With most of the mid-Atlantic is socked in with record snow and much of the country is still mired in winter, we best begin with something to warm the soul. At Hayneedle, chicken soup doesn’t quite cut it, which is why we combat the chill mid-winter with our annual chili contest. This year’s winners, Brad Cundall (traditional), Sandra Brennan (non-traditional), and Jim Engebretson (spicy), tossed a total of over two dozen different ingredients into their chili pots. Other entries showcased ingredients ranging from chocolate to chicken gravy to homebrewed “Audacity of Hops” India Pale Ale. In other words, we don’t just talk variety at Hayneedle, we eat it, too. Congrats, to our winners!

Jim Engebretson, 2010 Spicy Chili Winner

In other news, Hayneedle is also proud to announce the opening of our distribution center in Monroe, OH, located just outside Dayton. We’re currently filling positions at the new distribution center and at our corporate headquarters in Omaha, NE. To view the latest employment opportunities with Hayneedle, check out the Careers tab on hayneedleinc.com.

There’s also the matter of Valentine’s Day to address. Love or loathe this occasion of obligatory romance, it’s hard not to fall for the delicious offerings at GiftBaskets.com: wine baskets, spa treatments, beer and barbecue, coffee and tea, and loads of chocolate, for starters. Gifts like slippers, jewelry boxes, and wine racks are always in good taste, too.

So whether you’re reluctantly shopping for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift or you’re counting the days until you can top pink pillows with doily-wrapped chocolates without arousing suspicions regarding your sanity, look no further than Hayneedle. It’s where you’ll find gifts that say “love” (traditional), “like,” (non-traditional), or “deeply desire” (spicy); like an office chili contest with samples for all, everybody wins.