There’s no way that everything you attempt with gift baskets will go smoothly, on course, or conclude with an order.

If that was the norm, you couldn’t enter this business because it would be filled with designers with the bucks to block your entry.

So how do you proceed when problems occur? Here’s what I’ve heard from designers.

“I lay down and go to sleep.”

“I cry myself to sleep.”

“I quit and come back the next day.”

My early years of not-so-great days were similar, but I didn’t think about quitting. My thoughts went in one of two directions:

I made lots of marketing telephone calls. If someone said “no,” the situation that happened earlier shielded me from feeling worse.

I cleaned my office, rearranging items for better efficiency so the next day felt like a better day with “yes” responses to come.

It’s easy to turn inward and get upset if you make a mistake; however, recognize that you’ve hit rock bottom. The deed is done. Now it’s time to get back up and continue bringing value to the customers who count on you to create masterpieces they adore and appreciate.

Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the world’s authority on the gift basket industry. She is head basketologist at Sweet Survival LLC (known on the web as GiftBasketBusiness.com), which assists creative people to turn their passion into rewarding businesses. Shirley is also author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. If you're looking for a speaker who's easy to work with, one that attendees will thank you for bringing to the event, contact Shirley at 973-279-2799 or Shirley@ShirleySpeaks.com.

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My aunt was never pleased to see the name of her son misspelled in letters written to her by relatives and friends.

“There [they] go again,” were the words I remember hearing as my aunt noted the wrong spelling. Her face was frowned, and her temperament changed from a generally-good mood to surly. I made sure not to ask questions like, “Can I have some ice cream?” until her mood changed.

This is how a prospect or long-time customer may feel when you misspell their name misspell the name of the person receiving their gift basket. If you don’t get this one part of your gift basket business right, you may not have a business for long.

I’m bringing this to light because I notice, on the Gift Basket Business Facebook page, that some people who engage in conversations with me fail to spell my name correctly. While seeing my name misspelled doesn’t negatively impact my mood, the same may not be true for your customers.

• If you have any doubt about how to spell anything related to an order, call the customer for clarity.
• If you have a tendency to transpose letters or numbers, have someone else double check what you type before it’s shipped or emailed.
• If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to review what you’ve written, you may be on your way to losing customers. Stop, recheck, and move forward.
• If you find that you’ve misspelled a name, acknowledge it to the customer and/or the recipient with an apology card sent by mail noting the appropriate spelling. I’m far from perfect, and this is how I handle the situation when it occurs.

Pay attention to the small details. They are key to getting and keeping the big accounts whether you serve individual customers or large corporations.

Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the world’s authority on the gift basket industry. She is head basketologist at Sweet Survival LLC (known on the web as GiftBasketBusiness.com), which assists creative people to turn their passion into rewarding businesses. Shirley is also author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. If you're looking for a speaker who's easy to work with, one that attendees will thank you for bringing to the event, contact Shirley at 973-279-2799 or Shirley@ShirleySpeaks.com.

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Every morning as I step on the treadmill for my 30-minute walk, Pepi and Mae start running in a circle chasing each other and barking as they go around a table.

Their play puts a big smile on my face, and at the same time they remind me of what happens to some of us in the gift basket business. We go around and around, expecting different results from doing the same thing every day.

One thing is true about gift baskets: every day is different. New clients call, new types of gift baskets are requested, new competitors come to town.

This is why it’s imperative that your skills continue to improve through education and research.

I will always remember a tour I took several years ago through downtown Los Angeles, California. I went there to create a report to uncover new places to buy gift basket products. I entered one shop where a woman was making bows for baby gift baskets and was fascinated by the way she styled the bows.

I asked her questions about the products in her shop to lengthen my stay so I could watch her bowmaking technique. That was the highlight of the trip, and now I share that bowmaking style with students in my in-person gift basket classes, and soon I’ll include this technique as a video in the Golden Basket Club.

That trip was part of my own improvement, and the same is necessary for you in whatever way you choose to upgrade your skills.

• Search for courses that enhance your designs.
• Attend trade shows and conferences.
• Read traditional books and books available on e-readers.

Going round and round is okay for Pepi and Mae, but it’s not okay for you. Look for ways to upgrade your skills every month. Without it, you’ll get stale, and soon be out of business.

Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the world’s authority on the gift basket industry. She is head basketologist at Sweet Survival LLC (known on the web as GiftBasketBusiness.com), which assists creative people to turn their passion into rewarding businesses. Shirley is also author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. If you're looking for a speaker who's easy to work with, one that attendees will thank you for bringing to the event, contact Shirley at 973-279-2799 or Shirley@ShirleySpeaks.com.

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Congratulations if your 2012 business plan is ready for launch.

Didn’t take time to craft your plan? I’m sure you’re not alone. Thankfully, creating a plan isn’t as tedious as it seems.

Planning is one area of business where procrastination sets in. It’s one of those tasks that we wish a fairy Godmother would do for us. Guess what? You are the fairy Godmother, and if success is what you desire in 2012, it’s time to craft your plan.

A comprehensive plan is featured in the book, How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business. Here’s an easy-starter strategy to consider.

What Worked in 2011. Review your files and document which marketing campaigns increased sales, which people referred the most customers, and which events produced the most-lucrative leads. Prepare to repeat those successes.

