When Robin Raker Sinclair was eight years old, she hauled a card table, an ice bucket, and a pitcher of Kool-Aid to the curbside and opened a lemonade stand. Like many children, she charged 25 cents a cup. But, unlike most children, Robin actually made money doing this.

“Three hundred homes were being built in our neighborhood,” explained Robin, “so I sold lemonade to the construction workers and made five to ten dollars a day.”

Then her dad gave her another idea. He suggested that after 5 o’clock, Robin go to the construction sites to collect the empty coke bottles. After all, they were worth ten cents each. This worked great— adding another $4 a day to her income—until the neighbor kids caught on. Then, they started picking up the bottles.

Robin didn’t cry or complain. Instead, she developed customer loyalty.

“I went to the construction sites,” said Robin proudly, “and shook hands with the workers and introduced myself. I explained to them what I was trying to do. They started hiding the bottles. Then, at the end of the day, they would stop by my lemonade stand and tell me where I could find them.”

This lasted until Robin was 12 and the 300th home was completed. Then, from ages 12-18, Robin did babysitting. Robin was always careful to save her money, but she also loved to give personalized thank you gifts to her parents.

“I never gave them just one item,” Robin said cheerily. “I would give them a cross-stitched pillow that I designed myself along with some candy and some trinkets that they liked. I tied it all up with colorful ribbons.”

So it’s no surprise that when it came time to go to college, Robin attended UNC-Charlotte and majored in business management, marketing and advertising. After completing an internship at Hickory Farms and UPS, Robin had all the tools necessary to create and deliver personalized gift baskets so that other people could say “thank you” in their own special way. Thus was born Baskets & Beyond in 1997.

At the same time, another entrepreneur—Elaine Talley was busy living her dream. As a talented singer and dancer, Elaine loved the limelight and the audiences loved her. She crisscrossed the US performing until she met the love of her life—Billy Summers. He proposed, she accepted, and then something completely unexpected happened.

“It was like I bloomed,” said Elaine Talley Summers in amazement. “Suddenly I was interested in homemaking.”

Most of all, Elaine found herself interested in baking bread. And, just like she formerly embellished popular songs to please the crowds, Elaine nurtured her recipes until she had Slices of Heaven popping right out of her oven.

Then, in November 2002, Robin and Elaine met—quite by accident—at the Holiday Market at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Elaine, a first time exhibitor, brought 600 loaves of her prize-winning bread and quickly sold out. Robin, a seasoned exhibitor, brought plenty of prize-winning baskets and replenished her supply when she sold out.

Thankfully, a friend gave Robin a loaf of Elaine’s bread, while it was yet to be had.

“Normally,” confessed Robin, “I’m not a big bread eater. But when I tasted this, it was amazing. I kept eating it all weekend long.”

Two weeks later, Robin called the telephone number on the Slices of Heaven label. She wanted Slices of Heaven to be a regular feature in her gourmet goodies at Baskets & Beyond. After sorting out the details, Elaine realized that she would be happiest being back in the limelight directly selling her bread at festivals and exhibitions, while leaving the business details to Robin. So, Robin and her husband purchased what is now named Elaine’s Slices of Heaven and Elaine heads the sales team.

This creates a perfect opportunity for Kernersville and the Triad community to find the most delicious personalized thank-you gifts for their clients and families. One such gift-giver is Amy Ketterman, relationship specialist, at Got You Floored in Greensboro.

“We send our customers gift baskets from Baskets & Beyond because our customers love it and it’s cost effective,” Amy shared.

Each basket includes a loaf of Chocolate Peanut Butter Fantasy Bread—Amy’s favorite—and a thank-you note that reads: We enjoyed flooring you!

Best of all, a gift basket is something clients remember for a long time, as they keep going back for the goodies until the whole basket is empty.

Pet sitter Rena Walker, owner of 4 Paws Nanny, also looks for meaningful ways to thank her clients. While she sends a variety of gifts, Rena noted, “Elaine’s Slices of Heaven is absolutely the tastiest gift I’ve ever given.”

Rena’s favorite flavors—hence the ones her clients receive—are cinnamon walnut (the #1 selling bread) and chocolate raspmatazz. Rena’s clients are so thrilled that Rena now has Baskets & Beyond as a line in her monthly budget.

Chris Collins, owner of Nails by Chris, in Kernersville, sends Baskets & Beyond to California, where her parents retired.

“My parents have everything they need,” Chris commented, “so I send them the “taste of home.” It is just like the South has come in the mail and is delivered to their door step. It’s not just the bread. Robin adds in all kinds of gourmet treats, candles, and bath salts. She knows what they like.”

Apparently, a lot of people like these baskets. According to Robin, most of her new sales come from people who’ve just devoured a delicious thank you package. In fact, in December, happy customers bought 10,000 loaves of bread and 3,000 gift baskets from Baskets & Beyond.

Interestingly, 60% of the gifts were purchased at the website www. basketsandbeyond.com. For local orders, Baskets & Beyond delivers right to the doorstep. This is especially appreciated for early morning meetings when the boss says “thank you for being here” by serving a fresh bread and fruit tray.

And of course, there is also the option of going right into the curbside store. Robin set up her business in the prettiest neighborhood in Kernersville— in the wonderfully restored Historic Downtown on Main Street between Dance Unlimited and Richard Hedgecock Framing Studio.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Robin said with a smile, “than being right here in Kernersville helping people build a custom gift basket for the people that they’re thankful to have in their lives.”

Patty Jo Sawvel is an author and freelance writer in Kernersville. Contact her at pjsawvel@gmail.com