Which Gift Basket Products Do I Buy?

Posted on February 11, 2010 
Filed Under Business Basics, Startup Help | 2 Comments

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!

How to Pack the Inside of a Gift Basket

Posted on January 8, 2010 
Filed Under Design Tips | 2 Comments

From The Gift Basket Design Book, by Shirley George FrazierPaula 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?

Posted on December 18, 2009 
Filed Under Products and Supplies | Leave a Comment

Baskets are found in every state and country.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.

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