Home Based Business Gift Baskets

The gift basket home based business is one of the fastest growing industries. It has gained in popularity over the past ten years.

There are many online businesses, as well as home based business and retail outlets that sell gift baskets. The way to create a sucessful home based business for yourself is to find your particular niche. You can operate your business part-time or full-time.

You can create customized gift baskets for any occasion. You can start by creating gift baskets for family and friends and getting referrals from them.

Take the time to find unique containers for your gift baskets. This will set your home based business apart, as will customizing the basket for your recipient. Provide your customers with quality products and good service.

What does it take for this business?

You need to develop your own unique, distinctive product. You need to be creative, have excellent time management and organizational skills.

You must know the products that are in your baskets so you can answer your customer's questions. Some items should not be included for health reasons or recipient preference.

A background in retail sales is beneficial but not necessary. You must be able to operate your business efficiently. If you are creative with an artistic flair, you can make this a profitable home based business.

What do I need to operate this business?

You need work space, which can double as your home-based business office, to assemble and package your product. You need storage space for supplies and inventory.

Start-up costs for this business can range from $4000 to $15,000. If you don't need a delivery vehicle, your costs may be less than $15,000.

Basic Equipment and Supplies:

• Computer
• Printer
• Order tracking software
• Business stationery/cards
• Brochures
• Business phone line
• Cellular phone/pager
• Fax
• Web site

You can review resources for this home based business here.

What services do I provide?

• Customized and personalized gift baskets
• Easy ordering
• Good customer service

What are my potential earnings?

$25,000 to $75,000 annually

How much do I charge for my services?

Gift baskets sell for $25 to $300. The price depends on your products and containers.

How do I bill for my services?

You can accept cash, checks, money orders or credit cards.

If you are selling to individuals directly, any one of the payment methods will work. If you sell to businesses, they may want to open an account with you and you invoice them or they may use a business credit card. If you are selling via the Internet, you may want to use any of the payment methods.

When accepting credit cards, whether directly or via the Internet, you will need a merchant account. Your Web site should be secure.

How do I market my business?

Offline

• Network with business and professional organizations.
• Call on hospitals, and businesses in your community and leave a sample of your baskets with brochures and  business cards.
• Call on florists, party planners, gift stores, bridal shops, wedding consultants, hospitals and other small businesses in your community. Leave a sample basket, brochures and business cards.
• Place space ads and classified ads in your local/community newspapers.
• List your home based business in the Yellow Pages.
• Create flyers and post them on community bulletin boards.
• Rent a booth at fairs and trade shows to display your baskets.
• Follow-up with past customers to evaluate your product and encourage referrals.
• Donate gift baskets for fund raisers.
• Teach a class on making gift baskets at your local adult education center, senior citizen centers and community centers.
• Write an article for your local/community newspaper. Include pictures of your baskets.
• Issue a press release.

Online

• Create a Web site to display your gift baskets.
• Include informative information regarding gift giving and occasions on your Web site.
• List your home based business Web site in online directories.
• Issue an online press release.
• Use "Tell a Friend" and "Bookmark This Page" viral marketing to generate traffic to your Web site.
• Link your Web site to related businesses.
• Link your Web site to Web sites in your community.
• Advertise on Web sites that are related to your business.
• Publish customer testimonials on your Web site.
• Provide easy methods for ordering and payment from your Web site.

If you are creative, this may be the home based business opportunity for you. You can review resources for this home based business here.