New home and condominium owners love receiving gift baskets with ready-to-eat snacks, but they’re also glad to receive products that help them keep a clean, environmentally-healthy home.

Gone are the days when supermarkets were the only place to buy household cleaning products. Not everyone wants a sanitizer with a pine scent.

All-natural cleaners are a huge trend for today’s homeowner. That’s why many manufacturers exhibit home cleaning items at trade shows.

If manufacturers have their way, homeowners who wash dishes by hand will throw the typical plastic bottle dishwashing liquid out in favor of cut-glass bottle designs filled with all-natural lemon or lavender colored dishwashing liquids with corresponding fragrances. These products are usually housed in six ounce containers that resemble gourmet vinegar packaging.

This type of product makes an attractive and affordable gift for your corporate customers, including insurance agents, relocation specialists, real estate companies, the recipient’s in-laws, friends, and other relatives looking for something new to welcome the homeowners.

There are more ideas for the not-so-typical housewarming gift basket, and many of the items are found at the OrganicWholesaleSupplies.com site. What’s in your new home baskets?

Shirley George Frazier

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Imagine this: as you create a custom item for a gift basket, that item morphs into a full-fledged book.

That’s what happened to this gift basket designer, featured in HometownAnnapolis.com. It’s more proof that many of us are talented with and beyond gift baskets.

Think back. What were you unable to find during your products’ research that could become a brand-new product or resource?

Here’s my short list:

I read about the designing author right after launching OrganicWholesaleSupplies.com. The story reminded me about how important books are to us as well.

I’m not going to ask any of you to reveal your list, as I did above, but I do encourage you to consider opportunities that reveal themselves as you create your gorgeous designs. It brought one woman media attention. Why not you?

Shirley George Frazier

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Are customers interested in gift baskets that include organic and eco-friendly products?

I wasn’t sure about this category, as I hadn’t spoken to many designers receiving requests from clients for these items. But then two things let me know that interest is beginning to increase.

1. This past summer, the California Gift Show asked me to talk about green gift baskets, and lots of retailers were interested in the products I displayed.

2. Gifts & Decorative Accessories asked me to write a gift basket article which featured some designers who successfully sell environmentally-friendly baskets.

The new site, Organic Wholesale Supplies, lists hundreds of wholesalers selling products to put into your gift baskets now, during the holidays, and in designs you create in 2009 (starting with Happy New Year baskets).

I was pleased to see, throughout the listings, that many items aren’t as expensive as first believed.

Lots of wholesalers sell waters, snacks, and clothing that are affordable in everyday baskets as well as more-expensive items for clients who want quality over price.

Which organic goods will you begin adding to your gift baskets?

Shirley George Frazier

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While visiting the Gift Shop Magazine Web site, I read that their summer issue will include a supplement called Green Retailer.

Are your clients asking for environmentally-friendly products? If they are, or if there’s a chance they’ll request these items in the future, consider subscribing to Gift Shop Magazine to view the publication and its supplement.

The summer issue will also include a feature article about gift baskets with tips from me and tutorial photographs captured in my office.

I’ve talked about green products in the past, and I’ve seen many at the Ex-tracts Show in New York. Even if clients have not asked for these products, it’s wise to become aware of what’s available, arming yourself with this knowledge before clients ask.

For example, you’ve tried different angles to sell gift baskets to real estate agents, but none have shown interest. Your phone rings. It’s one of the agents who’ve received your marketing materials by mail. She asks if you sell new home baskets with environmentally-friendly products.

You might not have any in stock, but knowing what’s sold through manufacturers and distributors will help you quickly find items to show (and sell to) the real estate agent. The entire gift basket does not have to include green products; two or three is usually sufficient.

I’ll show a selection of green gift baskets during my California Gift Show seminar in July. I hope to see you there, but if I don’t, I plan to photograph what I create to share with you online.

What do you think about environmentally-friendly gift baskets? Is it a theme you’ll create, or will you watch, wait, and see if clients ask for these products?

Shirley George Frazier

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