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General Gift Giving
Gift Baskets Are Great Gift Ideas
- When you're struggling for a great gift idea - whether for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or just because - gift baskets are almost always a sure bet. Sooner or later in life, everyone needs to buy a gift. But not everyone can come up with unique, cool, or even practical gift ideas. So when you're not sure what kind of gift to buy, gift baskets are a safe and sensible choice. The beauty of gift baskets is their universal appeal. Gift baskets can be given to men, women and children. In fact, they could well be the closest thing to the perfect gift, because they can be completely designed to suit the giver, recipient, occasion, time, and place.
- When it comes to gift basket giving, keeping it traditional is often better. Your goal is to give gifts that someone wants or needs, right? Now imagine giving someone a whole basket full of gifts that they have no use for. Not only is this embarrassing for you - if and when you do find out - but it's extremely disappointing for the recipient.
- So fuss and specialty aside, here are some traditional gift basket ideas that are sure to be hits:
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- Gourmet Gift Basket: The gourmet basket is the poster child of the gift basket industry. A gourmet gift basket typically includes chocolates, cookies, cheese, crackers, hard candies, nut mixes, and snacks - all presented in a beautiful wicker or reed basket. They come in various sizes, usually small to jumbo, and can range in price from thirty dollars to several hundred.
- Fruit Basket: Who wouldn't want to receive a handsome wicker basket overflowing with luscious fruits such as Tangelos, Bartlett and Star Crimson pears, Fuji and Royal Gala apples, Bing cherries and more? Fruit excites the palate and warms the heart. And you can send a smorgasbord of premium fruit for under a hundred dollars.
- Candle Basket: It's hard to go wrong with candles. The soothing glow and refreshing aroma of a lit candle has cast a spell. In fact, according to USA Today, consumers spent more than $8.4 million dollars last year on candles and home fragrances. That's a lot of wax! Mesmerizing, candles are indeed one of life's little luxuries and a top gift basket pick. One note of caution: gift basket retailers like to pair up candles with spa products and home decor. So, if you're looking for a candle-only basket, try visiting a candle specialty shop, and creating your own candle gift basket from scratch.
- If you're struggling to find the perfect gift or just plain lost for time, a traditional gift basket is the ideal solution. They are the perfect way to say, "Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Thanks or Just Because."
A Very Special Gift
- Need a gift for the “foodie” in your life? A food gift basket is the answer for all those friends and relatives who enjoy trying new foods. A food gift basket makes a wonderful gift for the “gourmet” and is also nice for those friends who do not have a lot of time to cook.
- If you have friends or family members who love to entertain, the food gift basket will be a welcome treat. You will be able to delight so many people with the gift of a food basket. There are food baskets for almost everyone’s tastes. When you order a food basket you will be able to choose from many prepackaged baskets or you can design your own.
- There are food baskets with different food themes. Choose from a Mexican or Italian food gift basket. A Mexican food gift basket may contain tortilla chips, salsa, and seasoning mixes. In an Italian food gift basket you may find biscotti, pasta, sauces and wine.
- You can order food gift baskets that feature snack items like popcorn, candy and peanuts. For the gourmet you may want a food basket that has olives, interesting spreads or dips and imported meats. For the cheese lover you will be able to order a food basket with cheeses from around the world and a variety of crackers.
- Gift baskets are just the thing for those recovering from an illness. Gift baskets come packaged with soup, fruit and teas. You can find a dessert food basket that has tantalizing cheesecakes, pies, cookies, truffles or fudge.
- Food gift baskets can be found online and make super gifts for anyone who loves food. Send a food gift basket as a thank-you or congratulations gift. Birthdays and holidays are also the perfect times to send a gourmet food gift basket.
- Anyone who receives a food gift basket will feel especially loved and much appreciated. Think about a food gift basket the next time you need a really special gift.
Choosing the Right Gift
- Although there are many variables to choosing the right gift for the woman in your life some rules always apply. Following are some basic tips to help you through the murky waters of choosing a gift.
- Pay attention. Take a good look at the home decor of the woman who will receive your gift. Does she decorate with angels, candles, family pictures, posters or art? The items a woman chooses for her home will give many clues as to what she would enjoy receiving.
- Ask questions. It never hurts to ask a woman what she enjoys receiving as a gift. Ask her to describe her most favorite gift. Ask her to tell you what she enjoys giving as a gift. This often will be the thing that she enjoys receiving as well. Encourage an open dialogue about gift giving and listen to the clues she is giving you.
- Don't take the easy way out. Don't just send a dozen flowers or a box of chocolates and expect an overwhelming response. Women love to receive gifts that are meaningful and matched to their interest.
- Don't buy a gift that you like or want and give it to someone else. This trick will not work on any woman with half a brain! Many years ago I had a committed relationship with a boyfriend that never, and I mean never, bought me a gift. One year he excitedly told me he had bought tickets to a concert for my birthday! I was surprised and pleased until he announced that he bought tickets to a Pink Floyd concert. I listened to Madonna and Michael Jackson at the time not classic rock. Needless to say, out of politeness I pretended to be happy and excited and went to the concert and had a good time. Giving a gift to someone that is something you like or want is selfish and sure to cause serious repercussions in your relationship. Don't do it.
- Make your gift giving successful by taking the time to learn about the women in your life and to appreciate them for their unique gifts. Women love to receive gifts and will reciprocate in kind. Don't wait for a birthday or other special occasion. Give gifts frequently and unexpectedly and you will be surprised by the response you receive!
Terrible At Choosing Gifts?
- Need help with gifts? Not everyone is good at choosing them. But there's more to gift giving than getting gift ideas from someone else.
