If you have an existing gift basket business, or are planning to start up a gift basket business or home based gift basket business or just add a sideline to a business you have now, one of the most important things to consider is the type of gift baskets you’ll offer.

You can offer a wide range of gift baskets, focus on a unique specialty gift basket or do a combination of both. I recommend doing both.

For the newbie, start out with a focus on one type of gift basket, and then later add a strong line of gift baskets, after you get your foot in the door. This is often the best approach when you’re new. You’ll be tying up less money in inventory too.

Here are two possible specialty gift baskets to consider. The first is a gift basket for nurses. Make up a demo gift basket. I know marketing. For marketing your specialty gift basket you may have to get really creative. Take your demo to one of the local hospitals and wander though the cafeteria and set it down on a table while you have a beverage. People will assume you are delivering it to a patient.

Take plenty of business cards. Ask administration if you can post your business card on the hospital message board. Stop at the gift shop, show the demo gift basket and ask if they would take any on consignment. If they do and get enough orders, they’ll probably start ordering regularly from you without consignment. If you know of any health professionals, show them your demo baskets or even give them one and ask for referrals in exchange.

Nurses don’t have time to shop. They love to get and give gifts. They can’t get out of the hospital for breaks or at lunchtime because it’s usually against hospital policy to leave the premises. I know. I used to be a nurse. They are prime candidates for your baskets. You can have gift baskets that are full of nurse specialty and other medical items, a nurse’s relaxation gift basket and so on. They like the medical theme baskets because they can use the items or give some of the items in the gift basket to other nurses and other health professionals they work with or know.

Once you get a few nurses buying you’ll find they are good repeat customers. Plus they have plenty of associates they can recommend you to. Make sure you supply them with business cards. Fliers get lost or thrown away. Business cards are easier to keep track of. Business cards are cheap or you can make your own. They don’t have to be fancy but make them a little appealing. Your business is going to be judged by your baskets though, not the cards.

Another idea would be to approach brew pub and tavern owners. You could provide an endless supply of gift baskets for them to use for their giveaways to customers. They usually have contests and various kinds of drawings for their customers. I know a lot of restaurant and tavern owners. I used to list and sell restaurants and taverns when I had my real estate company. I know how they think and work.

Just make up two or three or more good demos for them to choose from. Have different price ranges from less to more expensive and two or three differently filled baskets. Have two or three different types of containers if possible. Traditional wicker baskets are good. Try a totally different kind of USEABLE container if you can think of something appropriate.

For this crowd make your gift baskets humorous, not serious. Include things you think brewpub or tavern patrons might like. Specialty cheeses, crackers, pretzels, chips, nuts, other food items. Unfortunately they probably don’t want healthy snacks. Maybe specialty beers, specialty coffees, hot chocolate mixes, t-shirts, baseball caps, coffee mugs, corkscrews, bar items, playing cards, auto-related items and small auto safety items. These are just a few of the items to consider.

Magic shop items will make your baskets unique and lots of FUN. Make sure you get some of these in every basket. Visit your local magic shop, usually found in the larger cities. If you don’t have a magic shop try to find a magic catalog. You should be able to find some on the Internet. Even retail prices are usually cheap for these items if you can’t arrange wholesale. You may not be buying enough wholesale in the beginning to warrant a wholesale account. Often minimum orders may be too high to make sense.

There are dozens of other specialty baskets you can make of course. But for the other gift baskets in your gift basket business you will want to focus on gourmet food gift baskets, fruit baskets if you come from an area that has plenty of fruit all year, corporate gift baskets which are real money-makers, but competitive, and bath and body gift baskets. Custom or personalized gift baskets are another option too.

With these tips, ideas and suggestions, you should be well on your way to choosing a specialty gift basket line for your new, existing, or work-at-home or home based gift basket business, gift shop or as a sideline to another business.



By: Helen Hecker

About the Author:

Holiday gift baskets are well established in connection to certain holidays. Christmas holiday gift baskets are widely advertised and given. In the United States, Easter and Thanksgiving holiday gift baskets are also popular.

