start Jest Notes & Baskets? When did you start it?

Cheryl Pliskin: My marriage and family counseling practice was hurting the last time the economy tanked. Since my kids were still young, I wanted to work from home. So, I began making hand-crafted note cards that included puns; Jest Notes was born (in 1991). It evolved into “& Baskets” after I made a strategic decision to leave the consumer target market behind and focus on corporate clients.

BAW: What products/services do you offer your potential clients?

CP: We offer custom and branded gifts with which businesses can attract and retain clients. These tempting tokens of affection include: welcome, thank you, referral appreciation, “oops,” and all-occasion gifts (baby, get well, sympathy, holidays, etc.). Our edible offerings cover everything from gourmet cookies, biscotti, and granola to jelly beans, boxed toffee, and chocolate. Oh yes, there is a wondrous spectrum of chocolate.

We also carry a full line of kosher, gluten-free, low-carbohydrate, and healthy choices year round. Most of our foods are trans-fat free. If food is not a good gift choice, we offer spa baskets, games, books, DVDs, puzzles, and toys. My clients determine all pricing, so there are no surprises!

BAW: Who makes a good client for you?

CP: A good client for me is anyone who values loyalty, wants strong relationships with their own clients and strategic partners, and “gets it” regarding the value of these relationships. We also fare well with folks who like quality chocolate, treats, and healthy snacks…

BAW: What is your ultimate “happy moment” when working with your clients?

CP: No doubt about it – the best moments are when we get feedback that a gift from Jest Notes & Baskets got someone the appointment, saved a business relationship, strengthened customer loyalty, or just plain old made someone smile. We always hope that our gifts keep creating and circulating as much good karma as possible…

BAW: If you could relocate your corporate and all-occasions gift service to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

CP: Hmm. I loved my vacation in New Zealand, but unless my kids are also relocating, that’s a deal breaker.

BAW: What is your favorite book to read and why? Please share generously!

CP: Authors I tend to favor include Karen Rose, Karin Slaughter, and Suzanne Brockmann. Nothing gives me more separation from my work than nice, escapist romantic drama and suspense. Business is tough; leisure reading should be relaxing!

Need to congratulate, thank, or even apologize to a client? Jest Notes & Baskets is ready to create a gift basket that will get the job done. To learn more about your gift-giving options, call Cheryl either toll-free at 1-800-235-4268 or locally (in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area) at 609-714-3366. Please send Cheryl your email inquiry via cheryl@jestnotes.com