Gift Basket Faux Pas

How to Choose The Right Gift Basket For Every Occasion and Avoid Common Gift Basket Blunders

The tradition of giving gift baskets has a rich history and has been a popular past-time for centuries; providing a special way for someone to send warm wishes or offer support, they are the perfect present for both friends and loved ones alike.  Through the use of gift baskets, we are able to send congratulations at graduation time, sympathy during times of trouble, and well-wishes to those who are sick.  They can be found in just about every style, size, shape and color, making it seem that there is a gift basket out there for everyone.  While this may very well be true, with the growing trend of giving gift bundles, there also comes another growing trend; this one not so welcome - the gift basket faux pas.  Are you guilty of committing one of these horrible crimes?  Here are some of the more popular gift basket mistakes that one might be guilty of: 

Candy Gift Baskets For the Diabetic - Chocolate and candy assortment gift baskets are not only a poor choice, but can also be a dangerous option for people with diabetes.  If you’re sending a gift basket to a known diabetic, shy away from the sweets and instead try something like a breakfast gift basket, a sugar-free gourmet gift basket or perhaps something personalized to their specific preferences. 

Wine Gift Baskets For the Recovering Alcoholic - While wine-tasting may be a popular past-time for some, it’s definitely not for everyone.  Unless you know someone’s policy on drinking, it’s probably a good idea to avoid sending alcoholic beverages; even something as simple and well-meaning as a bottle of champagne can end up a horrible faux pas. 

The Dieter’s Gift Basket - This variety of gift package can either offer some great encouragement and incentive, or it can end up insulting the recipient if you’re not careful.  While this is an excellent choice for one dieting buddy to give to another, be careful that you not only know the person that you're giving this basket to well, but also that they will understand the spirit that it’s being given in.  The last thing you want is to do is mistakenly suggest someone’s in need of a diet or point out that they still need to shed a few more pounds. 

Gift Baskets for Cancer Patients - When a cancer patient is undergoing chemotherapy, they have weaker immune systems and are placed on diets that restrict them from eating fresh fruits and vegetables, making fruit baskets a poor choice.  In addition to this, many patients suffer a great deal of nausea or loss of appetite, so it's a good idea to avoid sweets as well.  In some cases, even plants and flowers are considered to be a risk for those with weakened immunity, so be sure to keep this in mind when sending gifts to sick friends. 
 
Gift Giving For Those With Allergies - When we think of giving gifts to those who suffer allergies, the first thought tends to tell us to stay away from flowers.  As years pass, however, we are finding more and more common allergies amongst the general populace.  In addition to avoiding flowers, if you don’t know your recipient well, you might also want to avoid things such as nuts or latex balloons, both of which have been known to cause serious allergic reactions. 

Cultural Calamities -  In many countries, gift giving is an excellent method of showing respect, appreciation and giving thanks.  However, without careful consideration, some of your more popular gift basket combinations can prove to be a serious faux pas.  Potted plants, for example, are a bad gift choice in many Asian countries and any form of leather product is a poor choice for Latin American friends. 

Book Gift Baskets - While these are an excellent idea for the bookworm, not everyone is fond of snuggling up with a good book and spending an evening reading by the fire.  Giving the gift of books to someone who doesn’t appreciate a good novel can not only rack up some weighty shipping fees, but can also make you seem like a terrible bore. 

If you're looking to send a message to someone, whether it’s congratulations or a simple thank you, gift baskets can relay the message in a style that is both unique and thoughtful.  Getting to know your recipient can only help you to personalize your gift further, as well as ensuring that you avoid committing a gift basket faux pas.  If you don’t know the person very well and want to make sure your gift is appropriate, try asking your recipient’s friends, family, and even co-workers to offer you some hints as to the individual’s likes and dislikes.  The extra effort that you take, ensuring you choose the perfect gift, is sure to make all the difference.