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Show moms some love
When it comes to Mother’s Day, sometimes customers are at a loss to find the perfect gift. Point shoppers in the right direction with these unique items from popular gift companies.
Lovely Hearts
Not just for Valentine’s Day, hearts are a common theme in giftware and can either be an over-the-top expression of adoration or a subtle detail of a classy design. Make sure to stock up on items like these that will remind Mom how much she’s loved.
Peking Handicraft(800/872-6888 or www.pkhc.com) makes colorful aprons that retail for $20 each. One features a heart and flowers with a sentiment that reads, “I Love My Mama.” It measures 23” x 32”. Another superhero-themed design is available that measures 30” x 30”.
Carson Home Accents (800/888-1918 or www.carsonhomeaccents.com) offers a decorative platter with a simple heart design in the middle. The piece has a spiraling sentiment written in casual cursive that reads, “Mom. A mother’s smile can brighten any moment, and a simple hug can put joy in your day. A mother’s love will stay with you forever, and touch your life in every way.” The 7.5” platter comes with an acrylic display stand that allows mothers to display their gift with pride. With a suggested retail price of $8.50, the piece is an affordable keepsake.
Another heart-themed gift for moms is a glass heart ornament from Glass Eye Studio Corp. (800/237-6961 or www.glasseye.com). The 4” hearts are handmade in Seattle and come in a variety of colors, including Rainbow and Pink Sunrise, which are two of Glass Eye Studio’s newest colors. The ornaments are hollow on the inside and are beautiful when hung near a window where the light can shine through. Each heart sells for around $20.
For a more high-end gift, consider heart-shaped, Swarovski crystal-studded perfume bottles from Expressions From The Heart (407/599-5359 or www.collecthearts.com). These sparkling bottles—which retail for $150 each—are shaped by hand and include elegant dabbers. Each is signed by the artist and is packaged in a keepsake box.
New To Motherhood
Sentimental and practical gifts will be much appreciated by women just entering into the joys (and sometimes horrors!) of motherhood.
New York-based Bibi & Mimi (212/842-9034 or www.bibiandmimi.com), a relatively new company founded in January 2007, offers design-oriented accessories for babies and mothers. The company’s “All-I-Need” diaper bag is a treat for new moms who are looking for a sophisticated carry-all that fits all the essentials neatly. With a contemporary style, the bag is designed for busy moms on the go and is made of lightweight, water- and stain-resistant fabric. The tote’s shoulder strap is ergonomically shaped, and there are nine pockets for storage. What’s more, the bag features a cushioned, fold-out changing pad to make diaper changes a snap. The contents of the bag are secured with a hidden magnet closure. Overall measurements of the bag are 15” x 12” x 5.25”, and it has a suggested retail price of $84.
The “All-I-Need” bag comes in four fashion-forward styles. One is black and covered with outlines of graphic white flowers. Another features stripes in different shades of green. The two other styles feature large circles; one is available in a green color scheme, and the other comes in a red color palette.
Other products from Bibi & Mimi include onesies, shoes, and socks; many designs feature cute expressions, animals, flowers, fruits, and other colorful designs. Any of these items would be a great add-on to the diaper bag and would be a useful yet stylish Mother’s Day present.
Another collectible gift that new moms will enjoy is a piece from Blossom Bucket’s (330/834-2551 or www.blossombucket.com) Suzi Skoglund Mother’s Day collection. The line of resin figures features smiling moms and daughters with expressions etched into the base. Styles include, “Happy Mother’s Day!”, “Mommy, when I grow up I want to be just like you!”, and “A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend.” The figures measure between 3.75” and 4.75” tall and retail for less than $9 each.
Just For Grandma
Don’t forget: Mother’s Day is also a time to thank grandmothers. These gift companies have some grandma-specific items that are sure to please.
Gund (800/448-4863 or www.gund.com) makes ceramic photo frames featuring Sesame Street characters, which make them ideal gifts from grandkids. The Big Bird frame reads, “My Grandma is special!” and can hold a 4” x 6” photo. It comes in a gift box. An Elmo style for moms is also available. Its message reads, “My Mommy is the Best!” The frames retail for $18 each.
Other grandmother-themed gifts are available from Manual Woodworkers and Weavers (800/542-3139 or www.manualww.com). The company has some tapestries and tapestry throws that grandmothers will cherish, whether they are given to them by their grandchildren or children.
The Hummingbird Haven Tapestry Throw is designed by Sally Eckman Roberts; it features a bright floral design and hummingbirds in flight. The throw measures 50” x 60” and retails for $45. A mini tapestry bannerette measuring 18” x 12.5” is available, too—it reads “Mother is another word for love” and retails for just $7. This mini design has a more contemporary feel. With a single, large white daisy against a muted pink background, the tapestry is a simple piece perfect for spring.
For a cheekier gift for grandma, Manual Woodworkers and Weavers makes a pillow with a sentiment that reads, “Grandchildren Spoiled Here.” At just $9, it’s a cute gift that will give grandma a laugh. The pillow measures 12.5” x 8.5”.
In The Garden
As Mother’s Day is essentially tied to spring and summer, garden and floral-themed gifts are always a good idea, particularly for moms who possess highly coveted green thumbs. These companies celebrate moms—and Mother Nature, too—with these new items.
Mom can hang her garden tools on bird-themed wall hooks from the Isabella’s Journey Veranda collection from Manual Woodworkers and Weavers. Finished with a pretty patina, the metal hooks are a cute garden accent; a set of two retails for $28. Each piece has three hooks and measures 13” x 6.5” x 2”.
Kay Berry (800/426-1932 or www.kayberry.com) makes a “Mom’s Garden” stone adorned with a variety of flowers, including a daisy and a rose. It’s a great complement to a bed of blooms or a vegetable patch. It measures 11” x 10” and retails for about $30.
Another piece with a sentiment is New Creative Enterprises’ (800/435-1000 or www.ncegifts.com) decorative angel wing sign, which reads “Moms are Angels in disguise.” Made of resin, the piece measures 22.5” long and 9.75” wide and retails for $26. The angel wing plaque can be hung on a wall outside or indoors.
Moms can decorate their patios with a chime from Woodstock Chimes’ (800/422-4463 or www.chimes.com) Precious Stone Collection. Available styles include Rose Quartz, Amber, Jade, Lapis, and Ebony. The piece, which is adorned with real stone accents, is made of ash with a black finish and has four silver rods. Each chime measures 12” long and retails for $10.
Victorian Trading Co. (800/735-5354 or www.victorianpaperco.com) has a plethora of floral-themed, Victorian-inspired giftware. From desk accessories to jewelry to garden boots to tabletop, the products are all feminine and have antique-inspired charm.
A creative way to merchandise the terra cotta Chintz Planter from Victorian Trading Co. is by selling it with a packet of seed mix or a flower bulb. The flowerpot, which has a floral border at the top, retails for $32.
Any of these garden-themed gifts can be complemented with a pop-up card from Up With Paper (800/852-7677 or www.upwithpaper.com). The company has a number of floral designs, including ones that feature orchids, roses, daisies, peonies, bouquets, birdhouses, window boxes, butterflies, hummingbirds, blue birds, ladybugs, and lily ponds.
According to George White, president of Up With Paper, Mother’s Day is the greeting card company’s second-best season, second only to Christmas. The company offers card designs in the Treasures style for about $5.50 each and, for the first time this year, the larger Panoramics style for $6.50 each.
Spa Escape
At the end of a long day, what mother doesn’t enjoy a little peace, quiet, and pampering? Help your customers put together a home-spa gift basket with products such as these.
Moms can enjoy some aromatherapy with candles from Dirt Candles (866/436-3865 or www.dirtcandles.com). For $100, a beautiful gift set is available that contains six of the company’s 10-oz. boutique soy candles packed in an elegant black gift box. The candles, which are made in the USA, come in an array of therapeutic, relaxing, and invigorating scents. What’s more, the candles are handmade and eco-friendly; they’re infused with natural essential oils and contain no artificial dyes, and the jar, lid, and packaging are all recyclable. Each candle burns for 60 hours.
The set comes with a refillable lighter tied with an organic cotton ribbon and gift card. The variety gift pack of candles is available in seven themes: holiday, feminine, masculine, earthy, romantic, best sellers, and customer choice.
After a soak in the tub, moms will appreciate Jacaranda Living’s (781/416-3533 or www.jacarandaliving.com) soft white bathrobe, which has a waffle texture and features a tie belt and two large pockets. The robe, which retails for $90, is eco-friendly as well; it is made of 60 percent bamboo, which is a renewable resource that is not only highly absorbent, but also naturally antibacterial.
Customers can toss this item into a spa-themed gift basket for an added treat. Lip balms from Simply Be Well (877/676-7627 or www.cstsoap.com) are 95-percent organic and enriched with all-natural, good-for-you ingredients, including coconut oil, olive fruit oil, beeswax, jojoba seed oil, and shea butter. Each lip balm retails for just under $5. As an earth-friendly beauty bonus, the balms are preservative-free and not tested on animals, so you can be sure they will appeal to eco-conscious mothers.
Top off a spa gift assortment with a good read for moms. Barbour Publishing (800/852-8010 or www.barbourbooks.com) has just introduced a book of inspirational poetry from Helen Steiner Rice. “A Celebration of Mothers” includes color photographs and poems such as “God Made Loving Mothers,” “At My Mother’s Knee,” and “Mother Puts the Joy in Every Day.” The hardcover book sells for about $10.
Simply Elegant
This new piece from Alexa’s Angels (877/264-3576 or www.alexas-angels.com) is a must-have jewelry item. The Languages of Life necklace has metal charms that say the word “mother” in multiple languages. Other styles available include Love, Inspire, Strength, Grandma, and more. Each is ideal for Mother’s Day and retails for $30.
Whatever pieces you include in your store’s Mother’s Day gift selection, be sure they speak from the heart.
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