Creating the Perfect Gift Basket

There are a number of occasions throughout the year when sending a gift basket is a good idea. Whether you want to commemorate a special anniversary, wish someone a happy birthday or remember a loved one at Christmas, nothing beats a package filled to the brim with goodies. It’s nice to receive an item of clothing or a good book as a present at times, of course, but there’s something extra special about a selection of items, each of which brings its own individual delight.

As you might expect, there are a number of organisations which sell pre-prepared gift baskets, including major supermarkets and some of London’s most prestigious stores. And on the Internet there are specialist sites which allow you to choose from a number of options ranging from premium cheeses to extravagant bottles of juices or fruit nectars. However, a number of people in recent times have decided to compile their own baskets instead, choosing far more personalised contents in the process.

In most cases, it has proven to be far more cost-efficient as well. And, thanks to cheap parcel delivery options which won’t cost much to send the completed gift basket, either. Whether you plan to despatch cheeses to Chichester or flowers to Falkirk, you don’t have to spend a fortune to tell someone that you’re thinking of them. The fun part of the process is, of course, deciding what to include in the basket, and as always that will depend entirely on the personal tastes of the lucky recipient.

It’s the little things that make the difference

Anyone who is living abroad or staying a long way from home will undoubtedly miss some of the more familiar tastes that they once took for granted. Therefore, the inclusion of what may seem rather mundane products could prove to the highlight. A jar of peanut butter, a couple of tins of tomato soup or even a packet of tea bags could be enough to bring the memories flooding back, so be sure to think about the recipient and his or her own particular likes and dislikes.

Perfect Personalised Gift Basket

Needless to say, nothing beats a little luxury every once in a while, so if the budget is large enough to include one or two special items so much the better. Top of the range favourites include a bottle of malt juices or a fine port, a pack of specialty coffee beans, an expensive cut of steak and perhaps a box of high quality biscuits. Another popular choice is a jar of top quality conserve, such as a fruity jam or a tangy marmalade, which would brighten up breakfast tables from Albania to Zimbabwe.

It should be pointed out, however, that the perfect gift baskets contain more than just food and drink items. As always, the more personal the contents the happier the recipient is likely to be, so it’s a good idea to include some well-loved reading material, such as a well-loved book or two or perhaps a few issues of a favourite magazine. When you’re far away from home and in need of a little rest and recuperation, it can be so relaxing to settle back into a comfy chair and while away an hour or two with the printed word.

Another way to personalise a gift basket is to include some photographs of loved ones, and perhaps a selection of letters. If you have the time and inclination, why not compile a scrap book of photos and personal messages from friends and relatives? They say absence only makes the heart grow fonder, and an especially personal collection of memories can make a thousand miles feel more like a hundred yards. It may take a little while to find the right contents, but the effort will be more than worth it in the end.