'Twas the month before Christmas,
...and all through the office,
all managers were stirring
...over budgets for gifts.

By the end of the year budgets are usually tighter than stressed nerves, and shopping obligations harken through the malls. Now it may be your responsibility to buy gifts, and the faster you can cross names off your list-- the more time you have to roast chestnuts and enjoy the holidays.

Gift baskets are so popular because they are easy to order... they can be shared a number of people... and there is a wide cost range to fit within any budget.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute.

Some people like to shop immediately after Halloween; some brave the crowds right after Thanksgiving; and others wait until Christmas Eve. Since a batch of business orders sometimes requires a few weeks of lead time for customization and delivery, don't wait until the last minute. Fortunately, you can schedule delivery dates well in advance.

I recommend: American Express has a helpful time line for planning how much time you should allow.

Trust 'Consumer Reports'

An article by Consumer Reports entitled 'Best Gifts in over 50 Categories' included ratings for top gift baskets. No need to dash through malls or hunt on the internet if you trust their recommendations.

I recommend: Top-Rated Baskets according to "Consumer Reports"

1) Usingers (Meats and Sausages)
2) The Fruit Company (Fruit Baskets)
3) iGourmet (Specialty Cheeses & Desserts)
4) Wine Country Gift Baskets (Wine)

Add a Touch of Customization

Most etiquette sites advise against ostentatious branding for holiday gifts, and I agree. However, small touches are acceptable, especially since offices are sometimes inundated with gifts. Small reminders are sometimes necessary to let people know where the gift came from.

I recommend: Personalized Ribbon or Custom Cards for a subtle, yet appropriate way to make your gift special and professional.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Arrange to have baskets sent directly to clients, unless you specifically want to deliver baskets yourself. If it's a question of cost, you probably won't save much by having them all delivered to your office, but it never hurts to ask.
• •  You should be able to save time by simply emailing a list of gift recipients on a spreadsheet or word document instead of entering each order individually on a website. Just ask for a corporate sales representative.
• •  Save some money by finding a company that charges No Sales Tax (Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon).
• •  Make sure prices are not included with the shipment. This shouldn't be an issue, but you might as well double-check.

Deciding on the right business holiday business gifts for your clients, suppliers or employees can be a chore. Holiday baskets are always a great idea, but time is always running out to get the shopping done. It can be so easy to find the perfect holiday gift basket just by mouse-click.

When shopping for baskets of holiday business gifts, look for companies that offer:

1. Easy ordering and delivery of holiday baskets to multiple recipients.

2. Volume discounts on corporate holiday gift baskets.

3. Business holiday gift baskets that feature a variety of different foods—something to please everyone in the office.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make an impression with holiday gift baskets for top customers

Your best clients deserve a business holiday gift that shows how much you appreciate their patronage. Treat them to an upscale holiday gift basket they'll remember.

I recommend: Consider Godiva's Heaven on Earth holiday gift basket from Fabiene. This gold pail is filled with a chocolate lover's dream of truffles, chocolate-covered almonds, coffee, cappucino, and chocolates. Fabiene also features wine baskets such as the Swan's Flight Gourmet basket, with a 2003 Chardonnay and a 2004 Shiraz, as well as an assortment of cookies, breadsticks, cheese, nuts and chocolate. Take a look at the Vermont Country Chocolate Gift Basket from Lake Champlain Chocolates, offering an assortment of all-natural, locally-made chocolates, maple syrup and maple candy packed in a keepsake tin. Who doesn't love cookies? Treat your corporate customers to an assortment of Mrs. Fields's Every Occasion Nibbler's Basket from e-Corporate gifts, with an assortment of 100 nibbler cookies. Check out their quantity discounts, and their easy ordering to multiple recipients.

Send your best wishes with healthful holiday gift baskets

You can't go wrong with a generous business holiday gift basket of delicious fruits to thank your clients, suppliers or employees. Look for a supplier with a reputation for providing fresh seasonal fruits for holiday baskets.

I recommend: The Good Health Basket from Harry and David is a cornucopia of healthy treats, including apples, pears, dried fruit, and cakes and snacks in fat-free and low-fat varieties. This gift also includes nutrition information for the health-conscious. Go organic with holiday gift baskets stocked with naturally grown fruits. Try the Earthly Delights Fruit Basket, overflowing with organically grown pears, apples, oranges, nuts, cheese, chocolate and cider.

Send holiday food gift baskets with something for everyone

If you're looking for holiday gift basket ideas, why not choose a basket with a variety of foods from which to choose?

I recommend: The Holiday Traveler Basket from Figi's offers a spread of tasty treats, such as meats, cheeses and sweet snacks, packed in a wicker traveling case. The Treasure Chest Gourmet from Gift Tree features food for exotic tastes, such as salmon, brie, crackers, coffee, Guadalajara mix, cranberry twist, almonds and almond roca and chocolate coins.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Know your customers' gift-giving policies in advance. Some companies have a policy of not allowing employees to accept holiday business gifts. Otherwise, your well-intended gift could end up as part of the raffle at your client's annual Christmas party. Or worse, it could be construed as a breach of professional ethics.

