What sells better than a canister of hot cocoa mix? A WRAPPED one! Here, a can of hot cocoa mix is topped off with a holiday ornament and candy cane. To wrap it for show-and-sell-results, set the ensemble on a narrow strip of cellophane -- just wide enough to overlap. Bring the cello up and gather it underneath the upper portion of the ornament so that much of the ornament peeks above the wrap. Tie it off with a simple 2-loop bow of ribbon. This makes an excellent party favor, Secret Santa gift, or a nice thank you to the postman, Sunday School teacher, crossing guard at school, janitor, or anyone who deserves a sweet token of the holidays.

Visual WOW! presentation is the ultimate key to selling gift baskets. For local deliveries, each basket delivered can mean dozens of future basket sales. It is generally thought that delivered baskets should allow recipients and others to get a peek of what is inside, but keep a good deal of the contents ‘under wrap or ribbon’ so that the recipient finds surprises as they open and go through the contents. The presentation has more value as it becomes an “experience”.

Part of presentation is adding more height and style -- often achieved through using patterend cellophane wrap. These wonderful cellophane patterns can be overwhelming -- too busy -- when the entire basket is wrapped in the pattern. Instead, consider wrapping the basket itself in clear cellophane (ar a strip of clear cello for local deliveries), then adding a plume of patterned cellophane.

Using a narrow strip of cellophane to wrap a basket only works when the components inside the basket are fairly secure, and when the basket is delivered locally. Use Glue Dots® to keep components together.

Gift box, ribbon and cellophane courtesy of Nashville Wraps.

Just because budgets are tight doesn’t mean corporations stop sending gifts throughout the year. At Christmas, the pressure to send gifts to good clients is intense for service-oriented businesses. You can help them keep thank you gifts on a tight budget -- and that will earn you a HUGE thanks from the corporation.

Corporations often ask for imprinted ribbon or boxes. That’s good for you, because one simple wrap of an imprinted ribbon is all the wrap a business gift may need. Here, chocolate ornaments are boxed in a clear acetate box. The only wrap required is the imprint tie-around ribbon, with a bow topping the box. The look is stylish, elegant, and efficient.

Wow! Cellophane dramatically magnifies the presentation of a gift component. Here, a patterned cellophane (Nashville Wraps) is used to wrap a tin of gourmet coffee (Don Francisco from Gaviña). This wrap is achieved by placing the coffee tin on the front third of a square of cellophane. Pull up the cello and tie it off. Next, tug and twist the cello to create the even, snug presentation shown here. Simple - quick - and WOW! What a presentation!