Holiday Gift For Seniors

It's often difficult to choose a gift for an older person, especially if they are living in an assisted living community or small apartment. The last thing they need, or want, is more stuff. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we recommend choosing gifts that are practical and totally consumable.
A pretty package of tea with a small box of cookies and chocolates will bring a smile and lift anyone's spirits. A couple of bars of hand made soap tied up in a pretty bow is a nice touch. A box of all occasion cards or note cards with a book of postage stamps would be appreciated by anyone, especially if they have a difficult time getting out.
Several small denomination gift cards to the local supermarket or prepaid phone cards are thoughtful gifts that help stretch a tight budget.
Most of all, it really is the thought that counts. This holiday season remember that little things can make a big difference.

Winter Festival 2009

When Laurel Mountain Basket Company was a part time business/hobby, I spent every weekend between Halloween and Christmas participating in local craft fairs.

Craft fairs were not only great places to display and sell my Christmas gift baskets, they were great places to buy unique Christmas gifts for my friends and family.

The first year I applied to every show in the area. The second year I was a bit more selective and ruled out those where many of the "crafters" made crocheted toilet tissue covers and clothespin reindeer. I sold a lot of gift baskets at these fairs but it was a lot of work. By the third year, I was attending only my two favorites.

When I opened my retail space in an old converted factory building I stopped doing fairs altogether. I got together with some of the others in the building, we contacted some friends and started our own show. It was so much fun that we decided to do it every year.

I may be a little biased but I think The Annual Winter Arts & Crafts Festival at the Marketplace at Eastworks is one of the best arts & crafts shows in Western Massachusetts. We have some of the finest artisans and crafters in the Pioneer Valley, many of whom have been with us since the first one. Clients and the community at large look forward to the event because they know they will find one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts, reasonably priced. There is something for everyone.

Join us this year on Saturday December 4th and Sunday December 5th from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both days. We are located in Easthampton, MA, just minutes North of Springfield. For directions check the Eastworks website at www.eastworks.com

Artists and crafters, we still have openings in some of our categories. If you would like more information, contact me at info@laurelmtbasket.com

Ready, Set,Shop!

Shopping during the Holiday Season can be quite stressful. Crowded stores, limited time, and limited money, are all factors contributing to a stressful shopping experience. Here are a couple of tips to make Holiday shopping more enjoyable.

Plan ahead. Planning ahead is one way to limit the amount of stress brought on by shopping during the Holidays. Start by making lists. Make a list of people who you want to buy gifts for and determine how much money you are going to spend on each gift. Next, write down one or two gift ideas that fall within the pre determined price range next to each name.
Start your Holiday shopping early and plan to shop on more than one occasion if at all possible. By starting early and knowing you don't have to buy everything on your list that day, you will have a better chance of finding the gift you want at the price you can afford. If you wait until the last minute, you may find yourself spending more for a particular item or spending money on a gift simply to have "something" to give because you have run out of time. Spending more than your budget allows will certainly add stress to the Holiday Season and beyond.

Finding the "perfect" gift for that "hard to buy for" individual can create a lot of stress. The way to avoid this type of stress is to realize that you can't please everyone. Simply select a "nice" gift that is within your budget and be done with it.

Gift baskets are wonderful gifts for "hard to shop for" people. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we have a large selection of gift baskets designed for every occasion and we work with our clients to help them select ones that are appropriate to their needs.