Archive for Plush and Toys

Hot Toy Trends
Best-sellers from the NY Toy Fair and at Indie Retailers Around the Country

March 23, 2018 No Comments

By Natalie Hope McDonald At February’s annual Toy Fair in New York City, a few trends seemed to stand up a bit taller from among a very crowded category of fun and educational play. One of the most talked about trends this year is inspired by the “maker” category, toys that kids are encouraged to […]

Best-Sellers for Wild Sales
Toys and Plush at Zoos, Aquariums and Museums

January 1, 2018 No Comments

Toys and plush are often a top-selling category at zoo, aquarium, and museum gift shops. For this article, staff members at these attractions described their best-selling toys and plush, and suggested tips to make sales the best they can be. At the Aquarium of Boise in Boise, Idaho, Gift Shop Manager Lyla Workman explained that […]

Winning With Game, Plaything and Plush Sales
Strategies from Children’s Museums, Gift Stores and Toy Stores

November 1, 2017 No Comments

By Karen Appold For Meg Hauser, visitor services manager, The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Kansas City, Mo., the best-selling playthings are reissued or reproduction versions of vintage and historic toys, particularly those displayed in vintage packaging. “These items resonate with our customers, because they speak to their childhood memories. Oftentimes, shoppers purchase these […]

Display with a Sense of Fun
Tips for Arranging Toy Store Merchandise

October 1, 2017 No Comments

By Karen Appold For Steve Presser, founder and owner, Big Fun Toy Store, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, displaying his store’s diverse inventory is a game in itself. “I have video game junkies that work for me, and we approach stocking shelves like playing Tetris,” he said. “We stuff shelves as tightly as possible, displaying as much […]

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 […]

Simply Fun Playthings
Selling More Classic Toys and Games at Toy Stores

June 1, 2017 No Comments

By Hilary Danailova Toy retailers don’t have to advertise their classic toys, like Slinkys or hula hoops. They don’t need to arrange brightly colored boxes of jigsaw puzzles on eye-level shelves to attract attention. They may break out social media for the latest licensed plush, but to sell Monopoly or Boggle, it’s not necessary. Simple, […]

Creating Community
How Toy Stores Are Becoming Destinations for More Than Just Shopping

May 1, 2017 No Comments

By Natalie Hope McDonald Tt’s not unusual to see kids playing at Rhen’s Nest, a toy store in Atlanta. That’s because it’s more than simply a shop. Rhen’s Nest has become a popular destination for parents to bring their kids to not only browse some of the newest must-have merchandise, but also to enjoy a […]

Child’s Play
How Indie Toy Stores Are Building a Loyal Customer Base with Unique Add-Ons

March 1, 2017 No Comments

Just a few blocks from Philadelphia’s most famous historic sites sits a colorful playland where kids of all ages can spark their imaginations. Momo’s Tree House is a friendly neighborhood toy store beloved by both the tourists who make Philly their vacation spot and locals who rely on the staff to answer important questions about […]

A Profile of Play
Rochester, N.Y.’s Strong National Museum of Play

February 1, 2017 No Comments

By Hilary Danailova Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Slinky captivate the pint-sized shoppers at Everything For Play!, the gift shop of The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., — as well as their older siblings, their parents and even their grandparents. And that’s deliberate. Shane Rhinewald, a spokesperson for The Strong, said the […]

Easy Back to Basics Toy Sales at Hardware Stores

January 1, 2017 No Comments

By Jen Byrne It’s not an unusual occurrence for customers at Briggs Hardware to reminisce with Owner Evelyn Murray about their childhoods. “I have had so many people say, ‘My mama bought my Christmases at the old Briggs Hardware’ or ‘I remember going in there and getting my first doll,’” said Murray, owner of the […]

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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.