Business Spotlight: Shop offers custom weave products stuffed with goodies

Greg Henry was working at a gourmet food shop in Springfield when he began selling gift baskets. Over the next several years, Henry watched as the demand for gift baskets grew, and in October 1997, he opened the BasketCase.

Originally, the BasketCase was located on Olive Street. The business grew rapidly, however, which forced Henry to move the BasketCase first to a building located at the intersection of Sunshine and Glenstone and later to another building located in the Galleria Shopping Center on East Battlefield Road.

Henry said he believes his business has expanded quickly because gift baskets have broad appeal.

According to Henry, a customer can spend as much as $500 for a gift basket or as little as $10 for a decorative coffee mug filled with specialty items. Most customers, however, spend about $35.

Many of the gift baskets made at the BasketCase are filled with items manufactured or sold locally, such as Churchill's coffee, soaps and bath salts by Faith and aromatherapy candles by Trapp. In addition, the BasketCase carries many locally made gourmet food items, which range from barbecue sauce to candy.

Most of the gift baskets Henry and his three employees make follow a theme. For example, a gift basket for a car enthusiast would be filled with auto care supplies, while a gift basket for a coffee lover would be filled with Churchill's coffee. The shop also sells balloons and prewrapped gift boxes.

"You can put just about anything in a gift basket," Henry said. "We carry a lot of items here at the store so customers can pick and choose what they want to include in their gift basket. Occasionally, a customer will bring in all the items they want included, and we just put the gift basket together."

Most of the customers who come to the BasketCase are busy professionals or mothers with young children, according to Henry.

However, the shop also makes specialty gift baskets for many area businesses. These gift baskets may contain items manufactured by the business, or the gift basket may include information about the services the business has to offer.

Other businesses send gift baskets to thank clients for their patronage.

Many of the specialty gift baskets made at the BasketCase are shipped to other regions of the country via regular mail. The BasketCase also offers free delivery anywhere in Springfield.

According to Henry, keeping up with mail-order and in-town deliveries can be challenging at times, particularly on Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.

During the Christmas season, the shop employs several temporary workers so it can keep pace with demand.

"Business fluctuates quite a bit right now," Henry said. "On a slow day, we might make five baskets. During Christmastime, I'd say we make more than a hundred baskets a day."

To even out demand, Henry has began advertising more on local radio and cable TV stations, and he's trying to attract more corporate customers by offering discounts. In addition, Henry recently began selling specialty gift baskets over the Internet through his Web site, SirSaveAlot.com at www.sirsavealot.com/basketcase, which gives members a 10 percent discount off of full-price merchandise.

"I'd like to start wholesaling gift baskets someday," Henry said. "I think a gift basket filled with products made or sold here in the Ozarks would have a lot of appeal and would sell quite well nationally. I have to take things one step at a time, though. Right now, I'm working with Kathy Caplinger, who manages the shop, on developing some standard product lines."