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| How
did you get started in the wedding favors and gift basket
business? |
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I
have always enjoyed being creative whether it was making
gifts for others, creating gift baskets or favors for
parties that we had in our family or for friends,
decorating/ wrapping gifts so exquisitely that I had
family, friends, and co-workers requesting my services.
Creating gift baskets and favors started as a hobby about
10-15 years ago and grew to the home-based business I have
today. I had also worked in a local florist for about 4-6
years helping the owner with various tasks of the business
and learned many useful tools through his expertise. I
love to create new items, and I am always thinking of new
ideas to be creative!
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| What
are some of your most popular wedding favors? |
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The
most popular favors this year have been themed items. The
beach, sea shore, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas and thank you
favors have been a big hit. I have an assortment of Asher's
shaped chocolates and Koppers gourmet candies, holiday themed
items (St. Patrick's Day), and the two piece chocolate
assortment in a unique gold box, with a clear lid and simple
ribbon/flower decoration. It can be dressed up to be very
simple and elegant and used for many different occasions. In
addition to the wedding items, I have even done several
gourmet butter cookies, which can be done for the bride and
groom, however, the "house" cookie for realtors,
personalized with their names, slogan and business phone
numbers have been a very popular item as well.
This year, some of the popular favors have been themed items,
such as the beach theme (which I most recently did clam shell
chocolates). A recent wedding I did included favors using an
Asher's milk chocolate piece in the shape of a clam shell,
packaged in a clear sleeve and decorated with white/gold
ribbon, tulle and a sea shell button. The shape of the shell
was a little larger than I would normally do for the favor
size, but it had a unique flair to the design on the shell and
looked exquisite. The bride and groom met with me to
discuss the various ideas and options I have available to
them, we mixed and matched a few ideas from various other
favors I have done in the past, and came up with their unique
favor. I think it's one that many other brides may love for
their beach theme wedding too. However every favor is of
course hand decorated, so it will be unique to each wedding.
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| What
favors do you have for beach themed weddings? |
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I like
to customize the favors for every couple getting married or
planning a special event. The beach themed items I have are
various chocolate shapes using only the finest Asher's
chocolates: Clam shells, star fish, light house, sail boats,
fish. Each can be packaged in a clear sleeve, tied with tulle
(or even a small amount of fish net) decorated with tulle,
fish net, ribbons, shells, star fish, sea shore buttons or a
combination of a few of these items. I also have small
buckets, two/four piece chocolate holders with the sea shell
decoration/ribbon, candy sticks with sea shore crabs/lobsters,
hard candy shells packaged in a mini white box which can be
embossed with sea shells, butter cookies in various sea shore
shapes, sea shore sachels and much more. I have many ideas and
can customize to the clients needs.
I like to do unique and creative ideas, I try to make the
products functional and fun.
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| You
also do a large gift basket business. Can you tell me about
some of your most popular baskets? |
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My
gift baskets are very popular during the holiday months, my
busiest season is of course around fall through December,
however I do the baskets year round for every occasion.
The most popular baskets other than the holiday baskets have
been baby baskets, bath and pampering, gourmet treats,
birthday, new home baskets, and wedding showers.
I try to do unique items, not only with the typical wicker
basket, but other items have been used as bases, such as
garden hoses (for new home owners), toy dump trucks |
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boy gifts), Plush Bears for my "Diaper Bear"
creation, Ceramic gift dishes, Bird Houses, Watering Cans,
Miniature Baby Carriage, and much more! I love to come up with
new ideas and share them with my customers.
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Here are a few that are requested quite frequently:
a) Sympathy Basket: The products in this
basket are primarily snacks for the family and visiting
guests. This basket can contain an assortment of the
following: Jams, Jam spreader, Gourmet Nuts, Pretzels,
Napkins, Crackers, Cheese, Coffee, Tea, Sympathy Journal,
Candle, and Stationery. I have customers request that I add
flowers to this and I have added a flower dish garden or small
flowering plant on some of my baskets. This basket runs $40+
b) Birthday Basket: Depending on if this is for a man
or woman, I receive the most requests for a woman's gift
basket with either an assortment of my bath (shower gels, hand
lotion from Annabelle Bearden) French Milled Soap, Hand
Towels, Carol Wilson Stationery and an assortment of our
chocolate covered pretzels from Asher's.
Candles, Ceramic Candle Toppers and an assortment of other
gifts can be added to this. These baskets start at $35+
c) Wedding Shower Basket: A beautiful basket with a
full assortment of beautiful embossed bath towels. This
may include the two large (bath towels), two medium (hand
towels), two wash cloths, 1-2 candle holders, candles bath
sponge and hand made or French milled soap. This basket runs
$55-75+
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d) Baby Baskets:
My ideas for baby baskets seem to keep
growing. They're a favorite for many of my customers.
