Friday, the show’s first day, was rainy and miserable. That always has a big impact on the number of buyers who show up. Well, that made it easier for me to maneuver up and down the seven aisles of exhibitors. A nice, compact show with interesting finds.

The one thing stressed by each exhibitor I visited was that their products can sometimes be pricey because of the natural extracts added to each bath and body product.

Don’t be turned off by some of the minimums. As I always say, be aware of what’s available, and if the minimum is more than your budget allows, keep the goods in mind and search for similar products elsewhere.

What woman doesn’t love to see pretty, petite bottles all in a row enhanced with a thin ribbon tied around the top? That’s what intrigued me at the Aroma Souls’ booth. Kim, the owner, removed the top from a bottle. Fresh lavender filled my nostrils. It was a Recharge Spray ($7.00) for the feet. The two ounce spray revitalizes your tootsies after a long day of pounding the pavement. The lavender is meant to soothe the feet. Three other scents are citrus (soothing), peppermint (awake), and rose (passion).

Kim also showed me her Aroma Souls -- the product that bears the company’s name. These are in-home spa slippers with a loofah sole on the bottom to massage the feet with each step. The slipper cover ($9 - $14/pair) is made of white terry and available in open or closed toe styles with a rosebud, daisy, bow or blossom enhancement on top.

The company also offers footcare kits with foot soak, spray, and shea butter cream in a travel kit ($24.00) or frosted bag ($16.00). You can buy the shea butter cream (2 oz., $9.00), shoe sachets ($7.00) and a roll-on concentrated essential oil for the feet (.3 oz., $7.00) separately.

I didn’t think that inspirational books would be displayed, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a line from Compendium. A representative was showing the products, but we love working with the direct source, right?

Compendium sells small gift boxes filled with 30 quotation notes ($2.50 each). Each quotation is revealed when the recipient pulls back the card’s front window. It’s like a gift within a gift. The gift box is also unique, as the top and bottom are curved inward, and each box is a pretty color. Some of the box themes are Thank You, Reach for the Stars, Expect a Miracle, Never Quit, With Love and To Your Success.

There’s also a children’s line of notes called Lunch Mail ($2.50 each for 30 notes), where the recipient includes a note a day with a child’s lunch. This line is packaged in a box that resembles a lunch bag, and the package colors are bright and vivid. Some of the themes are I’m Proud of You, Dream Big, You’re Incredible, and You Can Do It!.

Compendium also sells journals ($5.00) which have inspirational thoughts printed on the bottom of each page. Other products include postcards ($6.00 for 12), postercards ($12.00 for $12), bookmarks ($6.00 for 6) and greeting cards ($15.00 for 12).

Mad Gab. What a great name for a wonderful line of candles and lip and body lubes. Nicole, a rep, opened a geranium grapefruit-scented candle for my inspection. Yum, smelled good enough to eat. She explained that the candles are made with soy wax and lead-free wicks. This allows the candles to burn cleanly without the black smoke that escapes from some candles.

Along with geranium grapefruit, other scents are lavender, clove almond orange, and unscented. Each is packaged in a round silver tin. $6 each for candles that burn up to 35 hours long.

Mad Gab’s lip lube ($1.50 each for .25 oz.) contains essential oils and is made by hand. Flavors are lavender, cinnamon, spearmint and natural. The newest is Moose Smooch with a blueberry flavor. There’s also a hand and feet winter treatment line called Elephant Lube ($3.75 for 2 oz.) in scents of candy cane, gingerbread and biscotti. These are also in silver tins.

Also check out their Liquid Lube body oils and assorted gift sets.

Each scent and flavor is light, not overpowering, and the names could pair well with gift basket items.

It was great to see the words "private label" at a booth that provides this specific service. Private Label Select Ltd. will silk screen your name and/or logo on lip balm, candle, soap and hand cream packaging. If you don’t have your own products, they have the products available in six scents. The lip and other balm products have SPF15 for sun protection.

Carol, the representative, said this company makes products for the big manufacturers and knows that smaller companies also want their names added to tins and containers. They like to work within a 1,000 unit minimum, but Carol said that Karl, the owner, will work with you if a small run is required.

Send for information, and see for yourself.

There’s only one way to microwave a pet, and that’s when it’s made with super soft chamois fabric. I was walking away from the Sootheze booth when James, a co-owner, handed me a puppy to hug. Its body was warm and toasty, as it was fresh out of the microwave. What a great take on plush animals, but it comes at a price.

While the larger bears, bunnies, and other critters are $16.95 to $18.45 each, smaller animals with scents of lavender or coffee are $5.50 each. These animals are so plush and warm that you don’t want to let go. The lavender bears are a beautifully bright shade, and the coffee bears are, you guessed it, light brown.

Be sure to see the collection.

Ex-tracts 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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