[lovemydh]

I'm thinking of posting an ad that people can pick items from my stockpile 2 make gift baskets. I also thought about setting up at a local small craft show ocming up and doingthis. Has anyone ever done this? or thought of doingthis? Just wondering prices etc...TIA.

[Houseful]

That sounds like a good idea!

[BeckyScott]

I personally would pre-make the baskets.

It's a cool idea to let people pick the things they want... BUT...

What most people would do, I'm afraid, is pick the most expensive things they see. (even though they were free to you, they'd grab the stuff that looks like it cost the most) After a short while, you won't have any of the "good" stuff left.

If you pre-make them yourself, you can mix it up better. Do them in themes. Get out all the stockpile you want to sell and start grouping it together into themes and see how it works out.

As far as pricing, I'll assume that you're having to buy the baskets but have gotten the goodies for free or almost-free? I would take the cost of the basket, the cost of any tissue paper or whatever else you're using for decoration, and about 1/2 of the retail price of the products. That would still make them a total bargain (so you'd sell lots) but you'd make good money too. If you are doing a craft fair, don't forget you'll have to pay for a table, too, you might want to add in 50 cents or a dollar to the cost of a basket to cover that.

So, hmmm...
$1 for a basket from Dollar Tree
50 cents for tissue paper
50 cents to help offset the table rental
$20 worth of gift items, retail cost

Sell for $12. That would look like a really great deal to a shopper. And you've made $2 for your overhead and $10 profit for your labor.

Make a good variety of sizes- some small ones for $5 or so (good teacher or co-worker gifts) and a couple that are really big (baby theme or wife-theme)

[kurautismnow]

This is a wonderful idea! BeckyScott, the suggestions you gave were wonderful, I too, would make up the baskets my self. Hmmmmm...... I may have to consider for next year as I am stockpiling.

[mailcheck]

I prefer the idea of choosing the coupons I would want whether the items were for myself or making a gift basket for a friend. I say Keep It Simple.