The perfect gifts (for those who can afford them!)

The weaker economy has equally affected companies catering to the wealthy. Sales have gone down. Profit margins are a little bit lower.

Here are some companies, however, which have remained very much in business because their customers are willing to pay the price for quality goods and services.

FloraSilk

FloraSilk has become a byword in art botanicals and Christmas décor since it was opened for business in 1993 by Mike Sandoval and Claus Freund. By observing the latest trends in trade fairs like the ones annually held in Paris and Frankfurt, the company has been able to introduce to the local market the latest fads and innovations.

Clients include department stores, flower shops, interior designers and architects.

An hour’s drive from Makati is FloraSilk’s A&P warehouse at Manila Doctors Village Road, Almanza, Las Pinas. Look for the bodega with lots of chaffeur-driven cars parked outside.

Upon entering the place, you see boxes of imported merchandise from China and Europe stored on the left side. In the middle is the sales office where samples are displayed. On the right side is a waiting shed leading to a nearby room called the Christmas Conservatory, where one finds the Christmas tree collection put together by Canadian showroom designer, Susan Bedard.

This ground floor showcase has Christmas trees of different sizes with gold décor, including a collection of slim trees for condominium owners. There are wreaths with antique gold berries and traditional garlands with golden flowers. Clients who prefer modern compositions can opt to have these arranged in classical gilded urns and vases.

On display in the 450-square meter second floor are beautifully crafted artificial tropical and temperate flora (they look so real that you just have to touch them) and, yes, the fabulous Christmas decors.

"The only missing thing in the Christmas collection is the snow. You think you are not in the Philippines at all," said a regular client.

Fuschia, being the color of the season, is boldly combined with metallic colors in the Christmas flowers and foliage made of rich and shimmering fabrics. Trimmings such as the newly introduced India-style collection of glass ornaments come in pastels and jewel shades.

Although FloraSilk sells wholesale, it has reasonably priced items like gilded ceramic silver and gold vases, glass and resin fruit and flower holders that will make nice gifts to individuals. As an added service, the company gives tips to all its customers on what things go well with what item and where to put them.

Occasionally, FloraSilk accepts design commissions. "As much as possible, I do not want to do it since my hands are full, running the company’s day to day operations. Besides, I do not want to take business away from my regular clients. But there are occasions I simply cannot say no to very close friends and their families," said Sandoval, the reluctant interior designer.

Mabolo Flower Gallery/ Terry Selection

The delicious turrones of El Almendro (which has been in business since 1918 in Alicante, Spain) and other Europeans products are marketed by Mabolo Flower Gallery, which is located at the second floor of San Antonio Plaza Arcade in Forbes Park.

"All a corporation has to do is to give its orders and business cards and Mabolo will take care of the rest," said Roslu von Kauffmann, who is in charge of corporate marketing.

This year’s basket offerings range in price from P750 to P5,250. Each basket contains a pot of ready-to-plant flower or tree seedling plus a wide range of European gourmet foods and wines from Terry Selection.

The customized baskets are attractively packaged. For those looking for that extra special gifts, Mabolo has put together baskets that cost P25,000 upwards.

Antonio Garcia, who takes care of packaging and who makes recommendations to clients, brought us to the where the baskets are prepared– a warehouse adjacent to Gourmet Store which was the retail outlet of Terry Selection before it was gutted by fire in the third week of November. Gourmet Store will reopen on Dec. 15 at 2316 Pasong Tamo Ext., Karrivin Plaza, Bldg. B, Unit 2, Makati City.

Terry Selection is a family corporation put up in 1999 by Garcia’s older sister, Soledad, and her husband, Juan Carlos de Terry. A sister company, Worldwide Foods and Wines Inc., imports and wholesales European products which are not available locally.

At Terry Selection, products sold do not use preservatives and additives. These include different kinds of pasta, sauces and condiments, olives and pickled products, jams and biscuits, seafood products, Belgian chocolates and all kinds of coffees, mostly from Spain, France and Italy.

Depending on what the customer wants, basket say, a for wine lovers may include a bottle of vintage wine or champagne with pate de foie gras and caviar (top of the barrel), appropriate wine glasses and porcelain plates. The baskets are supplied by a cooperative group based in Quezon province.

