Small Biz Success Tips – Since 2012

Category: Products I Love

Inspiring Product Ideas

When I wrote my ebook, 187 All-New Product Ideas for 2023, I brainstormed how to take currently top selling products and make them even more desirable, along with some new ideas based on current customer needs and demand.

Since then, I have recently seen three of these product ideas online, so I guess I was onto something.

One of my ideas was for a Camping Blanket Hoodie. This is because it was the perfect combination of blanket and hoodie for sitting around the campfire.

Then there was my idea for a Cold and Flu Remedy Kit, because COVID made people want to nip every cough and sniffle in the bud, and everyone loves a compact, all-in-one remedy.

I also had the idea for holiday pillows that had a dual purpose – Halloween on one side, Christmas on the other, so you are not drowning in pillows (you can charge twice the price if you’re worried you are losing a sale). MudPie took it further and created a Four Sided Holiday Pillow.

Discover your next great product idea in my download, 187 All-New Product Ideas for 2023.

Also read: How to Create Products Editors Love

© 2023 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Inspiring Product Ideas.

187 New Product Ideas for 2023

Are you looking to start a new business in the new year, or just want to try selling a new product?

Well, I’m very excited for my new download, 187 All-New, All-Original Product Ideas for 2023!187 New Product Ideas for 2023

Some of My Creative Product Ideas for 2023:
  • 2023 Seed Calendar: Calendars are always big sellers, so how about a printed calendar that has an envelope for each month containing either seeds of plants that should be planted that month, or seeds of flowers that are relevant to the month. For example, April’s birth month flowers are daisies and sweet peas, so give seeds for these flowers for that month. Great gift for a gardener!
  • Backgammon Tray: What about a serving tray that doubles as a Backgammon board, since they are essentially the same shape and size.
  • Personalized Family Wall Hook Tree: This wall coat rack is a great idea, but even better if the hooks were engraved with the name of each family member, so everyone has their own hook.
  • Couples Zodiac Necklace: One side of the pendant features your Zodiac sign and the other side features your partner’s Zodiac sign. Romantic!
  • Caramel Latte Cubes: Cubes are a popular food trend, so why not sell flavored caramel cubes that you can drop into your coffee to make a caramel latte.
  • Quilted PJ Pants: Meshing together two popular products – quilts + pjs – is always a good idea.
  • Lava Cake Candle: When this jar candle melts, the wax pours down like a lava cake (plus it smells like one).

Discover more of my all original, creative product ideas in my brand new download, 187 All-New Product Ideas for 2023, at a super low introductory price.

A compilation of my creative mind, Google research, sales research, trending data and what I know sells, I hope this list inspires you for the new year!

Happy new year!

©2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. 187 New Product Ideas for 2023

Creative Innovative Product Ideas To Inspire You

new product ideasI’m always looking out for creative innovative product ideas that inspire. Here are several that I thought were smart ideas in terms of being practical, solving a problem, or just adding more value.

Leather Bike Carrying Strap

How simple but innovative is this leather bike carrying strap that simply attaches between the two vertical bars of your bike.

creative product ideas

Product Idea from Simons

Balcony Bar

If it’s allowed where you live, this balcony bar is an awesome idea. Again, it solves a problem, and it folds flat when not in use taking up no space.

inspiring product ideas

Product Idea from Simons

Fruit Basket with Fly Cover

You’ve probably seen fly covers for food before, but this is the first time I’ve seen one where it was integrated right into the dish, so you can simply push it back, and not have to take it off and place somewhere else.

new products

Product Idea from Simons

Two-Sided Necklace

Bauble Bar is always a cutting edge jewelry designer, but I love the idea of the two-sided reversible necklace, because it’s like getting two necklaces for the price of one.

innovative product ideas

Product Idea from Bauble Bar

Game Board Beach Towel

A simple graphic and this beach towel now has a dual purpose with both a checkerboard and backgammon board on it for more fun at the beach.

creative product ideas

Product Idea from Anthropologie

House Plant Care Cards

I don’t know how many house plants you’ve killed, but I love this idea of being able to leave the card by the plant, so I can remember how to care for it.

innovative new product ideas

Product Idea from Anthropologie

If you need innovative product or services ideas, or maybe want to refresh your offerings, you would be amazed at how many we can come up with during a phone consultation. Email to find out more.

Visit my Etsy shop for planners, marketing plans, worksheets and more.

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©2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Creative Innovative Product Ideas

Get Inspired by this Brilliant Product Idea from Bauble Bar

I love creative product ideas, and this Pixar Toy Story Mr Potato Head stacking ring from Bauble Bar is brilliant. It lends to the nature of the Mr. Potato Head product, merged with a stacking ring, which have been so trendy the last few years. Plus, it makes a perfect gift for the Toy Story fan.

 

© 2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved.

