Jewellery News and Reviews

Shopping for the Holidays can be somewhat as fun as watching paint dry. To make shopping more fun…Give Coffee Gift Baskets a try this Christmas season.

Can you believe it is Holiday shopping time again? Are you thinking about thank that new customer, or client? Enough of the stress talk. So, you need a reliable way to shop for friends and show your appreciation for your patrons. Yes it is this easy: Gift baskets!

When you think about gift baskets, what do you think of? My favorite gift baskets are filled with coffee, cookies and chocolate, topped with a perfect bow and just waiting to be unwrapped. But there are many options.

There are gift basket companies that fill gift baskets with just about anything you can think of. Some companies let you pick the items that you want to put in the basket! So how do you pick the ideal gift basket for your family, friends or client? Here are a few simple guidelines.

• Choose a gift basket that reflects what he/she loves. Are they into “socially conscious” living? Then choose a basket that features Fair Trade and Organic items like coffee, mugs and gifts from Nectar of Life Coffee Company. Or perhaps they love fresh fruit, wine, nuts, and vegetables. Then a gift from Harry and David would be just the thing for the fruit lover. Pre-Made baskets can range in price from $9.99 - $500+. But, gift baskets can be a Godsend.

• There is also the choice of making a basket of your own. I know it sounds challenging, but it can be very easy, and you can enjoy a cost savings. The price range to make your own basket is about $5.00 - skies the limit. One negative aspect is that you will have the shipping or delivery hassle to deal with. If you don’t price around, it could eat whatever cost savings you made from using your own merchandise. Should you choose to make your own gift basket here are a few tips to get you started.

• You will want a theme basket or box, a camera buff, for instance would be able to use a photo box; a fisherman, a tackle box; a child could use a fabric lined basket as a toy box, etc.. Perhaps the lucky gift receiver is a photographer or fisherman.

• Now that you have decided on a theme, purchase 3 large items for starters. Let’s stick with the photographer. For this individual, choose a camera case, lenses for their camera, a flip style photo album, or if you have money, a camera or lens that they have mentioned.

• To add to the gift basket buy 4 more items. For a fisherman, this might include lures, and a reel . These are just a few suggestions.

• To wrap it all up throw in some treats. For a child, a few ideas would be fruit roll-ups, jewelry, die-cast cars, hair ties, fancy shoelaces, or their favorite treat (as approved by their parents).

• Use glue dots (available at Michaels or local craft stores) to secure all items in place. Don’t get out-of-control with them, one or two per item is all that is needed. Put the big items in first. Then glue down medium sized objects, and the smaller stuff as filler around the bottom. Think pyramid as you are making the basket.

• Finally, purchase a large piece of cellophane, or if you are a real go getter, a roll of basket wrap. Bring the corners to the top and secure with a small section of ribbon.

• For the perfect topper, a bow at the top will create a gift that is both festive and stylish.

If you have stuff that you want to put into a gift basket, but don’t have the time to build one yourself, find a company that will do it for you. Many times there are companies that can both assemble and attach a bow to a basket that you have basically created. This option ranges in cost.

Gift baskets can bring together a number of ideas, and goods. They are beautiful and universal. All age ranges, and interests can be covered and encompassed in just one gift.

An excellent source for Coffee Gift Baskets is Nectar of Life Organic Coffee Company. Nectar of Life not only offers coffee, but they sell a wide selection of gift baskets.

Think of all the junk you’ve received (and given).  Don’t you wish there was a better way?  I will show you a better way.  In my opinion the best gifts to give anyone are coffee gift baskets.

We all know that aunt Margaret doesn’t give coffee gift baskets.  I will give you some ideas of what to do with those unwanted gifts.

Everyone has been given a present that is just-not-what-you-had-in-mind.  You can donate it to a worthy cause, or post it on www.freecycle.com where everything donated is free to users.  You may bury the unwanted gift in a box where you may never run into it again.  Whatever you do don’t throw the gift away.

We all know about re-gifting, a risky and often unsavory practice.  Regifting is usually never a acceptable custom.  Most importantly if the individual that gave you the gift finds out.  There are numerous ways to put the gift to use, without the awkward and blatant re-wrapping and passing of the gift.

1.  Create a “Treasure Box.”  I use a large tote.  Make sure that you put a post-it note on the item, and secure it with tape telling whom the item is from.

2. Place gifts that are of no use to you in the treasure chest.

3. Make sure to lump together similar items, i.e. electronics.

4. Group together items for your re-gift.  For example favorite films.  Take the DVDs, wrap them individually, and put them in a large popcorn bowl. You can add to the theme of the gift by including popcorn.  If you are giving the DVDs to an adult or family, try upping the gift with a nice bottle of wine.  The trick is to only purchase small items that add up to a big gift.  Make sure that you are not giving the gift back to the person you originally received it from.

Now those not so zesty or duplicategifts you have acquired don’t need to go to waste.

If you want to end the nightmare of looking for the right gift consider giving a Gift Basket.  They have plenty of them at Nectar of Life Coffee.