Gifts that require light labor are those that need some wrapping or enhancement, but not much.

1. Each year, stores such as Costco and Trader Joes sell chocolates that are delicious and popular. Wrapping a box of truffles in printed cellophane with a dashing bow works well for low budgets. Don’t worry that your customers will recognize these products. They probably already like them and will be delighted to see them all dressed up.

2. The plastic portfolios found in office supply stores were intended for documents, but make wonderful gifts when filled with snacks and wrapped with bow.

I created such a design for a real estate firm for their associates during Administrative Professionals Week.

3. Fill a tin box, imprinted box or gable box with candy, cookies or other affordable pre-wrapped snacks.

Find out where to get a wide variety of containers from www.GiftBaskets Containers.com, our free online directory, listing over 100 wholesale sources. You will discover companies that offer baskets made of willow, grapevine, bamboo, birch, twig, coco bark, mesh, shabby chic, galvanized metal, wood, ceramic, paper mache and wire.

You can also crates, starter trunks chests, themed boxes, tins, movie reel tins, trays, planters, bird cages, picket fence, picnic baskets. You’ll find companies that carry containers in all types of shapes: round, rectangular, hexagonal and even some shaped like the major states of the USA.

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Short-cuts, low labor and high profits can be yours by incorporating

• Drop-shipping
• Ready-Made Gift Baskets
• Consignment and Partnering

The first time I was asked by a potential client to make $5 gifts I had to hold back a laugh.

Was she kidding? There was no way I could imagine making a profit from $5 gifts, even if she did want to order 100 of them.

If you haven’t already encountered the client who wants low cost gifts–under $25–you will.

Of course you have the choice of turning away such orders or referring them to others.

Many basketeers set a minimum such as $25, and don’t offer anything for less.

By dismissing low-cost gifts, however, especially during tough economic times, you will turn away many corporate clients looking for large quantity orders for special events, conventions, giveaways, tokens and more,  

If you decide to provide low-cost gifts, how will you possibly satisfy such customer demands and make profits at the same time? This week’s blog will be devoted to answering this question.

1. Establish a pricing formula that allows you to profit.

Many basketeers triple the total wholesale costs to determine the retail price of a standard gift basket. A $25 gift basket, for example, would cost no more than $8.33 in materials and contents. 

For gifts under $8, however, I adjust my formula to doubling the total cost, since for these I use stand-alones that require little to no labor. So, for a $5 gift, for example, I’d locate a gift that cost no more than $2.50.

2. Consider the quantity before you accept the order. An order for 1,000 gifts may be  worth your time more than three $5 gifts. This only works, of course, if you can provide the large orders with little to no labor.

3. Become a shrewd shopper and a clever designer so you can find gift items that require little to no labor on your part.

 Short-cuts, low labor and high profits can be yours by considering

• Drop-shipping
• Ready-Made Gift Baskets
• Consignment and Partnering
  

Remember how the late-night munchies distracted you when you were studying deep into the midnight hours?

Students who attend one of several lucky universities can now fuel late-night study sessions by having munchies delivered to them. The Daily Pennsylvanian reports on a service created by Wharton students called The Lazy Grocer.  Currently they offer food, drink and essentials in 23 categories up until 2AM Sunday through Wednesday and 3:30AM Thursday through Saturday.

Another late-night service is La Mamma Pizza and More that gets high ratings from students in the Boston area for its delicious food and friendly late-night service.

Want something fast in Manhattan? Max Delivery will bring a rental DVD, cold medication, food, cleaning supplies and more to you in 10 minutes. They take orders 24 hours a day but delivery is noon until midnight.

These businesses all prove that there is a market for services that meet customers’ needs in unique, convenient and fast ways. Perhaps there are some inventive ways you can make your gift basket service more attractive to customers. Hmmm.

In today’s newsletter I talked against the idea of hiring family and friends. One of my subscribers takes the opposite view. Listen to her view

I really enjoy reading your basket business newsletters and am in the planning stages of my own gift basket business. Your success is very encouraging for those of us just starting out.

I do, however, must voice my opinion on your recent article about hiring family members. It was obviously one-sided AGAINST hiring family members. Did you know that over 80% of America’s businesses are family owned and operated? From mom & pop gas stations to billion dollar corporations - and they function VERY successfully in most circumstances.

There are many Family Business Centers across the nation - mostly in educational/university settings such as University of San Francisco: www.usfca.edu/fbrc- that support family business. In addition, there is an international organization - The Family Firm Institute - www.ffi.org.

There are many positive aspects to owning a family business and working with family members - farmers and ranchers have done it since this nation was founded - husbands/wives can spend more time together, children learn the importance of responsibility, it perpetuates a family heritage and legacy, it builds a future for the next generation, it ensures retirement and personal security for family members, respect for one another is developed as well as pride, loyalty, and trust…and the list goes on. I’m not saying it will be a painless process, but hiring family members should definitely not be excluded from anyone’s business plan without serious consideration of both the pro’s and the con’s.

In conclusion, it is not my intent to alter your viewpoint on hiring family members; however, I appreciate your time in allowing me to express mine.

Sincerely,
Linda Burcham

What do you think? Do you run a family gift basket business? Speak up.

Happy Women’s History Month!

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