Need Inspiration? 9 Hot Holiday Product Ideas for 2021

I found some truly creative holiday product ideas to inspire you!

Crochet Tree Skirt

True to Scandinavian style, this white crochet tree skirt makes a subtle statement. From Food52.

crochet tree skirt

Christmas Village Advent Calendar

What I love about this DIY advent calendar for kids is that they are given a different component to put together for every day of advent, and by the end they have their own Christmas village. From KiwiCo.

kids advent village

Egg Nog Pitcher

A fun housewarming gift, this glass pitcher is embellished with the recipe for making your own egg nog. From Mudpie.

egg nog pitcher

Menorah

I love when people give a modern take to a classic holiday tradition. Here the menorah is symbolized using nine ceramic vases joined together. From Food52.

menorah made of ceramic bottles

Pet Christmas Tree Bed

People love to spend on their pets, and this dog or cat bed in the shape of a Christmas tree is too adorable. From Anthropologie.

pet Christmas tree bed

Snow Globe Doormat

Everyone loves to swap out their doormat for the holidays, and this snow globe one is wonderfully whimsical. From Anthropologie.

snow globe doormat

Wooden Christmas Village

Again, minimalist Scandinavian-Inspired holiday style is reflected in this simplistic wooden Christmas village set. From Food52.

wooden christmas village

Santa Pants Wine Holder

You always need a few cheesy holiday products that get a laugh, and this Santa Pants Wine Holder is a great example. From Mudpie.

santa pants wine holder

Santa Christmas Countdown

I love the simplicity of this Christmas countdown calendar and how little space it takes up on the mantle.

santa advent calendar

Book a 30-minute phone consultation with me to get personalized marketing advice on how you can maximize sales this holiday season. This month, I’m even including a publicity pitch for FREE 🎄. I have written pitches that have gotten my clients featured in Real Simple, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Glamour, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride, Martha Stewart – just to name a few, so book your call today!


2021 Etsy Holiday Sales Planner
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© 2021 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. 9 Hot Holiday Product Ideas for 2021.

7 Hot Product Ideas for Fall

Product Ideas for FallNeed some hot product ideas for fall?

In need of some fresh product inspiration for fall, the biggest buying season of the year? Here are seven products I found that I thought were innovative and served the needs of today’s consumer.

Product Idea for Fall: Uniquely Scented Candles

Searches for candles increased 35% last year, so the more clever the name of the scent, the more marketable it is, like these fall inspired candles from Anthropologie. If they are in containers in colors of the season, even better!

Product Ideas for Fall

Product Ideas for Fall: Halloween Countdown

Much like a Christmas countdown, this advent-style Halloween countdown calendar from Pottery Barn Kids allows you to place candy and small gifts in the pockets to get the kids excited about Halloween. Since a lot of kids didn’t really get to celebrate Halloween last year, this does make for a fun new tradition.

Product Ideas for Fall

Product Idea for Fall: Halloween Shape Pillows

Not your typical holiday theme pillows, these plush Halloween pillows from Pottery Barn actually take the shape and form of jack o’lanterns and ghosts.

Product Idea for Fall: Football Baby Hat

Fall is all about football, and this knitted football hat from MudPie is perfect for your little baby girl.

Product Idea for Fall: Pie Recipe Dish Towels

A great housewarming gift, these pie recipe dish towels from MudPie definitely mark the fall and Thanksgiving season.

Product Idea for Fall: Pumpkin and Candy Corn Earrings Set

If you can make Halloween theme jewelry a little more stylish, like this pumpkin and candy corn earring set from BaubleBar, then you will likely have a fall hit on your hands.

Product Idea for Fall: Candy Corn Dog Sweater

Anything holiday-related for your dog will always sell well, like this candy corn dog sweater from Mark and Graham. It will be even more popular if you can personalize it with the dog’s name.

How to Market Your Online Store

Marketing Strategy Plans TemplateEasily and affordably market and promote your small business with my sure-fire tactics, outlined in my 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans, where everything you need to do is laid out for you, month by month. I have one for every type of shop. Download today!

About Me

As a long time marketing consultant who has been blogging about e-commerce since 2012, I advise, coach and mentor small businesses selling online.  I first got involved in e-commerce back in 2002, wanting to sell online a book I had written. After years of selling on Amazon I decided to take the experience I had in e-commerce, merge it with my professional marketing background and start a blog with marketing advice for small businesses selling online. My advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, American Express Open Forum, Big Commerce blog, Business2Community and SheKnows to name a few.

 

 

 

© 2021 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. 7 Hot Product Ideas for Fall.

LinkedIn Summary Examples

LinkedIn summary examplesAre you looking for some good LinkedIn Summary Examples?

