MOTHER OF INVENTION

Necessity helps near bankrupt mom turn $35 into $300,000.

Diane Bromberg is a role model with a phenomenal story. Less than a decade ago, her marriage was dissolving and her ex was about to declare bankruptcy. The bank was about to foreclose on her home. Diane and her two daughters would have to leave.

"Night after night I'd sit up in bed and look through the want ads. It was hopeless because all the jobs required experience. I didn't even know how to turn on a computer," said Diane.

Diane hadn't worked in 20 years. But she did make holiday gift baskets for her husband's company. Could that gift basket hobby be the ticket to success?

The very next morning, Diane started to conceptualize a number of baskets she could create for a fledgling gift basket business. How about a housewarming basket or an anniversary basket? Soon she had compiled notes with dozens of ideas. She looked at gift baskets selling for $75 that she knew she could create for just $35.

She examined her credit cards and found she had one with a $5000 credit line. "I could use the card for supplies." A few days later, she was creating baskets at a fast pace and photographed them for a portfolio.


She took the pictures of her gift basket creations to local merchants in the community and returned home with orders for twenty baskets. She had no formal plan for her gift basket business, but was now armed with a little more confidence as the client list began to grow.

Starting Out

Her mind began to race and she developed another brainstorm. "I asked one of my gift basket clients, if they'd like to include a coupon for items in their store." The clients were very enthusiastic and one month later, Diane had 20 merchants pay her $60 each to include coupons in a "Welcome" gift basket that she promised to distribute to new homeowners at no charge. The profits on the coupon/ Welcome idea came to $2400 that first month.

Billed as a "word-of-mouth advertising service," Networking Neighbors is a way for local businesses to get the word out to new neighbors about their customized promotional items, gift certificates, coupons, etc. which are distributed through the "Welcome" baskets from Diane's Networking Neighbors.

Diane believes that Networking Neighbors is a great, cost-effective and creative way to distribute the advertiser's business information right into the homeowners kitchen. These baskets help the homeowner get acquainted with local businesses. "It's a win-win situation," said Diane. "We like to promote established business owners in the area. Networking Neighbors gives a new homeowner an opportunity to know a little something about these business owners before they call upon them."

Diane's background in portrait painting and drawing is what makes her baskets so unique and special. Her talent, along with her attitude and personality have contributed to her success.

Now, just six years later after those sleepless nights worrying about money, Diane runs the International Basket Boutique that produces 3000 gift baskets a year. Her other company is Networking Neighbors that produces another 300 welcome baskets.

The Basket Boutique will delivery locally as well as ship anywhere in the United States. In most cases, Diane says, the basket will be shipped or delivered the same day it is ordered.

Diane also produces a video tape series for entrepreneurs who want to start their own gift basket business. If you'd like to learn more, contact Diane Bromberg at International Basket Boutique, 799 Franklin Avenue, Suite 110, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417. Visit www.intlbaskets.com or send an email to: forbaskets@aol.com. You can also call 888-301-8800 for more information.