Maybe this is one. Taxi’s Dog Bakery wasn’t far from Creature Comforts. This one also sells treats for dogs and cats, such as tubes for pets on the go ($3 for dogs, $2 for cats), treat boxes ($4 for dogs, $3.50 for cats), wooden crates with treats ($5 for either pet), and bags ($3.95 for dogs only).

There are also barbecue beef bones in a Styrofoam container that resembles a supermarket meat package ($3.50).

Taxi’s will custom stamp the bones with your company name. It’s $75 for the stamp and $1.50 a bone. They also have pre-made stamps that say “I Love New York” and other general phrases where you don’t have to buy the stamp.

Many more packaging options, plus treats on a stick and lots of shapes. This one is lower priced than the other, and so is the minimum.

Last day of the show, and I headed over to the Stephan Enterprises’ booth. Haven’t seen their baby products in some time.

I checked their shampoo ($1.25 for 2.1 oz.). It’s yellow in color, which you can see through the small bottle, and has a yellow cap. The bubble bath ($1.25 for 2.1 oz.) is green in color and has a green cap on the bottle.

There’s a combination shampoo, bubble bath, and frog sponge in a clear box ($3.00). This one has a green color theme, while the combination shampoo, lotion and duck sponge ($3.50) has a yellow theme

I liked the keepsake frames with the words “It’s a Boy” or “It’s a Girl.” Each one has ceramic shoes on the bottom. The rep was helping someone else, and the frames didn’t have a price. You can bet this one’s in the $4.00 range.

Loved the Pinky Pals ($2.50), a set of three finger puppets in vivid colors (great for baby’s eyes). One set of puppets is a lion (green), duck (yellow) and rabbit, and there are other sets.

There’s so much more in this line, including plush and items for communion.

Where has Island Basket and Trading Company been hiding? What a fabulous assortment of baskets and containers. I can barely begin to scratch the surface on what this company has to offer, but here’s some of the standouts.

A square, white flower pot decorated with flowers and butterflies ($2.95). It has a liner for live flowers and is fortified on the corners with silver rivets.

Their baskets are rustic or modern, natural or in colors. A medium-sized basket with side handles was $1.75. A much larger, oval-sized basket with front to back handle was $7.20 and is perfect for a $100-$150 retail design.

I saw mugs, short and tall. Before I get into more ceramics, the rep said that all ceramics are sold by the case. Okay, here’s more.

There were wire baskets with a wooden bottom, silver-wired sides and jeweled beads within the wire. This oval or rectangular shape was $10.50 for 2 (nested set).

I loved the single Christmas ornament lights with a flat bottom and an opening at the top to insert small items. It’s available in blue, red or green. $3 each, 24 per case. Keep this in mind for holiday hostess and thank you gifts.

Also, tea pots decorated in fruit. Yellow with purple colors throughout; very pretty. $3 each, 18 per case. An ice cream cone container that looks just like a cone. $3.20, 24 per case.

A ceramic fish bowl ($3, 24 per case) in peach, yellow or blue. The ceramic purse was stunning ($3.30, 12 per case) in white, lavender, or green accented with flowers and beads. Old world containers as well that resembled something from Rome or Greece.

They also sell shred, cellophane and shrink wrap.

I could have stayed at this booth all day and not seen everything. Found them on my third day of the show. Makes me glad I returned.

Harvey & Strait sells tableware, aprons, napkins and bandanas in gorgeous colors – citrus, hot pink, yellow, various blues and stark white – all made from quality cotton. There’s also a pink background with green dots, green background with pink dots, Tutti Fruitty, and one design called Capri.

The napkins, cocktail ($7.50 each, 8 for $60.00), and regular ($3.25 each, 6 for $21.50) are rolled and packaged in sets in a clear white box. Aprons are $12 each.

If that’s too pricey, they also have good-looking travel bags, shoe covers, moth chasers and laundry bags, all great for travelers. I liked their serving trays. The 5 x 7 size is $5.00, and larger sizes are available.

This is another company that had no catalog. Hopefully it’s all laid out online.

A company called Raffit Ribbons sells raffia ribbon on rolls. Nothing but soft raffia ribbon in every imaginable color in both pearl and matte finishes. You can buy this same type of ribbon from Nashville Wraps, but perhaps this company will have a specific color you’re looking for.

One unique design is gingham checks on a white background. They sell this gingham style in at least 12 colors.

Rolls are available in several sizes: 1,000 yards for $57.70, 500 yards for $29.70, 100 yards for $14.70 or 30 feet for $2.70. There are other sizes depending on the type of raffia ribbon you want.

There’s nothing like good fudge to revive you when you’re just about finished a show. Country Fresh Food & Confections was deluged with buyers and neighboring exhibitors. The Chocolate Cheesecake Fudge was ultra smooth and creamy. Wonderful flavor. So was the Sugar Free Old Fashion Vanilla Fudge, which certainly doesn’t taste like sugar free.

Too bad the Chocolate Cheesecake is only sold in bulk and larger boxes and isn’t available in the small, square 3.5 oz. box ($1.85). But there are other flavors that are gift basket friendly: Old Fashion Chocolate, Chocolate Walnut, Old Fashion Vanilla, New York Cheesecake and Maple Walnut, which had a light maple taste to it. Very nice. I floated away like a giddy schoolgirl.

I started to walk past the Candytree booth. This is a product that’s seen somewhat as a competitor. However, it could be purchased as a no-labor add-on to boost profits.

Candytree sells pre-arranged candy in the shape of cakes and trees or decorated in parfait glasses, as topiaries, or arranged in mugs, pots and ceramic containers. The candies are the hard, pre-wrapped type, or it uses Hershey’s and M&M-type products (Crunch, Kit Kat, etc.).

It could be used as a corporate gift, welcome, thank you, or for another event or occasion. Why make a tree when someone else will do the work?

Prices aren’t cheap and range from a $9 votive to a $50 planter, but it’s good to know about this option in case of emergencies.

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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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