The Secret to Creating
Gift Baskets
That Men Want to Receive
by
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D.
Few things are as challenging and frustrating for basketeers as creating gift baskets for men. We worry if male recipients will enjoy our gift choices, colors and packaging. We're fortunate to live in an exciting time in history when men have expanded their activities and preferences and are less bound by myths and social expectations.
Manufacturers are rapidly expanding their offerings to include products, flavors, colors and themes tailored to men. While the global marketplace is all around us, the ideas shared here apply mainly to men in the United States What's appropriate in gift-giving may change with different cultures.
While it has long been rumored that men began their lives as boys who were made of worms, snails and puppy dogs' tails, we were enlightened near the end of the 20 th century that men are actually from Mars. After extensive consultation with Martian basketeers, I have uncovered seven secrets to creating gift baskets that men will want to receive.
1. Don't assume. Ask your clients questions about the recipient, then note the answers. When taking an order I ask these questions:
-What's the occasion?
-What's your budget?
-Who's the recipient (relationship to sender & age?)
-When does it need to arrive?
-What's his profession, hobbies, interests?
-Does he have family/children & ages?
2. Shop with men in mind. Great gifts are ones that appeal to his imagination, to the man he wants to be. If he's a businessman, let him think he's the best in his field. Gifts should also appeal to the child within such as functional gadgets or desk toys he can play with when a caller puts him on hold. Ask vendors to share suggestions based on their experiences.
3. Stay on top of the trends by continuously reading trade publications, taking classes and attending seminars. Fashion magazines and TV talk shows are good sources of trends also.
4. Embrace old ideas, then add a new twist:
a. The way to a man's heart is still through his stomach, but now many men love to cook the food as well as eat it. Whether it's junk food, classic food or healthy food, men still love to eat. Men who enjoy cooking prefer cookbooks and gadgets that really work.
b. Blue--in all shades is still men's favorite color, but more men are becoming comfortable with pastels and bright colors. Don't be afraid to choose a variety of textures and containers.
c. Ducks and horses are still men's favorite images on ties and gift items, but hobby-specific images are popular too.
d. Nostalgia is in. Select gifts that preserve the past, but reflect the future. Roaring twenties and Route 66 themes are enjoyable. Poker, once a game played by old-timers, is now the rage of college students. For executive men, consider museum-quality gifts with an educational/cultural connection.
e. Men still love to be surrounded by things that give them pleasure. But now they have become interested in home furnishing and pampering their bodies and souls. Aromatherapy products are popular and great for you to carry because they are unisex.
Find sources for aromatherapy products here.
5. Watch what men do, not what they buy.
--They may buy functional gifts for others, but they enjoy novelty, such as a wine bottle filled with golf balls & tees or tennis balls.
-- They may order gourmet food for others, but they often reach for junk food. The favorites are salty snacks over sweets with the exception of chocolate; munchies rather than gourmet and cake over cookies.
--While many men display photos of family and friends in their offices, they don't always buy frames for themselves. If this is true, then all the picture frames owned by men were gifts.
6. Choose gifts that reflect their hobbies and interests. If the budget doesn't allow for functional equipment or tools, many products reflect hobbies and interests in labeling.
7. When in doubt, remember to BUNT.
B = Buy safe items such as pens, personalized notes and wood desk accessories. Men can be just as label-conscious as women, however, so go for names with prestige.
U = Use upscale leather goods.
N = Notice which novelty items work best to reflect the recipient’s hobbies or interests.
T = Take time-related items such as clocks, watches and calendars and offer personalization.
Creating gift baskets for men need not baffle us. The best strategy in selecting gifts for men is the same as it is for women: know the recipient’s tastes and preferences. Recipients will be impressed with the giver’s ingenuity, and may give you the ultimate compliment by becoming one of your clients.
Need help with designing? We've got it here.
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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