ALT-1 10 Ideas for Gift Basket Themes
There is more to building great gift baskets than cheese, sausage and miniature mustard jars. What you are creating is a personalized gift set that should speak to the recipient's character; it is not a mix of generic, anyone-would-like-this gifts.Before you begin purchasing items, decide on an overarching theme for the basket and stick to it. Choose products that build off each other in order to bring cohesion to the basket.Did your friend just start training for a marathon? A well-thought-out basket could include: a sports watch, energy gel like Gu, a few bottles of a sports drink like Gatorade, headbands and hairbands for those with long hair, reflective armbands for nighttime running, leg weights and an iTunes gift card to help expand his or her workout music library.Now you get the gist of setting up a theme and how to extrapolate from a single idea. So think about the recipient and what he or she likes to eat or drink, what his or her hobbies are, what is new in this person's life and how you can help encourage positive growth in any of these areas.Here are nine more themes and content suggestions to help you create the perfect gift basket. But don't stop here. Customize these baskets further so they really speak to the individual recipient.College freshman dormitory kitFebreze spray, a shower caddy, a pop-up hamper, plastic cups and dishes, a reusable water bottle and a dry erase board with extra markers.Book loverBook light, self-adhesive tabs (to flag favorite passages), magnetic bookmarks, a couple books related to a hobby (guide book, cookbook, language-learning book), a hollowed-out book to use as a safe (learn how to make one at www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Hollow-Book) and a gift card for a bookstore or online retailer.Fitness enthusiastStability ball (deflated) with pump, a reusable water bottle, a fitness DVD, moisture-wicking apparel and arm or leg weights.Winter weather kit for those use to warmer climatesGloves, scarves, 180s (check out these ear warmers at www.180s.com), thick socks, disposable hand warmers, thermal pants and skull cap.Japanese food loverBook about sushi, a few small bottles of sake, sake carafe and cups, chopsticks, sushi plate, sauce dishes and reduced-sodium soy sauce.Spicy food loverVariety of red and green hot sauces, crushed red pepper flakes, dried whole red chilies, cayenne pepper, a cookbook with spicy recipes and a mini fire extinguisher.Young soccer athleteSoccer ball, shin guards, backyard soccer goal, jerseys, sports duffel bag and a reusable water bottle.Creative and craftyKnitting supplies with extra yarn, different canvas sizes with paint and paint brushes, jewelry-making kit with extra beads and clasps, model rocket kit or a drawing paper pad and portable sketch pad with erasers, pencils, colored pencils, oil pastels and a pencil sharpener. Don't forget to add extras of any variable pieces!The grilling machineVariety of BBQ sauces, marinades and rubs; smoke chips; metal and bamboo skewers; basting brush; spatula; tongs; grate brush and, of course, a humorous "Kiss the cook" type of apron.