Holiday gift baskets do not have to be reserved for Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, however. These baskets are always appropriate and appreciated. Wine holiday gift baskets are often given as business gifts. Pet holiday gift baskets are pushed by pet stores in the U.S. Baby and corporate holiday gift baskets are also given in some countries.

Holiday gift baskets are cheap or expensive, unique or run-of-the-mill. You can usually find one suited to the specific holiday, but if not, you can custom-make holiday gift baskets.

Holiday Gift Basket Occasions

It would be impossible to list here every holiday of every nation. We will look at just a few that merit holiday gift baskets.

1. New Year’s Day: This holiday is celebrated universally. Holiday gift baskets should include items celebrating beginnings. Think of the word “new” when planning contents of a New Year’s Day holiday gift basket. You might also send a sport-oriented gift basket in the U.S., since many football teams play major games that day.

2. Children’s Day: Many nations celebrate a holiday for children. Baby holiday gift baskets or gift baskets for older children may be given. Include food treats appropriate to the age, plus a toy, book, or game. You can avoid sweets by making it a spa basket with “special” shampoos and lotions.

If the gifts are for youngsters who love horses, consider equestrian theme holiday gift baskets. Include carrots, apples, and sugar cubes to share with a favorite horse. Add a book about horses.

3. Mother’s Day/Father’s Day: These holidays are also common to many nations. Holiday gift basket ideas for these should honor the mother or father. This is a time for custom-made baskets, showing your thoughtfulness in selecting treats and gifts the recipient is known to like.

4. Grandparents’ Day: Grandma and Grandpa holiday gift baskets are appropriate for holidays such as the United States’ Grandparents’ Day. Give heart healthy holiday gift baskets. A healthy basket might include dried blueberries and bananas, smoked salmon, nut snacks, and Irish oatmeal. Add tickets to an event they would enjoy together, sporting or other.

5. Independence Day: Here is another holiday gift basket occasion. Most countries have a day on which they celebrate the nation’s beginnings. For example, “Canada Day” would be a great time for Canada holiday gift baskets. “The Fourth of July” is a good time for U.S. holiday gift baskets. In Japan, “Kenkoku Kinenbi” is a time for Japan holiday gift baskets. Be sure you include national flags in your holiday gift baskets. Something bubbly that can pop a cork would also be appropriate. If legal where you live, add a few small fireworks for celebration.

6. Memorial Day: Nations often set aside a day to commemorate those who died in their country’s service. Holiday gift baskets are a thoughtful way to thank those who lost loved ones in a war.

7. Labor Day: Here is another holiday that is celebrated around the world. With its roots in Australia, Labor Day can be a time for unexpected holiday gift baskets. Theme the contents to labor, perhaps “sturdy” foods and treats.

Helpful Tip

Remember to add cards to your holiday gift baskets – and choose durable baskets so they will remain as souvenirs long after their contents are gone.

By: Anna Hart



By: Anna Hart

About the Author:

Are you confused in deciding a gift for your loved one on his /her birthday? Gifts makes a person feel special and so it becomes important that you select a proper gift for your friend. Gift something that can make the person a shopping spree. Take into consideration the persons like and dislikes before deciding over the gift.

Why not try gifting someone with a birthday gift basket this time. Birthday gift basket is available in different forms mainly

• Unique Birthday Gift Basket

• Happy Birthday Gift Basket

• 50th Birthday Gift Basket

• Kid Birthday Gift Basket

• Birthday Gift Basket for Men

• First Birthday Gift Basket

Apart from a birthday, gift basket is ideal for any occasion and help to meet both personal and corporate needs. Gift baskets are created using finest merchandise and gourmet foods. They are available in different dazzling designs and create a feeling of personal touch. Gift basket contains only top quality products including finest fruit, gourmet food and wine.

