by smiteme

There must be literally dozens of times, if not hundreds, in our lives when we get stuck for a perfect gift idea for someone special. Even those who are not so special need to be given a gift sometimes, so the problem remains the same.

Imagine being at work and the boss tells his secretary to send something to a friend of his who has been hospitalized. Whatever would she think of sending at such short notice? Even work colleagues who have, unfortunately, suffered bereavement may have to be sent something. What about the new baby born to a fellow manger or director? All very different occasions but with one thing in common, they need a gift to be sent to say; we care; we are thinking of you; sorry for your loss, or great news!

There is one particular gift that says all of these things and more, the gift basket. Gift baskets come chock full of all kinds of goods these days. Remember when all they contained were a few pieces of ripe fruit, topped with cellophane and a paper ribbon? Well, these days are long gone. Now the variety of goodies, available in gift baskets, is awe inspiring to say the least.

But first, it is very obvious that the occasion has to be noted and worked out. For example, many faux pas have occurred by sending the wrong kind of gift basket to a recipient. For example, sending a gourmet basket, complete with several bottles of fine wines, to a person who is well known to be having some problems with alcohol is a big mistake for sure. Or what about the wonderful chocolate or cookie filled gift baskets for the person who has been told to lose weight by the doctor? Another point here is that the recipient could also be a diabetic, a condition that is becoming more common these days in first world countries.

There is no need to panic if there is little known about the recipient. Even if they are sent an inappropriately filled gift basket, they will surely appreciate the thought behind the gift and let it go at that. However, with a little detective work, the perfect gift basket must surely be available for even the most difficult person. Indeed, if it is impossible to find out anything at all about the intended recipient, err on the side of caution and send a gift basket that does not contain food or alcohol of any kind. In this way, no boundaries are crossed and no insult, intended or not intended, will happen.

When sending a gift basket, there is also one other thing to consider, and that is the status of the recipient. If the intended ‘victim’ is a high flying executive then a bath full of a selection of different beers is unlikely to be taken very well. However, if he is an avid sports fan, a little younger than most and very easy going, he just might love the fact that he is still thought of as ‘one of the boys’. On the other hand, this type of gift ‘basket’ will be a huge hit for those who are celebrating their team winning the league, or for the birth of a new baby. The parents may well appreciate a contribution to the get together for friends and relatives after the baby is born.

Now, let’s get back to that executive. There are some superb gourmet gift baskets filled with delicious foods and marvelous cheeses. Depending on the size of the basket, it can hold several bottles of very good wine, crystal glasses to drink the wine, unusual and tasty treats from around the world, along with some exquisite pates to finish off this highly desirable gift basket.

For Thanksgiving celebrations, some gift baskets consist of a huge cooked turkey, with all the trimmings, to make the day go with a bang. Many families would love to receive this kind of basket, particularly if there is to be a huge family gathering at that time. Even honey roast hams come in the same format and are great for family reunions or just for get-togethers.

It goes without saying that new babies are a wonderful time to celebrate, but this time can be a little overpowering for the young parents. Instead of buying one single item for the new baby, try giving a lovely gift basket containing a complete layette in blue or pink. For those who are close to the proud parents, finding out the name of the baby should be very easy and this means that names or initials can be embroidered onto the bibs or toys to make it extra special. Young parents will surely appreciate this very handy addition to the baby’s wardrobe.

Gift baskets are not just there for individuals. Some offices receive great gift baskets filled with cookies or other sweet things as a thank you from a grateful customer. This is a great advertising tool too because the company logo can be iced onto the cookie. With every mouthful, the recipients will literally have that company’s name on their lips! Other gift baskets are filled with the ubiquitous cup cakes, which seems to be everyone’s favorites right now. One unusual food gift that has just come out is not a basket at all. Try sending out a delicious cheesecake, cut into individual slices, and made up of eight different flavors. This sixteen slice cake would surely be most welcome at a bridal shower or baby’s christening party.

These gift baskets are also a wonderful idea for the boss to say ‘thank you for working so hard’ to his employees; or perhaps given under a gifting policy that includes giving birthday or anniversary presents to the staff. It really gives them an incentive to keep on giving their all for the company.

Whatever the cause, and whoever the recipient is, personalizing the gift with embroidery, engraving or ribbons with greetings on, will put that finishing touch to a well appreciated gift.

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