There's been a bit change in the show's size since I started attending in 1994, but changes make sense in this era. The show is much smaller than it used to be. Back in the good old days, the halls were packed to capacity with vendors and buyers. There were also two tents on the outside with more exhibits.

The gourmet section had its own hall with buyers stepping on each other to get a taste of the new and exotic. This shaking out of sorts hasn't slowed the originality that's showcased here. You just have to look around a little harder to find the items that customers are willing to buy.

In the past, there was also a section with baskets, enhancements and ribbons. I was surprised to see that it no longer exists. I also noticed that many companies neglected to bring or have literature on their products, which makes this report a bit incomplete. I started in South Hall where the stationery, aromatherapy and gourmet products were shown.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Lights Out is a new product that customers might request long after a box of chocolates is gone. It's a lotion that glows in the dark or under black light. The user must "charge it" under regular light for the potion to glow, which means that the lotion is applied on the skin in natural or artificial light. Then, when the lights are extinguished, the product will glow. Watch for this product, which will have smaller, travel sizes available in the coming months.

Manufacturers are doing all kinds of things to soap, so much so that it no longer resembles soap. At first I wondered why a geology display of beautiful, naturally-cut rocks was surrounded by aromatherapy booths. It turned out to be a product from T.S. Pink called SoapGems, a vegetable-based glycerin soap in colors and shapes so beautiful that it might be difficult to convince a person to use.

There are 26 fragrances, and each SoapGem has a different fragrance. Amethyst is the best seller, and opal isn't far behind. Kate, the representative, said that the product is gentle and lathers well. Soap rocks come in three sizes: small are Palmstones ($1.75), medium are SoapRockettes ($3.75) and large are SoapRocks ($5.00).

For clients who aren't ready for this nuance, there's also a Strata Bath Soap ($2.25 each), which is in the traditional rectangular shape. Strata�s clear appearance is interrupted by streaks pouring through it from end to end.

The company�s minimum may not be in your budget; however, designers who either have a vision for multiple uses or those who co-op with other retailers will find this product selling briskly.

Charms used to identify a person's wine glass have expanded into charms for beer called Beer Finders, sold through Green Rhino. These circles of rubber dangle around the neck of beer bottles. The 21 charm styles include sports and music themes. $7.50 for each set, and I believe there are four in each set (check with the company).

Another new type of charms is a Key Ring Bracelet. This silver ring slides onto your wrist and is filled with a collage of charms in one of 280 designs.

Mary Ellen, the rep, said that the bracelets cover Harleys to hearts. Each bracelet includes two to three hooks for you to attach individual keys. It fits an average wrist, and all the charms make a pleasant sound. Its hefty $10.00 price tag will exclude it from most gift baskets, but it might be a great individual tote bag gift given to a new homeowner from a real estate firm.

The personalized pads by Write Now! got my attention. Each pad is made to your specifications - size, lined or unlined, spiral or glued top, clip board or pen included, dry erase boards and picture frames bundled with pads. The minimum also meets with most designers� approval - just one. That's because each pad is personalized with the recipient's name or another phrase.

I saw pads with the words, "Honey Do," "Ms. Jackson" and "Becky's Grocery List" on some of the samples. Many colors, too. Pads are also made for bar and bat mitzvahs, kids away at camp, teachers, secretaries, and every occasion you can and can�t imagine.

As an example of the pricing, a spiral, personalized pad with 200 sheets is $24. The Honey Do pad, which was approximately 6" x 6" in size was customized with a hole punched through all the pages at the top left corner and came bundled with a pen. This 100-sheet pad is $20, and the hole punching is an additional $3.00. Tamara, the company president, said it's a top seller.

Again, this may not be something you can put in a general gift basket, but the possibilities are endless if you or your clients are searching for something to impress another party. Special orders are increasing in the gift basket world, which keeps us from increasing our ever-burgeoning inventory while providing customers with the products that help them sell themselves (or ourselves if such a situation occurs). Keep Write Now! at the top of your discriminating list of personalized products.

California Show Report Continues -- Page 2

NOTE:
Information in each Show Report provides details on products displayed at trade shows. It does not constitute 1) company or product endorsements or 2) prevailing products or prices.

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