Community Chat

[FancyPhillyshopper]

I have given LOTS of gift baskets in my life, and received a few as well!

Nowadays anything can be put together in a basket!  Traditionally it was fruit, foods, chocolates, coffees, cookies, etc., etc. Often it was just one specific brand, like Harry and David. 

Then baskets were developed for housewarming, baby showers, and who knows what else. Yes, beauty boxes and fashion boxes have now become a real fad.

There is a company called Happy Box that lets you design your own boxes-- I have sent these boxes to family members.

I am sorry to say that I do not really think your friend will fare too well with this idea as a money-maker as the market is saturated. She would need to have a very wide field of supporters, and would have to establish some standard of quality and efficiency that would make people want to purchase through her.  

In my case when shopping for gift baskets, I always prefer well-known companies. I wish her good luck, as it seems like it would be a fun work experience if she can get the customers.

[AuntMame]

A friend started a gift basket business by selling them through hospital gift shops. From there she branched out to selling them to local businesses that needed to send out corporate gifts. She was quite successful, and did this for many years. But she had other product lines such as specialized gourmet foods and customized corporate food gifts. At one point she was selling through local gourmet-style grocery stores. I always wondered when she had time to sleep. 

[Desertdi]

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@monicakm wrote:

@Desertdi 

WHY??

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@monicakm     Probably no place to store the stuff...and HOW MUCH can an individual person EAT...   di

[Group 5 minus 1]

Gift Baskets: Depends on what the receiver likes and eats and special diets. So many times the stuff in gift baskets goes to waste.

I think many times a gift basket is an "easy" gift. Not much thinking about but makes you feel good. You gave the gift.

I read once about a person the made up a gift basket for a friend and included those products that may have been too $$ for the receiver. 

[lynnie61]

I've made some baskets for charity events for auctions.  I think it would be a tough business.  Keeping the costs manageable and shipping costs.

I've received some corporate baskets and some breakfast baskets like Stonewall kitchens or Harry and David.  I always tried to use all the items.  I've seen some beauty baskets that were a little too generic.  People like their specific brands.  

Many, many years ago, my friends got me a big, big Bath and Body Works basket when my mom passed.  I LOVED it.  It was lovely.  

[We rescue cats]

When I had the travel agencies we would put a 'welcome home' gift basket together for folks that were away for over a week. I worked with a gift basket gal, and we usually knew enough about the client to pick what they liked, there's a lot good about a small town! We often included things like milk, bread, cereal, eggs-even lunch and/or dinner items, treats for the kids or pets . . . each basket was personalized.

[haddon9]

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@FancyPhillyshopper wrote:

I have given LOTS of gift baskets in my life, and received a few as well!

Nowadays anything can be put together in a basket!  Traditionally it was fruit, foods, chocolates, coffees, cookies, etc., etc. Often it was just one specific brand, like Harry and David. 

Then baskets were developed for housewarming, baby showers, and who knows what else. Yes, beauty boxes and fashion boxes have now become a real fad.

There is a company called Happy Box that lets you design your own boxes-- I have sent these boxes to family members.

I am sorry to say that I do not really think your friend will fare too well with this idea as a money-maker as the market is saturated. She would need to have a very wide field of supporters, and would have to establish some standard of quality and efficiency that would make people want to purchase through her.  

In my case when shopping for gift baskets, I always prefer well-known companies. I wish her good luck, as it seems like it would be a fun work experience if she can get the customers.

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I have to agree with this.  Yes sometimes gift baskets can be fun to give depending on the situation, etc.  However unless this friend can really specialize in something unique with a market for it, I'm afraid her business might not take off. 

There are too many large companies who offer this with them offering customization.

[ScrapHappy]

My go to is Wolferman's.  I've sent sympathy baskets to friends.  I used to send to my mother for Easter, she really liked their english muffins.  

[San Antonio Gal]

Gift baskets oftentimes have non-brand/off-brand items to keep the cost down for the basket.

@Goodie2shoes  -  Will you friend be able to put good guality items in the baskets while keeping the cost down?   It seems like the profit per basket would be so low that it wouldn't be worth her time.

Is she planning on personally delivering the gift baskets?  Mailing would be very expensive.  If she's delivering, she needs to figure out how much gas it will cost.

[San Antonio Gal]

The only thing nice about a gift basket is the presentation.  After that, it's throwing away all the stuffing and putting away the basket or discarding it.

Hit and miss on the items.