Jun

11

Buying All the Wrong Things

Filed Under Wholesale Suppliers | 2 Comments

When I began buying gift basket inventory, I was a pro at purchasing cute items that didn’t sell.

* Toilet tissue labeled “after dinner rolls”
* Fruit-shaped bath sponges too rough for the skin
* Ladders for bird cages I thought would be great for congratulations gift baskets

They all bombed.

You don’t have money to waste, and that’s why I’m telling you where I goofed.

Here’s a review of what to consider when choosing or replenishing your inventory.

1. Basic. Crackers, cheese, sausage, nuts, cookies, and beverages work well in most baskets.

2. Crossover. Look for items that fit into multiple themes. Items mentioned above apply, and also consider choosing colors over words (burgundy or green-colored packaging rather than Happy Father’s Day, etc.).

3. Specific. Items for baby, spa, and gardening baskets will sell briskly as long as your clients are partial to those designs. Try not to make a heavy financial investment in these products until you know that customers will buy often.

Baby and spa gift basket samples are found at Gift Basket Tutorials, and you’ll also find a sample list of products to put into several basket themes.

The toilet tissue and bath sponges are long gone, but I still have those bird ladders. Anyone interested?

Jun

8

Father’s Day, Sales Planning, Gift Basket Wrapping

Filed Under Cellophane, Shrink Wrap, Bags, Father's Day, Planning | Comments Off

WHAT’S YOUR SALES PLAN?
How can you ensure that your gift basket sales exceed what you’d make working for someone else? Wednesday’s newsletter provides a simple mathematical breakdown to determine your sales goals and achieve a rewarding career in this field.

RAPPING ABOUT WRAP
Cellophane is a popular first choice as a gift basket wrap, but a shrink wrap machine is also a great long-term investment. Here’s a quick look at your wrapping options and how to view competitors during your decision making.

DADS WILL LOVE THIS BOX
Father’s Day is just around the corner. Looking for a unique way to wrap a gift box instead of or to accompany a gift basket? This Retail Wraps tutorial explains how to create a box resembling a vest, shirt, and tie. He’ll love it, and so will your customers.

Jun

4

What’s Your Yearly Sales Goal?

Filed Under Money, Planning | Comments Off

How do you determine how many gift baskets you can sell in a year? That’s what a designer asked me during a recent mentoring session. She works alone, and she also works full time for someone else.

I suggested that she work backwards to determine the sales number, and perhaps this method will work for you, too.

  • How much gross income do you want to achieve this year? Think realistically, then break that number down into a monthly amount.

  • Use $40 or $50 per basket as the average price you can sell (or use the per-basket price that has sold best for you).

  • Determine, from the monthly income number, how many gift baskets you’ll have to sell to achieve your goal.

    • Example:
    You want to gross $100,000 in 2008.
    $100,000 divided by 12 is $8,334 per month.
    $8,334 divided by 4 weeks is $2,084 per week.
    At $40 per basket, you must sell 52 baskets per week.
    At $50 per basket, you must sell 42 baskets per week.

    This is a basic method to set your sales goal. Adjust the gross figure as needed. Working full time for another company may also impact on sales. If you will have difficulty selling a certain number of baskets due to time constraints, perhaps it’s time to find more high-end corporate accounts. Use your networking skills to find these lucrative clients.

    Breaking down your sales goal into smaller parts will bring you closer to a realistic strategy for success.

    Jun

    1

    Videos Online, Gift Basket Podcast, Finding Products

    Filed Under VIDEOS/TRAINING, Wholesale Suppliers | Comments Off

    TAP INTO ONLINE TRAINING
    Videos that provide basic training are just a click away. Wednesday’s newsletter guides you to the three popular online gift basket videos, and you’ll find more on the same site. Take advantage of this complimentary assistance.

    WHAT’S A PODCAST?
    Have you heard the gift basket online radio show? It’s available through the blog, and if you don’t know what a podcast or blog are, a quick and easy-to-understand tutorial is here to bring you up to speed. Now you can listen and work in your studio at the same time.

    SURPRISES IN YOUR STATE
    One gift basket designer wants to know how to uncover supplies in her state. I guess she’s looking to save shipping expenses, which is a good idea in this economy. There are three ways to find products, and they’re listed here.

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