Offering a gift service

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Offering a gift service
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Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

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Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:12 pm Post subject: Offering a gift service
Inspired by a certain Downsizers panic at a forgotten birthday I wondered if there's room for offering gift wrap and a printed message sent direct to the recipient with my felt etc? Do any of you offer this already? Do you think it's worthwhile?

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:18 pm Post subject:
I think it's a great idea (also inspired by the same Downsizer ) May think about it for the shop, and the website

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:27 pm Post subject:
Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer )

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45665
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:28 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer

)

Absolutely not. Charge for it.

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:28 pm Post subject:
Could you offer - at extra cost - the option of guaranteed next-day delivery or same-day delivery if the order is placed before a certain time? I'm sure some people would happily pay the extra if they were in a panic over a forgotten event, and it would be a good service.

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:28 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Stacey wrote:

Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer

)

Absolutely not. Charge for it.

Agree.

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:34 pm Post subject:

hedgewitch wrote:

Could you offer - at extra cost - the option of guaranteed next-day delivery or same-day delivery if the order is placed before a certain time? I'm sure some people would happily pay the extra if they were in a panic over a forgotten event, and it would be a good service.

I wondered about that - I guess the tricky thing would be if they placed the order before 12 (for example) but I was out and didn't get see order until the afternoon/evening
I'll have a look at other people's sites and see what they offer I think.

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:34 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Stacey wrote:

Would you charge or offer it as a free service ?( to the public not The Downsizer

)

Absolutely not. Charge for it.

So, we're back to my bette noir which is what's a reasonable charge?

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 2:38 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

hedgewitch wrote:

Yes - fair point. P'raps better not, then. Hadn't thought of that.

An emergency mobile phone that has email alerts to the service?

Then you can drop whatever you're doing and go into "emergency pressie" mode?

Green Man

Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5272
Location: Rural Scotland.

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 3:28 pm Post subject:

Penny wrote:

I think it's a great idea (also inspired by the same Downsizer

)

May think about it for the shop, and the website

A personalised birthday/valentines night dress could be fun

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45665
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 3:32 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

So, we're back to my bette noir which is what's a reasonable charge?

A reasonable charge is what extra cost is incurred by you plus a reasonable markup. This should be based on at least double your labour and materials cost.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 4:18 pm Post subject:

How about a flat fee, maybe £2.50 for gift wrap and a suitable card, have it on a buy it button in the shop just like any other item, and say that choosing this option means it will go in the next post you can physically get it to?- that way you arent promising miracles just saying that if its chosen you will get it posted the next possible post after boxing up the order. I would imagine that should be enough to allow you to trial the idea and see if it makes any difference

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 6:09 pm Post subject:
Good idea sally. I'll take a photo of something giftwrapped and a sample card etc and put it on a Paypal button ike you say. Now, environmentally friendly wrapping paper............

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 6:12 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

Now, environmentally friendly wrapping paper............

Recycled kraft paper and bribe a sprog to stamp stars in gold ink all over it? Tied with suitable arty farty looking twine maybe?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46192
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 07 6:12 pm Post subject:
make a deal with a courier firm

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