Show Report - Gift Basket University

Gift Basket University
Florida Gift & Home Accessories Market
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
Page 2

JM Golden Popcorn displayed two new flavors: Chocolate Gem and Peanut Butter. These clear, small and medium-sized bags with gold label on the front, are a gift basket favorite. Prices range from $1.10 to $2.75 per bag, depending on the flavor and weight.

Another service that’s also high on designers’ lists is the ability to receive the popcorn without labeling for custom orders. There are also labels that JM will send if you want to add labels as needed.

The company also showed its popcorn in Easter packaging. Unfortunately, I couldn’t taste it because of my temporary brace, and no one else was at the booth when I stopped to check out the line. Drats.

I’m not used to seeing baskets embellished with ceramic handles, and that made me stop at the Ancon Imports’ booth.

Not all of their baskets have these accents, but the ones that do are striking. The short, ceramic handles were in stripes of blue and white, burgundy and white, and black and white. These baskets are mostly in a tray or short style and are sold in one, two or three packs. I did see a small, square ceramic-handled tray for $2.00 and a larger one for $7.20.

Other ceramic handle styles were of various fruits and flowers. These were standouts, but there are many more nested and individual baskets available. The prices vary widely, so it’s hard to pinpoint an average. See them online, or get the catalog.

I stopped at another booth that I thought belonged to one company, but it showcased two.

The first was Rose’s Gourmet Specialties. I tried the Spicy Honey dressing ($4.00 for 12 oz.). It was thick as I stirred it with a thin pretzel. The taste revealed spices without it being spicy and had a wonderful honey flavor.

Rose told me that the dressing is great on salads or as a meat marinade. The dark dressing is packaged in a clear bottle with a honey yellow label (beehive on the label) and a blue security wrap around the top.

Soups ($2.50), a creamy Alfredo sauce ($1.50), and a meringue mix (92 cents) is in clear, plastic packaging with vivid header cards are also available, along with soup bowls (96 cents) and cookbooks ($12.00), which I didn’t see.

Next to Rose’s was Robicheaux’s Specialty Candy, where Laura Robicheaux displayed her extensive line of chocolates available in singles or bulk.

Most of these handmade chocolates are round and studded with nuts and/or drizzled with a lighter or darker chocolate. For example, a white chocolate is drizzled from side to side with milk or dark chocolate. The product resembles an oversized patty.

What was most interesting were the 3 oz. milk chocolate pecan turtles topped with white chocolate in the shape of any state you choose ($1.50 each). The white chocolate also has the name of the state stamped on top.

Laura said that she can make this in milk chocolate, but it’s harder for the recipient to read the state name. What a great treat for out-of-towners, real estate baskets, housewarming or to say thank you.

Laura added that the biggest seller is the 2 oz. individual chocolate with nuts, drizzled with a different chocolate. It’s $1.00, and the sugar free version is $1.20.

Telstar Graphics has an interesting line of themed stationery. Their boxed notecards and Post-it notes are sold plain, can be personalized by the company, or you can personalize the stationery yourself by running it through your own printer.

The themes are endless. Choose from tropical, lighthouses, flags, angels, outdoors, seasons, religious, gardens and 57 more options. What a bargain when 40 Post-its are $1.00 and 8 boxed notecards and envelopes are $1.25.

There are also tall, rectangular pads with ($1.50) and without ($1.25) pencils, address books ($2.50), journalettes (small journals - $2.50), and specialty stationery to announce a relocation, party, and to say thank you ($15.00 for 12).

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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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