Product Description

With little more than some working space and a few start-up items, you can operate a profitable gift basket business out of your home or in a rented studio. Start & Run a Gift Basket Business provides practical instructions for setting up and operating a successful gift basket business, whether run on a seasonal or year-round basis. Combine your creativity with the valuable advice in this book and create a lucrative business designing gift baskets for any budget and occasion.

Whether your operation is a full-time endeavor or a sideline to earn extra income, the potential for finding clients for a gift basket business is unlimited!

Topics covered include:
Researching you market
Finding a suitable location
Gathering equipment and supplies
Determining start-up costs and budgets
Pricing your gift baskets
Managing daily operations
Advertising and promoting your service
Using the Internet to expand your client base
Meeting legal requirements

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59747 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 194 pages

From the Back Cover
People give gifts for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional. Giving a gift in a basket or in a useful container can set it apart as a special and thoughtful present. Whether your operation is a full-time endeavor or a sideline to earn extra income, the potential for finding clients for a gift basket business is unlimited.

With little more than some working space and a few start-up items, you can operate a profitable gift basket business out of your home or in a rented studio.

Start & Run a Gift Basket Business provides practical instructions for setting up and operating a successful gift basket business, whether run on a seasonal or year-round basis. Combine your creativity with the valuable advice in this book and create a lucrative business designing gift baskets for any budget and occasion.

Topics covered include: - Researching your market - Finding a suitable location - Gathering equipment, inventory, and supplies - Determining start-up costs and budgets - Pricing your gift baskets - Managing daily operations and staff - Advertising and promoting your service - Using the Internet to expand your client base - Meeting legal requirements

About the Author
Mardi Foster-Walker owns and operates Foster Walker Enterprises Inc., a successful gift packaging business specializing in the corporate and cruise-ship markets. Previously, she developed live cooking shows in the U.S. and Canada featuring regional cuisines. She is an active member of several business and tourism-oriented organizations as well as charitable groups.

Excerpted from Start and Run a Gift Basket Business by Mardi Foster-Walker. Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
a. Self-Assessment

What is it that makes one person succeed while another fails? While there is no stereotype of a successful businessperson, certain common characteristics can be found in those who succeed. For example, they are invariably hard-working, determined, resourceful, and capable of honest self-appraisal.

Starting your own business is risky, and you need to be clear on whether it is the best choice for you. You may already create gift baskets as a fun hobby, but turning your skill into a business is a very different venture. Examining both your strengths and your weaknesses gives you the chance to remedy the factors that may impede your success. If you don't manage time well, don't like to work alone, and dislike making decisions, starting your own business may not be for you unless you are willing to work on your shortcomings. You don't have to be perfect, but you do need to recognize and acknowledge your abilities and weaknesses before investing time and money in your gift basket venture.

To aid you in your self-analysis, Worksheet 1 is provided here for your use. It outlines some characteristics for success and asks you to evaluate yourself against them. Answer the questions honestly to determine how many success characteristics you already have.

This test will not definitively tell you what you should do, but it can help you engage in honest self-appraisal. A passion to succeed, an eagerness to learn, and an acceptance of responsibility can overcome any weaknesses.

No quiz, test, or questionnaire can definitively dictate to you what you should or should not do. Their value lies in helping you think by engaging you in honest appraisal. You are capable of capitalizing on your strengths and compensating for your weaknesses as long as you know what they are and if your passion to succeed is powerful enough.

Once you have determined that starting a gift basket business is the right venture for you, take some time to test your creative ability to make baskets. Purchase the materials to make two sample baskets, such as unique containers, basket stuffing, ribbon, cellophane, gourmet products, or other small gift items that reflect the look and theme that you have in mind. Experiment with making the baskets until you have a feel for what makes a visually and aesthetically pleasing package. Use these samples when doing your market research by showing them to family, friends, and, most important, to members of your focus group (see section d. later in this chapter).

b. Determining Your Market

The next step is to determine who your potential customers are — and if you have any. Do you know there are enough customers out there waiting to buy your gift baskets? Before you risk time and money and disrupt your life, you need to determine your market.

Many start-up operations are based solely on instinct and optimism. The enthusiastic new business owner may have only a vague idea about who the customers are or, indeed, if there will be any customers at all. Flying on blind faith, they rely on just plain old luck to see them through, and sometimes, it does just that. While every business needs a little luck now and again, banking on it is hazardous to the long-term health of your enterprise.

The benefit to the business you are considering is that gift baskets are not limited to the individual shopper. The corporate sector is rapidly becoming a major purchaser, and that means your potential market is very large. Gift baskets can be personal, professional, and designed to fit all occasions, tastes, and budgets. They are suitable for friends, family, co-workers, and clients. Often you will find that your corporate clients will also become your personal customers, and vice versa. If your initial sale is a success, you will have a loyal and long-term customer.

My own experience shows that repeat customers make up approximately 60% to 90% of my company sales. Think in terms of how much your average customer will be worth to you over the next several years. It pays to cultivate customers into lifelong friends of your business, not only for the sales they will bring to your company, but by their word-of-mouth referral of new customers.

Make sure your gift baskets are easy to purchase. Most people are too busy to find the perfect gift. Once they have determined that you are a reliable company with high-quality product and service, they will use you as a personal shopping service. Your customers can describe their ideas, price range, and the interests and lifestyle of the recipient, and have the perfect gift sent without ever having to leave their homes or offices.

Study the buying habits of the consumers in your area when targeting your market. The key to your success is knowing what your potential customer wants and making sure you can provide the product. This will enable you to develop a loyal clientele who will then promote your services through word-of-mouth recommendations, which is the most cost-effective way to build your customer base.

c. Market Research

Market research will provide you with the relevant data to help solve or avoid marketing problems. Conducting thorough market research is the foundation of any successful business. The most prevalent and practical research method for a gift basket company is the focus group or survey. (See section d. later in this chapter.)....

Customer Reviews

Start and Run a Gift Basket Business
This was quite helpful, had other ideas,tips and advise that my other 2 books did not have.

More Business, Less Gift Basket Oriented
This book does contain some good information about starting your own business as a majority of the information in the book is generalized business information such as business planning, bookkeeping and general marketing. However, I bought this book looking for specific resource information about gift baskets: how to find wholesale suppliers and how to make and package gift baskets. While the author does use some general references about gift baskets, the information is sparse and I was disappointed in the book overall for anyone looking for specific information on gift baskets.

A great foundation for your Gift Basket Business
This book has been most helpful to me since I am gathering information to join a self employment program (in the gift basket industry).
The information given in the book it is very clear and easily understood, with many examples, ideas and lots of helpful and important information.
I definitely recommend this book to individuals that are considering having their own gift basket business