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The concept of giving gifts in baskets or in useful containers is not a modern-day phenomenon. It can be traced back to ancient times and cultures. For example, the Egyptians gave beautifully wrapped gifts of essential oils and perfumes; interestingly, today one of the hottest gift basket trends is giving aromatherapy products in decorative containers. The Haida Indians of the Pacific Northwest presented herbs or dried fish in beautifully crafted bentwood boxes, and the ancient Mayans gave gifts of food in colorful woven baskets.

The trend in gift packages today is very much the same as in ancient times. The container that holds the products must be useful and very much a part of the gift. Taking time to source out interesting and unique containers will set you apart from the more mundane and predictable gift basket competitors.

In modern society we give gifts for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional, and the potential for finding clients for a gift basket business is unlimited. The majority of people who send gifts want a unique and thoughtful present that will leave a lasting impression on the recipient.

This book is for people who want to start a gift basket company as a home-based business or in a rented studio/office space. It focuses on these venues because I do not believe that starting a gift basket business in a retail store is a viable proposition. Retail stores demand high overhead, long hours of operation, and a huge volume of sales necessary to be profitable.

Over the years, I have seen many gift basket retailers fail for these reasons. Those that do survive sell other products and gifts in addition to baskets.

A more likely route to success is to follow the trend toward non-retail, service-oriented businesses that simplify the lives of busy consumers. People will support and use your gift basket company for its convenience, quality, service, and reasonable prices. People want to send gifts that are special, yet most people who send and purchase gifts don’t have time to shop and create something unique.

Many successful gift basket company owners start out by making baskets for friends and then realize they can develop their hobby into a viable and profitable business doing what they enjoy. If this describes you, then you’ll find this book provides a helping hand as you take the entrepreneurial leap and plan for a profitable business.

You can start your gift basket business with little more than some working space and a few start-up items. There are very few equipment requirements for a gift basket company and it is possible to start a small, seasonal, home-based business with a very small investment. I know of one owner who operates her business during the December holiday season only, and she generates an annual net income of $20,000. On the opposite end of the scale is the entrepreneur who rents a studio/office space and runs the operation on a full-time basis. This book gives you the information you need to run a gift basket company on either a large or small scale. You have to decide what type of business you have the time and the money to invest in.

Gift baskets can be designed to fit any budget and suit any occasion, from small, inexpensive gift packages appropriate for the office or as hostess gifts, to large, custom-designed packages that reflect a theme, such as cooking, wine appreciation, golf, fishing, sports, or travel. The possibilities are endless and that is where your own creativity comes into play.

The art of designing and making gift baskets is a highly creative business and you need to have a good sense of design and an artistic nature to be successful. If you’re uncertain of your talents in this area, but you feel that you’d be successful on the business side of the venture, you may want to consider bringing in an employee or a partner who is capable of handling the more creative aspect of the business.

You also need to keep up with the creative trends in the gift industry and the arts and crafts business. To give you new ideas and spark your imagination, you can spend time reading some of the many magazines available that deal with cooking, home decorating, and crafts. There are also successful television programs that feature decorating and craft themes. Visiting retail gift shops on a regular basis will also give you an idea of what trends, items, and themes are popular in the gift-giving market. Let your imagination run wild. For example, gift packages do not necessarily have to be in baskets. Some of the most innovative gift packages are in useful or unique containers, such as decorative file boxes, cowboy hats, tote bags, wooden toys, hat boxes, ice buckets, flower pots, or ceramic bowls. The possibilities are endless and your creativity is what will set you apart from other gift basket businesses. But creativity alone is not enough. You need to assess yourself and your life to see whether running a business is right for you, and this book will help you do that, too.

Once you determine that the gift basket business is right for you, you can begin your adventure in this pleasurable and profitable line of work. The topics explored in this book will see you through those first crucial months and beyond and guide you to a successful venture.