My visit to the New York International Gift Fair

Yesterday I attended the New York International Gift Fair. This is my first year attending the fair so I really didn't know what to expect. I have to say I was blown away by the variety of products. I'm in the midst of planning the launch of an online retail store, so I wanted to get an idea of what's out there to determine what types of items my store will stock. I saw some great products and I'm looking forward to getting my store up and running. One note of advice to first time attendees - wear comfortable shoes. I wore flats which were comfortable for the first 30 minutes, but, by the end of the day my feet were SCREAMING. I also probably shouldn't have tried to see everything in one day. Next year I'll spread my visit over two days. All in all it was a cool experience and I'm excited for next year's gift fair. Here are a few items that stood out to me.

BloemBox

(courtesy of bloembox)

My eyes were immediately drawn to the Bloembox booth. The gorgeous packaging holds a really great gift idea for the flower loving apartment dweller. Each box contains a pot with saucer and a bulb. You can purchase a set of 6 for $222 at www.bloembox.com.

Music Cooks by Menus and Music

(courtesy of Music and Menu)

MusicCooks is the perfect gift for food and music lovers. Each box contains 16 washable recipe cards that feature food photos, cook's tips, and shopping lists. The box also contains a CD compiled with songs that complement the theme of the box. For example, the Pleasures of the Caribbean box contains recipes for Caribbean dishes and cocktails and the enclosed CD contains reggae and calypso songs. Purchase it at Menus and Music for $22.

Transport by Setgogear

(courtesy of trendhunter magazine)

The transport is a really cool gift for the urban guy. This lightweight non bulky alternative to the messenger bag has two front pockets that can be used for a cellphone, ipod, or blackberry. And, there is also a zip pocket that is perfect for storing money. The back has a large zip up that can be used to store magazines. Purchase it at Setgo for $80.00.

Help your man get spiffy at Spiff a new NYC grooming salon for men

If you are looking for the perfect summer birthday gift for a guy in your life who needs some spiffing up, look no further. Today, the New York Times' Critical Shopper highlighted a cool new grooming salon for men in NYC called Spiff. Spiff offers a long list of services for men, including haircuts, hair color, shaves, shoe shine, manicures, pedicures, and waxing. You can purchase a gift certificate in any denomination or get a gift certificate for a specific service. Spiff also offers a 6 month membership plan for $425 and a 12 month membership plan for $750. The membership includes unlimited haircut/style, unlimited manicures, unlimited shoeshine, 10% off any additional services and any retail product. Spiff is located at 750 Third Avenue at 46th Street.

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That Perfect Gift of the Week - Andy Warhol Watches

(image courtesy of www.15minutesof.com)

(image courtesy of www.15minutesof.com)

For some odd reason, I'm always buying watches. I'll find a great watch and, without fail, a few months later the battery dies. You would think I would just get the battery replaced. Instead, I run out and buy a new watch. So, I'm always on the lookout for really cool watches. I recently came across the Andy Warhol 15 watch collection. The watches in this collection are really unique because they feature Warhol artwork. Two of my favorite watches from the collection are the Sam-Matchstick and the Carol- Daisy. These fun and quirky watches make great gifts for art lovers. You can purchase these watches from www.15minutes.com. Prices range from $35-$150.

If you like the gift ideas posted in our blog and need help finding additional gift ideas, go to Gift Consulting and submit your Gift Consulting request today. It takes less than 15 minutes and only costs $19.99 per Gift Consulting request.

That Perfect Gift of the Week - D&G low top multicolored sneakers

Who said a guy wouldn't stick around if you gave him a pair of shoes? I guarantee that any guy who receives these D&G low tops isn't going anywhere. Made primarily of woven cotton and leather, these sneakers are versatile enough to wear with both slacks and jeans. And, the multicolor stripes on the side add a little punch to any outfit. Don't hesitate to "gift" your guy these great sneakers. The D&G sneakers can be purchased for $235 at Eluxury.

Don't forget to submit your entry to our "My Perfect Mother" Mother's Day contest which starts on March 25, 2008. Email your entry to Blog Submissions.

And, if you have a great product or service that you would like to be considered for inclusion in our "The Perfect Mother's Day Gift Guide" please email Blog Submissions.

