Several years ago a client called me to design two gift baskets for delivery to a mother and daughter living in the same home.

I asked for specifics about the mother and daughter — their preferred colors and product assortment — in addition to information about the client’s budget.

The gift baskets were delivered by me a week before Christmas, and the mother was delighted when opening the door and seeing the gifts.

Her smile, however, was short lived.

“I have two daughters,” the mother told me. “You didn’t bring a basket for the other daughter?”

“Oh, I”m so sorry,” I responded. “I was asked to make two baskets, one for you and one for a daughter. That was all.”

I walked back to my vehicle, sat in the car, and felt bad that one daughter wasn’t getting a gift basket.

If this was your client, and you already knew that the mother receiving the gifts was troubled about one daughter not getting a gift basket, what would you have done?

Shirley George Frazier

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There is lots of talk in the media about this Friday’s free shipping offers from many retailers and similar merchants worldwide.

Have you heard about it?

Many local newspapers are talking about it as much as they mentioned the online post-Thanksgiving deals.

Lots of the larger retailers are participating in the free shipping offer when customers order.

What about you? Is free shipping something you plan to extend to your customers this Friday?

Shirley George Frazier

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“They don’t ship to (my country), so they lose the order.“

That’s the message I saw recently on Twitter from a person in Germany who wanted to buy a gift basket in the U.S. for shipping to Germany.

I don’t know why this person didn’t order directly from a local source. Perhaps the gift was for someone originally from the U.S., or maybe the gift basket was more suited to the buyer’s preference.

Since there’s no way to know the reason, let’s focus on why many of you here in the United States don’t ship beyond its borders.

Reasons I’ve heard are:

I’ve also experienced shipping problems. An order placed in 1997 for a baby gift basket that was shipped to South Africa never arrived. It was mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, and I had to complete lots of paperwork to compensate me for the gift’s value, which was insured for $100.

I’m not sure, but I think that my claim hastened tracking, because within a month a battered and severely beaten box arrived on my office porch. It was a frightening sight. The box wasn’t on my mind that morning, so seeing the crushed cardboard made me think that someone dumped garbage on the platform.

After a quick inspection I realized that the gift basket had been returned. Thankfully, the contents were still intact, and I could take everything apart for re-assembly in another gift (no perishables included).

This was not a fraudulent order, but I did have to refund the customer minus the shipping cost, which could not be refunded because there was plenty of proof that the gift had been shipped. In addition, my refund policy stated that shipping is not refundable in case of returns that are correctly addressed.

Since this incident, I’ve shipped numerous gift baskets outside of the U.S. Customers must pay a higher fee for international shipping through my preferred carrier, and I also go beyond charging a credit card, finalizing other tests before the design work begins.

How do you handle overseas shipping, whether in the U.S. or another country? If you’re not shipping elsewhere, what would convince you to start?

Shirley George Frazier

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A designer who’s also a client recently asked if my ideas on setting up a merchant account had changed from what I’ve talked about here in the past.

Accepting credit cards is still a very important part of completing business transactions.

The one difference that has made collecting revenue easier is opening a PayPal account, which allows any and all customers to pay you ahead of time by depositing monies online.

It’s an option that wasn’t available or considered in previous years.

I asked for opinions about PayPal at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. There are plenty of comments below the article.

Updated options exist today for accepting credit cards, including one offered by a west coast bank that lets you open a merchant account online for access to approvals and payments.

Any form of payment collection that ensures a smooth transaction before the basket is shipped or delivered is the right plan for you.

Shirley George Frazier

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Since the types of scams affecting everyday people at their front door are growing at an alarming rate, it may be wise for your or your chosen delivery person to greet your customer or recipient wearing some type of cap, shirt, or smock that identifies your business.

I didn’t mention a printed ID badge because such an item is easily duplicated, as too many people who’ve opened their door to individuals posing as city officials can agree.

I’m usually in my workspace when the gas and electric meter reader arrives, so I’m familiar with him.

If he was ever on vacation and the firm sent another representative, I doubt that I’d let him in, as safety and security are more important to me than an accurate meter reading.

I know the same is true for you, and it’s absolutely true for your clients.

How does the person who delivers your gift baskets appear at the client’s door or office facility? Can the representative easily be identified?

