STARS New Product Awards given in eight categories at California Gift Show in Los Angeles

“And the winner is….” In truly Los Angeles style, the California Gift Show®  (http://www.californiagiftshow.com), which ends its run today at the Los Angeles Convention Center, has announced the winners of its first annual STARS Award for outstanding new products which debuted at the annual showcase which opened on January 16th.  Exhibitors offered up their best-and-brightest new creations for judging in nine STARS Award categories: Gift (stationery, specialty food and culinary items), Home & Garden, Fashion Accessories, Green (Sustainable, Fair trade), Resort, International and Handcrafted (US only). The product with the highest all around score was awarded the Best In Show. Retailers attending the show also voted on an ninth award, Retailer’s Choice. Judges for the California STARS Awards included Liezel Munez Gunn (west coast contributing editor of “O” the Oprah magazine and the “O” list) and other members of the consumer and trade press.

“There were a lot of squeals and also joyful tears,” said Angelia Singleton, California Gift Show® Manager, who conceived the STARS Awards as a way to spotlight new trends in retail creation. “Wholesalers and retailers have to stay creative to be competitive, and these awards showed the best of both those impulses.”
 
Following is a list of the winners of the first annual STARS Award for Best New Products at the California Gift Show.

Fashion Accessories:
Awarded to Vizini, Inc. for their new, revolutionary, totally strapless sun visor that slips onto one’s  existing sun glasses (www.vizini.com).
 
Gift:
Awarded to CaliBowl  for their “ultimate eating apparatus” which sports a simple yet revolutionary lip around the top of the bowl. The design is angled in a way which pushes food onto one’s utensil thus avoiding any spillage and overflows. (www.calibowl.com)
 
Handcrafted:
Awarded to Maui Xaphoon Musical Instruments for their unusual musical instrument which is small like a recorder but sounds like a saxophone. (www.xaphoon.com)
 
Home & Garden:
Awarded to Ke-Anu for its elegant, durable, and functional clear acrylic serving dish for cold foods and salads—complete with dome cover to keep insects out. (www.alohachiller.com)
 
International:
Awarded to Tesoros Trading  for its recycled rice paper doctor’s bag from Vietnam
 
Resort:
Awarded to Puzzled (part of the New Puzzled Royal Selection line) for their Cool Blue Sailboat which is completely handmade with an emphasis on quality and detail. Intricate yet affordable, it makes for a perfect souvenir. (www.puzzeled.com)
 
Sustainable or Fair Trade:
Awarded to Cheppu Himal for its handcrafted boiled wool animal—fanciful and fun—  made with recycled wool by Fair Trade standards (www.cheppu.com)
 
Best in Show:
Awarded to Wisdom Wands for their easy and portable single serve tea and coffee brewing tools—Instantly Brew & Sip. These durable hand blown glass straws with specialty filters are certified eco-friendly and dedicated to protecting the Environment. (www.wisdomwands.com)
 
Retailers’ Choice Award:
Awarded to Tuscan Heights Lavender Gardens for their farm fresh, organic lavender and herbal bath & body spa products and their organic lavender and herbs gourmet items. (www.tuscanheights.net)

“I’ve got to go call my mother,” enthused Lynette Gooch, co-owner of Tuscan Height Lavender Gardens as she was given her award in a surprise ceremony on the Gift Show’s floor. Her response was repeated throughout the day at various booths as STARS were given in the various categories.  “It’s such an honor, and so exciting, especially since this is our first year here.”

The 2009 California Gift Show® took place January 16 – 19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The semi-annual California Gift Show is managed by GLM®, a dmg world media business. Exhibitors seeking information for the summer edition, taking place in August 2009, should contact show manager Angelia Singleton at (213) 430-2356 / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  Attendee information may be obtained by contacting GLM Customer Relations at (800) 272-SHOW (7469) or (603) 665-7524.   www.californiagiftshow.com.