Archive for Cover Story

Gift, Florist, Party and Toy Stores
Giving Employees the Hours They Want While Meeting Store Staffing Needs

September 27, 2018 No Comments

In a perfect world, managers would dispatch employee work schedules as a matter of course and everyone would be happy. The reality is unexpected emergencies and illness can arise among staff members, as well as vacation periods and special requests for time off, all of which can make a scheduler’s task challenging. Read on to […]

Best-Selling Jewelry and Home Décor Items at Museum Gift Shops

July 30, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

A Taste for Sales
Gourmet Foods, Snacks and Candy at Candy Stores, Florists and Gift Basket Shops

July 9, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

Back-to-School, Back to Sales
Selling More School Supplies

June 20, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

Making Tee Sales Tops
Selling More T-shirts at Caves, Resorts and Beach Stores

April 30, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

Apparel and Fashion Accessories Sales Advice from the Experts
Boutique Owners and Managers Reveal their Selling Secrets

March 23, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

Tween Toy Favorites

February 1, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

Gifts that Rock
Best-Sellers for Rock Shops

January 1, 2018 No Comments

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 […]

Special Somethings from the Coast
Merchandise Trends and Best-Sellers at Waterside Shops

November 1, 2017 No Comments

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 […]

Souvenirs: What Sells Well, and How to Sell More

October 1, 2017 No Comments

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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Testimonials

- So, so excited about the article. We got our copy and we are over the moon. I would like….three more copies if possible. The Old City district wants one, …my manager, and we want to frame one!!
  
  Thanks again. It really was awesome!
  
  Never Too Spoiled, Philadelphia, Pa.
- “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.