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 Sell Your Gift Baskets--
Here are Some Places to Get Started
by
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D.
All rights reserved
Copyright 2007
Gift baskets seem to be everywhere these days, especially during the holidays. Here are just a few places they’ve been spotted and are good places for you to consider selling your gift baskets.
1. Schools use gift basket sales to raise money. The students and staff at Maryville Christian School in Tennessee raised almost $75,000 in the past four years.
2. Art galleries like to showcase stationery or small art pieces.
3. Church bazaar auctions gather donated gift baskets and use the profits for church needs.
4. Craft malls rent space to basketeers and/or take a percentage of the sale.
5. The florist and produce departments of major grocery store chains carry fruit, gourmet and gift designs. While they frequently count on employees, they may occasionally hire outsiders to make these.
6. Bookstores—from college to church—sell gift baskets, usually with related themes.
7. Spas often sell bath products and accessories. Dressing them up in gift baskets helps spur sales.
8. Beauty and nail shops often allow gift baskets on consignment.
9. Corporations may allow vendors to sell in their lobbies on employees’ payday.
10. Decorating stores and firms like designs that emphasize the comforts of home.
11. Restaurants may buy baskets as giveaways so they can collect business cards of their patrons.
12. Street fairs are weekly events in many cities. Although the majority of products for sale are fresh fruit, nuts, and handmade crafts, gift baskets are often featured as well.
13. Swap meets are often a mix of new and used items. Since folks are looking for bargains, you can expect them to haggle even over gift baskets. Beware that the county health department may scour these venues looking for violations of their health code. If that’s the case, consider showing only nonfood designs.
14. Kiosks and carts in shopping malls are convenient for shoppers.
15. Partnerships between malls and social service agencies provide training and job assistance to teenagers. Bliss Unlimited in Glendale Galleria in Glendale, CA is an example. They carry T-shirts, coffee mugs, candles, gift baskets and greeting cards.
16. Home parties are still popular in some communities.
17. Upscale liquor and liquor accessory stores like to encourage customers to do their gift shopping in their stores.
18. Warehouse and discount stores offer an abundance of affordable designs.
19. Hospital gift shops are convenient for loved ones visiting patients, but the hospital personnel are their best customers.
20. Business conferences and conventions may welcome every delegate or preferred vendor with a gift basket matching the theme of the event.
About the Author
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus at Fullerton College, educational consultant, gift basket expert, writer and professional motivational speaker. From her websites, blogs and newsletters she motivates small business owners and gift retailers with sales-generating ideas, marketing tips, design ideas and business success strategies. She is mother of four and grandmother of three. When she's not traveling she enjoys her home in Anaheim, CA.
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