QUICK TAKE   Timeless Impressions Gift Baskets   Where: 742-7298. Web address: www.ti-baskets.com; e-mail: timelessmaui@msn.com   How much: $35-$100, but prices can vary depending on what is to be done   Gift Basket Creations   Where: 3400 E. Speedway, Suite 116, 290-6544. Web address: www.azgiftbaskets.com; e-mail: info@azgiftbaskets.com   Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays   How much: $35 on up, depending on the extravagance of the basket

If you're looking to make your holiday shopping easier this season, take a tip from corporate leaders and order up a few gift baskets. They're more personal than a gift card and come already wrapped up with a pretty bow. Former public relations professional Sally Mildren recently gave up the steady income provided by an office job and set up Timeless Impressions Gift Baskets in her Oro Valley home. "I love to give presents and I love to shop, so this was a prefect career for me to do at home," she said by phone in between dropping the kids at school and delivering three gift baskets to a local bank. Mildren says her clients include Realtors, publishers and a few hospitals, and the most requested theme for her baskets is simply "unique." "That's the one word I hear over and over again, they want 'something unique' and that's what I love to do," Mildren said. She recently received an order for a basket to celebrate the recipient's third year of sobriety. The caller knew her friend liked cinnamon-flavored candy and sunflowers, so Mildren designed a basket around that. "Whether they have ideas or not, no problem. I love doing this and can get as creative as they want," Mildren added. Because Mildren customizes each basket, the prices range quite a bit, but she said on average people spend about $35-$100 for a holiday-themed basket. Lori Kukurba and Jill Brucker started Gift Basket Creations so that they, too, could make their own hours and work from home, but 12 years later they have a storefront on East Speedway and employ four part-time workers. In June, the duo was honored by Gift Basket Review magazine as one of the top 25 revenue-producing gift-basket businesses in America and as one of the top 50 fastest-growing businesses. In a slow month for the industry, they sell about 250 gift baskets, but come December, they'll easily make, deliver and ship 1,500 baskets. "We can make almost anything into a basket," Brucker said. "We've used stadium chairs, cowboy hats, burlap bags, even backpacks." And sometimes, customers bring items in that they want a gift basket built around. Like the time a woman brought in a just-purchased Victoria's Secret nightie and wanted it included in a gift basket she was sending to her husband. That was not a problem. But when a male customer called and wanted to know if the pair would deliver a gift basket in the nude, the answer was "no." Brucker says their top-of-line baskets go for about $350, but there are plenty of options for less than $100, and the average customer spends about $75. Their Web site does offer some baskets for $27. Turnaround for both businesses is quick, one to two days for basic orders, up to four days for very large orders. If you want to try your hand at making your own gift basket, Brucker offers this tip: "It's not the size of the basket that matters; it's the quality of what is inside. Use a smaller basket so that it looks full." QUICK TAKE Timeless Impressions Gift Baskets

 

Where: 742-7298. Web address: www.ti-baskets.com; e-mail: timelessmaui@msn.com How much: $35-$100, but prices can vary depending on what is to be done Gift Basket Creations

 

Where: 3400 E. Speedway, Suite 116, 290-6544. Web address: www.azgiftbaskets.com; e-mail: info@azgiftbaskets.com Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays How much: $35 on up, depending on the extravagance of the basket