Perfect PresentsWrap up profits with a gift basket business.

Christmas, Mother's Day, birthdays--at one time or another,everyone needs to buy gifts. When consumers can't find theperfect present, who comes to the rescue? Gift-basketentrepreneurs, of course.

"A great thing about running a gift-basket business is thatyou're always in the position to create just the right gift forevery shopper--one that matches the specific tastes of the personwho will receive it," says Sally Nichols, co-owner with son,Grant; daughter, Sarah; and son-in-law, Vince, of The Gift Horse, agift-basket service in Beaumont, Texas. Nichols' customers canchoose from standard baskets, which range from birthday andgraduation gifts to specialized creations for golfers and teachers.Others prefer to build baskets from scratch, providing lists of thecontents they want.