Gift Tips

How To Order Holiday Baskets
As seen in Mimi Vanderhaven's Fabulous Buys

The end of the year is the most popular time to give gifts to clients, employees and vendors. Gift baskets are an excellent way to express your appreciation for business, referrals and hard work. Gift baskets have gained popularity in recent years for a number of reasons.

1. Gift baskets are perceived as a high-end gift or a luxury gift.

2. Baskets can be personalized in a world that is becoming less personal.

3. Gift baskets demonstrate that you invested time in the gift selection process.

4. Baskets can be designed for an individual or a group.

5. Gift baskets designed with your promotional items (mug, notepad, etc.) act as an extension of your business.

6. Baskets filled with snacks and confections are ready to enjoy the moment they are received and require no further demands of the recipient (for example, preparing it or going to another location to use it, like a gift certificate.)

However, one thing is clear: not all gift baskets are created equal. Regardless of your profession or gift occasion, here are some points to consider when purchasing a gift basket or selecting a company to customize gift baskets for you.

Design

• Work with a gift basket company that understands and applies good design fundamentals such as balance, scale and color. Good design does not happen by chance; it is a function of a designer's education, talent and experience.
• If you are purchasing a snack basket for a group, make sure the gift designer includes goodies that can be easily shared or are individually wrapped.
• Don't choose baskets that mix scented items like soap or candles with food items. The food will take on the scent of the soap or candles and taste terrible.
• Select gift baskets where the products have a similar theme such as gourmet foods, snacks, Italian or relaxation. This allows the gift basket to make sense and create a unified experience for the recipient.
• A reputable gift designer will ask you a few key questions such as: What is the occasion? What does the person receiving the gift like? What is your budget? Answers to these questions will ensure that your requirements are met.

Quality

• Ensure the gift basket you purchase includes high-quality products. Fancy product packaging may camouflage poor product quality. Reputable companies stock high-quality and unusual products to delight you and the recipient. They also allow you to sample products.
• Be wary of baskets that are sold at discount stores. These baskets may look nice, but may contain expired products or have been stored in 90-degree weather.
• All aspects of the gift design process are important from container to bow. Ensure your gift designer pays attention to all details. You deserve to have it all!
• Choose handmade bows instead of pre-made manufactured bows or pull-bows. The extra investment in a handmade bow makes a gift basket look expensive.

Value

• Consider choosing gift baskets that incorporate a reusable container in the design. This increases the value of your gift. Popular containers include photo boxes, art glass plates, vases, decorative boxes and caddies.
• Be wary of food and snack baskets that contain a lot of little boxes. In these baskets you are paying for cardboard and getting little food.
• Choose gift baskets that are tall or wide to increase perceived value.
• Remember --- all budgets deserve great gift design. A good designer will work within a variety of budgets to craft a WOW gift that you are excited to give.

When it comes to the gift giving process, you don't have to be a basket case. Simply pace yourself, stick to your budget and equip yourself with tips and resources that will make this year's gift giving season enjoyable and effortless!

Contact Deborah Wasylko, MBA & President of Baskets Galore at 330-220-0088 for a free corporate or personal gift consultation or visit www.BasketsGaloreGifts.com for a large selection of holiday and all occasion gifts. Baskets Galore specializes in custom gifts for all occasions.