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For many retailers, the shop they operate and fill with merchandise started with a dream. It may have been a vision of owning a business and creating a space where shoppers could find the perfect gift, or of creating a family legacy that could be passed down through the generations. In this issue, you can read about a broad spectrum of stores, from exclusive outlets at some of the nation's best resorts and independent candy shops serving up fresh and innovative sweets to souvenir shops at zoos and aquariums, museums and amusement and theme parks.
Building the best inventory that is targeted to your customer base is an ongoing challenge, and we cover all the bases in this big resort trade show issue. We also offer special sections that cover both the International Gift Exposition in the Smokies®/Souvenir Super Show® and Urban Expositions' The Smoky Mountain Gift Show, Inc.®. Our staff members will be covering both of these Tennessee shows and we hope to see you there.
In the Apparel Section, we offer stories on textile, fashion and apparel museum stores, cruise ship retailing, T-shirts at zoo and aquarium stores and the sale of wearables at hospital shops. And in the Candles and Scented Merchandise report we interviewed general gift stores around the country to take the pulse of this important retailing category.
In a challenged economy, carts and kiosks present a fantastic opportunity for small business owners to get their feet wet in the world of retailing. This issue we offer a story on keeping the actual units clean and clutter-free, key strategies to drawing in the customer base to shop and buy.
In the Inspirational Products section, we cover cards, books and stationery, which are still strong categories despite customers’ fondness for Kindles and ecards.
For travelers, jewelry is the perfect portable gift to remember those back home, and presents an opportunity for shops to double their sales as shoppers may also pick up something for themselves. In the Jewelry section, we cover shops at caves and caverns, national parks, garden centers, resorts and general gift stores. The feature also includes “Nine Top Tips for Creating Effective Jewelry Displays.”
Additionally, we feature pieces on pirate merchandise, nostalgic signs, marketing discounts and specials, Valentine’s Day, personal care products, Major and Minor League Baseball fan shops, preventing theft, plush and toys, name-dropped and wildlife-themed souvenirs and more.
We also mark the retirement of Publisher Emeritus Janice Weiss with this issue in a special tribute article that starts on page 146. Weiss has been with the publication from the beginning for an amazing 49 years of professionalism and achievement and will be missed greatly by both the staff and her customers.
I hope you enjoy the issue. Please e-mail me at editorsgnmag@kanec.com with your comments, questions and suggestions.
Scott C. Borowsky
President and Executive Editor
SOUVENIRS, GIFTS AND NOVELTIES MAGAZINE
“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.”
–Vince Lombardi
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