"Thank You" Means A Lot

This time of year many of you will receive Christmas Baskets for the holidays.

I am amazed how often people, who have ordered a gift basket from my store, call to confirm if it was received because they never got a "thank you." Even corporations that send lots of gifts each year, expect a little appreciation for the gesture. Someone took the time to think of you, spend their hard earned money, and pick out something they thought was appropriate for you. Sometimes, we'll make something up special, a custom or personalized basket, and the customer is anxiously awaiting to hear the reaction when it's received.

A quick phone call is fine. However, a hand written thank you note is a nice touch too. You should mention a detail or two about the specific gift or how it will be used. Here are a couple of quick sample letters if you're at a loss for words:

(1) Dear Aunt Emma,

Thank you so much for the new sweater. The color is so pretty and it looks nice and warm for winter. It was very thoughtful of you to think of me. I really appreciate it.

(2) To All The Staff At ABC Marketing:

Thank you for the lovely Christmas basket. We all enjoyed the chocolates and other goodies. In fact, there's not much left! We hope you had a wonderful holiday and look forward to a new year of doing business with you.

So, take out a few minutes to acknowledge the gifts you receive. It will make someone's day and it's just plain rude not to!

Create a Christmas Gift Basket for Teens

If you have teenagers on your holiday gift list, you already know how difficult they can be to buy for. This is especially true if the teens are members of your extended family or if you don't know what they really want. A Christmas gift basket is the perfect way to give a thoughtful gift that teens are sure to enjoy!

The Basket

The first thing you need to choose is the basket itself. A wicker basket from the dollar store or craft shop will do the trick, but why not make the basket part of the gift itself? Consider using a large popcorn bowl, or a big container with a lid that can be used for storage.

For girls, a cosmetics tote or wire basket is a good base for your gift basket, or, if you know their tastes, a decorated hat box would do the job. For boys, try a plastic desk organizer or a storage box designed to hold CD's or video games.

The Filler

Once you have your basket, you'll need something to put inside the bottom of it to hold your gift items in place. Colored plastic "grass" (like you'd find in an Easter basket) works well, as does shredded paper or balled up tissue paper. To make things more fun, you can use plain, air-popped popcorn, peanuts or other nuts in the shell, or wrapped hard candies as your filler.

A winter scarf, t-shirt, socks, or other soft fabric item would also make a good base to line the gift basket with. For the sports enthusiast you could use tennis or golf balls. Try to keep the filler scaled to the size of your container; if you're using a large item for a basket, then you can use larger-sized filler items.

The Gifts

Now it's time to figure out what to put in the basket! Your choices will ultimately depend on how well you know the recipient and how much money you want to spend. Gift certificates are always a welcome gift for teens, and they don't need to come in large amounts to be useful. Pick up some small denominations of gift certificates from a movie rental outlet, coffee shop, or health food store. There's something for everyone at book and record stores, so consider those places for gift certificates as well.

Teen girls are usually very concerned with their appearance, so health and beauty items are great basket fillers. Generic items that every girl can use include lip balm, clear lip gloss, scented bars of soap, emery boards, cleansing cloths, nail polish remover, toothbrushes, makeup brushes and applicators, compact mirrors, and purse-sized bottles of hand lotion. For long haired girls, scrunchies and barrettes are also good choices.

Teen boys can be a little more difficult to buy for, but with a bit of inspiration you're sure to find the right items. Munchies such as nuts, pretzels, and trail mix are a good start. Protein bars are another option. Sports socks work well, or try hand-held electronic games based on sports or casino games.

Other generic gifts for both boys and girls can include gloves or mittens, ear buds for walkmans or MP3 players, bottles of flavored water, gourmet hot chocolate mixes, seasonal treats and candies, pre-paid phone cards, and magazines.

Putting it All Together

Putting the gift basket together is easy. You'll need your basket, filler, gifts, clear cellophane wrap, tape, ribbon, and a gift tag. Start off by making sure that the price tags are all removed from the gifts and the basket itself.

Fill the basket or container about half way with the filler material, and then just place the items into the basket. Start with the larger items, which you may want to gift wrap first to heighten the enjoyment of the gift itself. Fill in the empty spaces with the smaller items.

