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Do
lots of people start gift basket businesses at home?
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Will wholesalers sell to me if I don’t have a tax
ID number?
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Should
I already
be creative before starting this business?
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Is it wise to have a
business plan?
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I want to use my home telephone to get calls from gift basket buyers
instead of getting another phone line. Is that okay?
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Can I do this on a
part-time basis?
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What are the
biggest selling holidays?
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How do I choose a
name for my business?
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Are there gift basket networking groups in every state?
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There are so many steps to starting this business. How should I
proceed?
Visit to the FAQ Index page for a full list
of all of the frequently-asked questions pages.
Also
visit the Success Articles
section.
Many
individuals open their gift basket business at home. The most-popular
reason is that a rented facility (store, warehouse, etc.) is an added
expense that few are ready to pay. Another reason is that you can create
gift baskets in a controlled atmosphere without customers coming in to
watch your expertise. Starting from and staying at home is the choice of
more than half of today’s gift basket designers.
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Suppliers prefer to send catalogs and
sell products to a registered business owner who has obtained a tax
identification number from a state department of taxation or other
governing body.
This ensures companies that their wholesale prices are
being distributed to individuals who will buy their products in
quantities (dozens, cases, etc.) or a specific monetary minimum ($100,
$200, etc.).
An identification number is simple to
obtain. In most cases, you must register your business name with your
local county clerk. Then, you register with a local state department of
taxation.
Check with your local clerk for details. Also, most states
have a “starting a business” site on the Internet.
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A proven talent in another creative craft
is a tremendous asset. If you love sewing, knitting, scrapbooking,
flower arranging or another hands-on skill, this will benefit you as you
begin making gift baskets.
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Creating a business plan before you start
your business is a wise investment in time. Your business plan is a
blueprint to map out a strategy for what you’re doing, where you’re
going, and how you plan to get there.
You’ll find a mock gift basket business
plan in the book,
How to Start a
Home-Based Gift Basket Business. There are generic business plans on
the Internet and found in other books.
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If you live alone, you can consider using
your home line as a business telephone. That’s because you will be the
only person answering the phone, and you have the option of saying,
“Hello” or “Good morning, (your business name). May I help you?” when
picking up the line.
If you have a family, a business
telephone line is your best option. In this (and any other) business,
you always want to be your corporate best. If a child answers the
telephone or if noises in the background sound “homey,” your clients may
not consider you as a professional. Whether done at home or in a retail
store, gift baskets are a business, and telephone etiquette is as
important at the products in your baskets.
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You can definitely make gift baskets on a
part-time basis. Many gift basket designers start this business part
time because they work elsewhere to earn a living while building a
business. Some stay part time while others work towards quitting their
full-time job and turn gift basket design into a career.
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The most popular holidays for gift basket
sales are (in order): Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and
Easter. Other big, non-holiday selling times are Administrative
Professionals Day (formerly Secretaries Day), Father’s Day, Thanksgiving
and Hanukkah.
Gift basket designs for some of these occasions are found at the
Gift Basket Tutorials
site.
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Your business name can be as simple as
“Gift Baskets by (Your Name)” or a more creative reflection of what you
design, such as “Celebrations,” “Elegant Designs” or “Corporate
Creations.”
Try to be unique. A name such as “A
Tisket, A Tasket” is overused nationwide and is also trademarked, which
means that the name’s owner can mail you cease and desist letter barring
you from using the name.
Choosing a business name is a personal
venture. Take your time and select wisely. Be satisfied with your
decision before committing the name to state record books and
stationery.
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As of 2008, networking groups are located
in Atlanta, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; Pugeot
Sound, Washington; and Canada. You’ll find links to current groups with
Web sites on the gift basket groups page. The best way to find
out if a group exists in your area is to ask other designers in your
area.
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First, make sure that your business will
be built around serving many, not just an idea that comes from one
person’s need for a basket. Document the individuals, private
practitioners, and corporations and others in your area with sales
potential. Visualizing the possibilities is important.
Next, decide where in your home you will
set up the business. Is there an empty room, basement or attic waiting
to be used, or will you partition part of a room?
Finally, do the math. What equipment and
supplies must be purchased to start this venture? Start with a computer
and accessories if you don’t already own it, add up the retail cost of
gift basket-making supplies for at least six baskets (if you can pay
retail costs, you will be able to afford the wholesale price), and
estimate several hundreds dollars for stationery and marketing
materials.
After this is done, if you feel strongly
about this business and are excited about serving the public and
profiting at the same time, it’s time to choose a business name,
register it with local and state officials, and start making gift
baskets!
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