It’s Time to Start the Introductions

[creativegifts]

A very important part of any community — which is what I am hoping this will become — is getting to know each other. That leads to friendships and connections. Since no one else has jumped in, I’ll start and invite you to follow me and introduce yourself to us.

Most of you have known me for years but I’m Joyce Reid and live in the middle of the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world in Flagstaff, Arizona. We do get snow — sometimes lots of it. I’ve been a part of the gift basket industry since 1992 when I began marketing my new business, Creative Gifts to Go LLC, in a rented space in my town’s best-known antique mall located in an actual Carriage House from the 1800’s.

It grew from there until I added writing for Rave Reviews, the mainstream print magazine for the industry at the time and speaking at the Conventions After Rave Reviews closed, I started a digital magazine — Gift Basket Business Insider and published it for 13 years. Time moves on and so have I. Should have retired years ago but I need this business and the people in it to keep me busy and connected in my senior years. The man beneath my wings died in November 2023 which resulted in my changing my whole business model. But I’m still here and I created this forum as a community for ME as well as for YOU.

I’m also started writing cozy mystery short reads (The Carriage House Cozy Mystery Series) and have published three on Amazon. A new Christmas themed one will follow in a couple of week.

Enough about me. Now it’s your turn. Don’t be shy. We want to meet you.

[Basketlady]

Debbie Mathews here. Retired from corporate America in 2019 from the communications industry. In one of my roles I partnered with HR through the onboarding process in the Financial department for new employees. It was there I developed my passion for creating gift baskets and event planning. Jumped into the world of entrepreneurship in 2012.

[SherryCooter]

My name is Sherry Cooter. I started in 1987, growing African violets to a larger size than what you normally see, planted them in self watering pots along with fertilizer and a growing pamphlet from the African Violet Society of America. I sold to florists and to the public with baby’s breath, bows, etc. in baskets. Moved to a location that utilized well water which had a high mineral content (not good for African violets) after my divorce, so it meant collecting rain water, which is not fun in January holding a hammer and a flashlight in the freezing cold! A friend showed me an ad for a gift basket magazine called Gift Basket Review. I attended a convention in Houston early 1990’s, got on the AOL bbs I believe 1995, attended another convention in New Orleans not long after joining AOL, and was hooked. It was all so exciting back then! I’m in the DFW metroplex.

[Glendadrumnc]

My name is Glenda Drum, my business is Baskets From The Heart in Shelby NC. I started my business in 1997 having searched for awhile to determine what kind of business I wanted to start. I even researched at a local community college library the topic of gift baskets. I soon came across Cheri Reagor and her gb biz in Fl and her magazine Rave Reviews and her conventions, which I attended one in Nashville, TN. She definitely influenced my style and her “blinging” up her gift baskets were unmatched by anyone in the biz. Her enhancements were probably a good portion of the cost of the basket. Today things have changed, obviously, so I’ve adapted to a degree, but still hanging on to “beautifying” my baskets for presentation to a minimal degree. To find out what the prospective customers that you would have either locally or via website is challenging. I also offer floral and plants so that is probably in the minority of us gb biz owners. It has helped me to have this option and I do sell a fair amount of both, I don’t house these, but use either a retail option or wholesale, depending on the request. Being in a rural southern county with a reasonably small population and not a great deal of business is also challenging. As the saying goes, “location is everything”. It’s still enjoyable for me and when it’s not I’ll exit!

[Lise46]

Lise Schleicher with BasketWorks. Started from home in 1997, after writing multiple business plans for different ideas. I am a numbers girl and will alway encourage you to know your numbers and do a cursory budget.

This is the description that is published on me:

Lise spent several years working in floral design, corporate human resources and retail management before launching BasketWorks, a custom gift basket company, in 1997. She has a BS in Business Administration and a MA Labor & Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois. With her educational background, employment background, and business ownership, Lise is knowledgeable about all aspects of business, from marketing to design to long term planning. Lise’s work has received awards including 1st place for Executive Design and she has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, on WBBM radio, and in the Gift Basket Design Book. In addition to her business, she is intensely involved in local organizations; she has been named Volunteer of the Year by both the Chamber of Commerce and her synagogue. Lise has Crohn’s Disease as well as clinical depression. She participates in the Peyton Heart Project to remove the stigma around mental illness and to encourage people to speak openly. Lise lives in Northbrook IL with her husband; they have two young adult sons and a cat.

[Kelly Aldridge-Smith]

Hello there! I’m Kelly and I’m the owner of my small handmade business, Stitches N’ Hues. I’m located in Hudson, North Carolina.  I crochet and knit my products.

I’ve been knitting for over 20 years, crocheting for a little over 2 years now.  Currently, I’m working on my certification through the Gift Design Association. I’ll be joining the knitting and crochet guilds next year.  I have business experience dating back to my childhood.  My maternal grandparents were in business and I grew up with a lot of their influence.

Stitches N’ Hues specializes with handmade crochet and knitted gift baskets or box sets. My baskets are crochet by me with T-shirt yarn. Currently, I make spa (hygiene) gift baskets or box sets.  I’ll be branching out to baby and kitchen accessories starting next year.  For 2026, there will be three specialized categories; baby, spa/pampering, and kitchen accessories.  You can easily find my business on Facebook and Instagram.

All of my items are either 100% cotton yarn and/or t-shirt yarn (cotton or polyester spandex blend).

While I love creating gifts for people, I’m also a stay-at-home caregiver for my mom and my son.  I’m love reading books, take small walks, and play video games.

[creativegifts]

Welcome to the group Kelly and thank you for introducing yourself.  You have a unique advantage within the gift basket niche with your hand crocheted gift baskets and gifts.  Looked at your facebook page.  Looks like you are not new by any means.  Keep up the good work and add to as well as join in the conversations.  This is a new forum that we are getting off the ground.

[Kelly Aldridge-Smith]

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.y business is still relatively new. Technically, I started on Etsy in Summer of 2023. But I wasn’t registered with my state until February of last year. February 2024 is also when I started my Facebook Business page.  Last year, I focused on getting some online exposure. This year has been more personal one-on-one like vendor events.  I have had some great success with those events.

I’m always willing to learn and ready to grow how ever my business needs to be. I’m looking forward to this new approach for helping one another and encouraging each other.

[Author]

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