I love writing LinkedIn Summaries because it’s a great opportunity to ensure that my client makes an awesome first impression. No boring introductions but rather a paragraph that has punch and personality. This is one of the benefits of being both a marketing professional and a writer – I know how to market you!

Here are some LinkedIn Summaries that I have written (remember, you only have 2,000 characters)

LinkedIn Summary Example #1: For a Salesperson

I love being in sales. This is what makes good sales people hard to find, because you have to love it. So no worries here, I am a salesman through and through.  

And it doesn’t matter what it is I’m selling. Throughout my 9+ years sales career, I have sold everything from home security systems to personal finance to event services. I easily adapt because I know how important it is to have a deep understanding of the market and the product I am selling, as well as what makes the customer buy, so I make this my first priority with any new sales role. 

A Utah State grad, I’ve been the top salesperson in many of the positions that I have held to-date, consistently meeting or exceeding my quota. I consider my positive, upbeat attitude one of my best assets when it comes to sales. It also makes me a great team player, as well as a coach and a leader (if the situation requires it) and helps me to cultivate strong, long-term relationships with my clients. My fluency in English and Spanish has been another helpful advantage, presenting me with a larger customer base to target.  

Right now, I am open and so ready to work. Therefore, if you have a need for a professional, enthusiastic and top performing Account Executive or Sales Representative, feel free to message me here on LinkedIn or by email at {email address}. 

LinkedIn Summary Example #2: For a Marketing Professional

A good way to describe me would be a Marketing “Chameleon”. This is because since graduating from Ohio State in 2016, I have spearheaded positions that required Digital Marketing, Content Creation, Brand Consulting, Event Planning, Project Management, Fund Raising and Sales, not to mention my art and design background. 

This wide range of hands-on experience and resourceful skill set makes me easily adaptable to any marketing or creative position, whether it’s a full-time or freelance opportunity. You are actually filling many roles just by hiring me!  

But also as important is my fierce work ethic. I’m a go-getter to the extreme. I thrive on hard work, I’m thorough and detail-oriented, and I get the job done – well and on time. 

I’m always up for the next creative opportunity, so if you or your organization wants someone who can fill many marketing needs in just one hire, please contact me here on LinkedIN or by email. I would love to hear how you would like us to work together! 

LinkedIn Summary Example #3: For a New Grad

I might appear to be a young, recent college graduate, but I am actually a seasoned business owner. A native of the beautiful country of Belize, moving to the US in 2009 meant adopting the American dream. So I ran a successful e-commerce company all while attending college and then Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. 

But now with my Bachelor’s degree in Business Management firmly in hand, I am so ready for the next phase of my career, as an Account Executive in Saas Technology sales. 

So why Saas? While running my own business, I discovered that my true passion is problem-solving and establishing meaningful connections – both ideal traits for a Saas Account Executive. I’ve even developed my own 3-step method of solving complex problems: 1. extensive research and analysis (which I love to do) 2. implementation and diligence (also love to do) 3. communication with the client (really love to do). 

Being immersed in the e-commerce world for the last six years meant that I developed the technical skills that make me ideal for the Saas industry. It also provided me with valuable experience in B2B and B2C sales, operations, sourcing, business development, lead generation and web design. 

As for my technology knowledge, that includes: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoom, Google Workplace, Microsoft Office, Shopify, Squarespace, Mailchimp, Trello, Atlassian and Klaviyo.

While I know that I still have a lot to learn, I also have a significant amount of experience that I can definitely hit the ground running in any new role. 

Therefore, if you’re looking for a passion-filled up-and-comer, who is a creative problem solver, risk taker, relationship builder and strategic thinker who is ready to make a difference in your organization, then let’s connect. 

LinkedIn Summary Example #4: For an Outdoor Education Teacher

I’m not a fan of walls, so I think it’s fair to say that I’m happiest when I’m in the great outdoors. Therefore, when I decided to become a teacher, an Outdoor Educator was one path I wanted to follow. 

After acquiring my Bachelor of Education in 2020 (I also have a Bachelor of Psychology) I have spent the last two years working with primary school children as an Outdoor Educator, where I developed and facilitated nature-based language, arts and science programs as well as individual learning plans.

Whether I’m outside teaching kindergarten children at a renowned private wilderness school, or helping high school students develop practical leadership skills through outdoor excursions, or in a park leading people through a Pilates class, I’m a firm believer that learning alongside nature is one of the best ways.

But first and foremost I am a teacher, regardless of the environment. I pride myself on being devoted, patient, and enthusiastic. My priorities are to always lead by example and to foster positive relationships with my students and between my students. I am also extremely committed to reaching curriculum goals, all while staying true to my students’ individual strengths and various learning styles. 

I thoroughly enjoy teaching children of all ages and I’m confident that my wide range of experience will allow me to easily adapt to any type of classroom environment.