Cut a length of the cellophane that is long enough to pull up over the sides of the basket, leaving several inches of overhang on either side. Place the basket in the center of the cellophane, and lift both sides to meet in the middle. Holding the ends together, tape the sides in several places to secure. Gather the cellophane together at the top, and tie it all up with a festive ribbon. If there are bits of cellophane peeking out at the sides, push them in towards the basket to hide them.

That's all there is to it! Your gift basket will look terrific, and any teenager will be delighted to open it up and discover all of the fun and useful presents inside.

Christmas Baskets - It's Time Already!

Yes, it's already time for holiday shopping. Christmas Baskets or Hanukkah Gift Baskets can help take the stress out of the season.

Got an Aunt on the west coast? Clients you want to keep your name in front of or get new business from? Employees or partners you want to thank with appreciation gifts? Skip the post office and the malls. Save time, gas, and shop from the comfort of your own home at your convenience. Our secure online store, Basket Star, has plenty of Christmas baskets, a snowflake themed bath and body gift, kosher Hanukkah baskets, sleds, towers, kid christmas baskets, kid Hanukkah baskets, a keepsake Hanukkah Platter, and much more to choose from. We can also create a custom or personalized gift to meet your needs and have products for every budget.

Local hand delivery is available in Bergen County NJ and ship anywhere in the continental United States.

We're hard at work now getting ready for the holidays - creating stunning designs, taste-testing lots of yummy, gourmet foods to make sure the very best ones go into our baskets, and putting them all together so they're ready to be shipped or delivered. Order early and specify your desired arrival date - we'll make sure it gets there on time. That's it, you're done! Now go bake cookies or something.

Tips For A Greener Christmas

Christmas has long faced skepticism for having veered away from its spiritual roots and, instead, become a token of commercialism grandeur. This season, why not step away from the rat race and show your love, not only for family and friends, but also for this great planet that we live on? In keeping with environmental awareness that has recently swept over our land, here are 10 ways that you can help protect our planet, show your love, and ensure that everyone enjoy a great “green” holiday season.

1. Get yourself a “greener” evergreen.

Living Christmas trees are gaining popularity, once again, and why not? Instead of having to go cut down a tree, or marching down to the Christmas tree stand and paying those outrageous prices for pre-cut trees, living Christmas trees allow us to bring our tree inside our home for the season and, when it’s over, we can then replant it outside. That’s a much happier thought than driving along and noting all the discarded trees in the trash after New Year’s. If that isn’t incentive enough, living trees smell better, last a long time without dropping half the needles all over your floor, and pose less of a fire risk than their dead and drying counterparts (care should still be taken, even with living trees, to prevent fire hazards though).

Another option is getting an artificial tree this year. Artificial trees are a good way to show that you disapprove of cutting down living trees, as well as the fact that they come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Even more useful, artificial trees can be boxed up, put in the basement, and used again and again, for years to come.

Still not convinced? If you simply must have a cut tree, be sure to minimize waste when the season is done. Instead of throwing your tree alongside the road for the trash man to pick up, ensure that it gets somewhere that it can be mulched and recycled to improve the environment.

2. Made in Yourtown, USA.

Not only does it help to improve the economy where you live, but it also saves on the expenditure of fossil fuels, not having to ship goods or drive all over, looking for items. Local stores can often provide some really unique and unforgettable gifts. Even better, why not visit a local craft store and make some of your own presents? Another wonderful idea (and inexpensive too!) is to check out local thrift shops - treasures can often be found there, for low prices, and only require a little TLC to make one-of-a-kind gifts that everyone will love.

3. Theme It.

Instead of wasting petrol this year, cut back and try shopping for everyone in themes. This will allow you to do all your Christmas shopping in just a couple of stores, saving you time, money and energy. Some great ideas for themes are books, music, sweaters or, if your family is proud of their heritage, shopping in stores that specialize in Scottish, Irish or German-inspired goods can also be a fun way to brighten up the holidays. Stores that cater to all different ethnicities can be found, usually just with a quick trip through your local yellow pages.

4. Save Our Endangered Critters.

A unique “green” gift, this season, is to “adopt” an endangered animal in the name of your friend or loved one. This is an ideal present for children, as most organizations will send a stuffed animal toy, photographs, or even a birth or adoption certificate on the animal. While whales and wolves tend to be the most commonly adopted pets, there are a large number of endangered species that can be adopted. For more information, contact The World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, or even your local zoo.

