Betsy Drake

 

Betsy Drake Interiors is an exclusive line of home décor featuring the original artwork and designs of North Carolina artists Betsy Drake and R.B. Hamilton.

 

The line includes indoor/outdoor pillows, wall art, guest towels and tableware - all adorned with the artists' realistic renderings of sealife, wildlife, florals and scenes inspired by their travels.

 

The large indoor/outdoor pillows pictured above are versatile, equally at home enhancing your interior or adding life to an outdoor setting.  They are constructed of printed outdoor, fade-resistant fabric for years of wear and enjoyment.

 

 

Floor mats are made of synthetic washable material that will stand up to years of wear with a non-slip rubber backing.  They are now available in 2 sizes - the original 18" x 26" and the new larger 30" x 50" size.

 

Guest towels are machine washable and wrinkle-free, measuring approximately 20" x 20".

 

All Betsy Drake items are made with pride in the USA.  Orders of $1000 or more are always shipped freight free.

 

Bentley - Monogram Drinkware

There is a hidden gem called Bentley Drinkware that I discovered when I joined the Werner Frank showroom earlier this year.

Bentley products are made in the USA of durable plastic that is BPA-free and dishwasher safe.  All items are guaranteed for life and will not break, crack or cloud.

Tumblers and serveware are available in 21 colors and can be ordered either as blanks or the more popular monogrammed option.  You can choose from 20 colors of monogram in either Script (pictured above) or the more masculine Block (shown below).

Embellish the best-selling 20-oz tumbler with a bit of ribbon (not included) and you have a girlfriend/teacher/hostess/groomsmen/volunteer gift for $7.95.  That's a functional, personalized gift for under $10. 

 

Granted, it isn't Tervis - but it also isn't $16.99 and in the big box stores.

 

It's easy to get started with Bentley's prepacks.  One set of 20-oz tumblers (one each of the 18 top-selling letters) is only $49.50.  You'll want more than one, of course.

 

Start with 3 prepacks of the 20-oz tumbler (your choice of colors & fonts).  Then add some additional units in the most popular initials.  Round out your presentation with a couple of pitchers and trays.  With only a $200-$250 investment, you're now in business! 

 

As one of my fellow sales reps says - STOCK IT WELL & PUT A BOW ON IT!

 

About Me 2.0

Since my last "about me" post was written several years ago, I thought it best to replace it with a more current post.

2017 marks my 20th year in the gift industry!

My career goal when I went to college (Virginia Tech, thanks for asking) was to enter the management training program with Thalhimers department store in Richmond, Virginia, and work my way up.  My college years coincided with the era of department store merging and rebranding, however, which caused a retail earthquake that led me down a different path.

My wholesale career began in 1997 as the showroom manager for a rep group in Los Angeles.  Before that my background was in retail management for Macy's, Timberland and Bloomingdale's.

After several years and some invaluable mentoring from an industry veteran, I went out on the road full-time for that same group.  My territory was Palm Springs and Las Vegas.  Good times!

Then I scratched the itch to return to my hometown in Virginia and open my own gift shop.  In 2005, I went out on the road again to work an entirely new territory with entirely new customers.

My business now is a combination of companies I represent on my own and companies I represent through Knack.

The industry has changed tremendously over the years.  Some changes are sad (as when prominent retailers and suppliers go away) and some are exciting (new technology and social media).

Even when the economy is robust, business is challenging.  Some days are exhilarating. Some days are frustrating.  But it's never boring and if you're like me you wouldn't have it any other way.