Consignment Sales Increase Customers and Profits

June 5, 2009 · Filed Under Consignment Sales, Retail Store Ideas · Comment 

consignment selling adds to your profitsGift stores and floral shops with a loyal customer base are prime candidates to approach for selling your gifts and baskets on consignment.

This type of selling is an arrangement that works for designers who don’t have a retail store, have no desire to open one, and are willing to part with a percentage of each basket sale in exchange for exposure to a broad audience.

See the consignment article on GiftBasketArticles.com for more details.

Years ago, I partnered with a gift shop in my town for consignment sales. The shop was popular, but I was new to this type of selling and skeptical about the results. Still, I had nothing to lose (except my baskets’ value had I not written a contract) by trying.

The 12 baskets I created sold quickly, I was paid, and our partnership lasted for years.

Consider these three tips before selling on consignment.

1. Research the store’s traffic. Your baskets won’t sell if the shop has few customers.

2. Write a simple contract detailing the consignment agreement. At a minimum, document the start and end dates, liabilities, and payment terms.

3. Offer the store a small percentage. The agreed amount will vary according to your geographic location.

Consignment selling is a great alternative for designers working in cities or states with home-based restrictions. You’ll find two solutions for this in Home-Based Zoning Restrictions at GiftBasketArticles.com.

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How to Create In-Store Gift Basket Displays

December 5, 2008 · Filed Under Retail Store Ideas · Comment 

If you own a gift basket shop, you no doubt have set up numerous holiday gift basket displays throughout your store.

I just finished working with 12 retailers. Here’s are ideas I noted during the sessions.

  • Use a table covered with a holiday cloth to set the mood. Stores with extra room dare to be different by renting giant sleighs to position atop tables and filled with gift basket items.

  • Green, gold, silver, and red are display colors that attract attention and increase sales. Mix blue with silver if incorporating a Hanukkah theme and black, red, and green if offering Kwanzaa baskets for the December 26 to January 1 celebration.

  • For the general holiday, create 8-10 baskets of varied themes to give customers ideas on baskets for corporate giving, to say thank you, and to mail to out-of-town relatives. If room allows, also show a New Year’s theme to plant seeds in customers’ minds for end-of-year baskets.

  • Build gifts using baskets and containers such as fabric-covered boxes. Display gourmet treats, writing instruments, paperweights, kitchen accessories, and other appropriate selections.

  • Place signs in windows and throughout the store to attract customers to the gift basket area. Add a healthy dose of customer service, and reap the rewards of selling lots of merchandise this season.

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    My thanks to all of you who participated in the gift basket business contest. I truly appreciate your Email subscription to this blog and always welcome your feedback regarding content, ideas, and information.

    Congratulations go to:

    Grand Prize:
    Sophie McCormick
    Basket Buddies
    Ireland

    Second Prize:
    Wendy Simon
    It’s In The Basket
    Massachusetts

    Third Prize:
    Shawn Zielev
    Hamper Heaven
    United Kingdom

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