Visiting DesignPac, Celebrating 1-800-Baskets

Not too long ago I wrote about two successful New York City stories that came together to create an amazing gift basket experience. Recently, I had the pleasure of traveling to Melrose Park, IL, just outside of Chicago, to tour the offices and factory of DesignPac, a leading designer and assembler of gourmet gift baskets, gourmet food gift towers and gift sets including a broad range of branded and private label components. They are also the creative forces behind all the baskets that one can purchase through 1-800-Baskets, including The Palm Restaurant Gift Basket I mentioned in my previous post.

DesignPac and 1-800-Flower officially joined forces in April of this year, providing gift giving lovers like myself a wider variety and choices in celebrating and remembering others through 1-800-Baskets.

I got up incredibly early to travel to Chicago, was on the road at 4:30am, but thrilled to be on this adventure with my darling friend Melissa. Chicago was gray on this particular day, but the offices of DesignPac are quiet lovely and cheerful.

We were greeted by Jim McCann, CEO and Chris McCann, President, both of 1-800-Flowers, and by DesignPac’s President, Jeffrey Burkard. From the beginning it promised to be a wonderful day. I even got to connect with my darling friend, Chicagonista and NY Metropolista founder, MJ Tam.

We started with a tour of the design and creative area of the warehouse. Some interesting things I learned here was that they design the packaging themselves, even for big brands like Godiva, and the placing of the logo and name are carefully thought out for placement of item in basket; designers travel to various events and venues, like fashion shows and other areas where they can not only learn and hear about the latest colors, fabrics and trends, but also where they can garner inspiration that they than bring back to Chicago to implement in the creations of the many beautiful products they sell.

The warehouse was an amazing display of color, details, treats, ribbons, and fabrics. It takes months upon months to finalize the concept of a basket. Definitely not something that is simply thrown together for a cheap, brief thrill, but rather a well-thought out, carefully researched and studied craft that is seen and felt, and tasted in the final product.

After tasting fabulous cheeses and chocolates I could’ve sworn that I was done for the day. I really loved hearing the stories behind each product. Like with the cheeses for example: there was something about how one of the cheeses requires that the cow be milked before dawn everyday.  Ok, well, me retelling the story-not so interesting-however, if you had been where I was that day and had you heard the story told by an expert like I did, as I savored on a piece of cheese, I can promise you that that piece of cheese, right than and there would have tasted like the best piece of cheese you have ever had in your life!

We continued our tour and met some very dedicated, passionate members of DesignPac. Jeff Burkard stayed with us the entire day, which I thought was so lovely, but also because he himself is so knowledgeable and passionate about not only his company but the industry that he has been in for more than 13 years. 1-800-Flowers has been in the gift basket business for about 30 years, but even Jim McCann admits that their union with DesignPac has taken them to another level in gift giving.  And I agree.

We had an opportunity to make our own baskets.  I will say this, it is not as easy as you may think.  Granted, as a Tom Boy, I lack the crafty gene 100%, but it was still fun to do.  Especially since as I slowly put my basket together I thought about the person to whom I would gift it, my neighbor Cookie.  She is so darling, and so awesome to my family. I had the inspiration, but not the skill, and definitely not at the level that these designers do. Nevertheless, the ending product (with lots of help) turned out pretty awesome, don’t you think?

I had a great time going behind the scenes of one of my favorite gift giving companies. Learning about all the work, attention, and time that goes into these gift baskets makes me feel that much more happier in giving them to someone I care about.

With the holidays coming up (though that never needs to be a reason) my hope is that someone you care about will have the opportunity to enjoy one of these gifts as well on your behalf.  This is why from now until January 31, 2010 NYCityMama is offering readers a chance to save 15% on any order thru 1-800-Flowers and 1-800-Baskets when they use the code NYCITYMAMA15.

Would love to hear your feedback and about what has been the best gift you have ever received, or better yet, given.

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Tags: Chris McCann, DesignPac, Gift Ideas, holiday gift baskets, Jim McCann
Posted in Adventures, Cool Finds | 3 Comments »