How to Outsource Your Gift Basket Sales
It’s disheartening to learn, from some aspiring gift basket designers, that the cities in which they live continue to prohibit them from making gift baskets and selling them from an organized, home-based workspace.
You would think, in these days of mass layoffs and workplace challenges, that laws would be modified. Unfortunately, city rules and regulations are slow to change.
I’ve spoken with a few designers who are working with their local mayors or councilmen to change the laws. As I’ve mentioned in the past, we’re not creating businesses to harm children or animals, nor are U.S. based designers employing individuals who may not own proper residence documents.
The bottom line is that gift baskets bring individuals and corporations together in times of joy and comfort, strengthening ties and acting as the link to multi-million dollar deals. There’s no doubt that the product you create is responsible for jobs and business growth.
It may take some time for city charters to change, allowing you to operate a home-based business, one that does not encourage walk-in customers.
Until then, it may be wise to create sales through drop shippers, companies that will create and ship gift baskets for you and share the profits.
Some designers maintain long-term relationships with these firms to generate increased online income and to also ensure that any overflow business is still satisfied, especially during the holidays.
You can read the introduction to the Drop Ship Sources directory here. Then consider starting a relationship with one of these firms so that you can capitalize on gift basket sales whether you’re able to make them yourself or outsource the entire operation to an able firm.
Turn Every Meeting into a Marketing Opportunity
My meeting yesterday with a financial adviser was time well spent.
We discussed how the current economy makes it a wise time to consider investing in financial products that were not advantageous to my goals in past years.
She also advised me to start planning for long-term care and other concerns that will help me preserve my assets. These topics are crucial to understand today, even if they make your head spin.
My adviser and I capitalize on our mutual relationship. We’re both winners because we talk about more than business, but the casual conversation leads to a more-profitable business for each of us.
The same type of relationship with your own service providers will build your gift basket business in more ways than you envision.
This is the type of networking I hope you are practicing as often as possible so that you build strong connections with people who know other people who will do business with you today and tomorrow.
These three tips will build your sales faster with people you know than going to a meeting and announcing that you sell gift baskets.
Too many of these meetings are similar to cold calls, and you know how chilly the reception can be when strangers don’t have long-term interest in your success.
Is This Style of Cellophane Wrapping for You?
After attending yesterday’s Search Engine Strategies conference at New York City’s Hilton Hotel, I walked a few blocks east to visit a high-end chocolate shop at Rockefeller Center.
My daughter told me about the shop, which is famous for its French-inspired confections.
As I chose my chocolates and sampled a truffle, I saw a collection of Easter baskets on display.
One method of cellophane closure mirrored the style we’ve mastered. The cello was cinched at the top with a bow wrapped in place.
Another method was quite different. The cellophane was cinched on either side of the basket so that fans were created on the sides rather than the top. In other words, the basket closure resembled a piece of individually-wrapped candy, similar to the above photo.
Click here for cellophane wrapping tips that are traditional for gift baskets.
Have you seen this type of wrapping in stores, or have you tried this yourself? I never considered this, and until seeing it, didn’t think it would look attractive, but it was cute because the design was festive and colorful.
What do you think about this styling?
Is Your Web Site So-So or Superb?
Crystal clear pictures, sound structures, and promising keyword optimization tactics - that’s what I am finding on the numerous gift basket Web sites I’ve reviewed this month.
Designers who want to ensure that their online shops are positioned to capture sales have asked me to check their sites from a visitor’s viewpoint as well as check what’s under the hood, and I see wonderful detail in both areas.
What problems do your Web site present?
These are just three questions out of many to ask yourself as you build and update your Web site.
There’s more about Web sites in the March 4th GiftBasketBusiness.com newsletter. Review it to determine if your site is on track.
How do you measure your site’s success?
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