RedEnvelope

Gourmet Gingerbread Houses

When sweets can double as holiday decor I'd say it's a win-win situation. Enjoy its festive appearance and then dive in to taste its delicious goodness. Commonly included in many homes during the holidays, the gingerbread house doesn't just have to be a haphazard creation the kids helped put together (although those are adorable too). These confectionery structures can be as gourmet and picturesque as the rest of the Christmas party. I found eight possible creations to tempt you but you may live near a local candy shop or bakery that has something even better. Don't forget the optional personalization to truly make it your own.

Williams-Sonoma's Gourmet Gingerbread Manor (pictured above for $249.95) or Personalized Gingerbread House ($56)
Red Envelope's Personalized Gingerbread House (on sale for $49.95)
Stonewall Kitchen's Fully Assembled or DIY Gingerbread House ($54.95 and $29.95 respectively)
Figis' Gingerbread Village ($26.99)
The Wisconsin Cheeseman's Fully Assembled Large Gingerbread House($44.99)
A Bountiful Harvest's Handmade Edible Enchanted Mansion ($349.95)
Sur La Table's Wilton® Ultimate GIngerbread House Kit ($40)

Gallery: Gourmet Gingerbread Houses

Williams-Sonoma Personalized Gingerbread House

Red Envelope Personalized Gingerbread House

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Tags: bountiful harvest, BountifulHarvest, figis, gingerbread chalet, gingerbread house, gingerbread manor, GingerbreadChalet, GingerbreadHouse, GingerbreadManor, red envelope, RedEnvelope, stonewall kitchen, StonewallKitchen, sur la table, SurLaTable, williams sonoma, WilliamsSonoma, wisconsin cheeseman, WisconsinCheeseman

RedEnvelope Files for Bankruptcy, Gets New Buyer

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Popular catalog and online gift company RedEnvelope has fallen on hard times. On Friday the company reported that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 17 with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco. The company will also be sold. They have entered into an agreement with Creative Catalogs Corp. to purchase RedEnvelope's assets and assume some of the company's liabilities for $5.7 million. RedEnvelope has also gotten a $4.5 million debtor-in-possession credit facility and loan from Creative Catalogs and Granite Creek FlexCap so that the business does not have to shut down during the transition process (guess that explains why their catalog is still showing up in my mailbox). The final sale price will be will be less the outstanding amount from that loan.

The nine-year-old company was one of the few e-commerce sites with a successful catalog business but the recent tough economic climate and the bank's stricter lending policy for retailers found the company in trouble this year. The company catered mainly to the middle class and upper middle class brackets which are now cutting back on spending due to economic concerns. Order shipments had dropped 20% during the third quarter compared to last year. DM News says that in February, RedEnvelope reported a loss of $4.3 million versus a net income of $5.3 million during the same time last year. The RedEnvelope sale must be completed by May 30 and during that time RedEnvelope can accept other bids.

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Tags: bankruptcy, catalog, gifts, red envelope, redenvelope, retailer

Ten Reasons I Love Mom Truffles, Mother's Day Gift of the Day

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Looking for a great gift for your mom? This box of chocolate truffles from Red Envelope might be the ultimate Mother's Day gift because it is candy and a card all in one. Inside the large gift box that bears the message "Mom: Ten reasons I love you," there are ten small boxes that are inscribed with a different reason to love mom. The messages include "You let me believe ketchup is a vegetable" and "You give great hugs." The best part - assuming that your mom is a chocolate fan - is that each box contains a delicious chocolate truffle topped with a bit of edible, 24-karat gold. Price: $32.