How do you package gift food items like jams, chutneys, sauces, enfused oils, marinades? In the past I’ve either paid way over the top at a department store or kitchenware store for a few jars and bottles but they always looked more like canning jars than gift jars.
Well, as you sometimes do, I met this wonderful person, Kate Russo, on Facebook who has a big olive business that she and her husband Gino run from their home. As you can see, Kate has an even bigger smile.
They sell a range of olive oils, infused oils, vinegars, balsamic glazes, marinades and a few other things. You can check out their products at OlivesDirect.com.au. When I looked longingly at their chamber vacuum sealer, Kate told me they would source and sell just about anything having to do with food or packaging so when I was ready to buy one to contact her.
Over the years, Kate and Gino kept receiving so many requests for small quantites of jars and bottles from small producers that they decided to sell the jars too. They use these bottles and jars for the products they sell so it’s a winner on both sides.
You won’t find snooty sales people here. You buy what you want and hopefully you’ll come back again for a larger order.
I had a hair appointment starting at 11am and I made an appointment to visit Glass Bottles Direct in Nambour at 2pm, not too far from where I live. So my hair took too long and I was going to be late for my appointment so I left the shop with wet hair and dashed to Nambour. I was NOT a cutie on that day, I can assure you.
Kate met me at the door and was so kind to pretend that I didn’t look like something the cat dragged in. I was in jar heaven and bottle heaven. There is no minimum purchase required and you can buy at the door or you can order from them online.
It was perfect customer service. I spent $50 and came home with heaps of goodies in the top photo.
I’m happily working on new labels for my jars and bottles and I’ll feel so good giving away gifts that really LOOK like gifts and not something with an old jam label on the side. Those are okay for family and friends who are like family but casual friends – I want my gifts to look well… gifty.
For stuff I will keep myself I can buy brand new lids from them and know that my preserving will be safe. Also, they’ve even got those tamper proof seals you can use that cost next to nothing and look so professional. I looked at Kate and said, “So, how do you get them on?” – thinking that there was a special piece of equipment. They do have a specialised machine but Kate uses a hair dryer for small quantities and it works just fine. I didn’t buy any of these but I’m going to, just so people can say, “oh wow, you did that??”
I suppose there are many places around the world that offer small quantity bottles, jars and packaging materials for sale but I hadn’t found one in Australia until recently. I’m thrilled that I got to meet Kate and Gino and I encourage you to visit their Olives Direct and Glass Bottles Direct Facebook pages.
Wait til you see what I’m going to put into those jars and bottles!
Dear Miss Orgasmic Chef,
That is a lovely article, love your site, & thanks for the great local information. It’s fantastic to have our eyes opened to what treasures are around our beautiful neck of the woods, so thanks for sharing. I for one, would much rather buy from small business folk than from conglomerates.
Cheers & love :))
Roni xx
Hi Roni, and welcome! I’d love to get together for coffee one day, please let me know if that’s possible? I agree about buying local but being able to buy just one jar excites me. 🙂
We have wonderful ‘dollar’ stores with charming names like Dollarama and Buck or Two with all sorts of jars, bottles and glasses that can be used for packaging gifts like that so I guess if I was more industrious I’d be all set. 🙂
you are not the only one, I havent seen a place where they sell pretty bottles and jars for canning. Its a great idea, but I feel such a business can only work in a city otherwise its a loss…
I like pretty bottles and jars! =D
Wow! That’s a lot of jars. Finding individual jars here in Toronto is quite a pain.. glad you found some in Australia! Perhaps I’ll fly over for a few.. hehe
Great post! We love to find interesting bottles as well! Enjoy your blog very much.
Lucky you! I can only find places that do minimum purchase of about 50 – that’s a lot of jars for the domestic cook.
I love the jars shaped like bears!
Now you made me wander: what do I put my food into? I think I just decorate the regular jar… Thanks for this post, always interesting to see what is there… 🙂
What great bottles!! So fun!
I do the same thing… my cupboard is filled with all sorts of jars I’m going go use… Love them.
Great that you found a place like that in your neighbourhood.
How fun Maureen! Good thing there’s a big ocean between me and them – I fear I would go crazy as I LOVE stuff like this! I’ll look forward to see your labels and what you fill them with!
Thanks so much for sharing Maureen! I’ve been looking for a good ‘supplier’ for all my gift jars for ages but they’re so expensive.
What I’ve been doing lately is reusing old jars but replacing the lids. Maybe I’ll upgrade to pro jars this Christmas!
You’ll have to drive up to the Sunshine Coast, meet me for lunch, we drive over to Kate and Gino’s and have a quick browse. The prices are awesome.