Gift Baskets are beautifully wrapped and contains a message that you want to convey to a person. These gift baskets are available in different shapes and designed in such a way that they leave a long lasting impression. Each Gift Basket is designed uniquely so as to communicate your feelings. Apart from birthday gift basket there are different types of gift basket available

• Candle Gift Basket

• Wedding Gift Basket

• Valentine Gift Basket

• Fruit Gift Basket

• Mothers day Gift Basket

• Gourmet Food Gift Basket

• Chocolate Gift Basket

• Engagement Gift Basket

• Cookies Gift Basket

• Coffee Gift Basket

• Halloween Gift Basket and lots more

Today one can find number of online outlets providing gift baskets. All you have to do is select the gift basket, make online payment and get the gift basket delivered t your doorsteps.

Isabella Rodrigues writes for candlegiftbasket.info,

offering the latest information on gift baskets, visit them today for more best

buy gift baskets.

Visit today: http://www.candlegiftbasket.info



By: Isabel

About the Author:

Corporate gift baskets can give a big boost to any gift basket business. They are often ordered in large quantities by companies, corporations and businesses, large and small, to give as gifts, to employees, clients and colleagues as a way to say thank you.

And just a few tips, ideas and help here will give you the information you need to help make corporate gift baskets affordable for you and your corporate clients.

By making unique, good quality demos cheaply, and buying products and supplies at wholesale prices, without buying up a lot of inventory, you can save a lot of money in the process. And if you can work from home you’ll save more money on overhead.

Although usually filled with more expensive, gourmet items, corporate gift baskets can be a good money maker for your gift basket business, a sideline or a new business. If you already have a gift-related, craft-related or home based business of any kind, or if you just want to start up a gift basket business, making corporate gift baskets is a good idea.

You can easily add corporate (or sometimes called business) gift baskets to your existing line of gift baskets. You may have some of the baskets, items or products right now. You’ll need to know: what are the most popular types of corporate gift baskets, what products or items usually go in them and what the competition is doing in terms of items, products and pricing.

Three of the most popular types of corporate gift baskets are gourmet - fancy foods, fancy fruits with cheese collections, and fancy coffees with chocolate collections.

Products or items you might usually find in corporate or business gift baskets are: seasonal mixed fresh fruits, freshly baked cookies, fancy crackers, deluxe wrapped chocolates and candies, truffles, biscotti, muffins, scones, sausage, pistachios and other nuts, gourmet cheese, cheddar cheese, gourmet jams and preserves, gourmet hot chocolate mix packets, fancy flavored coffees, chocolate covered raspberries or blueberries, and other gourmet goodies. You may have some or many of these items or products already.

It’s not advisable to include any controversial items like alcoholic beverages. Although beer, champagne and wine gift baskets are popular, I wouldn’t include any beer, wine or champagne in your demo gift baskets. You can make these available, if you choose, if they customize an order, but be aware you may need a license to sell beer, wines or other liquors.

Besides possible health issues - by giving alcohol gifts unknowingly to recovering addicts or closet addicts, you and the business or corporation may have legal or liability issues from the consequences of providing the alcohol to the employees, colleagues or clients.

Containers can be traditional, finely crafted wicker baskets or fancy, small to large hampers. In any case they need to be of excellent or high quality.

Next you’ll want to check out the competition. Check out several websites carrying corporate gift baskets to get an idea what they’re offering, what items or products they include in their gift baskets and the price range.

The online gift basket websites carrying corporate gift baskets are competitive. So concentrate first on selling your business or corporate gift baskets locally to large companies and corporations. You may have no competition. You can always put up a website after you get your business going.

You’ll need at least two gift basket demos in more than one price range. Three or four demo baskets would be better. They may be giving a gift basket in one price range to clients and to colleagues or employees in another price range. Be prepared also to offer custom gift baskets. They can choose the gourmet items they want to go into the baskets, hampers or other containers. They may also want to choose the containers.

After your demo gift baskets are assembled, call around to the larger companies and find out who is in charge of purchasing or public relations. It may take two or three calls to find out whom to talk to, to set up an appointment. Just ask who you can make a short presentation to.

Make sure your prices are competitive and offer quantity discounts. Offer free shipping if they need to be shipped out of town or if they have regional offices they need them shipped to. Make sure to adjust your pricing in advance if you’re going to offer free shipping. Know what it’ll cost to package and ship your gift baskets and whether you’re going to use the postal service or another shipping service like UPS, Fed Ex or Airborne Express.

