Hospital Fruit Gifts

Delicious Fruit Gift Hampers

In comparison to Japanese chain store and unique providers like Senbokiyu, Australians do not value their fruit as incredibly or place such an appreciation on luxury fruit gifts.

In Japan, luxury fruit belongs to a special product category that presents almost exclusively for providers of fruit gifts. Gift fruit-- which can include grapes, cherries, peaches and pears-- is nourished in a significant way, unique from average, normal fruit. And because of this it dictates a greater cost, whether it be in a fruit hamper or not.

Gourmet Gift Hamper

"Japan is probably the only nation in the world where you have fruit as a gift concept," said Ushio Ooshima, a director at Senbikiya, whose main store in Nihonbashi alone sells 40 to 50 high-priced melons a day and as many as 200 a day in the course of the mid-year and end-year gift-giving seasons. At Senbikiya, "99 percent of the transactions here are for gift," Ooshima said.

In the historic culture of get well gift giving, a melon may be provided as a special present to an important client, a business acssociate, to a professional to whom a financial obligation of gratitude is owed, or to an ill friend as a #get-well-soon gesture. Providing a fruit gift basket in Sydney is a completely different concept - where the focus is on cost and fruit share sizes.

The exceptional prices mirror exceptional strategies used in growing the fruit basket fruits. While an ordinary melon in grocery stores rarely costs more than $5, the high-priced version, usually a variety of musk melon, is nurtured by unique growers in certain locations, of which Shizuoka prefecture and Hokkaido are two of the best known. In Australia, we are most likely to be impressed with a tantalisingly fruit bouquet or edible bloom that features fresh fruit with free delivery.

Edible Fruit Gifts

Fruit Gifts for #discerning Friends

In Shizuoka, west of Tokyo, the hospital fruit gift melons are harvested in sophisticated green houses, complete with air-conditioners that fine-tune the temperate to optimal levels day and night. Melon vines are cultivated and farmed in a soil bedding that is separated from the ground, said Tsuneo Anma, general executive secretary of a growers' association based in Fukuroi city that produces the "Crown" brand of melons. Producing 3.5 million melons each year, the agricultural cooperative is the biggest specialty-melon grower in Japan. It is no wonder that hospital fruit and sympathy fruit are popular reason for sending a get well soon fruit hamper.

The soil separation is imperative to regulate moisture levels. "The moisture uptake by the tree roots must be optimized to promote proper amount of photosynthesis," Anma said. "If fruit gifts trees are raised in the ground, the roots will grow unregulated," making water absorption difficult to control. This is another reason free delivery fruit baskets are in a completely different league to thises prized luxury fruit presents.

Growers trim the vines so that only three melons will grow on each tree. When the baby melons grow to the size of a human fist, two are chopped off to allow the most promising one to monopolize all the nourishment from the vine. That one melon is counted on to mature into the juicy, beautiful and revered $100 dollar fruit. Imagine if we were to give fresh fruit at prices like this on FruitBaskets.net. au?

How diverse does the high-priced melon taste from a commonplace one? "They are absolutely different, from the scent of it to the texture of it," said Shigeko Hoshi who lives in Tokyo and occasionally eats the expensive get well fruit when her friends and family receives one in a fruit gift basket. "The sweetness is exquisitely balanced with the sourness of it.".

Many Japanese consider the exclusive melon, like the exclusive grape, cherry or pears, to be the perfect fruit gift, set apart by its aura of high-class and added value from what is otherwise a mass-produced pure product. When we shared this image on social media via twitter and facebook, we were astounded that people would pay such an extra price for luxury fruit gifts.

Hospital Fruit Delivery

"People go, 'What a difference does a get well gift melon make,"' Ooshima said. "People ordinarily don't eat the very best for themselves. They set it aside for others as a gift hamper," which is the very spirit of Japanese gift-giving.

