How To Start a Gift Basket Business: What Do You Really Need? (Part 4)

Office Equipment For Your New Gift Basket Business:

We advocate that you acquire some reasonably decent office equipment - you'll definitely need it to run your business.  However, as we referenced earlier, in our short guide in "How To Start a Gift Basket Business", we also feel that you should be somewhat frugal when purchasing it. (On more than one occasion, we've seen start-up gift basket and gift shop owners spend lavishly on beautiful office equipment that anyone would love to own.  Almost without exception, they were out of business only a few months after opening.)  You should seek a large, executive "L-shaped" desk (which will facilitate a working area and your computer), a good quality swivel chair on casters, a file cabinet or two and possibly a bookcase or two for storing catalogs and other literature that you reference regularly.  Of course, you may want to decorate the area with some plants and pictures etc., as this is the area where you will be spending much of your working day, but again, be frugal - it's often much easier to spend money than it is to earn it!


Computers For Your New Gift Basket Business:

Dell Computer founder Michael Dell realized years ago that the obsolescence factor for computers is about 2% per week!  (That is, in approximately one year, your "state of-the-art" computer system that you buy today will be completely obsolete one year!).  As such, it is a fairly difficult task for us to advise anyone on exactly the computer system that they need to operate their gift basket or gourmet food store - the hardware and software are just changing too quickly!  We do recommend, however, that you find a reputable dealer of new and / or used computer equipment who is convenient to your gift basket business or gift shop and work with him or her to best fulfill your own pre and post-sale needs.


Office Stationery For Your New Gift Basket Business:

Invest some money in good quality stationery (i.e. letterhead, envelopes, business cards etc.) - it's definitely worth the cost.  As one of our new gift basket packers stated only half-jokingly, "Just because I'm just starting up doesn't mean I have to look like it!"  After you've developed your company name, logo and motto, ensure that you use them on everything that you print. Sooner than you think, your customers (and potential customers) will recognize it and be drawn to it.  Use a professional graphic designer to lay out your stationery, again, it will enhance your image and be well worth the comparatively small cost that you have to pay to have it done properly.


Summary

Since you will be spending quite a bit of time in your gourmet gift basket business environment, you'll want to have it reasonably comfortable.  We understand that and recommend that you make it as such. As well, you may be meeting with potential clients in your office, so you must put forth a professional and organized manner to win their confidence and their business.  However, not a single gift basket has ever been sold simply because the gift basket designer had a beautiful desk!  Invest your start-up capital wisely and carefully by investing only what you must in office equipment and supplies to actually get your business off the ground.  When you're personally earning "six figures" from your company, you'll be able to upgrade then!

Phyllis and Greg Sprout began their company, epicureanfoods.com, in July 1993.  They specialize in supplying hard-to-find gourmet foods and gift basket supplies to gourmet shops, gift shops and gift basket companies across North America. 

They have helped the founders of literally thousands of gift, gourmet food and gift basket companies start and grow their businesses.  Many of these companies remain excellent customers of epicureanfoods.com today.  They can be reached at phyllisandgreg@epicureanfoods.com.