Where to Find Baskets
Posted on May 13, 2011
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Zena asks: “It’s becoming more difficult to find baskets to make gift baskets. How can I find basket sources when suppliers aren’t around?”
There are plenty of basket sources still available, especially if you’re located in the United States. Even if you’re not U.S. based, baskets are imported to your country from many places for many reasons, including gift basket making.
Before I qualified to buy baskets from wholesalers, I visited retail stores selling baskets, and these stores usually leave tags attached to baskets for sale telling you who made it or where the retailer purchased it.
Learning where florists buy their supplies is another way to locate suppliers.
The website, BasketsGiftBaskets.com, may also be helpful in leading you to basket sources.
Baskets are made mostly in Asian-based countries, and they’re not slowing down production. Keep looking in retail stores and through wholesale facilities that cater to florists and related professionals. You’ll find that baskets are plentiful in places right in your backyard.
Why Add Paper and Not Shred Inside the Basket?
Posted on April 14, 2011
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Judy asks: “Why do I have to use newspaper at the bottom of my baskets? Why not use shred? Isn’t that easier and cleaner?”
This question is similar to one that was recently asked in the Start Your Own Gift Basket Business course that I teach online. You can read more about it and enroll through this link.
My experience with newspaper is that it stabilizes products more securely than shred, which tends to cause wobbling and also makes it easy for products to sink quickly into the basket.
It’s fine to add shred in the bottom of your basket. However, consider the cost of shred versus the cost of newspaper. The latter is less costly. Do your own calculations to determine how much you’ll spend.
It’s well known that the ink printed onto newspaper causes hands to become smudged and dirty. If you prefer not to use newspaper, the same paper in the plain, unprinted version is also an option and a popular choice for designers who add this cream, tan, or off-white color paper within their baskets.
You aren’t required to use newspaper, but the product is less costly than shred and provides more stability to the gifts and foods included within each design.
How to Add Your Home-Made Goodies in Gift Baskets
Posted on March 11, 2011
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Ava asks:
“I want to add my own baked goods to my gift baskets. What are the options since I can’t use my home oven to make these goodies?“
If you are in the U.S., there are commercial kitchens available at colleges, in bakeries and restaurants, and in places called business incubators set up for entrepreneurs who need such facilities to start their businesses.
Look for a commercial kitchen in these places and you will find a solution to include home-baked goods in your gift baskets.
One more caveat: Your baked goods must be labeled with all included ingredients. Your local board of health has the details on how to label.
Visit the How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business site for more details on adding home-baked goods, setting up your workspace, and much more on learning, growing, and profiting with gift baskets.
