When I started this business, 17 years ago, one of my main reasons for starting it, was so that I could be available to my 3 children, at the time, (child #4 arrived in year 2 of the business).  As an Early Childhood Educator, I wanted to be the one raising my children.  So I researched how I could suppliment our family income while still meeting those goals.  Boodles of Baskets was the result of this research.

Over the years, I have tried to help other stay at home moms in various ways. One of the ways I’ve done this is to hire stay at home moms and have them work around their children’s school schedules including field trips and presentations.  As well, some of my past suppliers were small home businesses.

Another way that I have tried to help stay at home moms (and dad’s) for that matter is through our www.giftbasketscanadadropshipping.com program. The program basically works like this. We provide you with all of the images, pricing, descriptions, etc, everything you need to add to your website.  You will need your own website to add our items to, and a way to accept payments.  Once you have set up your website, you begin selling our gifts and baskets. When you get an order, you process the payment at the retail price, turn around and log into our drop ship site and place your order at the wholesale cost.  We charge your credit card this wholesale amount and ship the gift out under your company name.  No need to carry inventory or worry about expired product.  We send you tracking numbers for all your orders so that you and your customer can confirm delivery.

If you’re looking for a way to earn extra income from home, feel free to read about our program at www.giftbasketscanadadropshipping.com

How Stay at Home Mom’s Can Make a Little Extra Cash

Today, I will be designing my Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day baskets.  Yes, I know that it is February 24th. Yes, I know many of you are moaning and saying “Are you kidding me?”, but for me, this is a great thing.  Those who know me, know I am not a huge fan of winter.  That I would prefer to hibernate until it was all over. But being able to design spring inspired gift baskets in February really gets me out of the winter doldrums.  I’m looking at bright colors and butterfly enhancements.  What better way to beat the winter blues! 

Due to the size of our business and the amount of gifts we ship, it is not really a choice for me.  I must order early to ensure I can get adequate stock to meet customer demand.  I need to get my designs out early to ensure our dropshippers have time to prepare their sites as well.  It is like Spring is forcing itself on me early.  Not that I mind . 

If I really think about it, these holidays start, for me, right after Christmas.  Some items were ordered long before, but since I have such a bad memory, I’m thrilled when my shipments begin arriving in January so that I can see what I ordered!  I get excited all over again when I see the new containers and accessories that will be adorning our Easter baskets and Mother’s Day Gifts.  Father’s Day baskets are also a big seller for us, so I always order stuff for Dad at the same time.  I then peruse the catalogs  to buy the other items I need.  Once everything arrives, I begin to create! 

So although they are predicting more snow and there is a winter storm watch, I’ll be in my workshop creating Spring in a basket!  I can’t think of a better way to spend one of the last days in February.

A Look inside the business of Gift Baskets

The other day, we enjoyed a balmy 50 degree day (Yes, in the middle of winter! that is what made it so special).  I took my dog for a long walk and watched the sheer joy in his step, that the day was such a beautiful one.  He was in no hurry. He was enjoying the moment.

How many times do we stop to enjoy a particularly successful moment in our business. Sometimes we are so busy rushing from task to task, we forget to take a few minutes each day to be in the moment and be thankful for the large and tiny successes in our business. 

Just the simple fact that we are our own bosses’ is something to be thankful for. 

What about that kind comment from a customer. We remember to thank them for their kind words, but do we really stop and take a moment to enjoy the compliment for what it truly is?  You helped another human being today! 

What about that referral order you just received.  Someone appreciated your work so much that they referred you to a friend or colleague.  What trust!

How about that moment when you discover a great new product that you know will be the perfect addition to your line? Do you take time to enjoy the feeling, the rush, the excitement?

What about the referrals you provide to your customers.  I know there have been times that a customer needed something delivered within an hour or two to another city which we couldn’t service that quickly.  I have happily referred them to another gift basket company that I trust, because I want to help them get what they need, when they need it.  It’s a good feeling when you can help a customer this way. Enjoy the moment.

I guess when you think about it, our lives are just a string of moments put together to make a lifetime.  Seize as many moments as you can to make your life full and meaningful.

Remember, enjoy success in business whether it is tiny or not and take it from my dog Sparky, enjoy the moment, you don’t know when you’ll be privileged to get another one as great.

Cherylann

Taking Time To Enjoy Success in Business

Recently, I have increased my workout schedule to improve results.  While doing some cardio, I got to thinking how much starting an exercise program is very much like starting a business. 

1) You have specific goals in mind for both. 

2) You must set up a schedule and maintain that schedule and be willing to go the extra mile to achieve the results you’re after.

3) Sometimes you’ll have soreness or pain while your muscles or business gets used to new growth.

4) If you work hard and remain dedicated, you are sure to see some great results.

5) If you do not pay attention or become lazy and uncommitted, you will see results flagger and die out.

6) You have to be willing to change and adapt in order to achieve optimal results.

