There’s something for everyone at all six of Dutchman Hospitality Group’s gift shops that are in the heart of Amish and Mennonite communities in Ohio, Indiana and Florida. Customers could easily get lost in these stores that are full of Amish and farm-themed souvenirs, rustic toys and plush, ornate home decor, gourmet food and locally made personal care items.
Director of Retail Operations Erin Doudna stresses that faith is a big theme incorporated across all the merchandise at Dutchman Hospitality’s six stores. Doudna will place a beautiful portrait of Jesus and a lamb by home decor, or a men’s Bible devotional book by men’s apparel.
Kerusso has released new quilted totes.
“We are a faith-based corporation — it is a huge part of our identity in who we are and what we believe in,” she says.
People shopping for loved ones back home may just want to give them something that incorporates faith or provides inspiration and encouragement, and faith-based gifts can meet that need in a simple yet meaningful way.
New inspiration
For nearly 40 years, Kerusso has been sharing the message of faith through apparel and gifts to retail outlets across the country. The company is known for its faith-filled graphic T-shirts, but it’s steadily expanding into other categories. The wholesale vendor also carries hats, drinkware, socks, journals, bags, jewelry, car coasters and stickers.
“One of our most exciting new products this year is our reversible quilted tote bags, which have quickly become a customer favorite,” says National Sales Manager Jourdain Foster. “Each tote features an embroidered Bible verse or inspirational message on the outer pocket, and the reversible design makes them both practical and stylish.”
Christian Art Gifts is also known for its selection of Christian gifts and books, including journals, devotional coloring books, drinkware, magnets, keychains and Bibles.
“We’ve released some really pretty new coloring books for women based on scripture,” says Julie Reynolds, a representative for the company.
Doudna says gifts that promote prayer go over big at Dutchman Hospitality’s stores, from Talking Sticks that feature scripture on them to the Tap to Pray bracelets from Versible that invite people to pray together across the world.
“Those bracelets have been so huge,” she says. “They started with a belief that there is power in people praying together the same prayer. That’s how Tap to Pray started, and it’s exploded. It’s an easy gift item.”
Faith-based apparel is also an ever-popular item. Mitchell Proffitt Company has been providing military, veteran and patriotic souvenirs to retailers nationwide for many years, but it expanded into offering faith-themed gifts about three years ago.
“Everyone loves a good T-shirt or sweatshirt,” shares Laura Lambert, a representative for Mitchell Proffitt. “Wearing your faith, either as a T-shirt, sweatshirt or ballcap, is very on trend. Drinkware and stickers are also wildly popular and great conversation starters.”
Heartfelt finds
Inspirational and faith-themed gifts and souvenirs don’t need to look old-fashioned or formal. For Big Sky Soul Gift Shop in Havre, Montana, faith-themed gifts are often colorful, modern and cute.
Florals and faith pair well together in this collection from Christian Art Gifts.
“We are a faith-based store — we have always leaned more toward inspirational and meaningful gifts,” says owner Brooke James. “We’re not a store that you walk in and it screams religious by any means, but we want to be like a bright light in a messy world.”
The tiny blocks and magnets from Natural Life with faith-based encouragement are favorites with customers at Big Sky Soul Gift Shop. Mud Pie is another big brand for the store.
Combining trend-forward designs with classic faith-inspired messages has also been a key strategy for Kerusso.
“We might incorporate trends like camo patterns, bows and western style, but pair them with scripture or inspirational messages that point back to the goodness of Jesus,” says Foster. “By combining trend-forward design with meaningful messages, we’re able to create products that feel relevant in today’s fashion landscape while still clearly communicating faith.”
Testing the waters
For destination retailers looking to add more inspirational products, Reynolds suggests drinkware as an easy first category to try.
“Drinkware is great for a store who wants to add a small faith section,” she says. “Our mugs are terrific, great quality, great price points.”
Colorful signs pop out alongside some faith-based books and notebooks at Big Sky Soul Gift Shop.
She says devotional books like “One Minute with God for Men” or “One Minute with God for Women” can make for good impulse items.
James shares that Faire has been a helpful platform to discover new vendors that offer faith-themed gifts for her store.
“That’s been a great resource for finding a lot of small, women-owned businesses,” she explains.
Doudna advises destination retailers start with faith-based products that appeal to many different age groups like the Tap to Pray bracelets or keychains or mugs with favorite verses on them before expanding. And getting suggestions from staff members on these products can help, as well.
“I often have my general managers help me. If they pick a product that touches them in their personal life, it always sells for us in retail,” she says. “Customers love that — they love to hear peoples’ stories on a deeper level and maybe have a spiritual moment together. If a product touches you in your heart and you’re willing to share just a little bit of that with the people coming through, that brings purpose to our retail.”
