Secrets of A Retired Gift Basket Shop Owner - Part 1
Size matters.
The bigger the basket the better..
..
within reason..
..
within budget.
Stick to the pre-determined price range to create the best valued basket for the money.
The number one secret of starting a gift basket business is to Focus On Value as the number one factor for repeat business and word of mouth advertising, which is priceless! When shopping for highest value perception, make sure to buy only name brands and gourmet looking items.
The classier the packaging, the better.
Buy different shaped and sized items from large to small to boxes, to bags, to jars, to tins or bars..
..
make sure you have a variety of products for better basket artistry.
To actually create this value filled basket, use neutral kraft or flower paper rolls to crumble at bottom of your actual wicker basket or other container.
Fill the base of the basket to the rim so as to create a more or less solid base so that the objects will not fall down to the bottom of the container.
Use decorative filler to cover the plain paper.
My favorite was a shiny paper shred bought per pound in floral supply catalogs.
Next, measure out your cello.
Place your prepped basket in the middle of the cello in equal sizes on both sides.
You want the cellophane above the neck (or tying point) to be 1/3 higher than the basket itself.
Cut off the roll but make sure to be more generous than not with the cello.
There`s nothing that ruins a good basket like cello that is all stubby tied close to the attachment point.
Use lots of curling ribbon to accent the basket and tie on theme and seasonal items such as a red rose (quality silk or real) for an Anniversary basket or a preserved oak leaf for a Gourmet Basket during the fall season.
Wintergreen boughs like cedar and pine are great to bring Christmas cheer with each holiday gift basket.
The number two secret to starting a gift basket business is Quality Of Service.
It really helps if you are personable and friendly since customers will feel your genuineness and desire to help them in your voice, by your actions and online, by your presentation.
Really care about making the perfect match between a customer and a recipient.
Get in tune with the customer`s vibe and you will know what to sell them to make an accurate match.
If a customer is talking quickly and appears to be in a hurry, listen to their request, ask them their desired price range and then make 2 or 3 suggestions to start.
Often that`s all it will take for them to make their selection.
If the customer is very specific on the items they want in their basket, suggest the best match you have in your product selection or suggest a custom basket.
Custom Baskets should have a longer time frame to produce since you will need to run around more for these.
Take down the customer`s request in detail, then get back to them within the next 15-30 minutes with a price and description of what you can create for them based on their selection.
Smile when addressing customers and keep an energy of helpfulness and the joy of the match and you will do great at attracting and keeping customers.
The bigger the basket the better..
..
within reason..
..
within budget.
Stick to the pre-determined price range to create the best valued basket for the money.
The number one secret of starting a gift basket business is to Focus On Value as the number one factor for repeat business and word of mouth advertising, which is priceless! When shopping for highest value perception, make sure to buy only name brands and gourmet looking items.
The classier the packaging, the better.
Buy different shaped and sized items from large to small to boxes, to bags, to jars, to tins or bars..
..
make sure you have a variety of products for better basket artistry.
To actually create this value filled basket, use neutral kraft or flower paper rolls to crumble at bottom of your actual wicker basket or other container.
Fill the base of the basket to the rim so as to create a more or less solid base so that the objects will not fall down to the bottom of the container.
Use decorative filler to cover the plain paper.
My favorite was a shiny paper shred bought per pound in floral supply catalogs.
Next, measure out your cello.
Place your prepped basket in the middle of the cello in equal sizes on both sides.
You want the cellophane above the neck (or tying point) to be 1/3 higher than the basket itself.
Cut off the roll but make sure to be more generous than not with the cello.
There`s nothing that ruins a good basket like cello that is all stubby tied close to the attachment point.
Use lots of curling ribbon to accent the basket and tie on theme and seasonal items such as a red rose (quality silk or real) for an Anniversary basket or a preserved oak leaf for a Gourmet Basket during the fall season.
Wintergreen boughs like cedar and pine are great to bring Christmas cheer with each holiday gift basket.
The number two secret to starting a gift basket business is Quality Of Service.
It really helps if you are personable and friendly since customers will feel your genuineness and desire to help them in your voice, by your actions and online, by your presentation.
Really care about making the perfect match between a customer and a recipient.
Get in tune with the customer`s vibe and you will know what to sell them to make an accurate match.
If a customer is talking quickly and appears to be in a hurry, listen to their request, ask them their desired price range and then make 2 or 3 suggestions to start.
Often that`s all it will take for them to make their selection.
If the customer is very specific on the items they want in their basket, suggest the best match you have in your product selection or suggest a custom basket.
Custom Baskets should have a longer time frame to produce since you will need to run around more for these.
Take down the customer`s request in detail, then get back to them within the next 15-30 minutes with a price and description of what you can create for them based on their selection.
Smile when addressing customers and keep an energy of helpfulness and the joy of the match and you will do great at attracting and keeping customers.
