Ask The Gift Basket Expert

Which Gift Basket Products Do I Buy?

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:31:29 +0000

Ashley asks:

“I’m trying to decide what products to buy for my business, and I can’t make up my mind. There are so many choices. How can I choose the best products to offer my customers?”

Before you buy one product, you must thoroughly understand the people who will be buying your gift baskets. What are their likes and dislikes? Popcorn, nuts and chocolates are products that regularly appear in baskets, but plush animals are a specialty item.

If customers aren’t the plush-loving type, the decision to buy such a product will be a waste of your inventory money.

Many designers start their businesses by buying enough inventory to make 12 designs. Your decision will depend on the amount of investment money available and the initial size of your business.

Try not to buy products that you think are cute. Chances are that if it’s too unique, customers won’t want it in their baskets, and that case of product will become yours alone. Good luck!

© 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.

How to Pack the Inside of a Gift Basket

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:28:45 +0000

Paula asks:

“Can I use Styrofoam peanuts to elevate products in my gift baskets, or is newspaper better?”

Unprinted newspaper, the type that resembles brown grocery bags, is a popular item that’s placed inside of baskets or containers. Newspaper is also acceptable. Many designers shun newspaper because of the ink transference from the paper to hands.

Some designers add peanuts inside of baskets, but this technique seems to be reserved for those who know how to stabilize them properly.

Peanuts have a habit of shifting inside of a basket or container, and if products are not set on top firmly, snacks and gifts can shift, causing the design to become unattractive when it finally reaches its destination.

Try adding peanuts as part of your exploration into gift basket designing. You’ll know if that material is best or if newspaper will make gift basket creation more manageable.

Are Repurposed Baskets Okay for Gift Basket Designing?

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:13:20 +0000

Carey asks:

“I got a great deal on baskets from a woman selling them at a garage sale. The baskets are beautiful, but what do I do to make sure that they’re clean and ready to use?”

There were long, ranging discussions on the Internet, probably before you began making gift baskets, about this topic.

Some designers were against buying baskets in the way you chose, while others said they were thrilled to find baskets through the same sources you found.

The main treatment for these baskets is a power wash. That includes cleaning the baskets with warm water and a dab of dish washing liquid.

If possible, allow water from a hose and spray gun attached to a water source outside of your home (gardening hose, for example) to act as the power cleaner.

After the baskets dry in the sun, each one is ready to hold the contents of your choice.

There may be other information on the Internet or in basket-specific books related to washing wicker. A list of several basket reference books is found on the site GiftBasketBooks.com. Be sure to checks these books and other places for additional help.

If anyone has another method of cleaning repurposed baskets, you are welcomed to share your suggestions here.

Gift Baskets are Stressing Me Out. What Do I Do?

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:20:44 +0000

Maria asks:

“I’m having a tough time not feeling overwhelmed. I’m trying to take baby steps, but it seems that everything I do rolls over into another task (design a brochure, take pictures, make baskets, buy products, etc.). It’s all jumbled together, and I can’t focus. Any suggestions?”

All new designers experience similar stress, and experienced designers also go through this situation.

The best way to control it is to find a quiet spot and conduct your own, no-rush brainstorming session. Have paper and pen with you to create a list of steps required to accomplishing your goals.

Don’t worry about the order; you’ll be able to re-structure the steps after listing the most-important tasks.

If working on a computer is better, do that. The technology’s not important; completing the project is.

The steps include a timetable for completion, similar to the business plan shown in How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business.

Each task becomes manageable when you separate everything into small steps. Yes, there’s lots to do, but you’d also complete this mission for someone else who would keep all the profits while you make a small salary.

Many designers have faced and conquered this challenge. So will you.

Must All Gift Baskets be Wrapped?

Shirley George Frazier — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:08:55 +0000

Tanya asks:

My customers want to see what’s inside of the gift basket before they buy it, and this costs me money because I have to take the cellophane wrapping off the gift, which wastes money since I have to re-wrap it.

Now I’m wondering if my gift baskets have to be wrapped in the first place. Is there a rule that says it has to be wrapped?

You’ve not explained the environment where you are selling gift baskets.

If you are in a retail shop, it’s best not to cellophane or shrink wrap gift baskets placed on store shelves.

An unwrapped example allows customers to see exactly what they’re receiving and the styling that complements it. This is the way most retailers display everyday and custom designs.

You’ll see a quick-and-easy cellophane wrapping technique in this video:

Additional help is found on the CellophaneWrapTips.com site.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule that states gift baskets must be wrapped. However, each design is enclosed in cellophane, a basket bag or shrink wrap before delivery whether by courier or worldwide shipper. That rule stands in terms of security and overall presentation when delivered to the recipient.