About Us

Our Story about You & Your Giving

30 Years of Gifting—and One Year That Defined Us

Since 1991, we’ve witnessed countless ways that thoughtful gifts can bring people together. But no year impacted us more deeply—or reminded us more powerfully why we do what we do—than 2020, when the pandemic hit.

Here’s what we saw, what we learned, and why we’ll never take connection for granted again. 

While we celebrated our 30th anniversary in 2021, I found myself reflecting on how much this business—and all of you—have shaped my life.

2020 was our 29th year in business. It should have been like so many before it. But as you know, it wasn’t.

The pandemic changed everything.

I’ve always had a deep passion for what I do. But in 2020, that passion was renewed and transformed in ways I could never have imagined.

Special events, holidays, and family gatherings were canceled or postponed. Businesses were forced to close or pivot. Brides were inconsolable over their canceled weddings. Families with milestone celebrations and long-anticipated trips were heartbroken.

At the start, I wasn’t sure what would happen. Who would by able to come to work? How would it all come together? And honestly, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to send a gift basket during such uncertain, sad, and surreal times.

But there was one constant: your desire to connect and support each other, no matter what. Gifting became a vital outlet for your love, encouragement, and resilience.

Many days, I was moved to tears reading the messages you asked us to include.

There were mothers from across the country consoling their daughters on what would have been their wedding day.
Business owners thanking loyal customers for standing by them during shutdowns and delays.
Corporations sending baskets to employees working from home to remind them they were valued.
Friends promising to make next year’s “51st birthday so spectacular it would put all 50th birthdays to shame.”

Through the monumental number of gifts you ordered, we were able to keep our doors open, employ our team full time, and continue to buy from existing and new suppliers—both locally and across Canada. Keeping their doors open too.

We discovered small businesses creating incredible products even in the toughest times. Supporting them became a privilege we never took for granted.

On more than one occasion, a vendor confided that our order “helped pay the overhead this month.” Because of a large gourmet food order with another, a young single mom got enough hours to pay her rent fully. Another supplier shared that our regular monthly orders were the reason they didn’t close their doors permanently.

These stories inspired me to push harder every day, to do more and expect more from myself and my team. And you—our clients, both loyal and new—stood with us, and by us, every step of the way.

You did that.

Your orders made a real difference. Your choice to buy local and support small business mattered then and still matters now.

During the holidays, so many of you asked us to fill your baskets with BC-made products. I heard requests like:
“Gifts with local items only, please.”
“Can you design gifts with products from all three regions where our offices are?”
“Could we include BC bubbly instead of French Champagne?”

I was humbled and honoured to witness your kindness and generosity every single day.

You got me through 2020.

That’s why this story—and so much of what Vancouver Gift Baskets stands for—is really about you.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your moments—big and small—for more than 30 years. 

With gratitude,
Carole MacFadden
Original and Only Owner
Personalized Creations, now DBA VancouverGiftBaskets.com