Good times to make your phone calls are at least two months in advance of a major holiday, at the year’s end or at the beginning of the year. But make your calls every month all through the year. They may give gifts to clients throughout the year. And they may give gifts to employees at any time of the year.

If your presentation doesn’t result in any orders, ask for feedback. Perhaps it’s the type of items or products you’re presenting. Perhaps the gift baskets are overpriced.

Starting up a business to specialize in corporate gift baskets is easy to do. If you can, work from home - make it a home-based business. Make sure not to order in a lot of inventory. To keep your costs down, only buy enough products in the beginning to put your demo corporate gift baskets together.

After your presentation and resulting orders, you’ll know what items, products and supplies to order for the gift baskets. This is a good way to start on a shoestring budget.

Adding business or corporate gift baskets to your current line of gift baskets can help boost your bottom line. A few of the tips here should get you going in the right direction. If making gift baskets is new to you, you’ll find plenty of ideas to make a few demo corporate gift baskets and give it a try. This is an inexpensive or cheap way to add to your gift basket business, start up a gift basket business, or add on to another home based or work at home business.



By: Helen Hecker

About the Author:

Creating your own gift baskets to give as holiday gifts is really easy and fun. You can save money by making them yourself instead of buying them from a trendy gift store. You can make them for personal use to give as gifts or start a home based gift basket business.

You only need a few simple supplies to get started.

Supplies:

Basket

Basket Filler (shreds)

Basket Clear Cellophane Bag or Basket Wrap

Ribbon (to tie off the bag)

Ribbon (to make a bow)

Gift Tag

Product Fillers

Scissors

Now let’s get you started with some theme ideas for those on your holiday gift giving list.

1. Correspondence Gift Basket: note cards, all occasion greeting cards, book of stamps, personalized address labels, pens and address book.

2. Manicure - Pedicure Gift Basket: top coat, base coat, colored nail polish, nail polish remover, nail polish remover pads, cotton swabs, toe separators, nail file, nail buffer, cuticle pusher, nail clippers, nail brush, hand cream, foot cream, foot file and a travel pack of tissues.

3. Book Lovers Gift Basket: journal, pens, 2-3 books, 2-3 bookmarks, reading glasses, candle, gift card to a book store and a magazine.

4. Bakers Gift Basket: cookbook, oven mitts, hot pads, trivet, recipe cards, spices, 6 cup muffin pan, muffin pan liners, spatula, mixing spoon, measuring cups, measuring spoons, apron, rolling pin, pastry sheet and baking pan liners.

5. Snack Lovers Gift Basket: microwave popcorn, bag of popped popcorn, chips, pretzels, candy bars, cookies, snack cakes and crackers.

6. Movie Night Gift Basket: 2 tickets to a local movie theater, 2 DVD movies, 3 bags of microwave popcorn and several packs of candy.

7. Gardener Gift Basket: flower seed packets, vegetable seed packets, gardening gloves, knee pads, gardening hand tools, small gardening decorations, outdoor thermometer, gardening book and gardening magazines.

8. Dog Lover Gift Basket: dog book, dog bones, dog treats, dog leash, dog collar, dog clean-up waste bags, dog shampoo, dog toys and a disposable camera.

9. Cat Lover Gift Basket: cat book, cat treats, cat leash, cat collar, cat shampoo, cat toys and a disposable camera.

10. Teen Girl Gift Basket: nail polish, nail remover, cotton swabs, cotton balls, nail file, perfume, shower gel, body lotion, hair items, teen girl magazines, journal book, pen and a disposable camera.

11. Bath Spa Gift Basket: bath sponge, mesh pouf, shower gel, body lotion, bath back brush, bubble bath, bath salts, bath bombs, bath soaps, wash cloth, bath towel, robe, slippers and a bath wrap.

12. Hair Care Gift Basket: hair towel, shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, hair gel, hair mousse, hair spray, head bands, pony tail holders, barrettes, hair clips, brush and a comb.