Thanks for sharing Maureen! I really wish I could just hop over and pick up a few. 🙂
I wish you could too. It would be a huge hop! 🙂
Whoa that is awesome! I wish I could find a place like that here! I feel like I’m always in need of small jars and containers.
I felt like I’d died and gone to jar heaven, Joanne!
It is always neat to find cooking utensils or jars stores where you can browse and take your time to window shop. I found a restaurant supply store here in Columbus a few months ago and just delight waking the aisles. It is like a magnet. I get in the car and it just drives there on it’s own. LOL
It is even better when you become friends with someone like Kate and Gino who has such a store. This looks like a lovely shop staffed by very special people.
If you do not have such a store where you live you can take a Magic Carpet ride on the internet (I love the internet. It is the great leveler.) where I have discovered I can find almost everething my little ‘ole heart needs or desires.
I love this bottle site: http://www.specialtybottle.com/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=canning%20jars
Just no Kate and Gino. 🙁
So looking forward to what Maureen is going to put in her jars. It is making me hungey already. YUM!
You can visit anytime and we’ll head over to Nambour and spend time with Kate and Gino. I’m going to see them at the Maleny Food Show weekend after next. I’ll give them your regards and tell them you’ll be over soon. Wouldn’t that be fun? LOL
I had to chuckle because I have a few jelly jars and syrup bottles stashed in my storage area. Being able to buy in small quantities is a great way to try out the product and sealing procedure to see if it works for you.
I give things away all the time and I really wanted them to look spiffy with a lovely “orgasmic chef” on the label. 🙂
What a great idea. I’m always looking for glass jars. Every time I empty a jar I want so desperately to keep it but usually they end up in the recycling because I have no where to store them. I really must sort something out and change my ways because the jars are valuable – so very useful xx
They are – even for leftovers sometimes. I bought mine for gifts. You know, when you get together with food bloggers, they expect a gift. 🙂
I have a collection of jars… I can’t seem to throw them away, and if I do I always end up wishing I hadn’t 😛
Can’t wait to see the labels and packaging 🙂
Me too 🙂 One will be beetroot.
OMG … I’m so jealous, I could use all of those jars 🙂
Who would have thought you could be small quantities at wholesale prices? I love it!
Oooh props! Aren’t they all so pretty and it makes me wish I jarred or canned! Very cool place to visit!
Out of all the food writers I know, I would assume that you would “put up” jars of heaps of things.
Terrific idea! I’ve seen sources of these in the past, but really wasn’t in the market at that time so I’ve forgotten all about them. I should go looking, if for no other reason just to finally bring some order to my spice/herb/condiment assortment – I tend to buy in bulk, and I’ve got bags of stuff all over the place – not the best storage conditions. Thanks!
Bet my pantry looks just like yours then. I need someone to keep mine organized 🙂
As my husband would tell you, I’m a jar fanatic! I always give kitchen gifts during the holidays so I keep an eye out for unique jars. It’s always good to find another source.
I can’t wait to see what you put in those jars 🙂 We use them for seeds and nuts and grains a lot. Very nice post 🙂
I vacuum seal my seeds, nuts, etc in canning jars. I don’t have a cavity vacuum sealer.. they’re around $3000 here and that’s outta my budget. So I use the jar top attachment.
How interesting! How are you finding the Thermomix?
Did you notice the prices, Lizzy? They even ship. to Canberra too 🙂
I LOVE my Thermomix. I have my 2nd jug now and the only thing I don’t have is the big silicone mat. We’ve had a huge turnover in TM staff up here so I’m sort of in limbo as to who to contact.
oh this post speaks to my heart! I love my bottles and jars and wish I had more and more and more!
Don’t you just love it when you can support a family-run business, while making yourself very, very happy! Can’t wait to see what ends up in those “gifty” jars.
I know exactly what you mean but seriously.. if you look at the prices on their jars, it’s more than “just supporting locals”. She sells them at wholesale prices even if you want one jar.
I am glad that I am not the only one that save all the jars and bottles…I have stored so many of them that I had to find a place in the garage…I am glad that you have a place with lots of selections 🙂
Hope you are enjoying your week Maureen!
My week is going brilliantly, Juliana and I hope yours is too. I do save jars because it’s so easy but when I want to give them as gifts, half a label on the side isn’t impressive. 🙂
I can’t wait to see what you make Maureen! I just made an order for bottles, not from here but good to know that I can get some here too 🙂
There are always a great entrepreneur who sees what’s missing and start a business! This is wonderful. I’ve only see similar kind jars and bottles, but having different kinds do encourage people to enjoy making more homemade stuff!