7) Sometimes you’ll wonder what the heck you were thinking of to take such a commitment on!

In the end, you can see the road ahead, you’ll  know where you’re going, you can begin to see results, and it motivates you to push yourself harder than you ever thought you could push. To dig deeper than you ever thought you were capable of digging and to smile broadly, when you succeed and reach one goal and then the next, and then the next, and then the next…………………

Cherylann

Running your own business or just plain running!

In a previous post I talked about the time it takes to send Christmas gift baskets.  After I finished the post, I thought, hmmm…I wonder if anyone has thought about:

1) Many businesses close up the week before Christmas, although with Christmas being on Sunday this year, they might close more towards the middle of the week.

2) Many businesses stay closed the entire Christmas season, again, because New Year’s Day is on a Sunday, I would anticipate many businesses staying closed until at least the 3rd of January.

3) Couriers, who do the actual gift deliveries, many times have reduced holiday hours during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. As well, they cease offering guaranteed service for several days before the holiday, as well as between.

4) Many people travel or are away from home during the days leading up to the holidays, the days in between and for several days following.

What does this mean to you, the gift basket sender?  Well, unfortunately, if you request delivery too close to the holiday, or heaven forbid, place your order too late for it to arrive anytime but right before or during the holiday season, you risk your gift basket sitting in a couriers’ warehouse for days on end, or more than likely, your gift will be returned to the gift basket company you ordered from.  Due to their nature, Christmas gift baskets are  non-refundable and shipping charges due to non-delivery issues are never refundable.  You could be out a whole wad of cash, real quick! 

What to do? What to do?  First, the easiest thing you can do is order your gifts early.  Most companies allow you to ask for future ship dates and some even offer early order discounts.  By doing this, you will also ensure that you will get the item you want before it sells out.  Remember, these are perishable items and no gift basket company wants leftover stock if they can help it!  If you have waited too long or just remembered someone you had previously forgotten, call the gift basket company.  Any reputable company will be happy to honestly tell you what your options are and give you options that can save the day!

Sending Christmas Gift Baskets-Is Anyone Home?

A lot of customers aren’t familiar with the time it takes for Christmas gift baskets to get delivered throughout Canada and the USA, and lets face it, I wouldn’t know either, if we weren’t shipping hundreds of gift baskets  each day during the Christmas season. 

My daughter like to tease me that I sometimes forget to pick her up after school, or from a friends, but I can tell you, from memory, how long it will take a basket to arrive in British Columbia by regular ground shipping or by guaranteed delivery methods without so much as a hesitation!

Anyway, for those who don’t know, but would love to strike off “How long does it take to ship gift baskets across the country?” from their bucket list, here we go:

P.S. Ground shipping is not guaranteed, but is a pretty good estimate based on major areas. Remote areas and PO Box addresses may take longer.  Also keep in mind these are BUSINESS days and do not include the day of order.  eg. if you order on a Saturday, your order will be shipped on Monday, this would be considered day zero, first day of shipping would be Tuesday. Select shipping is not available in more remote locations or to PO Box addresses.

British Columbia-
ground- 4 days
guaranteed 2 days

Alberta
ground 4 days
guaranteed 2 days

Saskatchewan
ground 3-4 days
guaranteed 2 days

Manitoba
ground 2-3 days
guaranteed 2 days

Ontario
ground 1 day
guaranteed 1 day

Quebec
ground 1 day
guaranteed 1 day

Nova Scotia
ground 2-3 days
guarnteed 2 days

New Brunswick
ground 2-3 days
guaranteed 2 days

Newfoundland
ground 3-7 days
guarnteed 2 days

PEI
3-5 days
guaranteed-not available to most areas

USA-No Guaranteed shipping
East Coast-3-5 days
Mid-western 3-5 days
Southern USA 3-5 days
West Coast 5-7 days

Christmas Gift Baskets-Delivery Times

This blog touches on a different aspect of purchasing a gift basket. In order to have a pleasant and satisfying experience when ordering a gift basket (or any other product) it is recommended that you first read and educate yourself regarding the following areas:

1) Processing and shipping times and procedures:
Gift basket companies do not function like flower shops. Where as floral shops accept orders for flowers and then FTD them to another floral company close by to the recipient, gift basket companies actually process and ship orders from their facility.

Most gift basket companies have a cut off time to ship your gift by. (say orders placed by 1pm). Remember “shipped by” is not the same as “delivered by”. Delivery time calculations are BUSINESS DAYS only and vary based on the distance to the recipients location. They very rarely include the day of order in that delivery time.

For example, say you order a gift basket by 1pm EST on a Tuesday-This is day zero. If you are sending to Toronto and Toronto is a two day delivery time (if sent via standard shipping), your gift would arrive sometime on Thursday (delivery companies do not accept specific delivery times ie. 1pm or between 9am-11am.) If you send it guaranteed, and guaranteed is 1 day, the recipient would get it Wednesday.