- This is why we'd like to share our gift giving philosophy: Focus on "The Who". No, not the band…who are you giving to? You need to know about this person. You can't give a great gift without knowing that. It's helpful to have a general idea of what they like, and better to know some specifics details about their life and personality. It's also useful to know what they dislike (to avoid the "wrong" gift).
- Ask yourself: Where do they work? Do they like what they do for a living? How do they spend their day? Their night? Their free time? Do they have any hobbies? Where do they live? What kind of car do they drive? Are they married? Do they have any kids? What about pets?
- These are all questions whose answers can give you the information you need to choose the perfect gift. People notice and appreciate it when you take the time and effort to pick out a gift that reflects WHO they are. It's an especially thoughtful gift when you can give something that relates to a person, pet, cause, or idea that is important to your recipient.
- Notice we said "important to your recipient", not "important to you". Gift giving is not about you. It's about them. Some people tend to forget that and end up giving a gift that they would like themselves.
- Another tip: If you are an important person in the recipient's life, a gift that involves giving of your time is usually appreciated. For example, if you've been working a lot and haven't had much time to spend with your spouse, for your anniversary, considers giving a weekend getaway together.
- That in itself is a good example of examining a person's life or situation and turning it into a great gift idea. The situation is: your spouse hasn't had the quality time with you that he/she deserves. The gift is: a weekend getaway together.
- It's a simple concept really. Create your own help with gifts: take a look at who you are giving to and try to understand the circumstances of their life. Then find a gift that fits! Put that brain of yours to work to find the perfect gift! And don't forget to use your heart, too. That's where the ALL of the really good gifts come from.
It's the Thought That Counts When Giving a Gift
- Gift giving is more than just the thought. It’s the thought, the present, the intention, the whole package. The best gifts are ones that directly assume of the giftee, that’s truly when the thought counts. Or the guy whose girlfriend gave him tickets to a show he didn’t want to watch.
- When it comes to your loved ones, presents shouldn’t be given out of need but from the heart. This depends on what ones giftee wants or likes. Did you watch the Friends episode where Ross got Rachel the broche she had seen in a shop window some months ago? That’s what I mean by tuning in. Find what the person wants and then give it to them. That’s when the thought really counts. You know when you've done a nice employment with your gift selection when you astonish your giftee.
- There are times when we do not know what our giftee would like. There are safe presents we can give. Safe gifts are gift baskets, a bottle of wine - something that is popularly considered nice. You may find they will treasure you and your gesture 100 fold.
Birthday Gift Baskets - The Ideal Gift for Everyone
- No matter how old we are, we enjoy being remembered on that special day of the year that celebrates the day we were born! Birthdays are a time to recognize special people in our lives with joyous celebration. It is a time-honored tradition to pay tribute the birthday gal or guy with a mouth-watering cake decorated with sugar-laden frosting sculptures and a candle representing every year of their life on earth! We bestow on them gifts and cards filled with birthday verses and best wishes for many more birthdays to come. Birthdays are just plain fun!
- Typically, the most difficult part of the birthday celebration is deciding what to buy the recipient. After all, what do you buy for someone who has it all? Admit it – every year it becomes more difficult to find the “perfect” gift for your mom, dad, sibling, husband, and even the kids in your family. How much time do you spend thinking about it and ultimately browsing through department stores without a clue?
- Birthday gift baskets are an excellent choice for the birthday gal or guy at any age – they are virtually fail-proof and always a big hit with the recipient. The question may come to mind, “What are the perfect ingredients for a gift basket?” That will vary from one individual to the next. The great thing about birthday gift baskets is that they can be built for children and adults of any age – and based on their unique interests and likes. The following ideas may help you in selecting a birthday gift basket for everyone on your list:
Women
- You can’t ever go wrong with a birthday basket designed for every special woman in your life, whether it is your mom, grandmother, wife, sister, or daughter. Women love to be pampered. A pampering basket may include bath and body products, a loofah, a fragrant candle, an inspirational book, and a CD of soothing sounds of nature. The woman who enjoys gardening would welcome a basket containing a garden trowel, gloves, decorative garden picks, seeds, and hand lotion packed in a decorative flower pot. For the tea lover, a perfect basket would consist of flavored teas, biscotti, a tea infuser, and a china tea pot.
Men
- Men are not as hard to please as you think – and a birthday gift basket is a perfect solution for that hard-to-buy for dad, husband, brother, grandfather, son, or boss! If he is your handyman, fill the basket with small tools and gadgets he is always mentioning he needs but never buys. Don’t forget to add some treats to round out the basket – after all, you will want to satisfy that sweet tooth. Consider a sports-oriented theme for this birthday gift basket. There are great options out there for sports enthusiasts in every category. If you are thinking about something with a little more style, a bottle of cognac, his favorite cigars, and gourmet treats may appeal to him – packaged in a brown derby!
Kids
- The sky is the limit when selecting a birthday gift basket for a kid of any age. Stick to items that are age-specific from babies through teens. Consider items that you know the child likes. You can stick with a specific theme or create a hodge-podge of items that you know will bring hours of enjoyment to a child. Ideas for an assortment of items are a small stuffed animal, books based on age and interest, healthy snacks, travel-size games, small puzzles, and flavored beverages for kids. Consider containers they can reuse.
- If you just do not know what items to select, consider a gourmet food basket that usually satisfies everyone’s pallet – even the most hard to please! There is no limit on what you can include in a birthday gift basket, but always consider the recipient when making a gift basket purchase and ask yourself whether or not he or she will like the birthday gift basket you select!