"Less than 1 percent of the melons we grow certify as 'fuji,"' said Anma, referring to the top grading, which combines the greatest potential for fresh fruit taste with a perfect shape and appearance. "They need to look perfectly round with the mesh-like surface pattern impeccably even.".

While melons are the most expensive luxury fruit gifts as a category, even fuji-grade melons can be out-priced by out-of-season fruits, Ooshima, of Senbikiya said. Cherries in winter, from Yamagata prefecture in northern Japan, can fetch a ¥ 50,000 price tag for just 300 grams, or 10 ounces. When we compare Australia's easy accessibility and low-cost prices for fresh fruit, it is no wonder we are amongst the highest fruit gift basket sharers in the world.

Find Stallholder Application

Becoming a Stallholder at the local Markets is all part of the stallholder application journey of getting your artisan handmade items to market.  Australian locals are particularly fond of locally sourced artisan products, whether they be jewellery, candles, soap or children's toys.  It is with great pride that we share with you some of these local products who have made their own knowledge and experience available for you to take advantage of.  Seeing how experts work is one sure way of getting right into the mode of being a productive and successful stallholder.

Best Aussie Stallholders 

Halo Soy Candles.

Halo Soy Candles use soy wax, which is a product of soya beans, as it has a better scent throw than traditional wax-- this means the wax holds the essential oil throughout the candle media and releases scent in a measured, sustained manner. Also, soy wax burns at a lower temperature than other waxes, so it is safer, and you can actually touch the melted wax without being burned. So you might see masseuses using soy wax in massage to impart aromatherapy scents.


Two of the most popular scented candles are the essential sleep blend, which was originally created for an aunt, and once presented to the market has taken off as a viable selling proposition. Another handmade scent is simply called love-- and has a distinct therapeutic value as engaging and relaxing.

Using aromatherapy blends has proven especially successful, as buyers like to see a clear benefit for themselves away from the generic features of the soy wax itself. Findhandmade.com. au likes how highlighting the benefits for your customers works out as a sales tool-- and Halo Candles have clear descriptions which aromatherapy blend works for particular states.

Floral and Spot.

Raylee has just moved into bricks and mortar retail industry-- opening an outlet as part of a handmade collective in a building once occupied by that bastion of bourgeois David Jones. And belonging of a pop-up shop scene alongside other handmade artisans selling jewellery and handmade soap is a great way to establish a more permanent brand presence. Its as though handmade is entwined with the renaissance of main street retail and is an organic fit for projects like Renew Australia re-activating empty spaces in town.

Raylee has established for herself a workspace where she can actually do work on the production of her designs in the quiet moments in between selling retail-- and it makes for great shop-theatre to see the dressmaker/designer hunched over her fabric, holding pins in her mouth. There's something reassuringly old-fashioned about watching an artisan at work and seeing pieces of fabric come to life as fashion.

Most weekends Raylee is selling dresses-- but she also has a brisk trade selling online-- with a facebook page busy with updates. In fact, Raylee uploads each item she creates to facebook so customers are able to flicker through her catalogue and make a buying decision on the go. With most of her orders though word of mouth, Floral and Spot simply sells itself with new customers asking "what are you wearing and where did you get it?".

Charlie Middleton

The Charlie Middleton line is simple, minus the bling decorations of chasing temporary trends, but instead just presenting well fashioned handmade leather goods. Ben says that using reliable materials and approaches is what people are choosing. As for getting meaningful feedback and having the ability to test new models-- it is as much a challenge to know who to pay attention to-- as it is to prevail when you are on an advantage.

Ben functions from his Bondi office weekdays and is out and about at markets most weekends-- and his workload just keeps growing. Designing handmade items like purses and tote bags takes time, and Ben's production schedule is a challenge-- some days he will sell multiple products in different colors-- then not sell the same product line for a week or so. The uncertain nature of developing handmade products on an artisan scope to meet the desires of retail sales is almost impossible to think about.

