Holiday Gift Baskets

Build customer loyalty with a thoughtful business holiday gift
By Shalleen Mayes 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.

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.
Try:  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.
Try:  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?
Try:  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.

• 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.