You’re likely familiar with gift baskets but what you may not know is, beyond being beautiful gifts, they can boost the local economy and express heartfelt messages.
“I’ve always loved the feeling that comes with giving something thoughtful, something that makes someone feel seen,” said Anne Pazier, owner of Santa Barbara Gift Baskets.
Pazier grew up in Santa Barbara and has spent the past couple decades creating gift baskets that meet clients’ needs while supporting the community.
“Santa Barbara has so many amazing small businesses, and each one brings something unique to our baskets,” she said. “Our Classic Santa Barbara Basket, for example, supports eight local businesses with just one gift.”
Pazier’s passion for keeping it local comes from growing up in family shops, like her grandmother’s Belgium fudge shop in El Paseo.
“I know how much work, risk, and love goes into every product,” she said. “When people choose to buy local, they’re voting for the kind of community we all want to live in, one where creativity and craftsmanship still matter.”
That is especially helpful for companies who want to make or keep connections. Pazier’s previous sales and marketing career at Fortune 500 companies taught her that gifting can be more than a gesture; it can be a strategic tool.
“A well-chosen gift can open a door, deepen a relationship, or celebrate a milestone in a way that feels human, not transactional,” Pazier said. “We help companies make those moments count while staying within budget. It’s creative relationship-building, really.”
She contributes to making moments count by treating every order like a script.
“There’s always a story to tell,” Pazier said. “Maybe it’s ‘a mentor just wrote a glowing referral that landed me my dream job,’ or ‘a friend just lost someone and I don’t have the right words.’ Those moments have emotion behind them, and that’s what I build from.”
Pazier pulls together a cast of, say, a local chocolatier, winemaker, and spa product maker, who each bring craft and character to the mix.
“My job is to make sure the final scene feels authentic, that the colors, textures, and flavors all play together in a way that feels right,” she said. “And when the recipient opens it and you get that genuine reaction — that little gasp or smile — that’s our Oscar moment. That’s when I know we told the story well.”
Even after producing many baskets over the years, Pazier is still grateful to help people mark significant and everyday moments.
“People trust us with some of life’s most personal moments: gratitude, joy, even sympathy,” she said. “That’s not something I take lightly. It still feels special every single time.”
As individuals and businesses prepare gifts this holiday season, Pazier encourages them to support local small businesses rather than large national chains.
“When you spend your money locally, it stays here. It supports the people who make this place what it is,” she said. “It’s so easy to click ‘buy now’ on Amazon and move on with your day. We all do it. But gifting is an opportunity to slow down, to be intentional. Whether it’s for your best friend or your best client, a locally made gift has soul.”
See how Santa Barbara Gift Baskets can elevate your gifting this season by visiting its holiday pop-up in the Santa Barbara Visitor Center on State Street, its showroom in Old Town Goleta on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or online HERE.
