Archive for Cover Story

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 […]

Boosting Sales and Competing With Online Retailers

August 1, 2017 No Comments

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 […]

Sales that Fly High
Selling More Wind Chimes, Flags and Banners

June 1, 2017 No Comments

By Sara Hodon A home’s exterior is just as important as the interior and can speak volumes about its residents, from colorful flowers in the garden to the porch furniture. And then there are the little details—small touches like windchimes, flags, and banners, which not only add a welcoming touch to an entryway or porch […]

Where Paper Presents Profits
Stationery Is Still a Core Seller for Certain Shops

May 1, 2017 No Comments

By Hilary Danailova When today’s customers choose to put sentiments on paper rather than sending a text or email, that paper matters. It’s a deliberate expression that calls for more personalized, distinctive stationery. “The demand these days is for custom products,” affirmed Princy Agrawal, who sells made-to-order cards, journals and other paper crafts at her […]

Bringing the Sales Home
Home Decor Display Advice from Gift Stores

March 27, 2017 No Comments

What are the best ways to display home decor items in gift stores? According to shop owners and staff, successful display means enhancing the appeal of these items through color combinations, cross-merchandising, and by allowing customers to see how these items will look in the home. Here are some top tips for display and some […]

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Testimonials

- “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.