On a side note - Never give live animals to people for holiday presents (especially to children). It’s a known fact that most animals bought during the holidays are usually purchased spur-of-the-moment and a large number of them end up abandoned, unwanted and neglected, or in the local animal shelter. If you’re considering buying your loved one a puppy or kitten, wait until after the holiday hype is over, ensure that your loved one truly wants and is able to care for said pet, and then make an educated decision, based on the facts. The animals will thank you for it.

5. Gift Bagging It.

Gift bags are not only gaining popularity, they are also easier to use than trying to fight with rolls of paper, tape, glitter and bows. Additionally, gift bags can be reused, again and again. For the ultimate in environmentally friendly packaging, find reusable bags made of recycled paper or plastic.

6. Wrap It Again, Sam.

Undamaged paper, gift bags, bows and tissue papers can be salvaged, stored and used again, the following year. Even if the edges are crumpled or torn, the bad parts can be trimmed away and the paper then used to wrap smaller parcels. It’s a great way of cutting down on waste.

7. Go Recycled.

If you’ve run out, and you need new wrapping paper, avoid that thick and glittery expensive stuff and look for paper and greeting cards that have been made from recycled materials. Ideally, you want to look for items that contain high PCW (Post Consumer Waste) content, which means that the materials are recycled from consumer waste, not excess waste from the paper mills.

8. Turn Your Package Into Your Gift.

This is a unique and thoughtful way to decorate your Christmas packages. Instead of spending a fortune on wrapping papers, ribbon and bows, try wrapping presents in useful items, such as a tee-shirt or a pretty scarf. Jewelry can be used in place of ribbons and bows and, rather than using cellophane that will only be crumpled up and thrown away, why not wrap up baked goods into a set of organic cotton dinner napkins? This way, not only can they used to hold in the crumbs for the holidays, but they can be used again and again, for days to come.

9. Natural Trims.

Natural fibers like raffia and hemp are plentiful, don’t come from trees, and make wonderful accents for our Christmas wrappings. Abundant without damaging our environment, they can be twisted, curled and tied in bows. Tie jingle bells to the ends for a festive sound and, if you’re looking for another nice gift or accent, try finding some bamboo articles - made from sustainable wood, bamboo is beautiful, useful, and all the rage.

10. Grow It.

Perhaps the most creative “green” idea for this holiday season would have to be new plantable paper products. “What’s that,” you ask? Plantable paper products are natural gift tags and Christmas cards that are embedded with tree or flower seeds. After the holidays and when the season is right, you just plant them, water, and voila! Now they have the “greenest” gift that they can ask for. Perfect for children and adults, alike, everyone can get into the spirit and enjoy this kind of present.

Recycling and protecting our environment doesn’t have to be a chore. Take advantage of the holidays and show family and friends, alike, just how economical and fun it can be to “think green.” Your planet will definitely appreciate it.


~Written by Shawna L. Krautheim
2006

Ten Ways to Keep Your Christmas Spending Under Control

Ten Ways to Keep Your Christmas Spending Under Control
By Julie Londrigan

Christmas is a time when we simply can't resist lavishing our loved ones with presents and treats. These generous tendencies can quickly lead to spending that goes beyond the Christmas budget. Here are ten ways to keep Christmas merry while keeping your spending under control.

1. Be an Early Bird
Start your shopping early. How early? Many people use the day after Christmas sales to start their Christmas shopping for the next year. Hitting these sales is a great way to score all kinds of Christmas supplies for at least half price and often more. Load up on wrapping paper, greeting cards, stocking stuffers, decorations and ornaments, lights, packaged gift sets (avoid food items or fragrance sets that have a short shelf life), and even Christmas themed clothing.

2. Spread it Out
Don't make all of your gift purchases in the same month. Spreading out your purchases will make the credit card bills much easier to swallow. It will also give you time to watch for sales if there is something in particular you plan to buy.

3. Get into the Game
Consider the possibility of a gift game at your family's Christmas party this year as an alternative to buying gifts for your extended family members. Gift swapping games and white elephant games are popular traditions in many families and games such as these make for lots of laughs and happy memories.

4. Try One Size Fits All
Adopt the one size fits all approach. Basically, everyone on your list gets the same thing. You'll save money because your purchasing is consistent for each person. Another bonus: think of all the money you'll save on gas by getting all of your gifts in one stop!

