Do you allow customers to call the shots in your business simply to get orders? If so, it’s time to take charge and create rules. What are your terms for gift basket sales?
Control the process
You want to complete every gift basket order that comes by phone, in store, or online, right?
That would be great. However, it’s rarely possible, and that’s true in every industry.
I know because I’m not able to satisfy everyone who orders.
A declined sale occurs when some customers test the limits on the sales policy you create.
You have a posted policy for your gift basket business, don’t you?
I’m calling it terms and conditions, but you might call it something else.
- Policy
- Rules
- Code
- System
- Procedure
Creating such terms and conditions are part of gift basket marketing basics which are simple to create to keep order as your business grows.
Terms need visibility
When you walk into a retail store, the store’s policy for returns, exchanges, and other service-based procedures are prominently displayed, usually on a wall close to the cash registers.
That positioning gives store management a reference point when customers state that they didn’t know a policy exists.
Such terms may also be printed on the customer’s sales receipt.
“Too bad – there’s the sign!” is what store management wants to say, but instead, they point to the signage.
Your terms also require visibility, and it can be done effectively depending on your business type.
- Add a terms and conditions page in your online store
- Include signage in your store or studio even if customers don’t readily walk in
- Put the regulations in a place where your staff can review and explain it to clients
What if I don’t have a policy?
All business owners require terms and procedures whether selling gift baskets, insurance, or paper products. It’s one of the problems that I help gift basket designers easily solve (with examples sent by email) when we speak during a support call.
Policies protect you, and it informs customers about their rights when purchasing.
If you don’t have a policy, it’s time to create one, and the process is not difficult.
Think about this:
- Can customers return gift baskets? If so, is there a deadline, or can they return anything they want, eaten or moldy, years later?
- What happens if a gift basket is damaged on delivery? Is the customer to call you, mail it back, deliver it in person, or keep it to remember the bad experience?
- How far in advance are large corporate orders to be finalized? Is it best to contact you six months before an event, or is six days after delivery okay?
Updates to your terms are also vital. A policy that was satisfactory in 1997 may not be instrumental today.
Be sure to consult your attorney about the conditions set for buying, purchasing, and related matters so the proper language is included.
It’s important to review terms annually, and every six months is also an option. Add a note to your calendar so the review becomes a part of business management.
What customer situation occurred in your business that forced you to create or update your gift basket business’s sales terms?
