Gift basket designers long for mega orders of 1,000’s of gift baskets, but few actually win these coveted orders.

A Texas gift basket designer, Teresa Nelson, won an import award for handling a 4,000-basket order for which all the items arrived on the same day. She was among three area businesses awarded the 2006 Mayor’s Global Business Award. Teresa was so successful, in fact, that she has had to restrict her company’s growth.

Before you rev up your efforts to go after mega orders, be clear on what’s involved in fulfilling these orders:

1. Confirmation from your vendors, manufacturers and other wholesale sources that all the products you need for the order are available and ready to ship.

2. Adequate capital to order all the inventory. For mega orders, retailers often ask for a deposit, with the balance due upon delivery.

3. Enough warehouse space to store the inventory, and working space to assemble the designs and pack for shipping.

4. A trained staff who can keep meet the deadline in a timely and efficient manner.

5. A delivery service that can handle mega orders if hand delivery is required.

6. Staff to keep your regular operations going while you the mega order is being completed.

Mega orders can help your profits swell if you’ve priced your designs correctly and have everything in place as outlined above. But if you have undercut your competition to get the order or not planned ahead for the reality of completing the order, your hard-won order can become a non-profitable crazy-maker.

Learn about a mega order I turned down when it didn’t promise to make profits for me.

Tradeshows take place year-round, but in summer they are most plentiful. Follow these tips for a fun and profitable visit to a tradeshow.

1. Plan ahead.

• Examine your inventory and supplies and  make a list of your needs.
• Consult your upcoming sales campaigns.
• Consult with your best clients to get ideas of their upcoming gift needs.
• Check on the credentials to attend and pre-register so you don’t have to stand in lines to get in.

2. Prepare to stay for the entire show so you can pace yourself.

• Wear comfortable shoes
• Take easy-to-eat and replenishing snacks such as fruit slices.
• Eat breakfast before you go.
• Carry water.
• Take frequent breaks.

3. Carry essential documents.

• Pack lots of business cards, even before your toothbrush. Most vendors won’t give you a catalog nor take you serious without a business card.
• Carry a list of references and banking information if you want to open accounts.

4. Plan your day when you first arrive at the show.

• Study a copy of the participating vendors and the floorplan.
• Decide where you will start and where you need to spend the most time
• Decide if you’ll attend free seminars and demonstrations since these will take time away from shopping the show.

5. Shop the show wisely.

• Keep in mind that you are shopping for your clients, not yourself
• Remember that you’re at a wholesale show, so please don’t gasp when the vendor announces her minimum case order.
• You are placing orders, not taking products with you, so ask when your order will ship and which carrier they use.
• Make notes as you see items you want. You can order from the company later if you want to think about it.
• Compare prices, terms, and shipping prices.
• Avoid impulsive decisions. Some vendors will put on pressure by offering free shipping or other deals.

Following these tips will ensure that you enjoy the show and make wise shopping decisions.

Looking for a tradeshow near you, check our state by state listing.

Send your gift basket off to its destination with confidence that it will arrive safely. Here are some tips on how to pack pickled peppers or anything else for that matter.

1. Use a heavy corrugated NEW box with flaps. If you must use a used box it should be clean and look new. Be sure to remove all old labels, stickers and postage .

The best buys on shipping boxes will be at packaging supply companies where they are sold in sets of about 20 or 25, depending on size.

2. Your box should be big enough to allow about 3 empty inches around your design.

3. If you create designs with a fan at the top, consider a basket that’s tall enough to allow for the fan. Get these from packaging suppliers or box manufacturers since the average office supply store will usually carry just cube sizes.

4. Place cellophaned or shrinkwrapped gift basket in box. Some designers wrap the finished design in bubble wrap also as an added precaution.

5. Surround the basket with crumpled paper,  loose-fill peanuts or packing foam. Pack tightly so there’s no banging-around room. Avoid packing newspaper in the box. The ink may rub off on recipient’s hands. Not a pretty sight.

6. For a very heavy basket, consider using engineered foam inserts, such as for all four corners, along with the loose-fill peanuts. Many use the two-box or box within a box method for heavy baskets.

7. Avoid shipping chocolate in hot or summer months. If you must ship fragile foods in summer, at least ship them by 2nd day air.

8. Close the packed box tightly and tape securely with a two-inch good quality shipping tape. No cellophane, masking or duct tape. Consider buying a tabletop dispenser for your wide tape. It’s often easier to handle than the handheld dispenser for basketeers.

9. Place a clearly written label on top of box. Print neatly with a very dark black or blue ink and be sure to include zip code.  Avoid using markers or other inks that may run. As a safety precaution put clear tape across the label as well.This prevents the label from popping up at the corners, and helps avoid damage from any potential water contact. The ideal label is the one you create on the carrier’s website. They have bar codes easily read and understood by the carriers.

10. Visit the sites of the major carriers and packaging companies for more detailed information on packing materials and proper packing.

11. You can arrange for pickup, carry your properly packed box to the nearest carrier location or even easier, ship at your local Staples, Office Depot, or other local office supply store.

For the best rates, ship your packages ten business days ahead of preferred delivery date. Waiting until the last minute increases your blood pressure and lowers the likelihood that your gift basket will arrive in a timely manner.

If you’re selling gift baskets  as a home-based business, a vital part of your customer service is your shipping. Even though you work from home, you can have a top-notch shipping department if you plan ahead and take these steps:

1.Make it easy for your customers to order on your website or by phone with an order form that captures all the information you need, especially the customer’s email and phone number.

2. Verify these addresses before your ship. If the address is incorrect the package may return to you or the carrier may charge you a fee for correcting it for you.

3. Become familiar with the shipping rates and deadlines of all major carriers. They are typically based on zone, weight and dimensions of your package and the speed with which you want it delivered.

4. Notify your customer when you receive the order and tell them when it will ship. Then ship in a timely manner.

5. If you use a service such as PayPal, they will collect the credit card information and payment for you (even checks) and enable you to generate a shipping label and packing slip.

6. If you collect payments via another payment system, put your customers at ease by having a secure system in place with its logo prominently displayed.

7. Arrange for packages to be picked up if you have enough frequency. This will save your time and energy for processing orders.

8. Track packages to ensure they arrive on time. Sometimes nervous customers will call to ask if their packages have arrived if they haven’t heard from the recipient.

When your customers place an order they expect shipping to move flawlessly whether you have a home based business or not. Don’t disappoint them.

To ensure that you do a superb job of packing your gift basket, check back for tomorrow’s post,  Pack a Peck of Pickled Peppers.

Many gift basket designers bemoan the fact that they are turned away by major retailers and hotels who employ their own in-house designers. One way to approach this problem is to ask the retailer or hotel how you can become an in-house vendor. Another is to seek out companies who support local entrepreneurs.

If you have a product that’s absolutely fantastic perhaps the store will ask you to create your product in their facility. That’s what happened at Kowalski, a popular Minnesota specialty supermarket, reported in a Specialty Food article. They sold so much of a shortbread from a local company, Bramblewood Cottage, that they asked the owner to make it at their central bakery.

Kowalski is noted for promoting their local food entrepreneurs. They carry locally-produced products in the store, even giving them special signage. The store encourages them to bring their products in for tasting.

Other stores support local entrepreneurs also, such as my local Border’s that displays the work of local writers in a special section.

Search your community for companies who support local entrepreneurs and using low-cost secrets to landing corporate accounts, you will soon enjoy increased profits.