How do you thank a friend, neighbor, or thoughtful person for inviting you to a gathering? It’s easy when you know what to put in a hostess gift basket.
Better than a bottle
During the end-of-year holidays, most people flock to wine and spirit stores to pick up “a bottle of something.” It’s handed to the party’s hostess in appreciation for the invitation.
That’s fine for some. However, your customers are not in that category. They want a gift that stands out from the many bottles of wine and liquor entering the home. It’s a gift that shows more than appreciation. It shows that thought and planning went into the choice, and once you know how to make this beautiful gift, your customer will be remembered long after the event ends.
Such gifts are part of my specialization, and I’m betting it’s one you wish to highlight, too.
Not just for the holidays
Requests for hostess gift baskets arrive throughout the year, not just during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. My records indicate that most orders occur during spring and summer months when clients attend private events at all types of locations (estates, gated communities, airports, yacht clubs, etc.).
My favorite orders are ones where I deliver to a facility. That’s when an order for 10 or more hostess gifts are created for team or group members who go above and beyond expectations. I get to see environments I’ve never visited, and there’s also opportunities to make connections that would not happen elsewhere.
As with tea and cooking gift baskets, this gift list includes foods and items to mix and match according to the receiver’s preferences which you’ll inquire about during the order. For example, my clients request tea more often than coffee or a sparkling beverage. Still, my inventory includes all three to ensure both the client and recipient are happy.
Hostess gift basket containers
- Wooden box
- Wire/Mesh basket
- Hat box
- Fabric-covered box
- Teapot
- Tote bag
What to put in a hostess gift basket
- Tea cup and saucer
- Personalized mug
- Fruit
- Biscotti
- Cookies
- Chocolates
- Champagne crackers
- Cheese
- Organic honey
- Toffee
- Nuts
- Hard candies
- Caramels
- Sparkling beverage
- Tea
- Coffee
- Journal
- Writing instruments
- Postage stamps
- Hand lotion
- Keychain flashlight
You’ll find more great design ideas in The Gift Basket Design Book, by Shirley George Frazier.