Shirley George Frazier

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To make local gift basket deliveries, some designers have been fortunate to find couriers and other transportation services that will take gifts and baskets directly to the recipient’s home or office. But some of us must make the deliveries on our own.

In either case, the person who greets the receiver must look clean and professional. It will give the customer or recipient the right impression about your products and services.

Deliveries are very important, but so is attire. If you use a courier, review the company’s dress policy as well as their service record.

Also, consider your own appearance when delivering.

Click here for a question and answer at Ask The Gift Basket Expert about where to find a reputable delivery service.

You create beautifully-designed gift baskets that everyone wants to receive. Be sure to not ruin your reputation with an untidy appearance during the delivery.

Shirley George Frazier

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How many free tools on the Internet have you added to your Web site? There are many to choose from, and that can cause havoc.

You’re busy designing new and familiar gift baskets plus, in most cases, taking care of a family and yourself. Who has time to find online tools?

I’ve uncovered three that may be helpful.

One is Google Analytics, a program that lets you maximize your online reach by learning how visitors find your site. That information allows you to duplicate positive outcomes or fix what’s not working.

The program uncovers, among other information:

When you arrive at the Google Analytics home page, you choose a user name (usually an Email address) and password to create an account. The easy instructions lead you to the area where you add your Web site to your new account. Then you receive a code to paste within the HTML area of each site page you want to track.

It’s not difficult, and for the cost of zero, you’ll learn a lot about who arrives on your site so that you can begin converting visitors into buyers.

Another beneficial tool is Email Me Form. I needed a contact form that was easy to add to my Web site, one that didn’t require a lot of wizardry plus a math degree. That’s what I found with this form.

I find that it’s extremely helpful to let buyers ask me questions on various Web site contact pages. There are other reasons for this form that may help you capture sales.

As with Google Analytics, you create an account at EmailMeForm.com and begin designing the form.

One caveat to bring to your attention is to include your Email address as part of the setup so that visitor responses arrive within your Email box rather than on the Email Me Form’s server waiting for you to open it there. Another caveat is that you can only create five forms within your free account, but that will be adequate for you (one form can be added in many places).

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use form on any of your Web pages, this may be the one for you. I’ve set one up here on the blog.

Finally, while speaking with my How To book and Design book‘s editor yesterday, we linked to each other on Facebook. I looked at her composite picture and absolutely loved it. I asked her how and where she had it made, and she told me about FaceYourManga.com.

I immediately went to the site and began creating my own composite photo, which you see above. What’s your opinion – does the FaceYourManga photo resemble my real photo in the blog’s right column?

You don’t have to sign up to create your own picture. Start the process by clicking the second flag (English flag) on the left (or whichever flag represents your country). Then click the “start now” ribbon, and begin creating your face, including eyes, hair, clothing, and background.

When finished, I’d love to see what you’ve created. Contact me through the blog, and send me a link to where your photo is available online.

There’s nothing dull about us gift basket designers. We mix business with pleasure, and in between, we earn top revenue.

Shirley George Frazier

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Leave it on the porch.

Take it to a neighbor.

Cross your fingers and hope they get it.

Do these delivery scenarios sound familiar?

They do if you’re not planning the drop-off as eagerly as you determine the gift basket’s cost.

The holidays have everyone on a long, tight schedule. You know it’s true because your life is hectic now, too, so in order for the entire gift basket sale to go smoothly, it’s wise to determine every delivery ahead of time.

How do you start? Your order form can include an area where you ask the customer about the place where the gift basket will be delivered.

The more you know about the area and person who’s receiving the gift, the better you’re prepared for a smooth delivery.

I often ask the customer for the recipient’s telephone number and call before traveling. I tell the recipient who I am and that I’m delivering a package and want to ensure that they’ll be at the office or home.

I’m usually asked who the package is from, and I certainly understand the question in this security-conscious era. I tell who it’s from but ask them, in my most-humbling voice, not to let the gift giver know that they know it’s arriving. They’re happy to keep the secret.

This procedure is also necessary if a courier is handling deliveries. In fact, it’s mandatory when you decide to outsource this procedure.

What’s your delivery nightmare story? I know you have one.

Shirley George Frazier

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