Adam Glassman from Oprah Magazine and Tory Johnson from GMA talk about some of their favorite finds at this summer's Atlanta Market.

New York – No Christmas list has ever obtained fame like Oprah’s Favorite Things. And though Oprah is a household name and her list is just as treasured, not as many people know that Adam Glassman, editor of O and past Gift for Life honoree, is the man on the ground, searching for new items to bring before her.

And where does he go to find all of those wonderful gifts? The markets! During the summer Atlanta Market, which ran July 12-18, Adam Glassman and Tory Johnson, who presents Good Morning America’s “Deals and Steals” segment, shared some of their favorite finds from the market. During the session, Glassman shared that typcially roughly 50% of the gifts considered for the legendary list comes from Atlanta Market.

Here are a few of their favorite things.

Peepers readers are recurring favorites on Oprah’s Favorite Things.

According to Glassman, Oprah actually plans her outfits around her glasses, so she’s always on the lookout for fashionable readers. “Oprah chooses her glasses first and then matches her outfit to the glasses,” he said during his presentation at Atlanta Market. Peepers has made a few appearances on Oprah’s Favorite Things because “they look great; they’re affordable and they have a lot of options,” Glassman said. The company’s Showbiz and Stardust Readers made the 2021 list: “As you may know, I treat glasses as a fun accessory, and both Gayle and I went gaga for these readers,” Oprah Winfrey wrote on the list. “The shapes are just fantastic, and they’re far from frumpy. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the blue pair may be the winner.”

Peepers even worked with Oprah to design a new pair of glasses with larger frames at her request, which she loved and they eventually took to market.

Oventure Big O Key Ring and silicone pouch

Based in Dallas, Texas and run by an all-female team, Oventure creates the perfect accessory for busy women: The Big O Key Ring, which makes carrying keys and a wallet a breeze. The fashionable ring wears like a bracelet, while also freeing up your hands. “It also helps that it’s literally a big ‘O,'” Glassman said about what helps to make it a favorite thing of Oprah’s.

Savannah Bee Company’s Book of Honey literally sits on a pedestal, while Glassman discusses some of the top “Oprah’s Favorite Things” that were found at Atlanta Market.

Savannah Bee Company’s delicious honey straws is what first caught Oprah’s attention years ago, according to Glassman, but it was the Georgia-based manufacturer’s Book of Honey that made the list in 2021 due to its beautiful packaging. Glassman has commented on several occasions about the importance of packaging in order to make the list. “Oprah says, ‘God is in the details,'” he said during last week’s presentation. “If the packaging is ugly, she doesn’t want to give it.”

This ready-to-gift box earned her favor for that very reason: “I wouldn’t even wrap it — just hand it over as is,” Oprah wrote on the 2021 list. “And what’s inside is just as good. I’ve long been a fan of Savannah Bee Company honey.” The set comes with six jars, including tupelo, orange blossom and black sage honey varieties.

Honey and Hank state-themed tea towels

The gift industry knows just how popular local-pride gifts are, and Honey + Hank’s tea towels are bound to please. Not only do they sport state pride, but the designs are clever and creative. At first glance, the pattern looks purely decorative, but a closer look reveals that the design is actually made up of tiny state-shaped “dots.” Both Glassman and Johnson raved about the look of the kitchen towels and their playful patterns. “Our viewers love something personalized,” Johnson added while showing off Honey + Hank’s creative state-themed designs. The towels are great conversation starters, too.

Listed on Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2015, 2020 and 2021, Tourance creates incredibly soft faux-fur scarfs that Oprah and Glassman both love. “It’s almost impossible to find faux fur that doesn’t look like a muppet or bath mat,” Glassman joked while showing off the scarf’s quality. The company makes the scarfs in San Francisco, Calif. and sources premium faux fur and faux pelt textures like Chinchilla, Rabbit and Snow Leopard.

Other favorite things that Glassman pointed out during the presentation include a soft and cozy throw by Pavilion Gift, a Corkcicle insulated tumbler that holds a full bottle of wine, silicone Wonder Plates with sassy sayings by Bella Tuno, throw pillows by Little Birdie Home, Pudus socks and Annie B’s Caramels. The duo also shared a few tips on what it takes to get noticed by Oprah’s Favorite Things and GMA’s Deals & Steals segment, including the manufacture’s ability to “always deliver what they promise,” and to ensure the packaging is as giftable as possible.

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Lenise Willis is the editor in chief of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, which has been covering the gift, stationery and home industry since 1917. For more than five years, she's covered retail best practices alongside product trends and ecommerce tips. Through market events, live panels and articles, she leads conversations concerning consumer research, trending gifts in a wide variety of categories and changes in the gift industry at large.

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