his is our big resort show issue, and for your convenience we have published
exhibitor lists for both The 43rd Annual Smoky Mountain Gift
Show, Inc.® and The International Gift Exposition in the Smokies®
(IGES).
Resort gift shops present great opportunities for retailers to serve a diverse
demographic. Stocking thoughtfully chosen men’s gifts can lead to a boost in
sales. For the cover story, our contributor spoke with resort gift shop managers
around the country to find out how they handle this category.
Zoo and aquarium buyers and managers cannot go wrong stocking good-selling
name-dropped and name program souvenir merchandise, we report in the
Zoo and Aquarium Section. Also in the section, you can read about T-shirt sales,
the overall best-selling souvenirs for 2008 and the latest new products.
In our College Bookstore section, you can learn about how school spirit drives
apparel sales. Additionally, the Independent College Bookstore Association section
looks at how shops get ready for gamedays and parents’ weekend.
If sports licensed merchandise is an area of interest for you, we have the stories
to keep you informed. In the Minor League Baseball section, matching merchandise
to a new team or team logo is covered. We also profile Pro Image franchised
shops, where customer service for sports fans is given the highest priority.
Jewelry is a favorite souvenir for all types of retailers, and we offer stories on
jewelry for sale at two diverse locations – beach shops and art museums. You can
also read jewelry product news in the section.
Plush and toys can represent a sales flash point for attraction shops. At science
museums, playthings include everything from chemistry kits to gyroscopes. At
theme parks, toys that mirror the setting rate high. Both types of attractions are
covered in this issue.
At Public Lands Partner Stores, wildlife-themed merchandise keeps the merchandise
mix lively, and at botanical gardens, it is relevant cards and stationery
that strike a cord with shoppers, our contributors found.
In our continuing coverage of the move toward green practices and merchandise,
we offer two stories that cover environmentally aware retailing. Mixing conservation
with selling are the shops at Michigan and Delaware state parks, our
writer found. Additionally, green-minded independent retailers are taking environmental
stewardship seriously through product choices and business practices.
We also cover candy and souvenir sales at amusement park and truck and travel
stop stores, inspirational merchandise at hospital gift shops, party stores and
Valentine’s Day, nostalgic signs, nautical gifts, candles and scented merchandise,
and more.
We hope you enjoy this edition. Please contact us with your suggestions, comments
and questions at the e-mail address listed below.
Scott C. Borowsky
President and Executive Editor
SOUVENIRS, GIFTS AND NOVELTIES MAGAZINE
EDITORSGNMAG@KANEC.COM
“TO OPEN A SHOP IS EASY,
TO KEEP IT OPEN IS AN ART.”
– CHINESE PROVERB
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