Design Competition Categories
Basket Connection 2008, Atlanta

Click Here for info on the Show Me Your Creativity Category

(See Bottom of Page for Hotel Package Receiving Charges)

Competition at our show is a great lesson in creating designs that sell! The competition for the Basket Connection - Atlanta offers you the ability to showcase your creativity at several different levels. This show will offer a wealth of education on pricing for profit - as the competition designs on display will feature the best selling ideas that fit the price ranges of $35 - $300.

Great prizes will be handed out for the first, second and third place winners of each category listed below. But it doesn't stop there! Each category has been carefully set up to feature specific price ranges and themes that are marketable in the business world. We have carefully selected categories that will fit into our 2008-2009 editorial coverage in Rave Reviews Magazine! This is a great opportunity for you to get some well deserved publicity for your business by being featured in our national magazine!

You do not have to pre-qualifiy to enter the competition. Every registered attendee is eligible! Just register for the classes and get those creative minds going!

First, Second and Third Place winners of last year's competition categories are eligible for the 2008 "Designer of the Year" Category. They may choose between entering Designer of the Year or entering the other categories listed below, but may not do both. Note: If 2007 winners decide to enter Designer of the Year, they may still participate in Show Me Your Creativity.

To level the playing field, designs must be priced at the full retail value shown for each category.

I. "The Administrative Assistant"
It's crunch time! Companies want to buy gifts for Administrative Professionals Day, but times are tight and so is their budget! Create a great design praising the "Administrative Assistant". Must be suitable for either male OR female recipients. The price range is $35 Retail. This design is for all those times when you have to produce a million dollar look on a shoestring budget - and the gifts are going to both males and females!

Design should have a retail value of no more, no less than $35.
Note: Wholesale Cost must not exceed $14. This is to include the container, enhancements, filler, products, ribbon, etc.
Maximum measurements must not exceed 15 inches wide by 20 inches tall.
No Cellophane or Shrinkwrap, except cello fan may be added.
Use anything for the container.
This must be a design that could actually sell.
Theme - Administrative Professionals .

II. "What's The Occasion?"
You get to decide! - Baby, Birthday or Get Well! The price is $50 Retail. This one's for those daily occasions that corporations choose to recognize - only this time, they want something other than a traditional basket! There will be one winner for first, second and third place. But in this particular category - you have three chances to win - so up your game and enter all three themes! (only once per theme.)

Design should have a retail value of no more, no less than $50.
Note: Wholesale cost must not exceed $20. This is to include the container, enhancements, filler, products, ribbon, etc.
Maximum measurements must not exceed 18 inches wide by 24 inches tall.
Must include creative use of ribbon.
No Cellophane or Shrinkwrap, except cello fan may be added.
Container is anything but the traditional basket. (This means it could be a theme shaped basket, box or any other container suitable for these themes-just not a regular basket.)
This must be a design that could actually sell.
Theme - Baby, Birthday, Get Well!

III. "Brand It"
Create a corporate promotional design utilizing at least three promotional products given to you by the customer to include in their design. One of the three items must be the old, traditional standby - a mug!

Design should have a retail value of no more, no less than $75.
Note: Your product cost must not exceed $30. This is to include the container, enhancements, filler, products, ribbon, etc. However, the three promotional products can be outside your cost of $30.
Maximum measurements must not exceed 24 inches wide by 30 inches tall.
No Cellophane or Shrinkwrap, except cello fan may be added.
Use anything for the container. It may be a one of a kind design that you would not carry on a regular basis. The container can be one of the three promotional items.
Theme - Show My Brand!

IV. "All Out Fall Designs"
From Halloween to Thanksgiving, give us a design that customers will "Fall" for! Selling this idea can be your ticket to a balanced holiday season of early orders where you move confirmed accounts out of the way before the avalanche really hits! Show us designs that could be used by corporations to thank their customers ahead of the usual holiday rush!

Design should have a retail value of no more, no less than $100.
Note: Wholesale cost must not exceed $40. This is to include the container, enhancements, filler, products, ribbon, etc.
Maximum measurements must not exceed 24 inches wide by 36 inches tall.
No Cellophane or Shrinkwrap, except cello fan may be added.
Container - Designer's Choice
This competition is to showcase your talents as a designer. It may be a one of a kind design that you would not carry on a regular basis.
Theme - Halloween or Thanksgiving

V. "The Wow Factor!"
America still loves the Extravagant Design! Consider that your customer has pulled out all the stops - your job is to assist them in making a great impression! This design can be themed for the Holidays or for a special event.

This is one of those fun categories, where price won't limit your creativity! Choose any container and let your imagination go wild!

The design should be creative, dramatic, and especially upscale!

