If you choose not to put baskets together yourself, an even easier way
to stay within your budget is to pick a local or internet company to
customize baskets for you. Sure, if you pick a company from the internet,
you’ll have to pay shipping and handling. But, either way, you can pick
your budget and be guaranteed not to go over it (as most gift givers
tend to do).
The Basket Doesn’t Have to be a Basket
Keep in mind that the holder is just as much a gift as the things
filling it. So, get creative. Sure, some people like the baskets. In fact, a
nice collectible basket can be the most impressive part of a gift
basket if you’re giving it to someone who collects baskets (such as
Nantucket, Longaberger, English Market, or Capodimonte).
For non-basket collectors, try to stick with the theme. For example,
golf lovers can get their gifts stuffed into a ball caddy. For kids, use
sand pails. For babies, use diaper pails. For gardeners, use a bucket.
For college kids, use a shower caddy. The ideas are endless.
Gift Basket Ideas for Sports Lovers
You have a friend who likes to golf. Fill a golf caddy with balls,
tees, little pencils, a golf towel, ball markers, a divot tool, shoe spike
wrench, energy bars, and sports drinks.
For a recent college grad or just a faithful alum, fill a basket (or
upside down baseball cap) with college memorabilia including a logo
items, stickers, mugs, a replica stadiums, and bobble-head dolls.
Gift Basket Ideas for Kids
Maybe you have a kids in your life that you don’t know how to shop for.
It’s impossible to remember from month to month, year to year, what
they are interested in. So, for the youngsters, fill a sand pail with
plastic sand tools, coloring books and crayons, clay, stickers, favorite
candy, and gum. When they get older, use games, puzzles, and comic books.