Lois Loves - Red Envelope Message Collar Stays

Well another great holiday for gifts is around the corner - Valentine's Day. In honor of V-Day I'll post some gift ideas over the next two weeks. I think you'll love this gift I found at Red Envelope . You can always count on Red Envelope to deliver unique gifts and they don't disappoint with their Message Collar Stays . There are 12 collar stays in each set and each set has a different message. You can either get the PG set or the Racy set. The racy collar stays contain messages like, "A surprise is waiting", "That tie will be useful", and "I want you always". The PG collar stays contain messages like, "You follow your dreams", "You keep my secrets", and "You laugh at my jokes". These collar stays are a great way to let your significant other always remember you are thinking of him. The collar stays can be purchased for $35 or $40 with personalization.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Elsa Peretti Bean Money Clip

Who said money clips were just for men? Elsa Peretti's Bean Money Clip will appeal to many women. It's the perfect size for a clutch or a small handbag. I love the sterling silver material and its clean design. It's also a great gift for a trendy male who doesn't want to look like everyone else. Purchase it at www.tiffany.com for $135.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Sephora Fragrance Sampler for her and for him

Have you ever wanted to get someone a fragrance but you hesitated because you were unsure if they would like it? Sephora has solved this problem with its Fragrance Samplers for men and women. The samplers contain miniature versions of men and women's fragrances and a gift certificate redeemable for a full sized fragrance bottle. The recipient simply samples each fragrance, chooses their favorite fragrance, fills out the enclosed voucher, and redeems the voucher at a Sephora store. The men's sampler contains samples of Aquolina Blue Sugar, Carolina Herrera 212 Men, Ermenegildo Zegna ZegnaIntenso, Kenneth Cole R.S.V.P., Lacoste Essential, Masaki Matsushima M;Men, Givenchy Very Irresistable Givenchy For Men Fresh Attitude, and Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme, plus a bonus Anthony Logistics for Men Shave Cream. The women's sampler contains samples of Aquolina Pink Sugar, Badgley Mischka, Guerlain My Insolence, Hard Candy Fragrance, Hilary Duff With Love...Hilary Duff, Juicy Couture, Philosophy Inner Grace, Stella McCartney Stella, Vera Wang Princess, and Givenchy Very Irresistable Givenchy Sensual Eau de Parfum, plus an added gift of a refillable atomizer. You can purchase a fragrance sampler for $50.

Lois Loves - Hayden-Harnett Cuff Bracelets

As I perused the new issue of InStyle magazine, I found another great gift idea. I love cuff bracelets and Hayden-Harnett makes some of the best. My personal favorites are the Mercer and the Celina cuff bracelets.

The Mercer cuff can be worn by both women and men and comes in six great colors. $88.

The Celina cuff will adds edge to any outfit. $78

Lois Loves - Mulholland Brothers Garment Bag

The Mullholland Brothers Simple Garment Bag is the perfect gift for the man who does a lot of traveling. Its simple, classic, and sturdy design will appeal to any man. The garment bag holds two suits and is available in 12 colors. $175 - $550.

Lois Loves - Gifts under $100 for Men

Last week's Gifts under $100 post focused on women's jewelry. Here are a few great gifts for men that cost less than $100.

The Cole Haan Money Clip Card Case gives men a sleek and trendy alternative to bulky wallets. $55.

The Ridged Knot cuff links from Banana Republic are made of solid brass with nickel finish. A great way to add sophistication to an outfit. $38.

The Art of Shaving Starter Kit will help your man achieve the perfect shave. The Kit contains Pre-Shave Oil, Shaving Cream, a Shaving Brush, and After Shave Balm. You can choose the unscented, lavender, sandalwood or lemon scented kit. $38.

Lois Loves - Watch Cases

Nowadays, men own multiple watches and use them to accessorize outfits, just like women use handbags to accessorize outfits. Men who own multiple watches will certainly need something to protect, display, and store their watches. Red Envelope offers some great watch cases that are great looking and priced for different budgets.

The Monogrammed Leather Watch Case offers a a more traditional look in black pebbled leather or brown pebbled leather. $60.

I love the sleek, sophistication of the Brushed Nickel Watch Case. The case holds up to nine watches and is engravable. $78.

The Milano Leather Watch Case stores seven watches and also has a drawer that can store cuff links. $125.

Lois Loves - Zodiac Watches

Today, I'm focusing on gifts for men. Generally, I think men are easier to shop for because there is less choice. You can't go wrong with a watch, clothing, gadget, or tools. Its usually best to keep it simple. However, in this age of the Metrosexual, men are taking more interest in their appearance and companies are starting to cater more to those men who want to present a put-together, stylish image to the world. Zodiac Watches definitely caters to these men, but the brand also has a wide selection of watches that any man would appreciate. Check out these great watch styles.

This stainless steel style is perfect for the old school guy who wants to jazz up his look just a little. Style Z02258 , Sea Dragon Collection, $275.





I love the casual elegance of the ZO21055, V-Series Collection, $395.




The versatility of the ZO3700, Sea Dragon Collection, $275, makes it a perfect watch for an athlete or college student.