Design should have a retail value of no more, no less than $300.
Note: Wholesale cost must not exceed $120. This is to include the container, enhancements, filler, products, ribbon, etc.
Maximum measurements must not exceed 36 inches wide by 48 inches tall.
This must be a design that could actually sell.
No cellophane or shrinkwrap, except cello fan may be added.
Use a unique basket or any other container.
Theme - Holiday (Christmas Season) or Any Special Event

Click Here To Open The Competition Entry Form (Word)
(Our form has been formated for your convenience. Open it in Word and type in your information.
Print it and bring it to the show with your entry.)

Click Here (if you do not have Word) To Open The Competition Entry Form as a (pdf) file.

General Design Competition Rules and Regulations

Eligibility Requirements: You must be a fully registered attendee of Basket Connection 2008.

There are five design categories. You may enter all of them. You are limited to one design per category, with the exception of "What's The Occasion". You may enter that category three times if you wish - once for birthday, once for get well, and once for baby.
Designs should be displayed without use of cellophane or shrinkwrap, unless otherwise indicated. Cellophane fans are permitted.
Designs that cannot be moved with ease will be disqualified. The entire entry must be self contained, i.e., nothing may be placed along side the design. Design must be stable enough so that it can be picked up and moved without affecting the integrity of the design. No one will be allowed into the competition room until after all designs are received and placed by Show Staff.
Designs that exceed wholesale/retail price requirements shown below will be disqualified.
Designs that do not meet the judging criteria will be disqualified.
Rave Reviews! Basket Connection, Inc. reserves the right to photograph and publish any entry in Rave Reviews! Magazine or future show promotional materials. Designs may not be published in any other publication(s) without written permission from Rave Reviews! Basket Connection.
Entry into the design competition is the sole responsibility of the participant. Neither Rave Reviews! Basket Connection, Cherie Reagor nor the Hilton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia are liable for loss, theft or damage to any design entry or items associated with any design entry.
Designs will be judged using the criteria published for the competition.
You may enter your designs during either of the following time frames: From 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2008 or from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 8th. Entries will not be accepted after 8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 8th.
Judges may require proof of purchase for any supplies with questionable prices.
Staff of Basket Connection 2008 may not enter the design competition. Faculty of Basket Connection Atlanta 2008 may not enter the five design competition categories listed here, but may enter the Show Me Your Creativity Category and the Designer of the Year Category if prequalified from the 2007 show.
Entry should be an original design created by the participant only.
Since freight charges vary so much across the country, for purposes of competition, the entries will be judged on the actual wholesale catalog price of the products. For example, on the $35 "The Administrative Assistant" design, you may have a total of $14 in actual wholesale product cost. Do not include freight charges.
Designs using participant's business card, company name or any identifying product will be disqualified.
Design supply sheet for each entry must be typed and include all product sources (name of product, supplier and supplier's phone number) and wholesale catalog prices. This means the actual wholesaler's catalog price. No discounts or sale prices. All products used in your competition entry must be available to be purchased wholesale. While you may have to purchase one or two items at retail, due to supplier lead times, you must indicate a wholesale supplier/price where this product could be purchased.
Enhancements should cost no more than 5% of the retail cost of the design.
Designs must fall within the size and price guidelines of each category or they will be disqualified.
Width means the measurement of the finished design from left to right, including enhancements such as flowers, ribbon or net tulle. Height means the measurement from the bottom of the container to the top of the enhancements/and or fan.

Specific Design Judging Criteria

Design should make a creative statement, leaving the viewer with a dramatic first impression.
Mechanics should be hidden.
Design should demonstrate attention to detail.
Design should convey consistent use of color and theme throughout.
Design should show effective use of container and enhancements.
Design should use an interesting assortment of product shapes and sizes.
Design should show a balance of enhancements to size of container.
Entries must be picked up by Sunday, August 10, 2008 between noon and 2:00 p.m. Rave Reviews! Basket Connection Trade Shows and the Hilton Hotel Atlanta are not responsible for designs not picked up by that time.

We encourage you to bring your camera and take pictures of any and all of the design entries. Pictures are for your personal information only and may not be reproduced in any format, whether print or web based.

Rave Reviews! Magazine has first publication rights on all designs entered into this competition. You are prohibited from publishing your design entries in any other print or web based publications without the express written permission of Rave Reviews! Magazine. Your entrance into this competition constitutes your understanding of all competition rules, including publication rights.

Ship To:

Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303

Mark Boxes CLEARLY:
Basket Connection Competition Entry
Hold for Guest: (your name)

You should ship your design to arrive between August 4 and 6.

Note: Hotel Policy For Shipping/Receiving Packages:

$.50 per pound. **Charges apply for both incoming & outgoing shipments.