Reflecting on finding new products

As I prepare for my 5th trip to Chicago for the Gift Show (where we find new companies to buy our cool products from) I reflect on what it was like that first year and all the cool things we got for the website based store. I thought I would walk down memory lane and recap how we came across my three favorite things we bought that year.

1. I think I should start with the one gift idea that took us the most amount of time to decide to buy… Sesame Street stuffed animals by Gund. We knew right away that we wanted them, but we didn’t know if we could afford them. At this point we were a small business and had a strict budget. We discussed back and forth what we should do. I think we went back to the Gund exhibit at least 3 times to look at them! They were so soft and cuddly, and look just like the characters my children watched as kids and today’s kids watch. As we sat at dinner the night before we had to go home we decided YES, we had to get them. We couldn’t resist! In reflection of that tough decision, I am glad we decided to buy them. I am sure that those stuffed animals have fallen asleep in the arms of kids that couldn’t have been more excited about receiving a box filled with balloons and a stuffed Sesame Street characters from our store.

2. We could also never forget finding the Angel Cheeks that year either. They are these adorable angel figurines that are dressed up holding a sign that relays a little message “I love you,” “Get Well,” and so on. I am not sure my daughter liked them so much, in fact I believe if I remember correctly, she told me there were other things to spend our money on. Against her judgment (which I do from time to time) I bought them. These Angel Cheeks have been great, flying off our shelves because they say the perfect thing for loved ones around the country. In fact, I sold an Angels Cheek that ended up on my daughter’s desk. After all she said about not liking them, she surely treasures the one she has that says “I Love You” from her new husband.

3. Now, I know you have heard of the saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I would like to submit that the way to a man’s heart is also through cold beer (or soda if you prefer). We found the perfect idea for a man’s gift… Koozie cups!! Oh yes, they make a wonderful weight for any of our balloon bouquet and I know there are men (and women) out there loving how these 3D double walled Koozies are keeping drinks cold around the country. That first year we started selling just a few hunting related koozies. Now we have fishing, hunting, horse, golf, dog, skull, and over the hill koozies to choose from. My whole family has them they use every time they pullout a can to drink.