My mother grew up in the 1950s and was a big fan of the show “I Love Lucy.” I watched reruns of the classic sitcom with her so much as a child that I can still quote the show to this day.
From time to time, I still watch the beloved television series. The other day, I happened to catch an episode titled “Home from Europe” where Lucy and the gang are headed home to New York from their weeks-long tour of Europe. Lucy, who has purchased several souvenirs, learns she can only take 66 pounds worth of luggage on the transcontinental flight.
“You can’t come home from Europe without buying gifts for your friends,” Lucy laments to Fred before her hilarious scheme unfolds. As buyers, owners or managers of souvenir and gift stores, I am sure you hear similar comments all the time.
Whether we are on a trip to Europe or stateside at a tourist attraction, there is an innate desire within us to share the experience with friends and family with a token from that special place we visited.
What a great opportunity you have as a gift and souvenir shop manager or owner to help people pass along their great experiences with gifts for their loved ones. The Lucy Desi Museum in Jamestown, New York, is one of many amazing stores featured in this issue that helps fulfill that desire tourists have to not only remember their visit but spread that joy to friends and family.
When you help a customer purchase that special memento for themselves or a loved one, you are carrying on a tradition as old as time itself, and it should make everyone involved in the transaction — you the seller, the customer (the buyer), and the recipient — feel good. I hope you enjoy this issue of Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties as you find out what products and ideas could help you enhance that store experience for your customers and help them carry on the longstanding tradition of giving.