The Little Red

As Kristy has hung around at markets her merchandise offering has changed to meet what individuals are requesting. In the eight months she has worked The Little Red, Kristy began marketing cloth and fabric earrings, using brightly colored examples of fabric sourced from all over the place to make striking earrings. But as any market-goer will advise you, the jewellery industry is well and truly drenched with competitiveness and it was a side project of timber products that have sparked a lot of interest.

"Lots of other stallholders have access to these great fabrics so there was that challenge-- but also the wood items were selling well and we were getting so much encouragement from customers that it sort of naturally pulled us that way.".

The Little Red timber is sourced by Dan and together they find the patterns and shapes from all over the internet-- this is a nonstop search to find the new patterns and styles as the existing patterns become aged and customers are always wanting "new" and "different" designs. Experiments with different stains and colors and effects also add other elements and variety to the merchandises.

Art of Happiness.

"If you are in it, you are in it, no matter how much you try, or cover up or pretend it just won't work." There is a real "of course" moment immediately, as though genuine authenticity and passionate originality can not be learned, or copied or faked. You are either in or you are not. It is quite intimidating to apply this to my current project, or my own life. Very confronting and almost begs self-contemplation and that cruel reflection "do I really belong here?" And I quietly sit back as Sofan continues, sharing her observations and revealing that she is in the final stages of having the book she is writing finished and expecting publication later in 2014.

I look around and see the busy venture of stallholders and shoppers walking past with bags hanging from their arms, full of handmade products. Yes, I think I belong here. I do belong here. Sofan continues to explain her philosophy on why markets and stallholders are in revival. People are tired of the disconnect between overseas production of goods and the shopping center model of meaningless consumption once it gets here.

The move to handmade appreciation is built upon the idea "if you are a genuine creative producer it shines through, and it will be valued for a long time" instead of consume-throw-away-repeat. By producing your own product people appreciate and value it more than just another piece of plastic and this is what people at the markets are seeking-- a connection to permanence and lasting value instead of cheap disposable nothingness.

Wild Things Clay.

Being honest with your personal style does not mean being set with your actual products-- Susan moved from jewellery to homewares to meet her evolving customer profile as she moved away from online towards one-on-one at the markets.

After cutting her teeth making small jewellery pieces with a view to online selling and the realities of affordable shipping firmly in mind-- Susan found she was drifting away from what she really liked to create, as well as entering a saturated market (jewellery) filled with highly competitive, established products.

So she reset her goals and instead of making small easy to ship items, Susan moved more in to homewares and cups, plates and bowls. Selling less items but at higher prices means Susan is making the most of increased turnover, and also actually making more money for the amount of time spent working. A definite win both ways.

Fruit Hampers Delivery

Thank you, and Welcome to Newcastle's best Award-Winning Hampers.

Finding the right Fruit Hamper for delivery in Newcastle shouldn't be a hit and miss affair - you can go with a trusted local business with years of experience, a proven track record and a jealously guarded highly regarded status - or you could risk it with a flowershop or some multi-level marketing website.

There's good reason Hunter Valley Hampers are
still number one after all these years.

 When you choose your fruit basket, be mindful that handmade and hand assembled fruit hampers have that personal touch that simply isn't present when you go with a factory-style #fruit #basket business.

Simply knowing your fruit hamper has been put together by hand with your specific order top of mind means you are most likely to get exactly what you had envisioned - not just a pack and send copy that lacks meaning and personality.  That's what we do for you.

There is something about the quality and service of a handmade fruit basket that fits so well with the whole gift giving idea - it's what inspires and motivates us as fruit basket artisans.

 

Simply add ribbon, your personal message and a delivery address
and your fruit basket is ripe and ready for delivery same day across Newcastle.

You've decided to send a fruit basket and you type into the search bar fruit baskets delivery - and you have a good look at what's on offer. 

