Gift Baskets News and Trends

Keep up with current gift basket offerings to provide merchandise customers want
By Denise Ryan When customers come to your gift basket company to satisfy their corporate or personal gift giving needs, ensure you provide the goods they’ll be proud to present. Whether you stock food gift baskets, novelty baskets or everything in between, staying apprised of gift baskets news and trends will help you increase sales with sought-after contents, presentations and sentiments.

Following up-to-date information on the hottest corporate gift basket contents for clients or employees and the latest gift basket looks for holidays and special occasions will keep your sales consistent. Find valuable resources to give your gift basket business a boost and when looking for gift baskets news and trends, try to:

1. Discover and study news articles about gift baskets from a variety of sources like retail store blogs, online newsletters and printed magazines.

2. Participate in an association that caters to gift basket retailers to network with other professionals, uncover innovative marketing ideas and find new wholesale sources for executive gift basket or gourmet gift basket items.

3. Walk the floor of a gift convention or gift basket trade show to talk to manufacturers, find new themed basket ideas and see merchandising strategies in action.

Read industry news stories so you can stock the personal or employee gift basket contents in demand

Gift basket industry professionals, retailers, instructors and manufacturers offer a variety of articles that can help your business be successful. Look for everything from company news, hot color trends, popular gift items and new packaging methods to help you stay one step ahead of the competition.
Try:  ApexGiftBasketPros.com offers an informative blog to help make your personal or business gift basket endeavors a success. Topics include everything from basket enhancements to industry news to promotional ideas. Get new gift basket ideas and business tips, along with links to industry tutorials, associations and shows through the GiftBasketOnlineNewsletter.com.

Join a gift basket association to discuss the trends in corporate gift baskets with other retailers

Find out what other retailers consider the industry's hot trends by participating in a gift basket association where you can network, exchange information on distributors and share helpful business strategies. In addition to newsletters, shows and seminars, some groups also offer online forums where you can chat with industry insiders around the globe.
Try:  Learn about industry trends and company news by becoming a member of the National Specialty Gift Association. In addition to trade events and an online message board, this group also offers benefits like discounted services and products, Internet marketing and credit card processing. Join a statewide group like the North Carolina Association of Professional Gift Designers to network with other gift basket retailers in your area. Discuss issues about your specific demographic and share local wholesale sources.

Visit trade shows to uncover new ideas and suppliers for executive, personal or custom gift baskets

If you need new ways to package the popular coffee gift basket or wine gift basket items, for example, head to an industry trade show to discover the latest wrapping and merchandising ideas first hand. In addition to discovering new gift basket contents and wholesale suppliers, you'll also be able to take business-related classes and discuss the industry with retailers and manufacturers.
Try:  Check out a Basket Connection event organized by Rave Reviews!, a magazine featuring gourmet and gift basket ideas. The website also offers a message board where you can discuss sales and marketing, design concepts and project ideas and stay on top of the news and trends in these areas. Attend a convention like the California Gift Show to find new products, advertising and display ideas and wrapping resources for baskets and ribbons.

• If you're unsure how well a new type of gift basket will go over with your clientele, consider creating a sample basket and taking pre-orders to assess the response. You'll be able to order just enough wrapping materials and contents to fill the orders, but still have the option of adding it to your regular lineup if it's a hit. The pre-order strategy is also helpful with seasonal and holiday gift baskets that won't be in demand all year long.