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

Posted on December 4, 2009 
Filed Under Startup Help | 1 Comment

Wholesalers are as close as your backyardMaria 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?

Posted on November 20, 2009 
Filed Under Design Tips | 3 Comments

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.

How to Answer the Phone When You’re Not There

Posted on November 5, 2009 
Filed Under Business Basics | Leave a Comment

Sheila asks:

“I have a gift basket business and work elsewhere until I make enough money to work on gift baskets full time. Since I can’t answer the phone during the day, what are my options to get orders from people who call me when I’m not there?”

This is a long-standing dilemma, not just for designers but for anyone who’s building a business while employed full time. Thankfully, there is one solution that working designers consider as ideal.

That solution is to transfer the line during the time you are not available to a trusted person who will answer the phone in a professional manner.

The word “trusted” means that you have interviewed this assistant, provided him or her with scripts based on various scenarios, and have completed “telephone role play” to test their skills.

This person may be a neighbor, relative, stay-at-home mom, senior citizen, or someone who’s currently unemployed.

Sending calls to your voice mail is still an option, but it’s one that bothers many designers due to frequent hang-ups. In my experience, if a person did not leave a message, it was either a telemarketer, a competitor, or someone who didn’t qualify to be my client.

The article, Hiring a Virtual Assistant, provides great tips for finding a qualified helper.

You will find an assistant to monitor your telephone, and when you do, it will slowly and steadily increase your sales so that you can operate your gift basket business full time.

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