Making Indiana a basket case


By Katie Wampler | Staff writer

Posted: 01/29/05 - 09:32:45 am EST

When someone receives a gift basket from Fishers-based Everything Indiana, they're getting more than a basket of Hoosier-spun goodies n they're getting a taste of state history.

For instance, someone who receives a Hoosier Holiday Basket learns that the hand-made caramels were prepared at Olympian Candies in Richmond, Ind. Greek immigrant James Chagares founded the family-run business in 1909. His grandson, Dimitri, still helps run the business, using the original recipes and techniques.

"That's what makes it, these goofy stories," founder and owner Teresa Downham said. Downham includes the story behind every item stuffed in her gift baskets in a brochure.

It all started when Downham moved with her husband, Joe, from New Jersey to Indiana. The couple grew up in the state n Teresa in Fort Wayne and Joe in Logansport. Both worked at Campbell's Soup headquarters in New Jersey, but wanted to raise their children in the Midwest.

"Our east coast friends teased us so much for moving back here," Teresa Downham said. "But we got back here and were like, ‘they're nuts…' It's so much different from the east coast out here. Moving in was like a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting."

Teresa Downham decided to show her friends what they were missing. She went to the grocery store in search of products unique to Indiana, picking up items like Orville Redenbacher's popcorn and Seyfert's Potato Chips.

"I put them all in a package and wrote a little about the history of each product," she said. "I had a lot of fun with it."

Joe Downham encouraged his wife to turn it a business. With her background in finances n she's a CPA n and his background in marketing, he thought starting the business would be a good way for his wife, a stay-at-home mom, to exercise her abilities.

She agreed. "Sometimes as a stay-at-home mom, you feel like you're losing your skills."

After a couple years of nudging, she agreed, and opened the business last March.

"We knew we would have to carry different things than they sold in grocery stores," Teresa Downham said.

So she began searching. Through the internet and "just nosing around," she amassed dozens of in-state vendors with specialties that often surprised her.

For example, she was surprised to find Tedco, one of the original Gyroscope vendors, in Hagerstown, Ind., or the Sri Lankan man who makes traditional tea from his home in Columbus.

"You meet so many great people and learn so much," she said.

So far, business has been good, and Everything Indiana is developing a loyal clientele.

"I think they're wonderful," repeat customer Stacey Koleszar said. A social worker at Riley Children's Hospital cancer ward, Koleszar often sends gifts and packages. "They're unique products, has a story that comes with it, more than getting a gift basket you're learning about where they came from."

Not only that, but Everything Indiana baskets support Indiana's economy.

"I like to send Indiana products and support Indiana businesses," Koleszar said.

For Fishers resident Denise Lebrock, the basket was a way to say "thank you" Indiana-style.

"I actually had gone to visit a cousin in New York City," she said. "I wanted to send a thank-you gift and went online and looked at all sorts of different idea. I didn't really see anything that was going to be an appropriate gift."

Teresa Downham helped customize a basket for her friend.

"It was really a quick and easy process and it came out looking very thoughtful," Lebrock said.