Posts filed under 'Basket Enhancements'
Having trouble making the perfect bow for your gift baskets? Florasatin Perfect Pull Bows may be the answer!
These easy to make bows are made from waterproof and weatherproof florasation ribbon. Just pull two strings and get a perfect bow every time!
Apex Gift Foods stocks Perfect Bows in 16 solid colors and 12 everyday and holiday prints. These bows are made from 1 1/2″ ribbon and are 5 1/2″ in diameter with 20 loops. Other sizes and colors are available by special order.
Just arrived: new designer colors: citrus, beauty, periwinkle, chocolate, and orange. Also check out new printed bows: dots, stripes and the ever popular paw prints.
Order bows before September 15th and get a 10% discount. Mention BOWBLOG when you place your order.
August 26th, 2006
With the introduction of so many cooking shows on TV, many more women and men of all ages are enjoying the joys of home cooking. Why not design a Chef’s Basket that will delight these new gourmet cooks!
Apex Gift Foods has a new line of eight mini cookbooks. With titles such as “Cooking With Wine”, “Soup’s On”, and “Kid’s Cooking”, you can appeal to cooks of all ages. These decorative books only cost $5.95 and will be a great keepsake for the lucky person who receives the basket.
While you’re creating your Chef’s Basket, also consider two new gourmet additions from Apex: olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Beautifully packaged in sleek, contemporary bottles, these will be perfect for your design.
August 23rd, 2006
If you reside in a state that allows you to include alcoholic beverages in your gift baskets, check out this article I saw in the Dallas Morning News. Full Story
Some winemakers are taking a stab at capturing the lucative women’s market with wines called Madhousewife, 2004 and Mommy’s Timeout. You can decide if these are too irreverent for your tastes, but these might be a great addition to your next basket to be sent to Mom.
Make sure you check the rules and regulations in your state before using any alcoholic beverages in your baskets.
August 11th, 2006
Rave Reviews! Magazine includes a feature each month describing how floral designs can be used to add another dimension to your gift basket business. In the May/June, 2006 issue, specific instructions are provided for assembling unique floral table arrangements. Some of the floral supplies used include floral foam, floratape, and wire.
Apex Gift Food’s sister company is Keystone Ribbon and Floral Supply Company. Keystone has been doing business with retail florists for over 50 years and offers 1000’s of floral supply products. (Go to “About Us” to get more information about Keystone.)
If you plan to expand your business by adding floral enhancements and designs to your product mix, Apex and Keystone can be your “one stop shopping source” for all of your gourmet food AND floral supply needs. Check Apex Gift Foods for special promotions on the floral supply items you’ll see featured in Rave Reviews! articles. We’ll be adding more and more floral supply items each month, so keep checking back!
Bonus: save 15% on your first floral supply order. Mention FLORALBLOG when you place your order by phone or write this code in the comments section of your order form when you order on line.
June 12th, 2006
Looking for something different to include in your gift baskets? These celebratory pens make a flashy conversation piece and a great gift! Just use an inexpensive ball point pen and wrap it with this new product: two toned wire.
This versitile product is manufactured by Smithers Oasis and Apex Gift Foods carries this product in their wholesale floral division. In addition to the two tone wire, aluminum wire in bright metallic tones and bouillon wire can be used to add decorative accents to your designs.
Go to Apex’s web site to see the variety of colors available in these new wire products. If you place an order, mention code WIREBLOG and receive a 5% discount on these items.
June 7th, 2006
I just saw an advertisement for a new product from Betallic Balloon Company: Photo Balloons! If you use balloons in any of your gift basket designs, you may want to check this out.
Basically, you can create personalized 21″ mylar balloons including a photo and message. You do this with a photo from your own computer. No special software is needed.
On the Betallic web site, you can download detailed instructions for creating these balloons and see a variety of design ideas. There are designs for every occasion: birthdays, new baby, promotions, retirements and more. The full line of products is shown along with a list of distributors.
I’d love to know if this product looks appealing to gift basket packers. Your comments would be greatly appreciated!
March 29th, 2006
Shirley Frazier, host of a great blog, Gift Basket Business recently posted an entry about ribbons and how a beautiful bow can add an appealing enhancement to any basket design.
Buying ribbon though, doesn’t need to be costly. At Apex Gift Foods, you can buy monofilament, organza ribbon in over 25 fashion colors that will match all of your designs. These sheer, shimmery ribbons, in 25 yard rolls, are available in 3 widths: 5/8″, 1 1/2″ and 2 1/2″.
With Easter and Mother’s Day fast approaching, stock up on luscious, pastel shades: pink, lavender, yellow, mint, and blue. Or add a bold splash to your baskets with hot new colors: orange, lime, fuschia, chocolate and teal.
Better yet, Apex is running a sale in April! Save $1.00 per roll on all widths. On the popular 1 1/2″ width organza, you’ll pay just $.12 per yard!
Go to Apex Gift Foods to see the lovely selection of fabulous, organza ribbons and to save 25%! To take advantage of this promotion, write “RibbonBlog” in the comments section of your order form.
March 27th, 2006
I spoke with a friend this week who owns a floral shop and who does quite a bit of funeral work. While flowers are still the traditional tribute sent to grieving families, my friend told me that more and more, her customers are sending gourmet gift baskets as an expression of sympathy.
Moreover, my friend told me about a very large funeral home in her neighborhood that has their own gift shop so that mourners can stop and buy a gift for the family when they arrive at the funeral home.
Many cultures share the age old tradition of sending food to a grieving family. Food is a welcome gift. If sending gourmet sympathy baskets is a growing trend, this may be a great opportunity to expand your business.
Make a visit to your local funeral home and introduce yourself to the funeral director. Take a “gift”: a sample of your work. Leave your business cards. Although the director deals most frequently with family members of the deceased, he often gets calls from others who want to send something to the funeral home, but need a suggestion for a local florist. Maybe you can convince the director to suggest that they send a gift basket. Who knows, you may be able to convince the director to find a place in the funeral home where your baskets can be displayed!
I talked to several basket packers and florists and got some suggestions about what products are appropriate for a sympathy basket.
- Funerals often mean that a lot of family and friends are around. Send foods that can be easily shared: boxes of cookies, cakes, bags of nuts or candies. Boxes of teabags or bags of ground coffee that can be used to make a full pot are also appreciated.
- Add a candle or a picture frame to your design. These gifts can be a soothing way to help the bereaved remember their loved one.
- Seasonal fresh fruits can be included with a selection of gourmet gift foods. When packing fruit, use a waxed shredded tissue for fill (not a paper shred) to absorb any moisture that might appear when the basket is wrapped in cellophane or shrink wrap. Also, include instructions for care and handling: open the basket immediately, store fruit at room temperature, then refrigerate when ripe.
- Use some ribbon to tie a beautiful bow on your basket. Or add some silk ivy or seasonal flowers. The person who receives the basket will appreciate the thoughtful gift at a difficult time.
Some resources for you if you’re thinking about expanding your sympathy basket business:
- Apex Gift Foods carries shredded wax tissue, wicker baskets, and ribbons that are perfect for sympathy designs. Call 800-348-2369 for fruit basket care and handling tags. Apex’s customer service staff will also suggest gourmet products that would work will for your sympathy designs.
- Gift Basket Review’s online archive include photos of sympathy designs by Pam Valdez.
- Search the internet for more information about funeral etiquette and customs. Wikipedia is a good starting point with links to many more resources.
March 25th, 2006
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