Q. I recently attended a gift trade show, and since then have asked for, and received, perhaps 50 or so catalogs covering a wide variety of products. Next week I will be ready to place my first orders to get going. My dilemma is that I have seen so many neat things I'd like that I need to reign in my desires to buy too many items. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations as to how I should attack my first order so that I don't end up spending too much?

A. Good question -- and one that most of us still struggle with no matter how many years we’ve been in business! Many gift basket designers start the buying process by deciding on a design or two (or three or four, depending on how much money you have to invest in your initial inventory) -- like a coffee basket and a snack basket-- then buy accordingly (just an example). Then, as you sell a few baskets and have the funds, introduce a new design -- maybe a baby basket -- and order that inventory. Also, buy items that are versatile enough to be used in several different basket themes.