How to Pick the Best Items for a Gift Basket

Giving the perfect gift can be incredibly rewarding. You get the joy of seeing your friend, co-worker, or loved one open a gift they truly appreciate, and they receive an awesome present at a party! Sometimes the best way to say “Happy Birthday” is with a great gift basket. By assembling a thoughtful and fun basket, you are able to really personalize your gift and give a variety of items the recipient will appreciate.There are, however, some important things to consider when choosing the items to go in your gift basket. Most importantly, you want to consider the person receiving the basket. Whether they are an adult or child, and what kind of relationship you have with them are key factors in determining which items to put in your gift basket. 

Children are often the easiest to purchase presents for. If you are making a basket for a child, you could consider putting in candy, stickers, and small gifts like a slinky or little stuffed animal. For girls, you cant go wrong with lip gloss and a scented body spray. Both boys and girls will appreciate items from popular kids television shows or items associated with young stars (think Miley Cyrus, Disney, Dora the Explorer, etc). Choosing gifts for an adult can be more difficult. Try to think of a special interest the person has that you could turn into a theme for the basket. Does he like golf? Include a canister of golf balls, a new visor or hat, and a book of golf tips from a pro. Is she a working mom with little time for herself? Assemble a basket of home spa items, with scented soaps, lotions, and maybe a CD of relaxing music. Both men and women will appreciate edible goodies in their gift basketsthink dark chocolates, coffee or tea, and fruit. One warning to keep in mind when giving a birthday present to someone you dont know well, or someone with whom you have a more formal relationship, is to choose safe items for your gift basket. More than likely, you do not want to give bubble bath to your boss! Consider the boundaries of the relationship and let those guide your decision making process. For those tricky gift baskets, the best option is often to throw in a few smaller items (candy, coffee, etc) and one larger, central gift. This could be tickets to a concert, a gift card to a nice restaurant in town, or a nice book you know they will be interested in. Finally, no matter who the gift basket is for, make sure to personalize the gift with a card and handwritten note saying “Happy Birthday!” Make sure the items are arranged in the basket with some tissue paper and ribbon for a pleasing presentation at the party. You now have the perfect, personalized birthday gift–just pick a birthday card!