This  tip may surprise you: Turn away all unreasonable orders that don’t allow you to make a profit.

Sometime during your career as a basketeer someone will ask you to do an order that sounds good on the surface.

For example, a few years ago I was asked by a well-known corporation to create 750 baskets using their products. Their budget was $10 per basket. From their perspective they were spending $7,500, but from my perspective the picture was very different.

In order to make a profit my cost would need to be no more than $3.33. Since my workspace could not handle an order this size, I would need to rent a warehouse for assembly. 

In addition, I would need to hire workers to help me, and rent a truck to make the delivery on a Sunday to the destination which was over 60 miles from my studio. I couldn’t see where I would make a profit.

Furthermore, although the client was providing all the products, I was still expected to provide the container, shrinkwrap or cellophane, filler and the bow.

I began to sense anxiety and disaster looming in my future.

I threw this great-sounding catch back in the river.

Your experience with such a scenario could be very different. If you can crunch the numbers so that you make a profit, then by all means take the order. But remember the wise old saying, “If if smells like a rat, looks like a rat and scurries like a rat, it’s probably a rat.”

Most gift basket designers are in business to offer a quality service and make a profit. You deserve appreciation and respect too.

Learn how to land orders that will make a profit with my audio CD, “Low-Cost Secrets for Landing Corporate Accounts.”

You can’t believe how many times I’ve heard gift basket designers say “I love to design, but I don’t like to sell.” Then they ask how they can go about getting customers.

If you are stockpiling inventory, creating beautiful designs, but not enjoying any sales, then you are a gift basket scaredy cat. You are headed down a course that spells financial disaster and mental distress.

But all is not lost. If you are ready to get over your fear of selling and watch your business prosper, here are seven things you can do.

1. Hire an associate or take on a partner who is skilled at sales. This person’s job will be to gather and follow leads to keep you busy filling orders. You will still to work on your own sales skills but the whole burden won’t be on your shoulders.

2. Become active in your local chamber or business network where you can meet potential customers on a weekly or monthly basis. Focus on building business relationships rather than selling. Getting to know your colleagues will reduce your fear and alleviate their hesitance. Most people buy from companies they’ve gotten to know and trust.

3. Listen to your colleagues and potential clients. Encourage them to talk about their themselves and their needs. The more people talk about themselves, the more they like you.

4. Face the fact that no one is a born salesman. It may seem that way to you as you watch others land accounts with little effort. But the truth is, becoming good at sales takes effort, work, perseverance and practice.

5. Face your fear. You are not alone. Good salesmen have had to overcome shyness, low self-esteem, stuttering, physical deformities and many other hurdles. They were determined to succeed and it was this determination that pushed them to learn and grow. You can too.

6. Take a baby step each day toward getting the sales you need to stay in business. You can learn about this by reading articles, books, subscribing to newsletters, attending conferences and networking with the successful members of the gift basket industry. The Small Business Administration offers tremendous free to low-cost help to businesses in every state.

7. Stop thinking of yourself as an interruption. You are offering a service that clients need. By neglecting to offer your gift basket service, you are depriving potential clients of a service that could help their businesses grow.

Many gift basket retailers email, call and write to me asking where they can get help for their businesses in their area. There is much help available, but you just have to find it.

Today I received an invitation to a free Lunch and Learn Seminar being offered by my city in partnership with the county’s Small Business Development Center. The topic is “The Fine Art of Being the Market Leader Forever,” and lunch is provided. I reserved my spot immediately.

Wanting to see what other seminars the County Small Business Development Center offers, I visited their website. There were seminars on Quick Books, employment law, driving traffic to your website and more ranging from free to no more than $25.

Small Development Centers are part of the national Small Business Administration. Use the SBA’s locator to find out where the Center is near you.

Create gifts that require minimum time to assemble, but are impressive.

2. When a hotel manager requested a $10 gift to give her regular guests at New Years. I filled a cub tote with a perpetual calendar, cinnamon tea and cookies. My total cost was $3.25.

The great thing about placing products in a bag or box is that you don’t have to worry about color coordinating the packaging. Wrap all the products in tissue and place them in the bag or box. You’re done!

3. Hooray for Hollywood can be used for a wide variety of gift-giving occasions. Fill a Hollywood gift box with typical movie candy and a bag of microwaveable popcorn. I also added a pair of sunglasses from a novelty store.

To discover sources for your cellophane, ribbon and enhancements, visit our free online directory RibbonWrap and Pack. In this online directory you will find companies who offer specialty packaging for the gift basket retailer, such as decorative nested boxes, trays, containers, designer printed cello, basket fillers, ribbon, shrinkwrap, raffia, organza bags and more.

When Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 10th this year, Reuters UK  reports that the average consumer is expected to spend $128.89 on Mom based on a survey by the National Retail Federation.  Even though this is a slight dip over previous years, it is still cause for optimism for gift basket designers.

Even though the majority of consumers are still expected to buy flowers or take mom for a specialty outing, 33% report that they will shop for specialty gifts. For gift basket designers this is good news.

Gift baskets are still an attractive choice for Mother’s Day because of the versatility and variety possible. As you create your Mother’s Day designs, keep in mind the following

1. With seven in ten moms  in the workforce, gifts that help smooth the transition from home to work  and back, or make the workplace pleasant are ideal.  Products such as desktop water fountain, picture frames, car commute items such as thermos, and relaxation items fit the bill.
2. Because working moms need help, consider items that ease communication between babysitters and other caregivers: memo pads, checklists, room monitors
3. Modern moms have varied interests that don’t always include cooking. Many also love gardening, traveling pets, and riding Harleys.
4. Moms come in many types: stay-at-home moms may also be working at home; moms may also be baby boomers, lesbian moms or grandmom turned mom again raisingtheir grandchildren.

The ideal gift basket is always the one that best meets the needs and interests of the recipient. But since you are the gift basket expert your customers will look to you for ideas and gift suggestions.

To get more ideas, visit Easy Gift Basket Ideas and Bath and Body Wholesalers.

Now is the time to market your Mother’s Day designs, contact your customers and if you haven’t already done so, display your Mother’s Day designs. That way, you can cash in on the bright outlook for your share of gift sales.