Gift Basket Business Tips Series: Choosing the Container
Gift Baskets – Not Just Baskets Anymore
By Kathy Green – Nashville Wraps Gift Packaging Consultant
Just because it is called a gift basket doesn’t mean it has to be a basket. I choose a container that my recipient will keep and find useful. Baskets are useful but there are so many alternatives. Let’s get creative!
Generally, the container determines the cost of the gift. So naturally, use the pricey container for the expensive custom gift and let your price tag reflect it. On the other hand, inexpensive container ideas abound that make very attractive presentations.
For those really large or expensive gifts, the sky is the limit! Ask a few questions about your client: their hobbies, favorite foods, or whether they are a tea sipper or a coffee drinker. A tea-sipping gardener like me would love a garden tote or planter brimming with gardening and tea time goodies. Packed with our wood excelsior as support for all the gifts it would be a show-stopper. Our excelsior comes in colors now; I especially like the sage green. Don’t forget to tuck in a note saying excelsior will be a good addition to the compost pile! What about a huge popcorn bowl for the guy who watches sports all weekend? Fill it with gourmet popcorn, soda, chocolate covered pretzels, and a matching sports-themed throw and pillow for the couch. Find out his favorite team and add a team T- shirt or boxers!
From the other end of the spectrum, try a basket box. Basket Boxes make impressive themed presentations at low cost. By using the basket benches with the back attached you can build tall gifts. Just add Crinkle Cut or tissue shreds for color and texture.
To meet the extreme budget challenge, check out our 100% recycled, 2-piece china gift boxes in white or Kraft. You get two containers from each box by using the top for one and the bottom for the other. The largest white china box is currently $2.05 – that is just a little over a dollar per container. It doesn’t get much better than that! The cute bear themed box at the beginning of this article uses a two piece medium sized box as it’s container. Your filler will give the boxes added strength and you will be surprised how much product you can pack into them. I also did a cute little spa gift in one of our economy one-piece gift boxes. The lid makes a good support for the taller items. Notice how I softened it with a cello fan of pink dots to coordinate with my rose theme; the wired ribbon tied around this box also gives extra support.
Stay tuned for more from the Business Tip Series, and please share your great ideas with us. If we use them in our blog we’ll include a link to your website!
Kathy Green, Packaging Consultant, Nashville Wraps
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
love the ideas. i am in a craft show next weekend,and have many a basket but fell in love with the hat box sets and plastic bags for candles.thanks fo sharing your ideas
Great ideas for going green. We all need to take a stand, but it is especially exciting to see a business take the lead. Congratulations and thank you for thinking of the world.
I really enjoy the Blog. Also enjoy working with an upscale market–and want them to think they are upscale– and making them feel that they have a special gift. Therefore, am always looking for new ideas. One of my favorites is: the Italian basket: Wine, Imported Balsamic, Olive Oil, Dipping Spices, Pier 1 Plate, Cloth Napkins, Wine Stems, and a fresh loaf of grain baguette (or baton) in a really nice and interesting basket. Of course, can also include some gourmet sausage, etc. The Sky is the Limit but it can also be smaller and elegant for an intimate lanai picnic. Thanks again!!