Why It’s Time to Start Drop Shipping
After speaking with Emmitt Holtzclaw, president and CEO of Gift Marketing Alliance, about how his firm elevates gift basket businesses into a brand new category of excellence, he nearly convinced me to re-enter the industry full time.
When my business opened in 1990, everything revolved around what I purchased, designed, delivered, and service provided to clients after the sale.
This is still true for most of us, but never did I imagine that joining ranks with a gift basket drop shipping firm could open so many doors of opportunity.
Customers who order gift baskets will also require cookies, cheesecakes, and bouquets. What happens when you cannot deliver these goods?
1. Customers go elsewhere.
2. They give someone else the sale.
3. You are considered a “gift basket retailer” rather than a “gift solution specialist.”
Why let clients go to another firm for their non-gift basket gift items when a drop shipper makes you the one and only person they call or Email every time a gift is needed?
I could go on, but Emmitt spilled all of the details on a one-hour CD we recorded yesterday.
Wednesday’s Basket Biz newsletter featured the call information and a deadline of Thursday for ordering the CD, but this is so important for you that I’m extending the pre-order pricing.
Until Sunday, the Drop Ship Report and CD interview with Emmitt are available for just $47. You can order through this link.
If you want to increase your business and sales without the hassle of ordering lots of inventory, this information is for you. Best of all, it’s not hype; it simply makes sense to let another company handle all of the details while you make money.
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.
New Year Babies Get Gift Baskets
With every year change comes many stories about first babies and gift baskets. Here’s one such story published on KY3.com of Missouri.
You’ll see a photo of the newborn but not the gift basket mentioned in the article.
New babies are one occasion that keeps some designers very, very busy. As you read this, thousands of infants are born, and a gift basket will be ordered for many of them.
This is why some designers specialize in this gift and drop ship sources exclusively for baby gift baskets also exist. This specialty will always be requested worldwide.
I made two videos about baby gift baskets. One shows a large design, and another displays pre-made gifts in cute containers available from Stephan Enterprises. You’ll also find a list of potential products for babies on the products and supplies page.
If you still want to dabble in gifts for babies and want to offer something other than traditional baskets, this diaper gift at RetailWraps.com may be a great alternative.
Many of my baby gift designs, especially the ones created in upturned umbrellas, are topped with fans. One designer asked me about fan toppers at Ask The Gift Basket Expert, which is answered here.
Which of your baby gift baskets is ordered most often?
Gift Basket Business Stories, Sales, Updates
Just a few tidbits of information as you prepare to cross next week’s finish line.
The Drop Ship Vendors report is newly revised with updates to current listings and includes new listings, too.
Drop shippers are a very-important part of gift baskets, especially since this category allows business men and women to sell without inventory.
It also lets designers satisfy customers when inventory is low (there are other reasons, but these two are high on the list).
Thank you goes out to dozens of you who ordered Drop Ship Vendors since September. If you ordered between September 1 and now, contact me by Monday, December 22 through the form at the bottom of this page.
I’m re-checking all information and will Email the revised report to you on Monday. Everyone who ordered the report since September will receive a copy as long as you contact me through the form. This procedure is a cross checking method for my staff.
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Nashville Wraps Emailed me with sales news to pass on to you. Here’s the scoop.
“We are having a huge packaging sale with cello, nested boxes, and more. A lot of it is buy one and get one free!!”
Visit http://www.nashvillewraps.com/Specials.ww to see the stock.
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Another designer has moved from home to store. This one’s in Canada, and the story is featured here in TheLindsayPost.ca. Read the quick article today if you can spare about five minutes.
Two points about the article:
1. The first sentence says that the designer’s business card states “We Deliver Smiles.” That’s a terrific warming technique, and I bet this designer distributes her cards daily to keep sales high. What slogan have you committed to your cards?
Similar slogans can be added to brochures. You’ll see some sample brochures on this page.
2. The designer decided to begin selling wedding favors along with gift baskets. Hopefully, she’s researched that market before making this investment. Favors may be a natural extension, but it can also be a money drain if clients have not requested it.
Always research, then proceed according to what you learn.
Let Wine Stores Make Wine Baskets
We’ve talked in the past about gift baskets that include wines and alcohols.
On the Ask The Gift Basket Expert site, I even admitted placing a bottle of wine in a basket when I first started business, and there were lots of comments within that post.
This story, from Elk Grove Citizen Online, reminded me about important questions from many of you on this topic such as:
The story also reminds me of the limited capabilities that spirits’ merchants offer to their customers.
If someone wants an all-liquor basket, the wine store is where they go. But if they are looking for an outstanding presentation to present to their client (also known as the “wow” factor), you are the retailer that opens opportunity’s doors, strengthens relationships, and increases their sales, all without alcohol.
Remember that there are wonderful alternatives sold by wholesalers listed at GiftBasketWholesaleSupplies.com and OrganicWholesaleSupplies.com (yes, there are wholesalers with organic beverages).
Be grateful for all of the items you can sell, not the one you can’t.
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