I'm thinking about starting a gourmet gift basket business?

I'm thinking about starting a gourmet gift basket business with like salsas, spreads, guacamole, and jellies.So I was wandering if I were to build a website where should I go to do that? Also what do I need to do to get started? Does anybody see this type of business as having some potential and how should I market? Does anybody think that conducting a survey about this type of business would be a good idea. Please give me some pointers.

I'm thinking about starting a gourmet gift basket business?
You had better get your basket items cheap, because the stuff can get really expensive for a nice basket, unless you are able to get the items at wholesale prices. Also basket are everywhere, Costco, Sam's club, I make gourmet baskets as gifts and people really like them, but they really don't want to pay what they are really worth. Good luck
Reply:NEED A PARTNER?I DID CATERING ON A SMALL SCALE WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE, CAN COOK AND BAKE FOR THE GODS..LOL HOLLA
Reply:That's a good idea. Gourmet gift baskets are great for corporate gifts. Especially if the basket contained really specialised and unique spreads.





Some answers to your question:





Website:





if you've never built a website before and you want to do it yourself, try http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/index.... - my mates had no experience of web design/development and they managed to pull together a professional looking site for their business.





What you need to get started:





Potential clients. Put together different variations of your basket e.g. Christmas hamper, picnic hamper, party hamper etc. Take pictures of them and put together a small catalogue. Then approach potential clients.





Potential of business:





Very good if your gift baskets are unique and professional. I run a promotional products company and am always on the lookout for better and different suppliers. If your product stands out from the crowd, I'm more likely to recommend your basket to my clients and buy from you over my other hamper suppliers.





How you should market:





To retailers (shops) and to distributers (like myself). If you can get enough distributers to sell your products for you, you're laughing. Especially good for Christmas period. e.g. see this page of my website: http://www.re-southbank.co.uk/about/news...





Conduct survey:





Yep. Research potential clients, how often they buy, when they buy, what they buy. Most importantly, ask them how they feel about their current suppliers and what improvements they'd like to see in the baskets.
Reply:The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.





I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal %26amp; Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.





Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.





Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:





* How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, Third Edition by Shirley George Frazier


* Start Your Own Gift Basket Service by Entrepreneur Press


* Start and Run a Gift Basket Business by Mardi Foster-Walker





There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.





Hope that helps! I wish you much success %26amp; happiness in all your ventures!