If you have worked in the corporate world, you know that business holiday gifts are a big industry. You can obtain the skills you need to make and sell your own corporate holiday gift baskets using a variety of sources. Instruction videos, coursework and guidebooks are all available to provide you with the training you need to make business holiday gift baskets.

Training in making baskets for holiday business gifts includes many elements. You need to make sure that your holiday gift baskets education and training includes elements of designing holiday baskets, purchasing supplies, assembling, delivering and marketing your business holiday gifts to your desired client base.

Use the following resources for education and training in the holiday gift basket industry:

1. Learn the basics for getting started with holiday baskets from instructional videos.
2. Take a course or attend a conference for additional business gift training.
3. Use resource manuals and guidebooks to navigate the business of holiday baskets.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get started making corporate holiday gift baskets with instructional videos and seminars

Getting started making holiday business gifts is the most difficult part of designing your own gift baskets. A number of instructional video courses and seminars exist to help you become familiar with the basics of the gift basket business.

I recommend: Mary Ann Jacobs has holiday gift basket training videos and phone-in seminars, which are also available as audio recordings on CD. The Gift Basket Basics video is another helpful option for basket designers who are just entering the business.

Use courses and conferences to learn the latest tips for making holiday baskets

A good way to advance your skills and stay current with the trends in corporate holiday gift baskets is to enroll in an online course or attend a continuing education seminar. These education and training options are good for getting more in depth training once you've already gotten started in the gift industry.

I recommend: Advanced Continuing Education Seminars for the Gift Industry holds an annual conference for all types of gift industry professionals. The Virtual Learning Center online course in gift basket design and marketing is another option for more detailed and comprehensive holiday gift baskets education and training.

Get a good resource guide for working in the holiday baskets business

Another option for finding holiday gift basket ideas, tips and strategies is to find one or two good resource manuals or guides from other established professionals in the business. Resource manuals are helpful to have on hand for navigating some of the challenges you may encounter in your career making holiday gift baskets.

I recommend: BasketBizHelp offers a comprehensive resource guide for beginners or experts in the industry. You may also want to consider a book like The Business of Gift Baskets: A Guide for Survival as you get started working with corporate holiday gift baskets.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Subscribe to a gift industry magazine, newsletter or blog to stay up-to-date with the very latest trends in holiday baskets. Trends in gift baskets may be changing seasonally, so to keep your education and training current you will need to update your information regularly.

Holiday gift baskets are a good way to thank loyal customers or business contacts. However, some of these baskets are quite costly and sending one to each customer or contact can put a big dent in your budget.

When you are planning to send holiday gift baskets, remember that you can send them out at any time of year. By sending the baskets out at the first of the year or during the summer, you can stand out to the client since it is likely you will send the only basket at that time. By doing this, you can avoid some of the price hikes common around the Christmas holidays.

Consider the following holiday gift baskets pricing and costs to help you prepare your budget for this expense:

1. Get the most basket for your buck by ordering baskets that include free shipping.

2. Help the recipient of your holiday gift basket stay healthy by sending a non-food gift basket.

3. Show off the classic side of your company with traditional gift baskets.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save on shipping costs for your holiday gift baskets

If you have to pay for shipping your holiday gift baskets, you may find that you have to downgrade your holiday basket in order to make the total fit your budget. Choosing baskets that include the shipping charges enables you to get the most basket for your money.

I recommend: GiftTree.com offers free shipping on a variety of holiday gift baskets. You can expect to pay from $50 to $250 per basket without having to add any shipping costs to your total. Wine Country Gift Baskets offers free shipping on season specific holiday baskets. The selection changes frequently according to the season. Prices start at around $25 per basket.

Consider non-food holiday gift baskets

For health and fitness related businesses, giving out holiday food gift baskets won't fit the image the business must portray. However, spa style gift baskets are an easy answer to this dilemma. These baskets are also ideal for businesses concerned with religious sensitivity.

I recommend: My Gift Basket offers gift basket options that don't include food items. Prices range from $35 to $70 per basket. GiftBaskets.com sells holiday business gifts. This company's collection of spa baskets are a sure hit. You can expect to pay from $40 to $150 for these baskets.

Opt for traditional holiday gift baskets

Traditionally, a holiday gift basket includes an assortment of food. The price you pay for these gift baskets depends largely on the items included in the basket. To make a big impact on the recipient, consider sending a basket with your logo or business name printed on it.

I recommend: You can find corporate holiday gift baskets at Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets. Prices start at around $20 and go higher than $100. This company offers complimentary custom logo printing on some items. GourmetGiftBaskets.com sells a varied selection of business holiday gifts. Some baskets include wine and other items that require an adult over 21 to accept the delivery. Prices range from under $50 to higher than $200. The Gift Basket Pros offers numerous executive gift baskets. These business holiday gift baskets range in price from $50 to over $100.