For both the organized person with a curated to-do list and the last-minute shopper, holiday gift baskets are a lifesaver. They’re self-contained wonders, please everyone, and no gift wrapping for the buyer. Win-win!

THINK OUTSIDE THE BASKET

Baskets are the typical container, but we’re suggesting a few alternatives. Think hat boxes, sturdy Christmas stockings, decoupaged shoeboxes, or anything that can surprise and delight and be repurposed. Ideally, the container should be at least one-third the height of the overall presentation, smaller, if possible. Here are some other ideas:

A large beachside pail with brilliant colored sunglasses plus a glass or plastic pitcher, packages of ice tea bags, fresh lemons, sprigs of mint, and decorative sugar cubes. Yes, it’s winter, but folks can dream, right?

A single mug, a packet of 10-20 teabags, and a small mesh bag of sugar cubes. Go a little bigger with a single teapot with a small tin of loose-leaf tea, infuser, and a jar of honey.

Wood, metal or plastic trays with table-setting accoutrements like runners, napery, napkin rings, antique teaspoons (mix and match), tea scoop, and one large, fabulous tin of your own exclusively blended tea.

India’s metal tiffins are round containers that are stackable and lend themselves to tiny things and wrapping it up is a breeze. Ditto Chinese small-sized bamboo steamer boxes. Both are available wherever lunchbox or culinary products are sold. P.S. You can do the same with modern or collective lunchboxes. Souchong Superman, anyone? They will all work, wrapped in cellophane, and tied with colorful ribbons and fresh or faux sprigs of holly.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Think small/big, inexpensive/pricey for contents such as inexpensive tins of teabags paired with antique cups and saucers for a Tea for Two, along with a box of cookies plus two pretty vintage or new napkins.

Or a “Blender’s Box” with several small packets of black loose leaf teas alongside dried flower petals and spices. Add a bowl and scoop, and let the blending begin.

Ditto a large mixing bowl of glass or stainless steel, scone mixes plus any other non-perishable add-ons, and a tin of teas, and this Scone ‘n Darjeeling Surprise will hit all the sweet spots of gift giving.

PRICE FOR EVERY BUDGET

Once you’ve decided on the type of gift baskets you want to offer, create one. How long did it take you? Although the more baskets one makes the quicker they can be made, be cognizant of the time as a factor in the final pricing.

Don’t guess! Add up all your costs for wrapping materials (straw, batting, ribbons, cellophane, bows, the container.) List the retail cost of gift items. Finally, and most importantly, add the value of the time needed to assemble it. Even a mug with a packet of tea sachets tied with a ribbon should be priced to include a small fee. Round it all up to a flat price ($25, $50, $95, $125) and that’s your retail price.

Keep the choices manageable. Two ideas under $25, two to four in the higher priced range would more than enough.

CUSTOMIZED BASKETS MEAN MORE PROFITS

One irony in the gift basket category is when customers opt to personalize the basket contents, they spend more. When you add customized basket options on your web site, customers can take all the time they need to select items, any time of the day or night, without stopping the flow of your business on the shop floor. You can offer local delivery or curbside pickup.

MAKING SPACE

While the items for gift baskets are from your display shelves or overstock, the actual assembly requires a dedicated space. If your backroom cannot accommodate room for a table, a shelf for wrapping and decorative supplies, and easy access to inventory, consider an off-site location. Eliminating the stress of confined space, chance for breakage, and other mishaps may be well worth any additional costs.

Check with retail neighbors who also create gift baskets and maybe one or more would like to join you in a short-term rental for the holidays. It could be anything from a good-sized storage unit with electricity, a garage, or even a small office nearby that can accommodate a bookshelf or two of supplies and several wrapping tables.

DELEGATE, DELEGATE, DELEGATE

Figure out how much prep you can do in-store with current staff. Then, delegate the gift basket category to your most creative staff member, favorite gift wrapper, or a part-timer who’d relish the autonomy of this gig. Can they work from home or off-site? Can they pick up and drop off finished products to your shop? Can they handle the technical requirements of requests from your website?

Provide them with everything they need plus clear written instructions for each basket design. Add a photo! Remember to give each basket design its own checklist of all packing products and all the gift items and suggest an estimated assembly time so that the worker can plan accordingly.

LAST THOUGHTS

PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE. Tell everyone that you’re offering gift baskets, what they are, how much they cost, and whether you provide delivery service. Put flyers in sales bags, post on the web site, and use in-store signage.

The holidays are HERE (Chanukah begins Nov. 28th, Christmas is only weeks away!) So if gift baskets are on your radar, START NOW. The more prepared you are, the less stress you’ll have meeting customer requests. This lead-up period also helps you work out any kinks in the design, assembly, and promotion of your Holiday Gift Baskets. Check out our some of our many gift items here.