When Breakwall Publishing purchased Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties in January 2023, the team went to work making updates to the design. Those efforts to introduce a new design of the magazine were recently recognized by National Bronze and Regional Silver Azbee Awards of Excellence from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in the Publication Redesign category.
When you acquire a magazine that has been in business as long as SGN has — 62 years to be exact — it can be intimidating when it comes to implement any changes. We certainly had some trepidations but trusted our gut and decades of publication experience when making any modifications to this beloved publication. And those instincts have paid off with more than just an award. The updated content and design elements have been well-received by our audience.
This issue is building on the momentum of these award-winning changes. We are excited to welcome three new columns, Trend Talk by Melody Caban of Melody Caban Consulting; Attraction Action by Tommy Brown of the Saint Louis Zoo; and Savvy Shopkeeping by Kathy Cruz of The Savvy Shopkeeper Podcast. Each columnist has specialized expertise in various aspects of tourism-driven retail and will share their expert advice in each issue.
We’re also introducing The Next Exit, which will provide a fun read about some of America’s quirkiest roadside attractions and the wonderful people behind their souvenir stores. And lastly, our Retailer Spotlights are getting a refresh with more information tidbits that we hope resonate with our retailer readers.
We hope you enjoy the latest issue of SGN, and we welcome your feedback. Please let me know what you think.
