Factors To Consider When Starting Your Home-Based Gourmet Gift Basket Business

Introduction:

Over the years, we have watched thousands of our customers "take the leap" and start their home-based gourmet gift basket companies.  There are many advantages to operating your business from home, but there are definitely some disadvantages as well.  We've summarized some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of operating your gourmet gift basket business from home.  Hopefully, you will find them to be useful as you decide whether to operate your company from your home or from a store-front:

Some Advantages of Operating Your Gourmet Gift Basket Business From Home:

• No journey to work, saving you time and money on fuel and other transportation costs

• Some tax deductions are now available to you as you can deduct the cost of having a home office / work area
• Greater flexibility in your working hours
• Much lower risk (especially if you are just starting your gourmet gift basket business and have no customer base)
• Greater independence and control in your workday

Some Disadvantages of Operating Your Gourmet Gift Basket Business From Home:

• Isolation, loneliness and boredom - you're by yourself much of the day
• There is no social interaction with colleagues or anyone to bounce your ideas off, and there are no invites to after-work drinks!
• Lack of work structure - you may find it difficult to separate "work life" from "home life"
• You may find that you feel like you "never really leave work"
• If you don't have a separate work area, you may be getting unsolicited calls from your gourmet food suppliers at inopportune times

Tips for Success if You're Operating Your Gourmet Gift Basket Business From Home:

Since 1993 when we first starting working with gift basket entrepreneurs, we have noticed that the most successful gift basket professionals adhere to the following guidelines for their success.  We encourage you to do so as well to increase your likelihood of becoming a very successful gift basket professional:

Be a Salesperson:  This is relevant to everyone from the self-employed to permanent staff and freelancers. In today's competitive market everyone's expendable - you will need to explain why people should use your gift basket service.  (You may be surprised to learn how interested people are in what you're doing!)

Structure Your Work Day and Keep Distractions to a Minimum: Conversely, don't be in "work mode" all the time (i.e. don't repeatedly check your email when you're supposedly enjoying time off with your family!)

Obtain Good Resources:  A reliable (portable) computer, high-speed internet access and a cell phone will help with your productivity - in this day and age, you need to be accessible to your customers as much as possible!  However, use judgement and discretion here.  Everyone needs time away from the office!

Get Involved:  Try to join online communities (through Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites) that focus on your area of work to keep you updated on news and changes in your industry.  Also, try to read as many newspapers and trade journals as you possibly can.   The world is changing so fast - you need to stay abreast of what's going on!

Network! Network! Network!: Speaking to people in your field (i.e. networking) will help you remain focus and motivated.  If you're buying some kind of gift basket franchise, check out the business model thoroughly before you pay anything.  Do a search on Google.com to see if you can find any positive or negative comments.

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.