Where Did the
Gift Basket
Business Begin?
by
Flora M. Brown, Ph.D.
Using baskets to carry gifts stems back to the beginning of mankind. Folks in most cultures carried fruit, bread and wine to share with neighbors and friends during the holidays or to cheer the sick. The basket for carrying precious gifts is found through history and literature. Little Red Riding Hood carried treats to her grandmother in a basket.
But baskets always played more serious roles. Being placed in a basket and hidden among the reeds saved Moses from a certain death at Pharoah's direction. Betsy Ross put stars and stripes on the first U.S. flag using needle and thread pulled from her sewing basket.
Gift baskets are now used not just for personal, but also for business gifts. They are now commonly used for thank you, apology, congratulations, and birthday. During the holidays many companies choose gift baskets to extend holiday greetings to their best clients and colleagues.
Modern gift baskets feature varied containers and contents. Any item that will hold gift items can serve as the container: planters, top hats, trays, trunks, wagons, and so on. Contents can range from gourmet food to bath products to toys and whatever the imagination can conceive.
One of the oldest gift basket companies in the U.S. is Harry and David, famous for its picture perfect and delicious fruit. Beginning with 260 acres of orchards in 1910, they have grown to over 3000 acres.
For over 50 years Hickory Farms has been known for its sausage and cheese baskets. Like Harry and David they have expanded their offerings and containers to include many popular gourmet food products.
The gift basket business is one of the fastest growing enterprises, especially for home-based entrepreneurs and retailers seeking to add another dimension to their stores. A number of classes, seminars at trade shows, instructional materials, supplies and informative websites have sprung up to meet the needs of these burgeoning businesses. Whether you are a new or veteran basketeer you are part of an exciting and growing industry. Visit here often to keep up with tips, tricks and my take on the gift basket industry.
About the Author
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus at Fullerton College, educational consultant, gift basket expert, writer and professional motivational speaker. From her websites, blogs and newsletters she motivates small business owners and gift retailers with sales-generating ideas, marketing tips, design ideas and business success strategies. She is mother of four and grandmother of three. When she's not traveling she enjoys her home in Anaheim, CA.
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