13. Laundry Care Gift Basket (great for housewarming and bridal showers): stain remover stick, spray and pen, dryer sheets, laundry detergent, fabric softener, hand washing detergent, lint brush and an iron.

14. Scrapbooking Gift Basket: 8×8 scrapbook, solid 8×8 scrapbooking papers, print 8×8 scrapbooking papers, 3 glue sticks, 1 pkg. glue dots, 1 pkg. brads, 1 pkg. eyelets with eyelet tools, 3 packs of stickers, decorative border scissors, disposable camera and other scrapbooking embellishments.

15. Bird Lovers Gift Basket: hardbound coffee table bird watching book, bird watching journal book, pen, bird feeder, small bag of bird seed, binoculars, small birdhouse and a disposable camera.

These are just some suggestions on what you can use as basket fillers, you don’t have to fill your gift baskets with all of those items. Get creative and ‘think’ outside the box.



By: Shelly Hill

About the Author:

ng>A Matter of Choices  from the Heart

Whenever you are faced with the daunting but pleasurable task of giving a gift to a friend or a member of your family, you effectively have two choices. You can either give a single gift such as a camera, a book, a CD or something as expensive as a pendant, or you can pick out a gift basket to be delivered to that very special person. If your special person resides in the same city as you do, you don’t even have to arrange for delivery. You can simply pick up the gift basket on your way to the party.

One and One Makes Eleven!

The advantages of choosing a gift basket are many. First, you are gifting an assortment of gifts and not just one gift. There is always strength in numbers and gift giving is no exception! Secondly, these assortments are carefully mixed and matched by the gift basket designer. In other words, the gift basket designer has taken the time to pick out an assortment of gifts, value priced them and then packed them in an attractive gift hamper. Now that’s a truckload of TLC for you.

The Visual Attraction of Gift Baskets

Professionals who actually design gift baskets are not just merchandisers but also artists. This is clearly evident from the fact that gift baskets are known for their visual appeal. They simply look fabulous when placed on the table. This level of artistic dexterity complements the gift giving experience in its own way. Gift basket designers have an unending array of choices to choose from in terms of the baskets they use, the decorations they pick and the trimmings they select. Very often the manner in which the gift basket has been crafted is more attractive and impressive than the actual contents of the gift basket.

Gift Basket Galore

There are really no limits to your gift basket choices. You can choose from fruit baskets, wine baskets, food baskets, flower arrangements in a basket, toy baskets for tiny tots, baskets with cosmetics, baskets with decoration pieces, candle baskets—you get the picture. Ask the gift basket designer to make a few recommendations for you. They are usually gift giving veterans and know the gift basket business very well. Good luck with your gift giving experience!



By: Shivangi Singha

About the Author:

Gift basket reviews can be a valuable source of information about the thousands of companies offering various gift baskets. Many of these reviews are done by independent reviewers while others are written by content writers working for a specific gift basket website. Obviously gift basket reviews written by an author affiliated with a particular gift basket company will lack objectivity and accuracy.

There are many websites specializing in independent gift basket reviews. There are also blogs devoted solely to gift baskets and contain many independently gift basket reviews. Gift basket reviews can be a great resource for those who are first time gift basket purchasers. The sheer number of gift basket sites can be daunting to gift basket purchasers. Are the contents of high quality? What is the average shipping time? What is the customer service like? Gift basket reviews can answer all these questions and others.

A well chosen gift basket can be the solution for any gift giving dilemma. Some gift giving occasions arrive unexpectedly and a gift basket can be a quick and easy solution. Well written independent gift basket reviews can be a lifesaver during these unexpected occasions.

Probably the most accurate and valuable of gift basket reviews are those written by actual customers of the various gift basket websites. These customer written gift basket reviews allow customers to share their actual shopping experience s with others. Customer written gift basket reviews are probably the most impartial reviews available and can save consumers a lot of time and trouble.

Gift basket reviews can provide fresh ideas for potential purchasers. Many contain invaluable tips on how to select and customize a gift basket for special occasions. Navigating the thousands of gift basket websites is an impossible task and well written independent gift basket reviews are sure to point the buyer in the right direction.