What exactly are you looking for?  Big generous baskets?  Great value for your dollar?  Plenty of fresh seasonal fruit?  Brilliant presentation and sparkling styling? 

There's more than enough reasons to choose a particular fruit hamper from the other fruit baskets - but after working in the gift delivery industry for over a decade, it's nice to know some professionals have got it covered. 

Here, we offer a behind the scenes insight into what makes a bestselling fruit basket and just exactly what it is that's lends some fruit baskets a winning style over the rest of the competition.
 

A Cornucopia of fresh seasonal fruit to tempt you

Sending a fruit basket is overwhelming a personal touch to connect with another human being - so it just makes sense you would only trust your choice to another personal family based business.

Over the years we have many new customers coming to us after having less that satisfactory experiences with other fruit hamper suppliers - and getting less than presentation quality product and service.

You know yourself when you order from a smaller firm that each and every sale is more important - and doesn't get lost in the noise and confusion of being just one order of the hundreds at a corporate headquarters.

Establishing the trust and authenticity that goes towards building a lasting relationship with your customers is something that smaller family operated businesses excel at.

So make your personal gesture to your friend or family reflect the whole personal idea and choose an independent fruit basket seller.

#PRESSRELEASE

Find Local Markets Newcastle

Newcastle's Finest Handmade Artisans

Here are some recednt interviews we have sourced from local Newcastle business people who choose to sell their handmade and artisan products at the local markets as a stallholder.  You will be both surprised and delighted to hear their stories so generously shared here for your enjoyment.

Blackbird Artisan Sourdough

Meeting handmade artisans if never dull – and Carolyn’s enthusiasm for her product, and the handmade process is obvious – but most importantly perhaps is her overall vision of connection.  Carolyn shared the whole handmade story of her bakery and how she uses local products and freshness is a priority – but the conversation led to a deeper feeling for connection.  A connection between the end consumer and the handmade producer that has been lost by the multi-layered corporate food industry, where reducing costs is the overarching determinant above everything else.

 You can read the full story at Australia's Home of Handmade Artisans for complete information.

The Little Red

 A delightful interview to see first hand how the balance between working for yourself and starting a new family always means you will be productive creatively.

In a previous life, Kristie managed a restaurant in the vineyards region, so when her now 2 year old came along, so began the genesis of The Little Red.   Though still working a couple of days a week, Kristy is trying to manage a transition across to doing her passion fulltime.  She loves being able to do her handmade work at night, or during the day and is grateful for the child friendly work/life balance, without being overly dependent on outside support or childcare.

 You're welcome to read more stories and of course share your comments online at find handmade.

Fruit Hampers Newcastle

Setting the Standard;  Interview With Hunter Valley Hampers
OFFICIAL MEDIA RELEASE DECEMBER 2013

AFTER A HALF DOZEN Christmas Seasons as the creative designer behind Hunter Valley Hampers, Kacy has a special feeling for knowing what her buying public wants.

And when you consider her Fruit Baskets Newcastle BlogHunter Valley Hampers has sold out completely in 2011 and 2012 on a budget of zero advertising, it's no wonder she must be doing something right.  Artisan Food, Craft Beer and handmade fresh regional produce is a winning formula.

Gift Basket Delivery in Newcastle

Over coffee, we sat down and asked her secrets to making a delicious gourmet hamper and what makes Hunter Valley Hampers a trusted authority on gift baskets.

"No Pretzels," Kacy laughs, when I ask her the secret to gourmet gift baskets, "Once we stopped putting in bags of pretzels we noticed we got a different clientele."

Keeping it Real for the Peeps

The secret to Hunter Valley Hampers success over the last decade (the business has operated independently since 1988, although only recently moved to 'high end' gourmet in 2009) is offering quality product regardless of the price.

"People are willing to pay for quality product," Kacy explains, showing a jar of tunisian spiced pickle made locally, "and so long as they know you are backing the product up with a meaningful purpose, place and personality; they will pay a premium price."