Therefore, I am ready for my next teaching adventure! If you have any educator positions in your organization, full-time, part-time or supply, please feel free to message me here on LinkedIN or by email at XYZ@gmail.com.

LinkedIn Summary Examples #5: For an Business Systems Analyst

I love challenging IT situations. I also love to find ways to deliver innovative solutions to challenging IT situations. 

As a Senior Business Systems Analyst in the fintech industry, I do just that, with more than 5 years of experience in Mobiliti ASP implementations and mass app upgrades. 

I’m a core player as well as founding member of the Enterprise Apps team, where I both lead and train junior associates.  I am also responsible for the company’s “high-touch” clients. 

My focus has been implementing new projects and updating the processes, and my achievements in my current role include:

  • Leading my team with 11 implementations and 3 in-flight projects this year. 
  • Creating the initial COASP and Architect process flow.
  • Helping to redesign and establish a new project intake process.
  • Designing an Enterprise Apps Dashboard to track and provide a central place for all projects information for both leadership and vendors. 

What else do I have to offer?

  • Extensive knowledge of financial and banking products and services.
  • Implementation and testing on variety of mobile devices and OS versions.
  • Experience leading process improvement projects with proven ability to identify problems, analyze possible solutions, and implement new processes.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high-quality standards and exceeding the targets. 
  • Ability to manage several tasks at one time and prioritize duties correctly.
  • High sense of urgency when dealing with issues impacting customers or project timelines.

Did I also mention I’m fluent in Russian?

It’s great to have a career you are passionate about, and my goal is to always deliver a high-quality implementation experience with a focus on customer satisfaction, speed and zero defects. If you have a position you think I might be a fit for, please message me here on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Summary Examples #6: My Own LinkedIn Summary

Marketing your own business is tough. I hope to make it easier.

After 20+ years in corporate marketing, I decided I wanted to work from home long before we had to. So, I started my own online marketing consulting business – complete with a weekly blog – with the goal of helping small businesses and budding entrepreneurs get attention.

My Blog: www.Attention-Getting.com

Hence the name of my innovative advice-filled marketing and small business blog, which I’ve been writing since 2012 (if you have little time for reading, you’ll love my 30-second reads).

Part coach, part mentor and part creative brain stormer, I love helping clients get encouraged again about their business, or lead someone through starting a new business endeavor with my one-on-one phone consultations.

I also love coaching new marketing professionals. I remember getting my first marketing job and realizing I had no idea what to do. If that’s you, I can help.

Finally, like my writing? This is probably the thing I love to do the most, because it comes so naturally. From composing your brand story to ghost writing your blog posts to drafting an effective publicity pitch to even crafting marketing-savvy LinkedIn profiles (like this one!) that get attention, I can write it all!

If you would like to work with me, I would love to work with you! Feel free to get in touch at attentiongetting@gmail.com, visit my website at www.attention-getting.com or with a note here on LinkedIn.

If you would like me to write your LinkedIn Summary, you can check out my LinkedIn Summary Writing Service here.

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©2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. LinkedIn Summary Examples

3 Online Stores Whose Products I Love

by Gail Oliver, Small Business Marketing Consultant

I recently came across a few independent online shops and was really impressed by not only their e-commerce store but the creativity of their products.

Online Store: Bob’s Your Uncle 

The online store, Bob’s Your Uncle, actually features three other vendors as well, but I love Bob’s whimsical take on everyday items from dish towels to place mats to playing cards and the pure simplicity of the shop.

Insider Tip: One other thing Bob is doing that is very smart, is not only offering custom services, but also willing to design products for a company as a private label.

cool online shops

Online Store: Growler Goods 

Growler Goods focuses on dog products with a little boho flare. From dog tipis (seriously, doesn’t that tipi look comfortable?) to leashes to bandanas, these are products for the cool dog.

Insider Tip: I love how Growler Goods has an oversized, recognizable label all of their products, and displaying the “Martha Stewart American Made” seal of approval on their home page doesn’t hurt either.

cool online stores

Online Store: Yellow Leaf Hammocks

Sometimes specializing in just one type of product is ideal because you get found more easily in searches and you can quickly become the go-to standard. Yellow Leaf Hammocks look pretty amazing, come in a variety of styles, styles, and yes, you can customize your own as well.

Insider Tip: The product photography is so well done (I never thought to hang a hammock on a sailboat or dock), and they actively promote all of the press they have gotten from major publications as well as their philanthropy efforts, as the hammocks are made by artisans in rural Thailand.

unique online stores

If you really want to understand how to offer great products, appeal to your target market and establish a recognizable brand, check out these three shops.


quick consult 3

You too can have a successful online business and I can help. I offer a variety of very affordable marketing services including my very popular but limited time offer, My Quick Consult ($30) for those on a budget or just starting out. Find out more on my marketing services page.


© 2012-2014 G.B. OLIVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED