Where the Magic of Gifting Begins
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend two incredible gift shows in New York City: NY NOW and Shoppe Object.
For me, these shows are about so much more than discovering new products.
They are where gifting companies go for inspiration, education and, sometimes, if you’re lucky, the beginning of a new relationship.
You walk into a booth and meet someone you probably never would have met otherwise—someone with a dream, a story and a product they poured their heart into bringing to life.
That happened to me with Kwola.
I met Katie, the curator behind the brand, and as we talked, I learned the story and inspiration behind her company.
It started with her grandmother, Mimi.
Mimi loved to cook and entertain. She had wonderful recipes and, clearly, a gift for bringing people together around the table. Katie wanted to honor that legacy by creating something that would continue that feeling of connection.
The result is beautiful, functional and incredibly thoughtful.
Kwola’s Machine Washable Insulated Food Carrier + Trivet serves three purposes:
It keeps food warm.
It works as an insulated food carrier.
It transforms into a beautiful trivet for the dining table.
And that’s what caught my attention.
It’s not just a useful product. It has a story.
It was created from a place of love, inspired by a grandmother, and designed around something we all understand—the joy of gathering around a table with people we care about.
Katie told me she had a deep desire to create something that brings people together. Read Katie’s story.
I love that.
Take your favorite dishes from the oven to the table with The KWOLA®, a stylish, practical insulated food carrier designed to keep food protected and ready to serve. This versatile set doubles as a food carrier and trivet, making it perfect for entertaining, family gatherings, potlucks, holidays, and everyday meals.
One Set. Two Sizes. Endless Possibilities.
The KWOLA® set includes two machine-washable insulated carriers:
1 Large Oblong Carrier – Designed to fit a traditional 9" x 13" baking dish, large bowls, and 5-quart Dutch ovens.
1 Small Square Carrier – Designed to fit a traditional 8" x 8" baking dish, small bowls, pies, and Dutch ovens up to 3.5 quarts.
Why You'll Love The KWOLA®
Insulated to help protect your dishes and maintain food temperature
Machine washable for easy cleanup
Versatile design – use it as a food carrier or trivet
Two convenient sizes for a variety of dishes
Great for potlucks, dinner parties, holidays, picnics, and gifting
A thoughtful gift for home cooks, entertainers, newlyweds, hosts, and anyone who loves to gather around the table
Whether you're bringing a casserole to a friend's house or serving a favorite family recipe at home, The KWOLA® makes transporting and serving your food easier, safer, and more stylish with the added bonus of a trivet.
Because behind so many of the products I discover at gift shows are entrepreneurs like Katie—highly creative, enthusiastic and brave enough to take an idea and turn it into something real.
And that isn’t always easy.
A gift show can be a vulnerable place when you’re the person standing behind the booth.
You’ve spent months, sometimes years, creating your product. You’ve invested your time, money and heart into it. Then you stand there and watch people walk by, hoping someone will stop.
Sometimes they do.
Sometimes they don’t.
But every once in a while, someone walks into your booth and you can almost feel it…
This is it.
You see something new.
Your curiosity takes over.
You ask questions.
You hear the story.
You discover the person behind the product.
And suddenly, what started as a walk through a trade show becomes the beginning of a relationship.
That’s where the magic happens.
For me, that’s one of the most exciting parts of what I do at Our Gift Biz.
I’m not simply looking for something that looks good in a gift box.
I’m looking for gifts that have a story. Gifts that create a feeling. Gifts that make the recipient stop and think, Someone really thought about me.
Because the best gifts aren’t just things.
They’re connections.
And sometimes, those connections begin in a crowded convention center in New York City, with an entrepreneur standing behind a booth, hoping someone will stop long enough to hear her story.
I’m so glad I did.
And I can’t wait to see where this new relationship leads.
That’s the beauty of gifting.
You never quite know where one thoughtful discovery—or one meaningful connection—might take you.
At Our Gift Biz, that’s the kind of magic we’re always looking for.