Prepare your patriotic picks for USA 250

It’s 2026 and time to prepare for a new year of retail opportunities. This year also marks a major milestone for America. On July 4, the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence. People across all 50 states are sure to want to celebrate this milestone all year, not just on the 4th of July.

Gifts and souvenirs that support USA 250 are expected to be in high demand. Destination retailers will want to prepare now to make sure they have souvenirs ready that will help people show off American pride.

If your store is not yet stocked with mementos for this milestone, you will want to be sure you’re set by 4th of July. This is the year to let “Old Glory” shine brightly in your retail locations.

"This is the year to let “Old Glory” shine brightly in your retail locations. "

Mementos for the milestone

All American attractions are sure to find some ways to connect to the USA 250 celebration. Simply being based in America is reason enough to take pride in this milestone, and it’s important to have souvenirs and keepsakes that tie to your attraction and this occasion.

Travelers might be more keen to travel around stateside to celebrate this year. You may want to even combine your selling efforts with other USA-based attractions and create a USA 250 passport for your area, encouraging people to visit these other destinations this year.

People reflecting on American history also might be drawn to retro items. Nostalgia is expected to be big this year, so have souvenirs ready that appeal to the past! Try stocking things such as collectible spoons, fingernail clippers, mini-viewers and figurines.

Patriotic presentations

In addition to having souvenirs tied to USA 250, destination retailers should call out these patriotic finds in store presentations. Planning display color schemes should be simple: Use red, white and blue.

You can also have fun by adding American icons to your patriotic mix, such as the Statue of Liberty, The Gateway Arch or Mount Rushmore. Your shoppers will connect to these icons, and this will hopefully translate into sales.

Share the celebration

Make sure to highlight your patriotic merchandise and celebratory displays on social media. Encourage your social media followers to visit your stores to collect your USA 250 products. Perhaps you can showcase a different patriotic product each month to draw attention to your offerings all year long. You can even finish the year with a special USA 250 holiday ornament.

Remember, your attraction is part of the American story, so be proud to share it. This is the year to come together and let freedom ring, with gifts and souvenirs that are once-in-a-lifetime buys. Happy USA 250 and hopefully everyone gets a piece of the retail cake!

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Tommy Brown has over 30 years’ experience in retail management. He’s held positions for Dillard’s, Sears, and Six Flags Inc. and is a past ZAG vice president. He currently guides retail at the Saint Louis Zoo. Reach him at tbrown@stlzoo.org.