Carruthers and Jackson’s Post

Dear Waffle Wizard, The Belgian Waffle Co Your waffles are pure magic! Every bite feels like a celebration, and I love exploring each new flavour you create. But during my recent waffle run, I noticed something missing- not in taste, but in the overall experience. While your flavours are ever-evolving, the packaging remains the same. When I asked if you had special boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, or other milestones, I was surprised to hear there’s just one standard option. As much as I adore your classic packaging, it felt like a missed opportunity. You've already introduced the delightful concept of waffle cakes, perfect for special celebrations. So why not elevate the experience further with customized packaging for those big moments? Imagine unwrapping a birthday waffle cake in a festive, colourful box or gifting an anniversary waffle set in a beautifully themed package. And here’s a thought: have you ever collaborated with artists for limited-edition packaging? If not, it could be a game-changer! With the festive season just around the corner, how about introducing winter-special packaging for Christmas? A box wrapped in holiday cheer, complete with Christmas colours, would be a treat to unwrap- and eat! Perhaps even a limited-edition Christmas-themed waffle flavour to match? As a loyal customer, I’m genuinely excited to see how you could take your brand to the next level with these small yet impactful touches. Looking forward to being pleasantly surprised on my next visit! Deliciously, A Devoted Waffle Enthusiast 🍴 Shrey Aggarwal Alisha Aggarwal #BelgianWaffles #CustomerFeedback #PackagingInnovation #CustomerExperience

Guaranteed deliveries. Early access for returning shoppers. And a free mince pie when the festive season begins. We make Christmas shopping with us as fuss-free as possible. Because hosting and serving up a Christmas meal to be proud of has enough complications. So we don’t have a queue for delivery slots – we’ll be there no matter what. And if our customers shopped with us last year, we give them access to our festive range before anyone else. Plus, there’s a free mini mince pie packed for our shoppers, once the Christmas countdown begins. “Every year, we want to reward people who choose food done right at Christmas. Sustainably sourced. With no pointless plastic. And grown by expert farmers who are paid fairly for their work. To do that, we give them as many reasons as possible to choose us for their Christmas shop. Building trust and going the extra mile for that special delivery.” Ilyas, Head of Buying & Trading Get a first look at our Christmas store, here: https://lnkd.in/e4nVw9fF #AbelandCole #Christmas #Sustainability #Packaging

Thanksgiving remains one of America’s most beloved holidays, but this year, the dining room table may feel a little different. With grocery prices up 26% since January 2020 and staples like stuffing and dinner rolls costing 41% and 54% more, many hosts are rethinking how they celebrate. Key findings: ➡️ 75% of Americans plan to celebrate this year, showing resilience despite challenges. ➡️ 44% of hosts are worried about costs, with 30% scaling back guest lists. ➡️ Gen Z is feeling the pinch most, with 61% concerned about affordability and 49% reducing invites. Still, Thanksgiving isn’t canceled—it’s just adapting: 🍽️ 30% of hosts will serve simpler, lower-cost dishes. 🎁 Guests are stepping up: 47% of hosts are asking them to bring something, and 92% plan to contribute an average of $47. Retailers are helping too, offering meal bundles priced as low as $5–7 per person to ease the financial strain. Personally, Thanksgiving will look different for me this year as we will start new family traditions (primarily outdoors) in Arizona! https://lnkd.in/gjFC5V6n

Don't go for Christmas shopping without a list. A shopping list helps you: ✅ Stay on Budget: Avoid overspending on unnecessary items by sticking to your list. ✅ Save Time: Shop faster and more efficiently without wandering aimlessly. ✅ Avoid Forgetting Essentials: Don’t risk missing out on the key ingredients for your favorite holiday dishes! 🍛 ✅ Reduce Stress: Shopping with a plan takes the pressure off and lets you enjoy the process. Start by listing the items you truly need for your Christmas meals, decorations, and gifts. Break it down into categories like groceries, household items, and festive treats—then check off as you go! ✔️ Make this season stress-free and organized with just a little planning. What’s the first thing on your list? Let us know in the comments! 👇 . . #FestivePlanning #HolidayShopping #ShoppingList #StayOrganized #ChristmasPrep #SundryAgroTips

