Small Business: Saving the economy...one job at a time.

There's a growing trend to support small business. Consumers are finding it much more fulfilling to shop at a local Mom & Pop's store rather than a "Big-Box" retailer. People nowadays are looking for appreciation as well as service. They enjoy feeling welcomed and comfortable in an environment that satisfies their need. Sometimes, a listening ear and a caring embrace is worth more than that extra little "Rollback."

The Importance of Feedback

It's a real motivator to know we're doing a good job, and it fuels the fire to put the gears into overdrive. Positive reinforcement is a fantastic way to show your gratitude! Whereas Feedback fuels the customer service engine, telling others drives the economic engine. Word-of-Mouth promotion is critical to the success of small business.

Magnet from Ann Taintor, Inc. 2x2 - $4.95

The more places your voice is heard, the greater the likelihood your favorite corner store will be there when you need them. Aside from telling your friends, another way to show your support is by sharing your experience on Google Places, Yelp, Twitter, and many others by writing a review. You have the power to save the economy...one review at a time!

Father's Day Is On Its Way!

Father's Day is approaching, and fast! On Sunday, June 20th, let this Father's Day be a way to have a heart-to-heart with dad. At Baskets By Bonnie, we want to help you send dad the message that sums up a year's worth of hard work. Is he a "Number one dad", or maybe he's the coolest dad in the world? Treat dad to some sweet-tooth goodies, a bottle of wine, or even some hand-picked items that are fit for a king!

Dad's are one of a kind. And let's face it! Being a father can be hard work! So, make him feel extra special by putting that little bit of extra into your gift this year. Besides, dad has taken that little extra step for you! You have the ability to choose from a wide variety of items where the basket can be completely customized by your own hand-picked items. Just give us a call, and tell us what you want and how much you want to spend. Dad has a basket personalized just for him!

Helping you make Dad a happy camper!

Not quite what you want? Visit our brother site!

Oh Boy! Toy Company

Oh Brother!

When dad's retro ties and power tools don't cut it anymore, show him how you really feel with a gift just for him. At our brother company, Oh Boy! Toy, we have a wide variety of gifts just for dad. So, if you just want a hand-picked gift to add to his sparkling personality, the choices are endless! As a bonus, we offer special gift packaging and a tailored card for each gift purchase.

Don't forget about Dad! Give him something to really make this Father's Day a special day!

Make Every Day Earth Day!

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day which was started by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin in 1970 as a "Teach-In".

Earth Day is now celebrated by over 500 Million people around the world and is the largest non-religious holiday.

Going Green for The Kitchen

In celebration of Spring and upcoming holidays of Earth Day in April and Mother's Day in May, we have created this gift perfect for the container or indoor gardener.

This mini canvas tote comes complete with 5 garden tools and a spray bottle perfect for taking care of house plants or container gardens. We've also added 3 packets of popular herb seeds, some canvas work gloves and a cookbook on Herbs & Spices.

At $34 you can send a "green gift" without shelling out a lot of "green"!





Spring Salad


This is my favorite time of year to "Go Green"..... make that "Grow Green"!

Last month I planted lettuce and I am already feasting on Spring salads with garden fresh onions, chives, perennial favorites that come back each year!

I have also started tomato, squash, green pepper and cucumber plants indoors and can't wait until May 15th, when it's safe to put them into the ground.






Garden Tip: If you re-seed your lettuce patch every 2-3 weeks you will have a continual crop until the peak of summer heat and had your fill of salads for a bit.

Towards the end of summer, replant your greens for some lovely fall salads with tomatoes, peppers and other late summer veggies you decide to raise!

Administrative Professionals - Power of Committment

From The Dictionary of Corporate Bullshit:

administrative assistant " ...3. employees who are highly valued for their attention to detail, in part because their boss claims to be focusing on the big picture and doesn't "do details," but in fact can't balance his own check-book and would be rendered helpless if he had to do his administrative assistant's job; ...."





Administrative Professionals Week is celebrated this year on April 18 - 24, with Administrative Professionals Day falling on Wednesday, April 21. Started in 1952 by the IAAP as "Secretaries Week" (Day), this holiday that honors office workers was changed to "Administrative Professionals" in the year 2000 to keep up with the times.

The name of the holiday may have changed but the tradition of honoring your valued associate on this day with cards, gifts and perhaps a luncheon, is still very much in style. Baskets by Bonnie has you covered with a wide variety of gift baskets that are sure to please.

Thankfully, the staff at Baskets by Bonnie loves to "do details" and we are just a phone call (or click of the mouse) away!

The Office Survival Kit is just one of many gift options available for your valued Administrative Professional.

Going Green

Waste not, want not. Not only sage advice for tough economic times but also a great way that we can help the environment.

There are many items in our business that can be reused by artists or in the classrooms. We save rolls from paper and cellophane, ribbon scraps, plastic tubs, slightly damaged merchandise that is not saleable and other discards that might still have some use.

We "donate" them to a local organization, the Waste Not Center. Not only are we helping our local art community but we are saving landfills (and $$$) by reducing our trash.

We also have some new fun bags that make being environmentally-conscious fun!

Great for Groceries or Gifts


Coming soon.... we have several new must-have reusable bags that are great for packaging gifts or to use when shopping. Help save the trees AND promote less waste in landfills. My favorite is pictured above.

Also on the way are:

"she had made yet another wise shopping decision"

"WOW! I get to give birth AND change diapers"

Technical Difficulties

We are experiencing some technical difficulties with our web host at www.basketsbybonnie.com. Something to do with our current web host changing DNS servers and taking time to migrate.

We hope to get this fixed soon and can still be reached by phone (614) 501-4438 and email bonnie@basketsbybonnie.com.

Thanks for your patience!

Seeing Red

On Sunday, February 14th, the color of the day is Red. The color red is not only symbolic of Love but for other emotions such as Anger and Embarrassment. This much hyped, commercialized and angst-filled holiday is apt to invoke a wide range of feelings.

When it comes to matters of the heart, Baskets by Bonnie has you covered with a nice variety of gift suggestions.

The New Relationship: One of my favorite commercials, is the Target commercial of a young couple on a dinner date. The boyfriend hands a wrapped gift to his girlfriend and anxiously watches for her reaction. She looks a bit put-off by the showy necklace that was in the box. To explain her apparent dismay she exclaims,

"...... It's just that I didn't know we were there yet!"

While his reply of " ...Actually it wasn't really that much." was humorous in the ad, in real life he most likely would have been mortified.

In this case, perhaps dinner would have been enough of a gift or at the very least, the presentation could have been done in private after dinner. I also can't help but think that the girl could have been prepared with a small token gift of her own.


A great solution is to keep a "gift drawer" (or closet) with some emergency presents on hand such as a wrapped bottle of wine, some chocolates or other items that " aren't that much ".

She then could have changed her response to. " I have your gift at home."
(and hope that he doesn't misconstrue the message into thinking he's gonna get "lucky"!)





The Seasoned Couple: For the relationship that has weathered it's share of Valentine's Days, it's time to change things up a bit. Perhaps send an unexpected gift to work and make your Valentine the center of attention!

We have some great ideas on our website or would be happy to customize a basket for you!


The Dead Relationship: Sometimes a relationship can not be saved. Holidays seem to be ripe for break-ups. If you have a friend who is unlucky in love and needs some cheering up this Valentines Day, we have the perfect pick-me-up. The Breakup Box!






No matter what land-mines await you this coming Valentine's Day, rest assured that Baskets by Bonnie has you covered!