After attending one of her kids’ school picnics, Cara Frank came up with the idea for Put A Lid On It, which she launched in February 2023, just in time for the AGHA Sydney Gift Fair.
“We spent all morning decorating cookies only to put them into a smelly, old, slightly stained, plastic container,” she explains.
“It took me an hour to find the lid and it just killed the look of my cookies and I didn’t feel like it did it justice. Then I went online and I tried to find a container that looked beautiful enough that I could travel with and put straight onto a table without transferring it to a serving dish.
“I just couldn’t find one that was big enough, so I decided to create one on the condition that it was made in Australia and made of recycled plastic and we have achieved both.”
Put a lid on it creates practical, fun and sustainable servingware with a lid for every occasion. Its serving bowls, platters and utensils are one-of-a-kind and made in Australia with 100 per cent recycled plastic.
Frank also exhibited at the recent AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair, where she took out the best new exhibitor award.
“We put a lot of effort and time into the overall look of our stand and we wanted people to feel like they were stepping into our kitchen and that’s why we also had a few cookbooks on display and some jars full of food.
“We lit up everything from behind, so people don’t need to strain their eyes to see it and we have gone for ‘less is more’ and I really think it worked.”
Buyers of Put A Lid On It products include gift stores in regional parts of Australia, florists, bookstores, gift box and hamper businesses, and kitchen supply stores.
“People love the look of the products, the practicality and the fact that they are made in Australia is a real selling point as well as that they are sustainable.”
Given the fact that colour was a significant feature at this year’s Melbourne gift fairs, it is surprising to hear that black was the most popular colour for Put A Lid On It.
“Interestingly black is the most popular, followed by sand, teal, pink and then the blue. However, some stores sell out of all their colours first and no one buys the neutrals, while other stores sell out of all the neutral and no one buys the colours, so we do recommend getting one of each bowl and testing the market.”
Put A Lid On It has plenty of new products in the works as the versatility of recycled plastic is endless, adds Frank.
“We are working on our rectangle container with a fitted lid, it’s got a flatter base, so it is more suitable for cupcakes, muffins, slices, etc. The lid of course can also be used as a platter.
“We also got a lot of feedback on a smaller size so we are coming out with a mini bowl with a lid, which can be more used for dips and chips, etc.”
