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.
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.