Barnes & Noble.com - Used Books: How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, by Shirley George Frazier, Paperback

Synopsis

Crucial advice on how to design, promote, and sell gift baskets from a home-based operation. Tips on managing finances, beating the competition, organizing work spaces, and avoiding common pitfalls, along with helpful worksheets, will help turn an amateur into a successful entrepreneur.

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Biography

Shirley George Frazier is president of Sweet Survival, gift and gourmet specialists providing a broad range of services to home-based professionals, specialty shops, and department stores, including training industry professionals and others who need guidance to start and grow their business to full potential. Shirley writes for trade publications, conducts business seminars and workshops, has appeared on numerous television and cable programs, speaks at trade shows and conferences throughout the country, and is an associate member of the Gift Basket Professional Network.

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How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Businessby Anonymous

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02/19/2007: Great information for a beginner is given in this book. From business plans to marketing, I recommend that anyone thinking of starting in this business ready this book.

From the Publisher

Have you dreamed of starting your own gift basket business? Have you been hesitant to put your plans into action? This comprehensive book contains all the necessary tools and success strategies you need to launch and grow your own business.
Author Shirley George Frazier, a successful home-based gift basket entrepreneur, shares her experience and down-to-earth advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving business. She will show you how to develop a business plan, estimate start-up costs, select inventory, price services, and stay profitable. From painless record keeping to helpful hints on designs and savvy marketing techniques, her step-by-step methods are realistic, innovative, and easy to understand.
Whether you want to earn your living making gift baskets for the general public or specializing in custom creations for corporate clients, this guide will put you on the path to building your own home-based business

Learn All About
What It Takes to Be a Gift Basket Professional
Setting Pricing Policies
Getting Paid
Home Office and Workspace Setup
Taking Your Business Online
Setting Up a Realistic Schedule
Appealing to the Ideal Market
Making Corporate Contacts

Use these special features and workbook pages:
Sample Business Plan
Customer Profile Form
Buying Chart for Supplies
Sample Purchase Order
Expense Analysis Worksheet
Sample Invoice Sheet
Extensive Resource Listing
Delivery Schedule Form

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Details from Seller

ISBN: 0762727624
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
Pub. Date: October 2003
Condition:

Comments from the Seller: Light shelving wear with minimal damage to cover and bindings. Pages show minor use. Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse!

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xii
	Introduction	xiii
Chapter 1	Understanding Your Target Market	1
	Defining the Market	4
	Who Is the Typical Gift Basket Buyer?	4
	Guarantee Their Satisfaction	12
	Matching Your Baskets with Customers' Needs	13
	Customer Service That Keeps Them Buying	14
Chapter 2	What It Takes to Succeed	19
	A Plan of Action	19
	Honestly Assessing Your Abilities	21
	Love and Support from Family and Friends	49
	A Winning Attitude	51
	Building a Superb Reputation	51
Chapter 3	Home Office and Workspace Setup and Structure	55
	Choosing a Business Name	55
	Should You Consider a Trademark?	56
	Local Name Registration	58
	Sales Tax Collection	58
	Zoning Issues	60
	Working with an Accountant	61
	Choosing a Business Structure	62
	Choosing an Attorney	64
	Insurance Needs	65
	Finding Space in Your Home	66
	Organizing Your Workspace	66
	Maintaining Product Catalogs	69
	Projecting Your Best Professional Image	70
Chapter 4	Selecting Your Inventory	79
	Checking In with the Health Department	79
	Profitable Occasions and Events	80
	A Shopping List for Success	81
	Where to Buy Products	86
	Buying in Bulk Versus Retail	89
	Obtaining Credit	89
	Understanding Buying Terms	92
	Free Samples for the Asking	94
	Co-op Buying Opportunities	94
	Home-Based Holds on Wines and Alcohol	95
Chapter 5	Gift Basket Design Tips and Techniques	97
Step 1	Filling the Basket	97
Step 2	Planning the Product Placement	99
Step 3	Product Anchoring	100
Step 4	Finishing Touches	103
Step 5	Wrapping the Creation	105
	Design and Construction Changes	108
	A Word about Shrink-Wrap	111
	Style by Trial and Error	112
	Themes, Colors, and Other Considerations	112
	Maintaining Bug-Free Baskets	113
	Keeping Wrapped Baskets Dust-Free	114
	Pricing Your Baskets for Profit	115
	Tracking Production Time	119
Chapter 6	The Elusive Corporate Market	121
	Why Corporations Need Gift Baskets	121
	Who Makes the Decision to Buy?	122
	Where and How to Find Corporate Clients	122
	Choosing the Best-Selling Themes and Products	125
	Approaching Them with Care: Techniques and Key Words That Sell	127
	Getting Past the Gatekeeper	130
	They've Responded! Now What?	132
	The Meeting: Getting Down to Business	133
	Discounts, Deposits, and Collecting Payment	137
	What to Do after the Sale	138
	Problems, Concerns, and Solutions	140
	Asking for Referral Business	142
	In Case of Error, Break Glass	142
Chapter 7	Advertising and Promotion	145
	Advertising Specialties	145
	Selectively Spreading the Good News	146
	Meeting New and Interesting People	155
	Selling on Consignment	156
	Advertising on the Internet	158
	Preparing for Slow-Selling Seasons	165
	Establishing a Toll-Free Number	165
Chapter 8	Delivery Methods	169
	Making Your Own Deliveries	169
	The Basics for a Smooth Delivery	171
	Securing Baskets in the Car	174
	Keeping Your Car in Good Condition	175
	Finding a Reliable Courier	176
	Choosing a Shipping Service	177
	Protecting the Cargo	180
	Proper Attire for the Traveling Basket	183
	Charging Your Customers Appropriately	183
Chapter 9	Checks, Balances, and Payments	187
	Reliable Recording Systems	187
	Records You Need for Business and Taxes	189
	Keeping Everything in Order	193
	Opening a Business Checking Account	199
	Accepting Checks and Credit Cards	201
	Installing a Merchant Credit Card Account	203
	Withdrawing Money for Personal Use	207
Chapter 10	Competition	209
	Will the Real Competition Please Stand Up?	209
	Spying on the Competition	212
	Competitive Advantages	214
	Compiling Your Competitors List	216
	Rating Your Own Service	218
	When and When Not to Compete	220
Chapter 11	Keeping Customers for Life	223
	Traditional Tactics	224
	Family Matters	225
	Professional Contact	226
	Combining Contests with Newsletters	227
	Teaming Up with Sales-Producing Partners	228
Chapter 12	Growth Opportunities	235
	Growing from Part-Time to Full-Time	235
	Recruiting Help	236
	Buying a Business in Whole or Pieces	240
	Showing Baskets on Television	241
	Preparing a Media Kit	244
	Getting Attention with News Releases	247
	Working with Department Stores	251
	You Can Do It!	253
	Appendix	255
	Gift Basket Product Ideas	255
	Associations	259
	Gift Trade Shows	259
	Gift Basket Trade Shows	261
	Gourmet Trade Shows	261
	Gift Industry Permanent Showrooms	262
	Magazines	264
	Software	264
	Videos	264
	Gift Product Sources	265
	Advertising Specialties	271
	Gift Basket Business Web Sites, Classes, and Message Boards	271
	Glossary	273
	Index	275
	About the Author	280

How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business by Shirley George Frazier

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How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Businessby Anonymous

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