The phrase “working mother” is redundant. ~Jane Sellmanth

I love my Mom, especially now that I am a mother myself.  I don’t know where she found the energy to play with us everyday and take care of everything she did, but she did, and with three of us!

When I was little, gifts for Mother’s Day were hand made trinkets.  I love that the same kind of hand made touch goes into gift baskets.  This is a wonderful season for gift baskets.  The colors are bright and vibrate with a palette of pinks, greens, violets and yellows.  When I think about gifts for Mother’s Day Too Good Gourmet always comes to mind.  The packaging is beautiful with a touch of flowers and adornments as seen in the hat box cookie tower.

From garden themes to spa moments, a Mother’s Day Gift should say I Love You and Thank You and should have a little chocolate thrown in for good measure!

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

When a marathon comes to town everyone gives a little; whether a participant, a volunteer, a cheerleader, by donating to the various charities represented or rerouted due to road closures!

This past weekend Nashville, hosted the 11th annual Country Music Marathon, and despite the severe weather and risks of tornadoes 30,000+ queued up at Centennial Park to run, walk or wheel 13.1 or 26.2 miles.

As a participant it’s wonderful and extremely motivating to see all the cheerleaders and volunteers who come out and keep us hydrated and ring those cow bells!

I like sharing ways we can be involved in our community and I love that participating in a marathon is the ultimate in multi-tasking.  You can set goals and challenge yourself while raising money for your favorite charities or increase company or department morale by registering a team.

Gift ideas for the runners in your life include soothing bath fizzies, cozy socks and my personal favorite, foot repair lotions!  Mint, Tea Tree, Lavender, Aloe Vera and Chamomile are all great scents for the tired body… note that mint will get you a little boost and not the best used before bed.

Good luck with meeting and exceeding your goals this year!  Remember, it never hurts to treat yourself for a job well done!

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

Nashville, TN is a great location to host a convention.  Whether local, national or international, Nashville provides great accommodations, a wide array of events and lest we forget MUSIC!

When considering gifts for conventions hosted in Nashville you have many options.  From the traditional to the themed, a custom package for your attendees, guests or speakers can be localized with gourmet treats from Music City USA.

The Goo Goo Cluster, the worlds first combination candy bar was invented in Nashville in 1912 and is still a favorite item among candy lovers of all ages.

But Goo Goos are not the only yummy treat to come out of middle Tennessee.

Page’s Premiums offers a variety of nut mixes with hints of chocolate pieces and gourmet treats.  Owner, Singer/Songwriter Tracy Page moved to Nashville to pursue music, but found the industry was driving her “nuts”, inspiration struck and she was soon creating batches of nut mixes – original, music city, monkey krunch, Smokin’ Southwest Blend, Asian Persuasion and a skinny mix along with peanut brittle, toffee and gourmet candies.

Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co are my new favorite chocolate bars.  With a yummy list of unique flavors and brilliant packaging, adding Olive & Sinclair chocolate bars to a gift basket or convention package is a delicious treat on all the senses.

Willa’s makes a great cookie (shortbread, praline, lemon pecan, gingersnaps, key lime almond, chocolate mac adamia, mocha almond) and spicy cheese biscuits, both a southern tradition, and offers a full corporate package with private and custom label options.  A great option when looking to brand the event or a special thank you.  The key lime box made the cover of The Gift Basket Association’s “Tips & Trends” magazine this spring.

Just to name but a few.  If you’re interested in learning more about local products please don’t hesitate to contact us or check out the website dedicated to all things made in Tennessee.  www.PickTNproducts.org

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

My daughter turned 4 last week… I know, WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!

She is a little sweetie and the day was filled with lots of pink, princesses and a fairy hunt at dusk.  She had a wonderful day and felt like a princess, but it wasn’t until the next day that I truly understood how our children mimic us.

As you know I’m a big fan of the Thank You Note, but I have to say I was beaming with pride when my 4 year old got up the day after her birthday and busily put pen to paper.  She had written pages of squiggle lines when she came to me and asked for envelopes and stamps.  I was amused, so I asked her to read the first letter to me and she began with ‘Dear so and so, thank you for my “birthday present”, it was very sweet of you to think of me on my birthday.  I will have fun using my present with my friends.  Love Peyton.’ It was so cute I wish I would have recorded it!

I know that sometimes it’s hard to know what to say in a thank you note so here are a few basics to help get you started.  A couple of sentences is all you need.

1.  You want to say thank you for the actual thoughtfulness

2.  Say how it made you feel

3.  OR how you plan to use it

Note that you can use this format in note or via a video.  A quick personally recorded video message sent via email or a video host such as YouTube can be a huge hit and shared among your friends.

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

Pens, notepads and desk stuff have their place, but they’ve been done…

As a sales professional how to you make your visit memorable?  Have you thought about leaving behind a yummy treat with your logo or a call to action message?  Cookies, available in a variety of shapes and colors, offer a great option.  From a cell phone shape with your phone number on it to your logo or a “thank you” the hand made touch can make your leave behind a unique trademark!

Minimum order is 100 cookies per design (some set-up charges may apply).

Available in gingerbread or sugar dough.

Typical shelf life is 6 months

Tami Ross
Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!