Making Money In California Citrus Gift Baskets

Making money selling California citrus gift baskets depends on a variety of factors. From a marketing standpoint, the question is, can you forecast the needs of your market, and then are you able to launch the media campaign necessary to market your California citrus gift basket to the appropriate audience? From a cash-flow standpoint, the question is, can you afford to maintain the inventory required to supply and float this business?

Fresh produce requires special consideration and potentially refrigeration. A California citrus gift basket requires the freshest goods, and special packaging to maintain the freshness during shipping. And how soon do you need to recover any initial investment in this business? Finally, do you have the artistic capability required to pull together basket after basket that will be required to maintain your business?

Marketing Your Baskets

There are so many baskets for sale on the internet and it is important that your business develop a California citrus gift basket concept that not only differentiates you from the others, but is also within your means and capabilities to stock the goods and market. There must be something about your oranges, limes, and of course, lemons.

The majority of the fresh lemons and oranges sold in the United States come from California, so differentiating your basket may require more than just fresh product. Perhaps your California citrus gift basket could include other custom products from California. Your marketing skills are also important and you will need to be able to describe your products with conviction if you are to get any sales at all.

As you determine what angle you are going to take with your California citrus gift basket you should also ask yourself who is going to be my target market? For instance, is it my objective to sell these baskets to friends, or are you looking to distribute to stores to carry my lines, or is the plan to market my goods on the internet, and in all and each case who am I expecting to buy my California citrus gift basket?

The basket business is very competitive and there are many products made that are still looking for a market. To make money your California citrus gift basket must be targeted at a particular market, whether it is the fruit lover, or is your basket broader in appeal as a gift, if so what makes it special?

Financing the Business

Fresh produce based gift baskets are typically initially capital intensive, though once the refrigeration and packaging material has been purchased the fruit product costs are relatively manageable. Given all these factors, the fresh product basket business is not a get rich quick opportunity as there are already a large number of players in this market. As it is a fresh fruit basket and its market should continue to grow as everyone continues to focus on health. Perhaps your twist to your basket is some form of whole-grain product to capitalize on this trend.