EXTREMELY RARE Vintage 1983 Apple Picnic Basket Set & Cooler From The 1983 Apple Computer Employee Gift Catalog, "The Apple Collection"

Please scroll all the way down for some cool history! This is an extremely rare, authentic Apple Computer item. The picnic basket/cooler was made by INGRID in Chicago, USA!

The picnic set and cooler (bottom half) are in very good condition for its age. There are a few scratches as shown from normal use, but the exterior and interior remain in very good condition, and both side latches still work perfectly. The set includes 4 plastic forks, 4 plastic spoons, 4 plastic knives, 2 plastic dinner plates, 1 round serving tray, and 3 plastic cups. The set appears to be missing 2 plastic dinner plates, and the tablecloth that came with it. There is possibly more missing as the catalog is hard to read to determine exactly what came with it, but looks like most everything is there.

Based on thorough research, this set was NOT available for sale to the public and was only offered to employees through the 1983 Employee Gift Store Catalog, "The Apple Collection". This picnic set was on page 9 of the 1983 "The Apple Collection", as shown in picture #'s 14-16. These types of items were not released to the public until "The Apple Collection" fully launched to the public in 1986. Please continue scrolling all the way down for some cool history about Apple Computers offering a wide variety of non-computer items, when and why they did it, and the types of products offered. Although it was considered eccentric at the time, the collection has since become a sought-after item for retro collectors. Thank you for looking and God Bless.

This type of merchandise was sold through a series of mail-order catalogs published by Apple Computer in the 1980s and 1990s, known as "The Apple Collection" or "Apple Gift Catalog".

The 1983 "The Apple Collection" catalog featured a variety of Apple-branded merchandise, including:

Kites

T-shirts

Belt buckles

Wall hangings

Other products with the Apple logo, such as carpets and race cars.

Apple sold a wide variety of random, non-computer items like watches, clothing, and accessories through a mail-order program and a dedicated catalog. This initiative began in the early 1980s with an employee gift store and a basic gift catalog, evolving into the full-blown "The Apple Collection" catalog launched in 1986.

Background and Start

Origins: The venture started in the early 1980s as a way to offer Apple-branded merchandise, initially through an employee gift store and basic catalogs.

The Apple Collection (1986): This was the main, widely known push into a full retail line. The comprehensive mail-order catalog featured around 100 items.

Context: The catalog was released in 1986, a period of internal turmoil at Apple after co-founder Steve Jobs had left the company.

Kind of Items Sold

The collection was very "80s" in style and featured a diverse, often eccentric, range of products with the classic rainbow Apple logo:

Apparel: This included oversized sweatshirts, polo shirts with popped collars, t-shirts, jackets (including poly-cotton vests and bomber jackets), neon tracksuits, and hats.

Accessories: Items like umbrellas, beach towels, laser-etched beer mugs, decanters, jewelry (like pins and earrings), and a $35 "Apple Watch" were all available.

Lifestyle Goods: The catalog even included highly unusual items such as a windsurfing board with an Apple-branded sail, a toy truck, and possibly picnic baskets, though specific mention of picnic baskets is not as prevalent as other items like mugs or towels.

Collaborations: Apple even partnered with reputable brands like Patagonia and The North Face for some of the higher-quality apparel pieces.

Why They Did It

Apple pursued this venture for several reasons:

Brand Loyalty and Marketing: The main goal was likely to build brand loyalty and allow customers to incorporate the Apple brand into their everyday lifestyle, effectively marketing the company beyond just its computers.

Brand Expansion: The company was exploring ways to expand its brand identity and reach a broader audience during a time of intense competition from companies like IBM and Microsoft.

Experimental Spirit: It reflected a period of experimentation within the company after the departure of Steve Jobs.

The line was short-lived and eventually disappeared by the early 1990s. Steve Jobs reportedly disliked the idea, believing it diverted from Apple's core mission of creating revolutionary technology. Today, these vintage items have become rare collector's items. Thank you for looking and God Bless.