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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 57 Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 57 W ith the holidays just around the corner, many consumers are already searching for (and buying!) perfect gifts for those on their shopping lists—especially corporate customers needing client gifts. Here are some enlightening statistics about when U.S. consumers who celebrate Christmas start their holiday shopping and when they do the majority of it (remember, though, that business clients typically plan their holiday gift giving much earlier). • 15 percent of Americans who celebrate Christmas do their holiday shopping year-round. • 6 percent start shopping in September. • 19 percent start shopping in October. • 32 percent start shopping in late November/early December, around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. • 23 percent start shopping in December, after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. • 9 percent start shopping the week before Christmas. • 2 percent start shopping on Christmas Eve. • 79 percent of Americans buy some gifts within two weeks of Christmas; 16 percent do the majority of their holiday shopping during this time period. If you don't already offer gift baskets, this article will give you many reasons to consider adding them to your product selection, as well as ideas for creating a collection and marketing it. ese festive and well- received gift options, with or without flowers or plants, are certain to increase your holiday sales, and they also offer you another way to showcase your talents and distinguish your business from all others. Although gift baskets have been around for a long time, they are still popular gifts; however, for flower shops, they must be thoughtfully conceived, creatively designed and different from those of the myriad competitors already in the space. By offering a unique collection of gift baskets comprising specialty items curated just for your marketplace and client base (or even with specific clients in mind), you can provide shoppers with the perfect gifts for everyone on their lists. And, by the way, gift baskets are not just for the holidays; they are perfect year-round for thank yous, birthdays, anniversaries, get well, sympathy, new babies, just because and more. at opens up many possibilities for sales and really makes the investment and effort involved worthwhile (i.e., profitable). Gift baskets are typically designed around specific themes, which enables them to be tailored for specific occasions, tastes, interests and personalities. And the variety of items contained in them assures the delight of everyone who receives them. One of the most common and popular themes for holiday gift baskets is food/gourmet, from edibles to drinkables, but the possibilities are limitless. Other top-selling themes include local/regional products; spa/relaxation; beauty/pampering; health/wellness; "addictions" (coffee, tea, ice cream, etc.); family game night or family activity ; sports teams; and all manner of hobbies from barbecue to gardening, golf to yoga, reading to cooking or baking; movies to gaming—and the list goes on ad infinitum. Tin Sleigh Planter, Cardinal Platter and Cardinal Wall Hanging from burton + BURTON Bogart, Ga.

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