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his issue we feature our Profiles in Excellence feature, a bi-annual
section that highlights companies of note in the industry. Our profiles
are an excellent lead-up to the upcoming winter trade shows.
Our cover story this issue covers always popular nautical merchandise,
with a focus on lighthouse replicas. Sales of these items are brisk, as
vacationers buy lighthouses to remember ones that they have seen. We also
look at beach shops, which serve both residents and tourists with water essentials
and sundries, and top-end wind chimes, which are besting cheap
imports.
Licensed NASCAR goods are big business, and we offer a story on the status
of NASCAR gifts and souvenirs. And in our Management Section, we
look at retail forecasts for the holidays and how gas prices will impact sales.
We also examine the growth of spending by Hispanics, the organized retail
crime phenomenon, the importance of word of mouth marketing, what
attracts African American customers and understanding shopping modes to
address shoppers’ needs. We also report on a new survey that finds gift giving
is on the rise.
In our Stationery section is a story on do-it-at-home greeting cards. And
we feature a helpful listing of United States and Canadian holidays from
2006 to 2010 that can aid you in your merchandise planning.
This issue’s Jewelry Section examines fall and winter jewelry trends, the
popularity of sterling silver jewelry, metal and gem jewelry and the lead crystal
safety issue in California.
Easter is just around the corner, and we present readers with important
dates for the season, a history of Easter traditions, a forecast for the holiday’s
business health and charts on Easter spending.
Also coming up is the fun holiday St. Patrick’s Day. We examine the market
for St. Pat’s goods, reveal the results of a survey on the holiday and look
at buying goods here and in Ireland.
For many gift and tourist stores, gourmet foods are a lucrative business. In
our story “Gourmet Foods Keep Retailers’ Registers Perking With Profits,”
we look at how nearly one-fifth of American adults can be considered gourmet
consumers, and these “foodies” are fueling a $41.2 billion industry,
according to a market research report.
In addition to other informative stories and our regular features, we offer
a column titled “For New Money, Try New Marketing Methods” from our
editor, Tony DeMasi. We hope you enjoy the issue. Please e-mail us at the
address below with your questions, comments and suggestions.
Scott C. Borowsky
President and Executive Editor
SOUVENIRS, GIFTS AND NOVELTIES MAGAZINE
SGNMAG@KANEC.COM
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