The Great Seasonal Shift: From Pumpkins to Presents Every year, supermarkets spark a debate when they swap Halloween masks and pumpkins overnight for festive treats and Christmas décor. Christmas seems to start earlier every year! At Fluent Events, our seasonal changes are more subtle – we wait until December to add a festive touch to our email footers. In the past, when we were solely an onsite events agency, December was a quiet month – a chance to unwind, with just a few client Christmas parties to manage. But since launching Event Delivery a few years ago, it’s been a whole new ballgame. Now, December is one of our busiest months, with daily requests to deliver promotional gifts to our clients' partners, customers, and colleagues – all in time for Christmas. Our holiday opening hours and delivery deadlines, once a minor detail, are now critical for our operations. Who knows? Next year, we might even synchronize our email footer updates with the supermarkets' seasonal product switch! For now, we wish you all the very best of the season. If you missed it, here’s a quick reminder of our Xmas 2024 delivery deadlines and office hours from our festive email footer:

Top tips for staff and client gifts this festive season 🤶 Yes, yes it's already time to talk Christmas gifts with only 12 weeks until the big day. But at Cloud Nine Global, we've been preparing for this day for months - researching and testing exciting new products, meeting with creative new suppliers, finding eco and sustainable packaging options and eating our way through festive blocks of chocolate..... Here are our top tips when thinking about client or staff gifts this year: 1. Support local, support artisans There are so many incredible small businesses, making beautiful products that are perfect for gifting. We make it our mission at C9G to connect and work with as many of these suppliers as we can, as that is where creative, memorable and unique gifts come from. 100% of the products and packaging we source come from Australian businesses as we passionately support local. 2. Personalise wherever possible A personal touch goes a long way, so look at ways you can add something special. We do the obvious like branded ribbons and boxes, but we also handwrite gift recipient and giftee names on EVERY SINGLE CARD, engrave gifts (such as on gold leaf vodka from Otter Craft Distilling) and source gift items from your local area (ie source from Queensland suppliers if you're based there). 3. Be realistic with your budget Everyone knows prices have gone up for pretty much everything this year, so be realistic about what you can get. You won't be able to get the same gifts as last year for the same price, so look at where you can tweak items, or increase your budget slightly. Make sure you're not gifting landfill junky items, but instead look at thoughtful, creative or just damn tasty items. And if you're stuck please reach out to me, as every gift order we craft is unique based on your budget and requirements, and we'd love to work with you. We save our clients time and money, and handle the process end to end for you. Christmas gifting made easy! #christmasgifting #corporategifts #giftideas #christmas #christmasgift

Feels slightly incongruous to be reading about Christmas food when sweltering in our mini heat wave... but "it's coming" folks, and Tesco have us covered for the festive season, it seems - see the The Grocer article below. And it is only a matter of weeks before we start seeing the odd chocolate Santa or two appearing on the supermarket shelves (I haven't seen anything yet... have you?). 🎄 Whilst I'm on the subject of Christmas... last year, we conducted some research looking at how shoppers were incorporating thoughts of sustainability into their Christmas shopping behaviours. You can read a couple of the articles we produced as a result... here: https://lnkd.in/eTQ-FDw2 ... and here: https://lnkd.in/eJe5-5yX 📰 The overall headline being that the overwhelming call from shoppers was for brands and retailers to be more transparent in their efforts to help shoppers shop sustainably, and do so affordably. 📽 There is also a short video I can share with you if you'd like to spread the message within your business - DM me or comment ⬇ if you'd like a copy 🙂 And, if you're gearing up to thinking about how to optimize your Christmas efforts this year (be that around sustainability or anything else), or you're thinking about understanding and measuring shoppers' response to the same once its activated - you need look no further: we have you covered here at Tracer Ltd. 💪 Again, DM me or comment ⬇ if you'd like a chat about how we can help you! #christmas #icshoppers #shopperinsights