Terry, a chemist who has a doctorate in oenology (the science that deals with spirits, wines and wine making) recommends the various kinds of wines that would be deemed by connoisseurs as a pleasure to give and to receive. Most are very affordable. But for those who want to make a difference, there is the while wine, Chateau Yquem, 1er Grand Cru cl. Sauterne AOC (1994, at P15,972 per bottle of 750 ml). Among the reds, there are: Chateau Margaux, 1st Grand Cru Classe (1997 at P13,582 each), Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 1st Grand Cru cl. Pauillac (1994, at P14,129 each) and the Chateau Latour, 1st Grand Cru cl. Pauillac, the chosen wine of the century (1994, at P14,799 each).

There is now an ongoing 20% discount sale on wines up to Dec. 9.

For those with a sweet tooth, Terry sells marron glace (chestnuts in cognac) from France at P994 a jar. Packed in syrup, the soaked chestnuts sell for P749 (in a jar), and P736 (in a tin can).

St. Luke’s Medical Center

Depending on one’s budget, an executive check-up at St. Luke’s Medical Center costs from P7,755 (plan C1, cardiac check-up, out-patient basis) to P47,795 (plan C, female, cardiac check-up, two nights stay in the presidential suite, cost exclusive of doctors’ professional fee).

Each ECU has been designed to fit the individual’s medical needs. Some of these are:

* comprehensive executive check-up: for patients with no specific ailment or disease;

* cardiac executive check-up: designed for patients either with or suspected of having heart or vascular diseases;

* diabetes profile program: specifically for patients with diabetes or suspected of having diabetes due to family history;

* out-patient executive check-up: similar to an annual physical examination conducted on an out-patient basis;

* total woman care program: designed to meet the special health needs of women, including the menopause care program created for women aged 40 and above; and

* comprehensive geriatric evaluation: for people aged 60 and above.

"We see to it that people who go for ECUs get service beyond medical needs," said assistant executive director for corporate affairs Gella de Castro.

The hospital offers executive business services which include faxing, photocopying and secretarial services. A computer, VHS player or a fax machine are available upon be request.

Oriental Spa

Located at the 18th floor of the Mandarin Hotel, the Oriental Spa has been opened since the middle of this year. About 70% of its clients are hotel guests, who either come to the spa or request for room service, said Fiona McAlister, the Spa consultant with 15 years experience in hotel work.

Patterned after the famous Spa in Bangkok’s Oriental Hotel, everything in Oriental Spa has been imported from Thailand. Before opening, the spa’s 19 lady physical therapists had a month of solid training on Thai massage by three trainors flown in from Bangkok. This was followed by two trainors from France in the use of Thalgo, a French line of marine beauty products used by the spa for its skin care program.

As indicated in its booklet of menu of services, "the spa environment is one of tranquility and relaxation. Please understand and respect the quiet and privacy needs of other guests by lowering your voice and turning off your mobile phone. Enjoy the luxury of silence."

The pampering of guests starts right away with a welcome drink of cold tea with lemon accompanied by a cold towel. A lady attendant hands over to the guest a pair of soft slippers for her to put on.

The individual rooms are all sparkling clean. Waiting inside is a soft terry bathrobe. There is a dresser complete with a hair dryer and brushes, a mini basket to put one’s personal effects.

Setting the mood are piped-in music and scented candles with several potted plants completing the picture. There are individual controls for the air conditioner, lights and music.

The masseuse leaves the room the allow the guest to feel the quiet surrounding and to have a relaxing steam bath before the massage and facial.

At the beginning of the session, the masseuse asks questions regarding one’s health and explains the procedure involved in the chosen treatment. There is the use of essential oils from plants and flowers which last for eight hours. If one wants to have a facial, mashed cucumber with its cooling effect is applied.

No electrical equipment is used in any of the treatments, which include thermal and wrap, aromatic salt glow and micronized marine algae; hand and foot therapy; and a blend of three to four kinds of treatments.

All prices are exclusive of taxes and vary with what the guest wants to have (e.g. P1,500 for an aroma scalp and shoulder massage, P1,750 for a 60-minute royal Thai foot or hand treatment, P9,500 for the sea discovery package which takes at least three hours).

Membership costs P7,000 (this introductory price is good up to December) and valid for one year. The member gets one free massage and a treatment of her choice.

Gift certificates with three months’ validity are available. McAlister said a lot of men get the GCs for their girl friends (particularly those who had a bad hair day), wives, daughters and secretaries.