Elaine C. Carroll

Elaine C. Carroll has fond memories of her family and childhood on Martha’s Vineyard. She remembers her Grandmother Allard sharing the tradition and art of afternoon tea, along with generous helpings of etiquette lessons. And, Elaine also vividly recalls the impression a magnificent holiday gift basket made on her as a young girl. It was sent to Elaine’s family by her father’s employer. To this day, she relishes the memory of opening the basket together with her parents.

As an adult, working as a paralegal in a law office on the Island, Elaine enjoyed making gift baskets to commemorate special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. Her imaginative gift baskets with their yards and yards of satin bows caught the attention of her family and friends, who began requesting Elaine’s creations to give as gifts, too.

Building her gift basket business

So, as demand for her gift baskets grew, Elaine realized she had a viable business. At first, Elaine placed her gift baskets for sale in a friend’s shop. Then, as her gift baskets became more popular, she moved into her mom’s guest cottage. And, in 1991, Elaine opened Martha’s Vineyard Gift Baskets.  Soon after, she added Vineyard Teas to the business.

Elaine C. Carroll’s famous gift basket designs for weddings, corporate meetings and Martha’s Vineyard vacations have earned her a prominent place in the gift basket industry, including commissions to create six gift baskets for the White House and a custom piece for the late photographer Alfred Eisenstadt’s 95th birthday party.

The East Coast School of Etiquette

Over the years, this energetic and elegant lady has continued sharing her love and knowledge of ‘Tea & Etiquette’ with children and business executives—teaching the rules of refinement and social skills she first learned from her grandmother (and, later studied at the American School of Protocol, Atlanta, Georgia, and the Protocol School of Washington). And, as a speaker and advisor to small business owners and managers, Elaine is passionate about teaching her encyclopedic knowledge of the gift basket business. Her enthusiasm for the business, and seemingly endless supply of creative ideas, is clearly evident in her new book, Wrap It Up & Ring Up Profits—How to turn ordinary products into extraordinary gift baskets for extra income.

Serving her community and industry

Elaine’s extensive volunteer activities include her work for the Rotary Club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, serving as former secretary of the Martha’s Vineyard Zonta Club, and as a guardian ad litem for the Palm Beach County court system.

Elaine C. Carroll’s trade and professional memberships include Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Gift Baskets by Wire and various tea organizations. She is a graduate of The American School of Protocol, Atlanta, GA. Since 1991, she has actively participated in national gift basket and tea seminars, including: the Goosebumps Seminar in Denver, CO; the Jubilee Gift Basket Convention in Atlanta, GA; Tea with Harney & Sons in Palm Beach, FL; and, the Open a Tearoom for Profit Conference by Magnolia & Ivy, tea consultants in Columbus, GA.

Elaine C. Carroll is a resident of Martha’s Vineyard and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Order the Book: Wrap It Up & Ring Up Profits: How to turn ordinary products into extraordinary gift baskets for extra income

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