"When Should I Start Selling Gift Baskets?"

You’re anxious to begin your gift basket business but have decided to put it off until next year.

What’s the rush, right? You can’t possibly find people to buy your baskets now. After all, everyone’s running around doing their holiday shopping and looking for the perfect gift, but there’s one problem. They can’t find something unique, something that looks like it was made especially for the people on their list.

It has to be the right color, a cute container, all kosher or all chocolate. Then it has to be shipped, plus a gift tag must be attached. Or maybe the gift should be delivered, but there’s so little time to work, shop, take care of home and deliver a basket. How can this person’s dilemma be solved?

Timing to start a gift basket business couldn’t be more perfect. If you’re ready to start on January 1 and your life isn’t in total chaos, consider entering the industry now. I bet you can make a list of at least two dozen people who fit the above scenario - stressed, can’t find what they want, no time to shop, love great service but can’t find any, looking for the unique and unusual. By January 1, the nation is recovering from a holiday hangover, and people aren’t thinking about buying. This is why the holidays are the best time to start.

So where are the people who fit this profile? You see them every week and possibly every day. You meet with them and talk about business, education, health and fellowship. When you greet them, your mind is a million miles away from gift baskets, but that’s about to change. Here are three groups of potential buyers. From this, create your own list of people who fit your buyers’ profile.

Teachers, PTA members and employees at the local Board of Education buy gift baskets. They buy for each other and for family members. When one receives your basket, the others notice - quickly. They want your card or brochure, anything with your telephone number. Whether or not you have children, you have access to a local school, the PTA and the Board of Education.

House of worship members support and promote each other. Have you told your church, synagogue, mosque or temple’s congregation about your business? They want to know. If you wait until after the holidays, someone is sure to ask, "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Doctors and veterinarians need your help. Their tight schedules keep them from mall shopping, and their inherent skepticism keeps them from deciding what to buy on the Internet. "I didn’t know you made gift baskets!," will be their first words after sharing a holiday story about a half-dead plant that was delivered to a favorite aunt. Don’t lose this sale. Tell, sell and be happy.

Consider the advice from Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos Cookies. He said that you’ll never find the "right time" to start your business, so start it now.