Turn a Hobby into a Home Pet Business

Birthdays and Christmas are obvious pet gift basket sales opportunities but you could also put together themed baskets for St Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, and as welcome home gifts for families with a new puppy or kitten.

You could also market baskets by product theme. For example you could make a super grooming basket, all natural treat basket, travel basket, toy basket, or pet loss gift basket. Or why not put together baskets specialized with products for a particular breed. You could even provide a catalog of products to choose from so that customers can custom make their own unique basket.

Pet baskets could be marketed to pet lovers by placing displays with your business cards in local pet stores, grooming salons, doggie day care facilities, or boarding facilities. You could also sell them on the web via a website or at a chamber of commerce location. Think of some of the places pet owners go to spoil their pets and you have found your perfect market.

Pet gift baskets also make great items for pet businesses to donate to silent auction events and raffles to promote their business. Why not promote them to local pet business owners too!

If you already own a grooming salon, pet sitting business, pet store, dog day care, or boarding facility, pet gift baskets could be a great seasonal profit boost. You can offer these to your clients just by displaying samples in your store to generate conversation.

1) A basket or other container such as a pet carrier to hold all the goodies. You can be creative here and also use a pet bowl, water fountain, or small dog crate.

2) Filler materials to stuff the bottom of basket or container. You could use shredded color paper or tissue paper.

3) Cellophane shrink bag to wrap the basket and contents. You can purchase these in different sizes and can shrink after the basket is wrapped using a hair dryer.

4) A decorative finish such as a ribbon or raffia string to dress it up and give the basket a professional look.

Take a look around at similar baskets that are available in your local retail pet stores or gift shops. If your have added your hand made items to the basket then you need to charge a premium price to place value on the uniqueness and high quality of your product.

Remember that you need to make sure that you price your baskets to cover labor, supplies and the items in the basket. A good rule of thumb is to price the basket at twice the cost of the items that you put into the basket.