Archive for ZAG

Name-Dropping 101
The Best Logoed Merchandise at Zoos and Aquariums

December 21, 2018 No Comments

By Natalie Hope McDonald At the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest-operating zoo in the U.S., Store Director Jerry Kelly said merchandise that displays the zoo name or that’s somehow tied to local culture always sells well in Philly season after season. These days, Kelly said the zoo’s gift shop has stocked up on many different types […]

Treats for Travelers and Locals
Gourmet Gifts, Snacks and Candy at Zoos and Aquariums

November 20, 2018 No Comments

Tasty edible treats make good gifts and cheerful snacking at zoo and aquarium gift shops. Shop staff relate what edible items they sell, why they sell these products, and how to sell more of them. At the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, in Bartlesville, Okla., Gift Store Manager Beth Greene sells a wide variety of […]

Souvenirs and Quality Gifts at Zoos and Aquariums

July 30, 2018 No Comments

When it comes to top selling souvenirs and quality gifts at zoos and aquariums, each gift shop offers its own unique items – and personal take – on finding and selling the best. Nationwide, gift shop staff members give their insights into top sellers and how they find them. At Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, […]

World’s Fair
How Global Gifts Breathe New Life into Charitable Efforts at Zoo and Aquarium Gift Shops

June 14, 2018 No Comments

Since the late 1970s, the Cape May County Zoo has welcomed tourists to 57 acres of natural habitat in the southern region of coastal New Jersey. With a free-flight aviary and reptile house, the zoo is also well known for its more than 500 different animals from 250 species. At the Ark in the Park […]

Helping Guests Find that Perfect Gift
Perspectives from Zoos and Aquariums

April 30, 2018 No Comments

By Jon Marks Go into a chain department store anywhere from Portland, Maine to Portland, Ore., and the merchandise can be very similar. That’s not the case when it comes to zoo and aquarium gift shops. What’s popular at the Santa Barbara (Calif.) Museum of Natural History won’t necessarily appeal to those at a Texas […]

Name-Dropped Merchandise Strategies

March 23, 2018 No Comments

By Anthony DeMarco There are so many advantages to stocking name-dropped merchandise that it would be remarkable if there were zoos or aquariums that didn’t provide this type of product. For one thing it’s what people want and expect from their wildlife experience. For another, it’s branding that the customers actually pay for and have […]

Name-Dropped Merchandise at Zoos and Aquariums

February 1, 2018 No Comments

By Sara Hodon Zoo and aquarium guests make a point of stopping in the gift shop during their visit so they can browse the merchandise and pick up a few souvenirs for themselves or someone else. One of the most popular categories for these retail operations is name-dropped merchandise, which offers guests a wide range […]

Making the Merchandise Fit the Fun
Designing Great Custom and Name-Dropped Merchandise at Zoos and Aquariums

January 1, 2018 No Comments

By Karen Appold At Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue in Eureka Springs, Ark., anything bearing the attraction’s name sells well, said Laurie Vanderwal, assistant curator and gift shop manager. “I attempt to have as much merchandise as possible with our name on it,” she said. The top-selling category is apparel, which is all name-dropped, followed by […]

Tiny Treasures
The Best Small and Inexpensive Souvenirs

October 1, 2017 No Comments

By Karen Appold While visiting zoos and aquariums, customers often seek out small and inexpensive merchandise at the gift shop. In addition to serving as a memento of a visit, these items won’t break the bank and are easy to take home. Colleen Dunlap, gift shop buyer, Austin Zoo, Austin, Texas, said her best-selling small, […]

Best-selling Edibles
What Patrons Go Wild for at the Zoo Shop

August 1, 2017 No Comments

By Natalie Hope McDonald Hershey Park is synonymous with chocolate. And at Hershey’s ZooAmerica gift shop, it’s chocolate that always outsells every other edible treat. Nestled on 11 acres, ZooAmerica is adjacent to the famous Hersheypark. But unlike the amusement and waterpark, the zoo is open year-round. Along tree-lined pathways, guests can learn about more […]

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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.