he fall months are a time for retrospection as the days grow shorter, the summer season
fades away, and the winter holidays approach. It is also the time for major gift trade
shows, such as the Gatlinburg and Sevierville, Tenn., events, and for strategizing to
improve your business. This issue we offer a wealth of resources on getting ahead in
business from the retail experts: you and your colleagues, the individuals who are on the front
lines of running shops at all sorts of attractions.
In the Zoo and aquarium Section, we offer a look at how aquarium gifts can further the
cause of aiding the environment with custom merchandise. We also offer a special feature section
on shoplifting, with tips on how to prevent this scourge on profitability and trend stories
from the national Retail Federation.
Wildlife merchandise is popular at all sorts of stores, and is especially favored among the
young visitors to children’s museums. We offer a profile of these shops in the Wildlife-themed
Merchandise section, and a look at how zoo shop managers are handling the category.
In the Independent College Bookstore section, we reveal why students still choose these
shops for staples, in spite of pricing incentives to shop at bigger organizations. And in the
college Bookstore report, we present a story on serving all-important parent and alumni shoppers.
Logo merchandise and Minor league Baseball stores go hand in hand. Apparel is a healthy
category for these stores, and also for shops at amusement and waterparks and at surf and
beach locales, our stories found.
Our Profiting from Play section returns with a look at how specialty toy shops are faring
with plush and puppets sales, and also how botanical garden stores with expanded offerings
for children are finding high interest in nature-related kids’ gifts.
Executing the essentials of effective displays carries an enormous amount of weight for any
retailer. At country stores, where the merchandise is part of creating a journey to the past,
antiques and hand-built displays are staples.
Valentine’s Day and other secondary holidays can generate first-rate revenues. We offer a
story on the holiday at party stores, plus facts and figures from the census Bureau.
The IGES show, which is enjoying its 10th anniversary this year, is slated for Nov. 6-10. This
issue we present a special section on the show that includes an exhibitor list, a story on cave
and cavern shops, the latest news, and a sampling of the products you will find at the event.
Men’s gifts are a challenging category for all types of stores, but at military museums the
buying is easy, as these shops have a natural appeal to men, whether military-affiliated or not.
We also offer sections on jewelry, stationery, APPL stores and truck and travel shops. We
hope you enjoy the issue. please contact us at the e-mail address listed below with your comments,
questions and suggestions.
We hope you enjoy the issue. Please e-mail us at the address below with your comments,
questions and suggestions.
Scott C. Borowsky
President and Executive Editor
SOUVENIRS, GIFTS AND NOVELTIES MAGAZINE
EDITORSGNMAG@KANEC.COM
“In business, three things are necessary:
knowledge, temper, and time.”
— Owen Felltham
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