Elena asks:

“Hello. The gift basket is going to be delivered by UPS.

Should I do any special technique in assembling and preparing basket for delivery? Thanks.”

Most designers wrap completed gift baskets in bubble wrap and seal the bubble wrap ends with shipping tape before placing it into a box.

The empty spaces between the box and wrapped basket are filled with newspaper or some type of filler paper (old wrapping paper, etc.).

Some firms add Styrofoam peanuts between the box and wrapped basket, but I caution you before choosing peanuts.

Think about when you receive deliveries and peanuts are part of the package. What happens when you take the gift out of the box?

The peanuts go everywhere, and what’s worse, they break apart and magnetize onto clothing, furniture, etc. It may not leave a great impression because of the nuisance.

Also, in this environmentally-astute world, peanuts aren’t considered Earth friendly.

Good luck with this easy procedure. I know that the delivery will be well received by the recipient.

© 2008-2010 Shirley George Frazier. All rights reserved. Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the leading authority on the gift basket industry. She is author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. Visit GiftBasketBusiness.com for videos, CDs, reports, tips, online newsletter, and much more to learn, grow, and profit with gift baskets.

Related posts:

1. How to Pack the Inside of a Gift Basket
2. How to Wrap an Odd-Shaped Basket
3. Must All Gift Baskets be Wrapped?

Anibel asks:

“My big problem is finding a company who’ll deliver my gift baskets. I still work full time and need help. How do I find someone I can trust?”

Delivery options around the U.S., and certainly around the world, vary widely. Your perfect solution will be very different than what works for designers in other locations.

The answer changes because major cities have more delivery options than small towns and rural communities, and living in a major city doesn’t guarantee that you’ll find good choices.

Here’s what designers have told me works for them.

• Mature college student with his own car. This student is the designer’s neighbor, so it’s easy for her to either leave the gift basket at his home or place it in a secure spot within her home for pickup.

• Florist van. A designer began his business with consignments at a floral shop. He ended that trial but still maintains a good relationship with the shop’s owner who allows the designer to have his gift baskets delivered by the van driver.

• Specialty courier. Sometimes you can get lucky by reading a delivery service’s ad on the side of the truck. That’s what one gift basket designer did while at a stop light. She scribbled on paper the Web site address written on the van, visited their site, and realized that their service solved her delivery problem.

Another option to find a specialty courier is to look in your local yellow pages under “courier service” or similar heading. I hope you still receive the yellow pages. I do and keep it for these types of references, since many of these firms don’t know much about Web site optimization.

Do your research before deciding on any option. For example, are you liable for a vehicular accident that occurs when the college student is in transit? Is the floral van cool enough in the summer to accommodate products within your baskets?

Try two solutions, if possible, to decide which delivery service is more advantageous.

Has anyone found a different solution? Let us know here.

Good luck, Anibel. Keep searching. You’ll find the right delivery service.

[tags]gift baskets, delivery service, gift basket business, finding a courier service, delivery problems[/tags]

© 2008-2010 Shirley George Frazier. All rights reserved. Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the leading authority on the gift basket industry. She is author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. Visit GiftBasketBusiness.com for videos, CDs, reports, tips, online newsletter, and much more to learn, grow, and profit with gift baskets.

Related posts:

1. How Do I Decide on a Gift Basket Drop Shipper?
2. Must All Gift Baskets be Wrapped?
3. Three Places to Find Foods, Gifts, and More