Now say the companies cut off time is 1pm and you place your order after this time, on a weekend or holiday, your processing day (day zero) is the first business day following the holiday. Shipping times would be calculated from that day forward.

2) Deliveries:
Generally gift basket companies hire an independent shipping company (ie. Canpar, Fedex, UPS) to do their deliveries throughout the country.

3) Policies and procedures relating to:
-how their deliveries are done to homes, work places, apartments, hospitals, colleges and universities
-what happens to undeliverable packages, refused packages, damaged packages, holiday gifts etc.
-refunds

4) Contact Information including hours, toll free phone numbers, email addresses, etc.

Don’t just skim over this information, or figure you’ll find it if you need it. Reputable gift basket companies go out of their way to ensure their websites provide a wealth of information to their customers to ensure there are no questions that go unanswered and that everything is clearly available to you. Gift basket companies are in the business of sending your gift baskets on your behalf. They want to ensure you are satisfied with your purchase. Help them do so by making yourself aware of how their businesses operate. REMEMBER, at anytime, if you are unsure, contact them, BEFORE you place your order so that they can ensure you know exactly what you will be receiving and when.

How to Be a Good Customer When Purchasing a Gift Basket

Most people do not realize that it is against the law to incorporate alcohol in Canada gift baskets. Under Section 3.1 of the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act you will find legislation that prevents the free flow of wine across provincial and territorial borders.

There was recently an article in The Windsor Star Alcohol Barrier Battled that talks about how one woman aimed to bring some wine back from British Columbia but was not allowed and how she is trying to get that changed. As of today, she has not had much success.

Occasionally, you may find a gift basket company who is willing to include some alcohol in your basket. They are either unaware of the law or are choosing to ignore it. But you must ask yourself, is it worth the risk?

At Boodles of Baskets, we make it our business to know the laws and rules that govern our industry so you don’t have to. You can be confident when you order a gift basket from us, you will be sending a beautiful, (and legal, LOL), gift to your loved one or associate!

Alcohol In Canada Gift Baskets

Has this ever happened to you? You have several people on your Christmas list that live far away. You’ve decided to send each of them a nice gift basket. So you wait until about two weeks before Christmas, visit your favourite website…….and they are practically SOLD OUT of EVERYTHING! What went wrong? You didn’t want it to arrive too early. You wanted to ensure the products were fresh. So you waited until what you felt was the right time to order. What happened!

Hopefully, the following suggestions will help make your next year’s ordering stress and hassle free.

When to order? Remember that most gift basket companies have corporate clients who contact them very early in the season and buy in large quantities. A gift basket retailer might think they’ve ordered the right amount of stock for a particular item only to have one client buy all their stock. (Great for the gift company, not so great for you if you had your eye on that item) So as soon as your favorite basket company has their offerings online, place your orders. Most websites have spots in their shopping cart where you can request a specific delivery date-we recommend you request no later than the 20th of December to allow for multiple attempts should the recipients not be home. Don’t worry they will build your order closer to your delivery date. Remember, Christmas stock is ordered early, but received just in time to build your Christmas designs. Shelf stable items do have a minimum shelf life of 6 months usually, so the recipients will have approximately 5 months to enjoy the bounty! Other more fragile items like cakes and fresh baked cookies are baked to order, so don’t worry about freshness.

When will I find discounts and sale items?.-Do not wait for sales! You will rarely, if ever see sales or discounts for individual orders from reputable gift basket companies. Why? Because they order just enough product to sell out based on past revenues. This is a good thing. Companies who know their market and order correctly are the ones you want to be doing business with. Their reordering cycle is frequent, ensuring fresh product for your baskets (you won’t be receiving left over Christmas items in your Valentine’s Day gift baskets either!)

Remember many gift baskets contain food items. Therefore it is imperative to use an experienced gift basket company to ensure your items are fresh, built to order and delivered on time. To ensure a stress free holiday, read the websites fine print regarding their delivery schedules. Some post disclaimers stating that although they may build and ship your gift baskets within 1-2 days during the regular season, when it comes to the busy holidays, we have heard of delays of up to a week!

Boodles of Baskets has been in business for 15 + years. We have never missed a deadline. Our processing times are simple. If you place your gift basket, candy bouquet, cookie bouquet or fudge order by 1pm EST Mon-Friday (excluding holidays) it is shipped the same day. Cookie, cake and popcorn orders received by 9pm EST Mon-Friday (excluding holidays) are shipped the next business day. After these cut off times, your order is processed the next business day. Shipping times are business days only and can be found on each order page. It’s that simple and we are always available by phone should you have any concerns about anything including ordering and delivery times.

I hope this has alleviated some of your concerns regarding Holiday gift basket ordering. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me through our website Boodles of Baskets

Get Your Christmas Gift Baskets-BEFORE They’re All Sold Out

Want to know the difference between Big Box gift basket offerings and Specialized gift basket store offerings?

Read this interesting blog

Differences between Big Box Stores and a Specialized Gift Basket Company