It was a life-changing experience when I began making gift baskets at Macy’s. I remember arriving at one of their stores with baskets, bows, and other supplies to make on-the-spot designs for customers.
One buyer brought me items from the baby department, and then another came with men’s briefs and socks. A crowd began to gather, watching me as I turned individual items into a masterpiece collection.
Then came a challenge. A woman set a blanket, pillow cases, and photo frames on the table. The blanket was too big for a basket, so I did the next best thing.
I tied the blanket with curling ribbon and wrapped it in cellophane. The photo frames were also wrapped individually in cellophane. The pillow cases were already packaged, so I left them as is.
All four items were stacked atop each other, wrapped in two criss-crossed layers of printed cellophane and topped with two handmade bows. The customer smiled broadly as she carried the gift by a handle I added at the top.
Some baskets are wide enough to hold a blanket, especially if the blanket is for a baby. That’s what I show in The Gift Basket Design Book and also display in new videos available each month in the Golden Basket Club.
A blanket is just one large item that I’ve added to a gift theme. Other items include comforters, electronic equipment, chairs, and mirrors.
As you create designs, you’ll become more accustomed to deciding which styles need a basket and how to create non-basket gifts as quickly as I did for the Macy’s customer. Remember that large-sized items command larger revenue. That’s always a great incentive.
Have you created gifts with blankets and other oversized items? If not, it’s just a matter of time before you start.
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Creating bereavement baskets can be a very challenging part of business.