Goals to Achieve in 2012. This is the year to launch your big dreams. List them, include at least five steps to complete them, and prepare to monitor results each month.

Baggage to Not Carry into 2012. What didn’t work out to your satisfaction? Which customers were not ideal? What do you remember and say with vigor, “I won’t let that happen again.” Need I say more?

These guidelines will help you see a much-clearer picture of how to make 2012 a banner year for increasing value in your customers’ lives through the gifts and gift baskets prepared for them, which translates into higher profits for you.

Please, share your 2011 triumphs and challenges here, and let’s ring in the New Year with baskets of successes to come.

Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the world’s authority on the gift basket industry. She is head basketologist at Sweet Survival LLC (known on the web as GiftBasketBusiness.com), which assists creative people to turn their passion into rewarding businesses. Shirley is also author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. If you're looking for a speaker who's easy to work with, one that attendees will thank you for bringing to the event, contact Shirley at 973-279-2799 or Shirley@ShirleySpeaks.com.

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At some point this holiday season, whether before or after Christmas, you might speak with some individuals who seem to be customers but really are not.

These individuals will request services from you that are beyond what you or any gift basket designer can provide. They will want any of the following:

• Christmas morning delivery
• Free shipping
• Rush service
• Products personalized free of charge
• Products you don’t have in inventory that they won’t pay extra for

It’s unfortunate what some people will expect of you specifically because you are not a brick-and-mortar shop (and believe me, some of these individuals also request these services from traditional retailers).

I want you to know that it’s okay to decline these types of orders. Some services are not, nor will ever be, your specialty. You have expenses and cannot inflate those expenses by covering costs that the customer will not pay.

Thankfully, everyone who calls you to place orders does not demand these types of services. Most appreciate what you create, are pleased with your offerings, and will recommend you to others who are just like them.

So, when someone calls and expects you to do everything they demand, evaluate the request. If it can be delivered, fine. If it cannot, offer alternatives. If those alternatives are declined, recognize that this is not your customer and continue delivering great quality to your true customers.

As a business owner, you have control over what happens and what does not.

Shirley George Frazier

Shirley George Frazier is recognized as the world’s authority on the gift basket industry. She is head basketologist at Sweet Survival LLC (known on the web as GiftBasketBusiness.com), which assists creative people to turn their passion into rewarding businesses. Shirley is also author of How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, The Gift Basket Design Book, and Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business. If you're looking for a speaker who's easy to work with, one that attendees will thank you for bringing to the event, contact Shirley at 973-279-2799 or Shirley@ShirleySpeaks.com.

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There are lots of sales happening now, as brick and mortar stores are looking to unload as much merchandise as possible before returns start on December 26.

I’m curious to find out if any stores, whether retail, discount, or warehouse, have products of interest to you whether you normally buy them for gift baskets or are considering buying because it’s on sale.

It’s normal to feel compelled to buy, especially when an item is at a lower price, so don’t feel as though you’re alone. I’m sure many designers are considering these buys or have purchased products to take advantage of the opportunity.

Which sale merchandise is in your sights?

Shirley George Frazier

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It’s easy to get comfortable with your business.

The ribbon or shrink wrap is across the room far away from your worktable, but that’s the way it’s always been.

Setting up distinctive rings on your telephone to identify your best customers is easy, but it’s a task on the back burner.

When will you stop everything to change the little things so that big accomplishments can happen?

Like you, I can get used to the status quo. Then, thankfully, I hit an invisible wall and ask myself, “Why do I continue to do it the hard way?”

Here’s one major change I’m going to make by this weekend.

The GiftBasketBusiness.com site and blog are hosted by a company that’s been satisfactory for other sites and blogs I maintain, but the access time for the blog is horrible. There’s a terribly-long wait time to make updates, a situation that’s occurred for years, and I’m finally changing hosts.

Another change that will happen before January is employing additional help to complete administrative tasks. I’m currently monitoring my schedule to see which duties can be done by someone else.

It’s time to stop looking at the clock at 3:00 pm, seeing that just 1/4 of my goals are accomplished, and asking myself, “Where did the time go?” Bottom line: I need help, know where to find it, and will finalize this project in a matter of weeks.

What’s going on in your business that needs to change? Whether design or administrative, it’s imperative that you put things in order especially if you expect to increase your gift basket sales.

Shirley George Frazier

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Most gift baskets are delivered for fun and joyous times, but there are other occasions, somber ones, that require gifts that express emotions to comfort the person receiving it.

A comfort gift basket is what I received last month from GiftBasketDropShipping.com when my husband, John, passed away.

When I lifted the basket out of the box, I was surprised and comforted all at once.

The basket was received in excellent order, beautifully tailored, and included items I truly enjoyed.

It seemed as though I was asked about my preferences, as all of the items were exactly what I would have chosen myself, including the supportive book. I was and continue to be grateful to GiftBasketDropShipping.com for their thoughtfulness.

If your bereavement baskets put a smile on a person’s face and provide them with comfort and good thoughts, you’ll have a customer for life.

What’s the key to success with your comfort baskets that encourages customers to order good-time baskets in the future?

Shirley George Frazier

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