It was great to get out of the cold and into the warm Orlando area. There was a fair amount of traffic at this small show and an even bigger assortment of gift basket products than I expected. The cash-and-carry area sometimes had more traffic than the trade area. After all, who doesn’t love jewelry and home décor items to buy on the spot?

George Reilly showed off what he calls Magic Baskets. George described his baskets as made from “one piece of wood cut at an angle.” These dark-stained baskets are manufactured in the Philippines. The circular cuts open upward and is shaped into a basket.

The actual basket is surrounded by more wood that’s affixed around it and hand-painted as parrots, golf clubs, a rooster, cat, Santa, an angel, moose, football, palms and other carvings.

The vibrantly-colored hand painting is on both sides of the basket. Each basket is individually gift boxed and can’t be shipped without the box, which ensures that the basket isn’t broken in transit. In addition, the baskets ship flat (two pounds each), and that saves on the shipping price and storage space in your shop.

George said that if you need at least 240 baskets with custom crafting, he can make it. There are also regular baskets with or without handles and without the custom-crafted designs.

These aren’t your ordinary baskets and are definitely for customers who are looking for something to enhance their home décor or to absolutely thrill a special client. Prices are $11.90 and $13.90 each, depending on the custom crafting. The no-theme baskets are $9.90 and $13.90. Magic Baskets should be considered for your very-discriminating clients who are ready to pay the price for custom work.

I started to walk past a lotion company, but why do that when we’re always looking for more bath and body products?

Orlando is the name of a bath and skin care line which includes lotions (6 oz. spf30 and 8 oz. regular, both $4.50), 8 oz. bath and shower gel ($4.25), 8 oz. shampoo/conditioner ($3.00), and 1.22 oz. colognes, one each for men and women ($9.00).

I really loved the cologne for both genders. That’s something I usually shy away from trying, but Michael, a rep, sprayed each on a stick for my assessment. A woodsy scent for men, clean and inviting for women.

The after-sun gel ($4.50) is a delicious fragrance of orange mango. The bath and shower gel’s mix of vanilla and botanicals wakes you up, yet relaxes you. Very pretty. Each product is housed in a cream-colored plastic bottle, either round or oval shaped. The colognes are in clear bottles with gold-colored tops. They also have a gift set with lotion, gel, shampoo/conditioner, and puff in a vinyl drawstring bag ($13.50) for your no-fuss orders.

Food preparation takes on a whole new twist with Howell Press’s Cooking in the Nude series of cookbooks and aprons.

Elinor Howell encouraged me to thumb through each 6” x 9” book based on a theme.

I checked out the books entitled For Wine Lovers, Red Hot Lovers and Quickies. There’s also For Golf Lovers, Playful Gourmets and Just Married.

New to the line are For Men Only and For Barbecue Buffs. Each cookbook ($4.98) includes recipes with suggestive titles. Elinor told me that gift basket stores use the books to pull their basket themes together.

All of the cookbooks have a white front and back cover with light etching of a waist, hip and thigh. No surprise, the apron ($7.50) is clear, decorated with a single bow tie at the neck, and trimmed with red or black piping. A combination apron and book packaged in a clear or printed cellophane bag is $12.50.

There’s nothing better than the enthusiasm of two people who are launching a product.

Savory Sauces is made by Robin and Bonnie, two women who’ve parlayed their love of cooking into a tasty selection of salsa, barbecue, marinara (24.3 oz. each) and chocolate (7.2 oz.) sauces. The clear jars are topped with a green lid.

Salsa is made with tomatoes, bananas, peppers and jalapeno. Delightful. Not hot, just right. Marinara is smooth and flavorful. Barbecue is lightly tangy and slightly sweet. And chocolate? Well let’s just say bring on the ice cream. It’s a terrific flavor with no aftertaste or artificial taste. Love it.

The larger jars (all except chocolate) pair well with pastas in baskets and other items for housewarming or a person who loves to cook and wants to serve someone new.

Duo Delights showed a new spring selection include Lemon Crunch cookies in a round container ($1.50 for 2 oz., $4.95 for 5 oz.).

Also new is bark in flavors of Cinnamon Swirl and Savory Fruits. The cinnamon flavor emits a bold cinnamon taste; Savory Fruits doesn’t hold back on the fruity flavor.

I love the 5 oz. clear box packaging bordered in gold trim ($1.75 to $2.95 each). The bark in 2 oz. and 5 oz. boxes have a corporate look, while the 8 oz. bags ($3.45 for Fruit; $3.75 for Cinnamon) with organza ribbon add height to a basket.

Also new are decorative votive holders with a tea light included, topped with lime, lemon, or tangerine bark ($4.95). The votive holder is a swirled design, and the bark, packaged in a clear cello bag which sits atop the tea candle, is closed with an organza ribbon.

Gift Basket University 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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