Creating Professional Looking Gift Baskets
There’s never a bad time to send or receive a gift basket—as long as it has the right things packaged inside. Purchasing a ready-made gift basket with a large variety of goodies can cost hundreds of dollars. Doing it on your own can cost a tiny fraction of that if you’re a savvy shopper with an eye for packaging detail. Part of the charm of any gift basket is its visual appeal. It’s a presentation of everything that it contains—which should be a little bit of everything appropriate for the occasion. It’s also a great way to make sure that the recipient will always get at least one thing that they really like. The variety is one of the best things about these types of gifts. When creating your own custom basket, the first and last thing you’ll be dealing with is packaging. Choosing the basket itself is only half the battle—although, it’s best to find one that can be used for something else after it’s emptied.
When you give someone one of these baskets, you want them to be able to see what’s inside of it. The best way to do this is to package using clear or tinted plastic. Plastic is really the only material that’s flexible and clear enough to be used for projects like this. It can also give the entire basket a professional looking finish. The type of plastic should be based on the contents of the basket. The more delicate or perishable they are, the better the plastic should seal around them. Some products may need to be sealed individually prior to being placed in the basket.
For these reasons, it’s a great idea to find a packaging supplier who can offer every possible plastic and packing product you might need. Sticking with one company means that you can always be sure of what you’re getting. Whether you need heat shrink wrap for perishables, or dome wrap made just for baskets—you’ll know where to buy from every time. Planning a basic design for different basket themes can help you to decide what types of packaging materials to have on hand.
Whether this is a business venture, or a hobby—gift baskets require a certain amount of finesse. Many people use couponing as a way to cheaply purchase the items they need to fill the baskets. This can range from diapers for baby showers, to champagne glasses for wedding announcements. Once the baskets are purchased, it’s time to put everything together.
The beauty of finding a dedicated packaging supply company is that they often have everything that you’ll need for every step of the process. Find shrink wrap and a heat sealer to professionally package foods, perishables, or any items that should be grouped together. Double sided tape and twist ties or colored cable ties can help to keep everything in place once you’re ready to build the basket.
Before anything can be placed in the basket, it’s important to build up a base in order to elevate everything and create a more impressive display. Again, your packing supply company should have foam or other products that can be used for this. Using a protective base can also absorb shock and protect your gift basket’s contents when it’s being moved.
Place the larger items in the back, and work forward until everything is placed right where you want it. Secure it using the base and twist ties. The last step involved wrapping the entire basket and decorating it. The strength of the plastic used as well as how tightly it’s applied is dependent on what’s in the basket. Finish it off with a bow, and enjoy!