5. Make It
Make a gift. Maybe you have hidden talents that you could be sharing with your friends and family this Christmas. Homemade gifts are especially heartfelt. Search your talents or go to the craft store for some inspiration.

6. Bake It
Bake a gift. Sometimes the best gifts are those that are consumable. Everyone enjoys a sweet treat.

7. Be Strategic with the Stockings
Keep the cost of stocking stuffers down by filling them with items from the dollar store. Consider adding an apple and an orange too. These healthy treats are inexpensive and take up extra space in the stocking.

8. Start a Swap
Participate in a cookie swap. You'll not only save time but money too. By buying for and baking just one recipe, you'll avoid buying pricey ingredients that end up going to waste after using only a few teaspoons in a recipe.

9. Save on Postage
Send post cards instead of greeting cards. The savings on postage and even the cards themselves can really add up.

10. Agree to Spend Less
Check with family members to see who might be interested in setting a spending limit for gift purchases. You will feel more comfortable spending less on gifts when you know that you will be receiving gifts within the same price range.

Consider a few of these tips to keep your spending under control this Christmas season. You will save money and worry less and thus enjoy the season even more.

Using the Internet to Get Your Christmas Shopping Done

By Julie Londrigan

No matter what category of Christmas shopper you fall into, the early bird, the last minute shopper, or the indecisive shopper, you can make Christmas shopping a lot easier on yourself by accomplishing as much of your shopping as possible online. The benefits are numerous and you can't beat the convenience.

Save Time
The time you can save by shopping online is a huge benefit of using the internet to do your shopping. There is no driving time required. You can shop in the morning, on your lunch hour, even in the middle of the night if you are so inclined, because the stores are always open online. Better yet, you can shop at the height of the season and you won't have to stand in line. Just be sure to factor shipping times into your purchases and don't panic if you have waited too long. You can always pay extra to hasten the shipping time.

Comparison Shop
If you have a hard time deciding what to buy, shopping online can make the decision process a lot easier. You can browse the opinions of people who have already made the purchase you are considering to see if the product will hold up to your expectations. If you are buying a product offered by several manufacturers, you can read about the benefits of each make and model to determine which would work best for you. You can even compare prices. There are many websites designed just for this purpose. A quick search for "comparison shopping" will bring up numerous sites to help you. Choose one and then simply type in the product you are after and the site will bring up available outlets and their respective prices making it easy for you to determine where to get the best deal.

Unique Gifts
Conducting your shopping online allows you to easily locate unique and hard to find gifts with little effort. There is seemingly no end to the number of niche and specialized sites that cater to almost any whim. If you have a gift idea for someone, you will likely be able to find it somewhere on the web. And don't overlook online auction sites when you are trying to locate the perfect gift. Unique, collectable and hard to find items are easy to find at sites like these.

Get Inspired
If you are having a hard time finding inspiration for gifts to give someone on your list, the internet can even help you generate ideas. Many sites exist that are designed to help you decide what to buy for everyone on your list. Just do a search of "gift ideas" and you will soon be in business.

Use the internet to make your Christmas season a little less stressful this year. Try doing some or even all of your shopping online and use the time you save to enjoy some holiday cheer.

Client Appreciation Gifts & Promoting Your Business

Leaves are turning colors and the air is getting crisp. Autumn has arrived and Fall holidays are a great time for thanking your customers for their business.

Halloween and Thanksgiving gift baskets are an unexpected and memorable way to keep your name in front of your client and stand out from all the Christmas gift baskets they will inevitably receive.

Use Halloween gifts to promote your business with a clever message on the gift card like "Scare Up Sales With Direct Mail From ABC Company" or "Don't be afraid of the competition, XYZ Company Will Keep You On Top." This also opens up an opportunity to stay in touch with your clients when they call to thank you or when you call them to follow up.

Gourmet food gifts are always appropriate and Thanksgiving is an ideal time to show client appreciation. What better time to say "Thank You For Your Business," or "Thank You For Choosing ABC Marketing" or "We Appreciate Your Business."

So, have fun and show your creativity with gifts that are sure to be remembered. Call Basket Star at 201-791-0692 or email us at customerservice@basketstar.com for suggestions or custom gifts to fit your budget and specific needs.