"Dump Truck" baby basket.. made with a plastic dump
truck (for the baby boy to use later of course), baby blanket,
onesie, Bath sponge, bib, cleansing items for he baby. This
basket runs $45-60.
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e) Diaper Bear: Adorable Plush Baby Bear, dressed in
all the items that will be used for the baby, as soon as the
bear is undressed! This includes an embroidered burping
pad/diaper, baby bib (duck/frog/bunny), two wash cloths, baby
bath products (powder, lotion, bath wash), diaper pins, baby
socks & head band (for the girls). It's an adorable piece
and an LJ's Creative Crafts original! The diaper
bear is just $35.
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| Do
a lot of brides use baskets for their wedding events and
what do you include in a typical pampering/toiletry basket
for their guests? |
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My
most popular wedding basket is actually a toiletry basket for
the rest room on the day of the reception. The basket includes
all the necessary essentials for the bride or groom, their
bridal party and visiting guests that might need a little
"something" to freshen up. The brides rest room
basket is an assortment including: emergency sewing kit (for
that unexpected dress/clothing tear), clear nail polish (for
the stocking run), pain killer (tylenol/advil- for any type of
ailment), tums, hand lotion, hair combs, hair spray, hair gel,
spray deodorant, cover up, note pad and pen, breath freshener
mints, mouth wash, and of course life savers! Many of the same
items are used for both the men and women's restroom.
Many brides feel this is a necessity and don't want to be
caught with a runner in their stocking or bad breath on their
wedding day!! This basket starts at just $40
I also create hotel guest greeting baskets complete with a
small sampling of crackers, cookies, chocolates, note pad and
even a deck of cards! The basket contains a "hang
tag" which can be a personal message from the bride and
groom to their visiting guest.. thank you for coming to join
us this special day...etc. This basket starts at $30 and
I may include delivery in that price if other wedding items
are being delivered to that location.
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| What
was the most unique wedding themed favor or basket that you
designed/created? |
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The
most unique/creative wedding basket I remember was a beautiful
Swan sleigh filled to the rim with a set of hand towels, wash
cloths, soaps and candles. I still have one more swan and I
almost hate to part with it..the swan piece alone is really
uniquely beautiful!
The most unique favor would have to be the fabric Jordan
Almond Flower. Although all our favors are hand made, this
requires much more time than most others. It starts as a
small 6-8" fabric piece, it is filled with 5 (traditional
amount for luck) pieces of Jordan Almonds / Italian Confetti
candy pieces, it's pulled tight to form a flower, the
flower is then tied closed, decorated with a small sprig of
additional flowers or ribbons. I carry two styles currently,
there are many various decorating ideas for this piece. It's
very unique and beautiful. The piece could even be used as
decoration or tied around a wine glass for a unique look. It
works out great for a wedding, anniversary or spring party
favor. This favor is $3.00 ea.
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| What
do you like most about your business? |
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I love
to come up with new ideas (which are on a daily basis) and
bring new ideas to my customers. I am hoping that with
my participation the past 12 months in various bridal shows
and exposure on Atlantic City Weddings, that many more
prospecting engaged couples will see the products I offer and
I may customize a special item for them. If anyone is
interested in any favor for seasonal or wedding events, I have
many ideas. My favors and gifts are custom made, and
affordable for their gift giving or wedding day needs.
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| Is
there anything else you would like to add about LJ's
Creative Crafts? |
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Yes!
LJ's Creative Crafts is available for customers 7 days a week.
I run a home based-gift basket business...creating party
favors, gift baskets, dessert trays and I also offer assembly
services of your own favors!! Not enough time to do it all?
We'll be the extra hand to get the job done efficiently and
beautifully!
I love creating new party favors, customizing gifts, gift
baskets and dessert trays for any event. I participate in area
gift, bridal and craft shows. I love what I do and hope you'll
spread the word on our creative, unique and affordable
products! I have also created custom hand made
invitations and cards for various occasions and parties. I
deliver to Cape May and Atlantic County and ship anywhere for
a nominal fee.
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Anyone that would like additional
information, a bridal favor brochure or
general brochure, or to schedule a consultation,
please contact
Linda at 609-926-7338 or e-mail LJsCreativeCraft@aol.com
Also visit our web page on
AtlanticCityWeddings.com
for more photos and information: LJ's
Creative Crafts
LJ's Creative Crafts...
where our gifts are specially created with you in mind..
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