"We see competitors offering plastic poinsettia flowers and questionable "gourmet" products like john west smoked oysters - these things just don't meet what our clients expect in a regional gourmet hamper," Kacy offered as a reason for the loyal customer base at Hunter Valley Hampers.  "It's really quite embarrassing to turn up at a corporate tower in Sydney and expect the executives to accept a hamper filled with this sort of stuff - I can see why people keep coming back to us.  We keep our hampers understated and let the real food do all the talking."

Making meaningful Connections with the Community

Things are looking great this Christmas, but I feel the moment of truth for any Christmas Gift Basket is the minutes after arriving home when the hamper box is sitting by your front door.  You place the box on the kitchen counter and open it to reveal a wicker basket filled with clinking jars, bottles, pouches and pudding - all presentation packed under crisp cellophane and ready for display under the Christmas Tree in time for the big day. 

An authentic artisan hamper for a genuine, homestyle Christmas Day.  Merry Christmas, and Give Yourself the Gift of a Joyous Sharing Christmas with real friends and valued family members.

Fresh Fruit Gift Baskets sent to hospital or home

Being grateful and sharing your thanks makes life a richer experience

Newcastle is a dirty, post industrial city - ask anyone who hasn't been there...

Answering the question about highly regarded and personally recommended gifts to say get well, celebrate a new baby, enjoy a christening and alternatively, remember a friend at a funeral or bereavement is a good suggestion.  So what would we recommend for a local designer to share a fruit basket around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?  Certainly, our impartiality may be blurred by the fact that we have been working behind the counter at a trusted, established fruit hamper and gift basket retailer with a twenty year history in the Hunter Region.

Adamstown    Adamstown Heights    Bar Beach    Beresfield    Birmingham Gardens    Broadmeadow    Callaghan (University)    Carrington    Cooks Hill    Elermore Vale    Fletcher    Georgetown

For starters, be certain the person you are ordering the fruit basket from will actually be making it and delivering it for you.  It is simply not good enough to let an affiliate sales agent take your order and skim nearly 20% off your order price only to send the order to a fruit basket specialist closer to where the order is to be delivered.  Just think - you wouldn't go to a restaurant and order a meal and then have the waiter run out the door and on sell your order to another kitchen - would you?

This kind of affiliate marketing is rife in the florist industry and has penetrated the hamper industry to some extent.  It means that you can place your order with one local Newcastle company and then have some other mob deliver your order that you have no connection with.

Newcastle Local Websites

In 2013, if you aren't online you are missing a vital cog of your marketing and exposure.  Without changing any of your existing business practice - simply adding an effective brochure-style website would at the bare minimum give searchers something at least to find and discover about your business.

Just think of it as a 24/7 advert diverting enquiries to your business - or maybe without it you have nothing heading to your business.  At Organic Digital I have run my own business for 8 years before I started building websites that work for people who want results.  It might not be about jargon and corporate invoices for you - and it isn't for me either.

Here's 10 more reasons why you should start doing business online right now.
1. New economy.

Internet has created a new economy, which by its explosive growth and sheer size already changed our perception of traditional way of doing business.

Companies like Amazon and Ebay have successfully created domination on areas, where just few years ago traditional brick-and-mortar companies were kings.

But, in order to be successful on the net, you don’t have to be a giant like them.  In fact, now it's all about being found in local search - which means a local presence in Newcastle is more powerful and important than ever.

Many small and mid-size companies managed to build online businesses without fancy corporate web design companies or their ridiculous pricing systems. 

Right now, studies show small and mid-size companies will be the main growth force of e-commerce in 2013 going forward.


2. Internet is a perfect venue for business.

In order to make a sale you need visitors to physically walk to your shop, or track down your number.

On the Internet, your shop is a click away from your next customer.

With Organic Digital your Internet storefront can be another pillar holding up your brick and mortar shop.