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What area of the home do designers choose most often to make their
baskets?
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How can I
run a business from a small apartment?
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What are the most cost-efficient products I can use to set up and
store my supplies?
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Is there a better way to store baskets than piling them in a corner?
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How do I organize
all of my catalogs?
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What's the best way to make a list of all my products and supplies?
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How should pre-make bows be stored so that each one is not crushed
before adding it to a basket?
Watch as a real-life gift basket studio changes
from chaos to control.
Visit to the FAQ Index page for a full list
of all of the frequently-asked questions pages.
Also visit the
Success Articles section.
Designers who live in homes may convert
an extra room into a workspace. Others renovate basements or attics, and
some work in a garage. The choice depends on personal preferences and
temperature fluctuations that occur across the country.
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Working within the confines of an
apartment can be difficult, but it’s not impossible to secure space. If
one complete room is not available, a designer can divide one room into
a separate workspace by hanging a curtain from the ceiling or purchasing
room dividers.
If this option isn’t available, use your
personal contacts to inquire about using space within an
already-established company that has room to spare. A barter
arrangement, such as creating a certain number of gift baskets per month
for the generous party, might be the agreed-upon terms in lieu of paying
rent.
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Steel shelves are a popular item that’s
installed within a workspace. These shelves, which usually have five
tiers, can store anything from binders to baby bibs.
Designers often
use lidded containers, which hold 18 gallons or more, to store snack
items. Shelves and containers can be purchased at discount stores
nationwide.
Screw round closures to into walls, and
string rope through it to hold baskets, which dangle from the rope by
using hooks to hang each one.
A large, old table is perfect to use as
your design workstation. Shred, cellophane rolls, and bags can be
stationed underneath the table. If the table is placed against one wall,
curling ribbon can hang from eye level above the table by use of a dowel
system similar to what holds paper towels in a kitchen.
The
Gift Basket Design Studio Extreme Makeover
provides an audio and visual guide to easily organize your workspace on
any budget. See the before
and after photos.
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Many designers use a rope and hook system
to store baskets. A long rope is secured to the ceiling in one corner,
and baskets are added to the rope by using S-type hooks. Gift basket
magazines or videos may give more insight and detail into other storage
options.
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A file cabinet organized in either an A
to Z format or product category has the ability to keep track of
catalogs. They can also be stored in large bins using the same
organization format. Be sure to review your catalogs and discard
outdated ones each year.
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More and more financial software
manufacturers are giving gift basket designers better options to stay in
control of products and supplies. The makers of QuickBooks and Mind Your
Own Business are two software packages that let you enter your inventory
and see what’s available at a moment’s notice.
There are other gift basket-specific
software that is said to do the same. Ask other designers who frequent
gift basket message boards for recommendations. You can also create your
own database management system on an Excel spreadsheet.
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Pegboards are terrific to keep bows fresh
and plump. These pre-drilled boards can be attached to the back of doors
or stand on their own next to walls. The bows’ curling ribbon ends are
threaded through the pegboard holes and tied on the back. Your bows will
stay in shape as long as the pegboard is out of the way of room traffic
or something or someone does not brush against them over time.
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