🎄And just like that it’s December! Overbuying and overcooking is so common during the festive season that it almost feels like a tradition. Let’s change that. Here are 5 ways to fight #foodwaste this Christmas… 📝 Planning is key If you’re hosting Christmas this year, the easiest way to waste less is to plan how much food you need for the number of people attending. 🗑️ Avoid regular “waste offenders” Is there anything that you buy every year that you find yourself throwing away before it’s been eaten? This is the year to make conscious #buyingdecisions. 📋 Stick to the list Before you even set foot in the supermarket, take time to write a shopping list. Then stick to it. Don’t get drawn in by the oh-so tempting special offers. 🍬 Make festive treats from scratch One way to cut down on #packaging is to have a go at making your own festive treats. 🍗 Get creative with #leftovers Despite your best efforts, there may be some food remaining so why not get creative with some festive leftover recipes? What's your Christmas guilty pleasure? 🏷️ Getting tempted by BOGOF deals 🎁 Buying too much "just in case" Comment below! ⬇️ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #upcycledingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty

Gobble, gobble! 🦃 🍽️ 🍷Path to Purchase Institute recently highlighted our infographic that surveyed shoppers on how they’re preparing for Thanksgiving – from how many people they’re feeding to where they shop for their Thanksgiving essentials. Did you know that 21% of shoppers say quality is the most important factor when purchasing items for Thanksgiving? For the full insights, check out the article! #thanksgiving #shopperinsights #commercemarketing #shoppermarketing #cpg #cpgs #retailmarketing #retail #shoppers #shoppingtrends #infographic #shoppingdata #shoppinghabits #shopperpreferences

Check out The Best Christmas Gift Ideas in 2024 Hey, festive fam! Can you feel the waves of joy, love, and excitement in the air? Yep, it's that magical time of the year – Christmas is just around the corner, and you know what that means: gift-hunting galore! But don't worry; I've got your back with the juiciest deets on the hottest Christmas gift in 2024. So grab a cup of cocoa, snuggle up, and let's sleigh this holiday season together! But first, let's talk numbers. Did you know the average person spends about $800 on Christmas gifts? And guess what? 62% of people admit to stressing over finding the perfect gift. If you're nodding along, fear not – you're in good company! Now, let's dive into the gift extravaganza. Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend As the holiday season draws near, I'm excited and eager to make this Christmas unforgettable for my special someone. Lovebirds, it's our time to shine! This year, let's transform the festive spirit into magical moments through the art of thoughtful Christmas gift exchange. 1. Customized Jewelry Consider options like a pendant with your initials intertwined, a bracelet engraved with coordinates of a place significant to your relationship, or a ring with a birthstone representing a special date. These customizations transform a stunning jewellery piece into a lasting symbol of your unique connection. 2. DIY Love Coupons The charm of DIY love coupons lies in your effort to make them truly personal. Include coupons for a quiet night, a surprise breakfast in bed, or a chore-free day. You can even get cheeky with some fun and flirty ideas. The key is to tailor each coupon to your partner's preferences, ensuring a year full of thoughtful surprises. 3. Subscription Boxes Subscription boxes come in all shapes and sizes. Dive into the beauty world with skincare or makeup subscriptions, or explore new hobbies with craft or gaming boxes. There are gourmet snack boxes or a monthly wine or coffee subscription for the foodies. With so many options, you can find the perfect box that aligns with your partner's interests. 4. Memory Lane Photo Album Creating a memory lane photo album is more than just arranging pictures. Add captions or small notes beside each photo to reminisce about the moment. Include mementoes like ticket stubs or handwritten letters to make it a time capsule of your relationship. The album becomes a storybook, narrating the chapters of your shared history. 5. Weekend Getaway Planning a weekend getaway involves a careful overview of your partner’s dream destinations. Whether it's a cosy cabin in the mountains, a beachfront retreat, or a cultural city escape, tailor the destination to their tastes. Throw some surprise activities or reservations to make the weekend special and uniquely theirs. Picture strolling hand in hand through scenic landscapes, indulging in delightful culinary experiences, and creating shared moments that will linger in our hearts for a lifetime. This ge…