Looking at the baskets for sale on ebay, I know I can do better than that. That sounds awfully mean of me, doesn't it? Also, there are some bulk collections of empty baskets for sale, which would save me a bunch of money. I'll have to think about this a bit more.

sj, have you ever done any networking with event planners? 'Cause it seems like someone planning something like a posh wedding or a convention or a lecture series or something (specially if it's an event where someone corporate is picking up the tab) would be all over your baskets, and would be less likely to fuss about the price.

sj, be sure to look at completed auctions to see how well gift baskets do in general. That's what I usually do to see what sells and how to price certain items .

You know the best basket I ever did for someone- I can't remember why 21st birthday, Mardi Gras or what- was a hangover gift basket. Hair ties and clips, cheap sunglasses, crackers, alka-seltzer, moisturizer, gatorade, power bar, and one of those freezy gell things.

Oh my word. That's brilliant!

sj, have you ever done any networking with event planners? 'Cause it seems like someone planning something like a posh wedding or a convention or a lecture series or something (specially if it's an event where someone corporate is picking up the tab) would be all over your baskets, and would be less likely to fuss about the price.

This is a great idea!

if you can contact small boutique hotels you may get some business as well- they like gifting VIPs. The larger chains have this type of thing in place I think, but smaller places might have a need.

sj, be sure to look at completed auctions to see how well gift baskets do in general. That's what I usually do to see what sells and how to price certain items .

Yup, I'm going to check that out when I have more time.

sj, have you ever done any networking with event planners? 'Cause it seems like someone planning something like a posh wedding or a convention or a lecture series or something (specially if it's an event where someone corporate is picking up the tab) would be all over your baskets, and would be less likely to fuss about the price.

No, but that is something I should look into. I would really love to have a steady business of making the bathroom baskets for weddings. With lotions, hair pins, safety pins, hairspray, sanitary pads, tampons, ect. Everything a guest might need at a wedding. They come out gorgeous, they're not that difficult to make, and if I knew I could have a steady business of them I could buy some of the items in bulk, saving me a ton of money.

And you're close to Boston, which God knows has got to be just glutted with academic and medical conferences full of important must-be-cosseted guests, practically on a weekly basis.

sj, I think eBay would be a good place for you to sell your baskets. I will admit I've not been terribly impressed with the gift baskets I've seen on there, and I've always liked hearing about yours.

One gift-basket business I know of is Thee Basket Boo-tique. Yes, a gothy gift basket company. I love the idea, but am ... slightly underwhelmed by their offerings.

sj, have you ever done any networking with event planners? 'Cause it seems like someone planning something like a posh wedding or a convention or a lecture series or something (specially if it's an event where someone corporate is picking up the tab) would be all over your baskets, and would be less likely to fuss about the price.

Or colleges -- I know when midterms rolled around, a lot of students got "Study Baskets" from their parents -- the university sent out flyers to all the parents touting how little Skippy or Muffy wouldn't implode under the pressure of midterms if they only had this nifty basket. It had snack food and some fruit and....hell, I graduated 12 years ago; I have no idea what else.

But they were the coolest thing EVAR, especially when you hadn't left the study lounge for 10 hours and needed food in a big way.