Gift Baskets Reviews



By: Davis Brands

About the Author:

There are unique gift baskets for almost any occasion. Selecting unique gift baskets can be a challenge due to the sheer number of websites offering unique gift baskets. Many of these companies allow the customer to create their own unique gift basket. Unique gift baskets can be found for common occasions like Christmas, Easter, Mothers Day, New Year’s, and many other holidays and events.

Gift baskets can be customized to meet the needs and preferences of almost any individual. Companies offering unique gift baskets usually allow the customer to pick the contents to create a truly unique gift basket. Other companies have set gift basket themes and do not allow any deviation from their standard gift baskets.

Thanks to the internet gift givers can pick from hundreds of companies offering unique gift baskets. Businesses that want to make a lasting impression can now create unique gift baskets tailored to the recipient’s tastes. Gourmet items, upscale wines, exotic fruits are always a welcome treat for those receiving unique gift baskets.

Unique gift baskets can be a highly personalized way of expressing gratitude and love. Well chosen unique gift baskets provide the giver with the opportunity to let the recipient know that a lot of thought was put into the selection of their gift. Truly unique gift baskets can leave a lasting impression and create fond memories for the recipient. Unique gift baskets will easily stand out among other gifts.

For the person who has everything and is incredibly hard to shop for unique gift baskets provide the perfect solution for almost any occasion. A little discrete snooping into the likes and dislikes of the recipient will enable gift givers to create memorable unique gift baskets. Unique gift baskets are the perfect solution for those ‘hard to shop for’ relatives or clients.

unique gift baskets



By: Davis Brands

About the Author:

Gift baskets from http://www.thebasketspot.com/ are increasingly becoming more popular. Before the advent of gift baskets, it was exhausting just trying to think of what kind of gift to give someone special. Thanks to the creation of the gift basket, it is now so easy to shop. With different varieties readily available, a lot of people have grown to rely on gift baskets whenever there is a special occasion to give someone a gift. They provide pleasure not only to the receiver, but to the giver, as well.

The most common gift basket themes are as follows: candy and chocolate gift baskets (contain assorted candies and chocolates, and are a favorites among children and teens); bath and body gift baskets include bath soaps & salts, lotions, bubble baths. These are ideal for women who love to pamper themselves. The spa and massage gift baskets contain foot and body scrubs, aromatherapy and massage oils, and massage paraphernalia. These are suitable for both men and women that need to de-stress and relax.

Special occasion gift baskets include those for birthdays, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or Easter and are available for men and women. Corporate gift baskets for clients or customers include wine gift baskets (contain a variety of different wine bottles, and are ideal for superiors and colleagues); baked goodies gift baskets (contain cookies, brownies, muffins, cakes, and other pastries. These are appropriate for a housewarming, for someone who is sick, for neighbors and for friends); and baby gift baskets (contain different baby items such as feeding bottles, diapers, baby powder, shampoo and lotion).

There are many one-of-a-kind gift basket themes available. Examples are the following: animal lover’s gift baskets, picnic gift baskets, movie-themed gift baskets, coffee or tea lover’s gift baskets, sports or team-inspired gift baskets, and special diets’ gift baskets. If the theme that you have in mind is not listed, new themes are introduced every month.

Ordering and purchasing a gift basket is very easy. You can order from the comforts of your own home. All you have to do is simply go online and choose a reliable gift basket store. Most gift basket online stores offer the customer a choice of either buying a pre-packed gift basket, or customizing one. The choice is entirely up to you. Most offer 24-hour delivery service, which insures

food items will be fresh. Wherever your interests are, there should be a gift basket that is suited to your taste and personality. Giving a gift basket for any occasion is one guaranteed way of brightening a person’s day.

The author, Charlie Mann, Time Magazine 2006 Man of Year, is a reporter for CNN and Fox news. He is the author of the NYT Bestsellers Built Hard, and Polar Cap Five. His latest book is How to Win Your Case In Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer from Atlantic Books.

 



By: Charlie Mann

About the Author: