Show Report - California Gift Show, No. 2

California Gift Show
Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, CA
Page 2

Wild Eye Designs showed an ice cream holder that works well as a container or as part of a high-priced basket.

The container is made from polished silver aluminum. The side of the container has a loop that holds the matching scooper, and the lid is etched with the words “ice cream” in a scroll design on the top and bottom edges.

The middle of the lid has a circular pattern with a raised jewel bead on top. The beads are blue, green, red, or amber, or you can request a lid without the jewel.

They had much more, including a coaster with raised aluminum sides dotted in jewel beads within a flower pattern. The center was covered in black felt on the inside and bottom. Again, not for your standard basket, but to be considered when your customer wants to be dazzled and is ready to pay the price. Compared to some wholesalers, the minimum’s not bad.

Charms used to identify a person's wine glass have expanded into charms for beer called Beer Finders, sold by Green Rhino. These circles of rubber dangle around the neck of beer bottles. The 21 charm styles include sports and music themes.

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.

Chukar Cherry Company is a company I've heard much about, so I was glad to see that they decided to exhibit. The rep explained that the entire line contains no preservatives and that they grow their own cherries to monitor and control freshness.

Bags and boxes filled with chocolate covered and cinnamon sprinkled cherries and other fruits lined the booth. A 4 oz. box is $2.50 each, and the 8 oz. bags include rectangular card tags. The Chocolate Medley, a combination of all of the confection flavors, resembled a symphony of flavor wrapped in a bag.

Chukar also has a line of Herb Teas packaged in the same style box as the confections. The minimum is easily met and quickly sold when you have a good indication as to whether or not this is a line your customers want in their baskets. All products are Kosher.

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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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