At The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas, Chris Goins, general manager of retail, said jewelry is a top-performing category at the 2,821-square-foot gift shop. “We represent a diverse group of designers, and have a variety of styles from all over the world at accessible price points,” she said. “We sell an Italian line […]
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By Hilary Danailova Who doesn’t love an edible gift? Gourmet foods are tasty, a little decadent and won’t take up space in a closet. And while the contents of that gift basket may vary — from cheddar in the Midwest to champagne in tony Santa Monica — chocolate, plain or fancy, is the hands-down winner […]
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By Sara Hodon Most adults would agree that as a kid, few things were as exciting as back-to-school shopping. From shiny notebooks to backpacks featuring the latest cool graphic, buying brand-new items for the new school year was a favorite time of year for many students. Social media has taken away some of surprise on […]
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T-shirts are often tops with a capital “T” when it comes to sales. At resort shops, beach stores, and cave shops, these tried and true shoppers’ favorites are uniformly popular. At Cave Without A Name in Boerne, Texas, Patty Perlaky, the cave’s educational manager, said T-shirt sales improve as the result of stand-alone displays that […]
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By Hilary Danailova Angelina Rodriguez Pata knows why women still go to boutiques to shop, instead of buying online. “The biggest thing people struggle with is styling a piece,” revealed the owner of Blackbird Fly Boutique in Cleveland, Ohio. “They’ll say: ‘I love that, but I don’t know how to wear that.’ ” That’s where […]
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Not quite teenagers, eight to twelve-year-old kids are by nature quite fickle. Quick to call a toy babyish, they definitely know what they like when they see it. When they latch onto a trend, it can spread like wildfire. Read on to discover how four toy stores in different locales cater to this mercurial age […]
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By Vicki Hogue-Davies As rock store owners know, best gifts are not necessarily manmade. People enjoy buying gifts for others—and for themselves—that come naturally from the Earth. Here, rock store owners and managers from New York to California discuss which gifts are the most popular at their stores, and what is new in store for […]
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By Hilary Danailova Coastal stores cater largely to a leisure clientele — tourists and weekenders who want souvenirs, local handcrafts and unique pieces they can’t find at a chain store. “People are looking for something special, not your everyday basic,” explained Stacy Smallwood, the owner and buyer for Hampden, an upscale boutique in Charleston, S.C. “They […]
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When managers and buyers of gift shops at zoos, amusement parks and museums were asked about how to boost sales of souvenirs, they were filled with ideas. Regarding displays tips, Kathryn Swinimer, retail operations manager, Calgary Zoo, Calgary, Alberta, tends to arrange plush by species, and/or country of origin. “We use shelves, rolling bins, baskets […]
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In order to compete with the growing number of online retailers and all the bells and whistles they offer, Tiffany Kocurko, store director, Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland, Ohio, said the first step is to create awareness for your museum’s online store. “People won’t shop it if they don’t know it’s there,” she said. The […]
Read more...“We always enjoy Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties magazine and are happy to share our stories. I learn something from it every time I read it and share it with our gift shop staff regularly.”
– Beth Rich, Zoo Superintendent, Tautphaus Park Zoo, Idaho Falls, ID
“We have been in business since 1988 and a part of our success has been the use of trade magazines such as yours. Being far away from most trade shows, these magazines are a great lifeline for us who can’t just drive to a gifts show. So thank you for being there for us with insightful articles.”
– Malia Johnson, President, Malimar Inc. dba Sedona, Honolulu, HI
“…Because of our budget, I am unable to go to market, so your Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties publication serves at a great tool for me to see what is new and trending in the market, and I have tried many new products because I’ve seen them advertised in your magazine. Thanks again.”
– Nancy Cole, gift shop manager, Booth Society, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, Spearfish, S.D.
I just received my copy of SGN Magazine, and I was delighted to see [Natalie Hope McDonald’s] article about us. Thank you for featuring my shop in such a lovely way. It means a lot to me as a small business owner.”
– Heather Mohorn, Momo’s Tree House, Philadelphia, Pa.
“Thanks for your magazine. I really enjoy it and learn from it monthly.”
–Susan Michener, Admission/Gift Shop Manager, The Montgomery Zoo, Montgomery, Ala.
“I wanted to take a minute to not only tell you how much I use and enjoy my copy of Souvenirs, Gifts, and Novelties Magazine, but to share with you some good news about my husband’s and my business Her Majesty’s English Tea Room. We recently won the prestigious Icon award from Americasmart Atlanta. …Thank you again for a magazine that is a little bit like a work book. My husband and I both go through it in detail, always picking up a display idea, new product, or tip.”
– Jacqueline Gillam Fairchild, Her Majesty’s English Tea Room, Dunlap, Ill
“Thank you for your wonderful magazine. I love getting it and we do a lot of business with your advertisers. I know that their marketing money is limited, so I make sure to mention that I saw them in Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties magazine. Win-Win-Win. Everybody’s happy!”
– Steve Fegley, Director of Retail Operations, the Science Museum of Minnesota
“The March/April 2017 issue just arrived and it really made our day! Thank you for featuring the LA Maritime Museum’s Sea Chest Gift Shop. The article was very well-written, and our assistant buyer is thrilled to see her photo included!”
– Marifrances Trivelli, director and store buyer, Los Angeles Maritime Museum, San Pedro, Calif.
