How to Make Wise Decisions Before You Buy
How do designers spend all of their cash before making one sale? By buying merchandise on impulse.
I had the same problem when I opened for business. When I saw certain products, I bought all available stock. I had to have it.
Years later, some of the same products sat on my shelves. It was dusty, unattractive, and could not be sold because it was too old, a total waste of money.
That lesson taught me to ask myself a question before buying merchandise: “Which of my designs will sell this product?”
If I could not answer the question, I didn’t buy it.
Consider this before spending your precious cash.
1. Review your cellophane and ribbon inventory. I know some designers with enough of each to open their own store. Do you really need another roll?
2. Resist the urge to buy clearance items. There’s a reason that another business cannot sell these products. Will it sell for you?
3. Repurpose your own merchandise. If plush toys or tea cups don’t sell in one theme, either give it away as a promotional item or sell it as a standalone gift. Repurposing won’t always work, so think long and hard before buying.
The bear in the above photograph was unsellable in my get well baskets, but they were a hit in the Valentine’s Day and my “I can’t bear to be without you” designs. This is an example of repurposing that worked.
Think, think, buy.
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How to Choose Beautiful Baskets
Baskets reign as the most-recognizable vessel in our industry.
Containers, boxes, wire-framed items and more also keep contents intact, but the basket is what’s made this business great.
That’s why designers are so choosy about sizes, colors, shapes, and pricing. It’s all to make sure that our customers and recipients are pleased with what they give and receive.
We’re also very careful to find the best basket sources in the closest locations. If you’re located 3,000 miles away from the supplier, shipping charges will be a sizable cost. But if you happen to live close to a facility, the cost per basket will stay low. That’s a big part of the profit potential.
When you travel to trade shows in the coming weeks, my hope is that the basket styles you see in the aisles match what will please your customers.
I’ll be searching for attractive, sturdy baskets at the California Gift Show and Philadelphia Gift Show next weekend when I speak at each event. You’ll find more classes on this page. Which shows do you plan to attend?
Want to know more about your basket choices? Start with this page, and also visit the baskets Web site created for you that shows empty baskets and completed designs.
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Beautiful Ribbon and Bows Enhance Your Gift Baskets
Beautiful bows atop your gorgeous designs encourage prospects to become buyers. Everyone wants to know how you made the bow, but you won’t tell.
That’s a trade secret, especially if you traveled many miles like I did in the mid 1990s to learn bowmaking from the experts.
Where do you buy your ribbon? Some designers purchase from wholesale suppliers, such as the ones listed on this page and on the Gift Basket Wholesale Supplies site.
You may find ribbon manufacturers or distributors at trade shows or at local supply firms. There are many more sources, but don’t become overwhelmed. Decide which widths and patterns get the most attention, and focus on buying those styles.
Organize your ribbon so you know where to find each roll at a moment’s notice, especially if 100 rolls or more are in your inventory. Ribbon buying is a common addiction among designers. Make sure your purchases pay off in the long run.
You’ll find more information about ribbon and bows on this page.
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Can You Mix Chocolates and Bath Products in the Same Basket?
Recently, a gift basket designer asked me how she can combine chocolates and fragrant bath items together in one basket so the chocolates don’t absorb other fragrances and end up tasting like soap.
Designers often experiment in their workshops, testing these two products combined in the same basket.
You’ll find a spa basket video on the Gift Basket Tutorials site.
Depending on the basket’s size, you might consider adding a pre-sealed box of chocolates inside of or underneath a spa basket rather than adding individually-wrapped, non-boxed chocolates. Another option is to combine the chocolates with non-scented spa products.
This dilemma continues, and sometimes it’s controversial. Some designers refuse to mix the two products due to potential liabilities and customer service issues, while others have developed their own design style that allows for packing both in the same basket.
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not to experiment first, go forward with the order, suggest an alternative gift, refer the client to another provider, or decline the sale. Make a decision, and move forward knowing you made the best possible choice.
If you’re searching for spa products, you’ll find links to more than 70 bath product suppliers in the Bath and Body/Spa Products Report, which arrives immediately by Email in Word format when you order.
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12 Gifts that Go in Baskets
There’s lots of focus on gift basket foods and snacks, but what about gift items?
Gifts are a welcomed addition in every basket.
Baby, corporate, and personal gift items were my first pick as inventory because I wasn’t sure about food laws in my state.
I was determined to start selling, so instead of buying foods, which may have been against the law, I began by offering customers gift items in unique containers.
Some of those items included:
When you begin attending trade shows this summer, consider complementing snacks with gift products. Recipients will treasure the gifts long after the foods are gone.
Before taking my advice, make sure that gift items will be appreciated by clients and receivers. Perhaps people in your region are more likely to buy all-food baskets rather than food and gift collections. Stick to the plan that sells your baskets.
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