Beauty and Function

Chocolate gift baskets are appropriate year-round for any special occasion. Birthdays, graduation, weddings or to say, Thank You, are all perfect reasons to send a chocolate gift basket. People love chocolate. Men, women, old, young, north, south, west coast, east coast, mid-West, urban, rural – it does not matter. Chocolate is the universal gift idea that is always the right choice.

But why? What is it about a chocolate gift basket that make them so popular? We can start with their impressive presentation. We eat first with our eyes – visual cues are the initial stimuli that pique our interest – and chocolate gift baskets are show-stoppers. The basket design is the foundation of the presentation. Gifts for men usually stay with a traditional chocolate or muted color. But a red plaid also works because of its association with a rugged style shirt. Gift baskets for women can have a flashier design with bright colors and patterns.

Wrap It Up With A Bow

Over wrap is the next piece to the presentation puzzle. This is the cellophane packaging that holds the contents in place and adds to the overall look. Clear cellophane is standard because it allows the best view of the chocolate. But particularly during the holidays or for a birthday, designs appropriate to the occasion are common. Finally, a bow completes the eye test. Typically, bows are large and flamboyant as they cap of the presentation. One exception is for gift baskets specifically for men. Bows for these baskets tend to be understated or even a simple twine tie.

There are some unique exceptions to this dazzling presentation genre. Chocolate Pizza Company offers chocolate gift baskets for every holiday and occasion. But one of their best-selling gift baskets for men is a no-frills, no-fluffy stuff offering called a Mansket (play on ‘man’s basket’). The Mansket starts with a brown paper bag with newspaper instead of tissue paper. Inside the bag are Peanut Butter Wings, Candy Avalanche Chocolate Pizza Slice, a Moompa (chocolate covered Twinkie), and a half-dozen chocolate covered cookies. Finished with a duct tape “bow” and this man-cave approved original is ready to give.

The More the Merrier

Variety is another reason that chocolate gift baskets are so popular. Recipients can browse a veritable smorgasbord of gourmet chocolate specialties. For example, Chocolate Pizza Company’s Top of the Line Gift Basket delivers 10 different items. This abundant basket contains a 16 oz milk Chocolate Pizza with your choice of toppings, a large 16 oz container of our famous Peanut Butter Wings, 2 of our specialty boxed items (6 oz each), a Peanut Butter Sparkler, chocolate covered graham crackers, S’more treat, caramel and nut Drumstick, a pecan/cashew Cluster and 4 chocolate covered creme-filled cookies. It retails at $99.95 which is a common price point for many premium gift baskets.

Chocolate Pizza Company is Central New York’s largest chocolate maker. Owner, Ryan Novak, started with the company as a dishwasher at age 15. He bought the business when he was 21 years-old. Novak transformed it from a small-town chocolate shop into a national brand. He has been featured on Hallmark Channel, CNBC, Food Network and in Forbes, People and Entrepreneur magazines.