Embracing Change – June/July 2020

Scott C. Borowsky

In the pages of Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties (SGN), you can read about the experiences of your colleagues around the country as they negotiate a changed retail climate. Trying to find a steady path forward can be difficult, but as communities reopen, stores are taking what they have learned about a higher standard of cleanliness and employee safety to ensure the best shopping experience possible for customers.
Many of the retailers in the SGN coverage universe have been creatively operating throughout the current public health crisis. In this issue, our contributing writers talked with a wide variety of businesspeople about how they are faring as they reach out to their customer base with all types of merchandise. For example, in the Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show Section, we offer Clarion Events-provided content plus stories by our contributors featuring gift, stationery and drug stores. And in the Apparel Report, we cover boutiques. Further, in the IGES Section, we report on apparel and accessories at country stores. And as jewelry is always a great-selling gift and souvenir, in this issue we look at jewelry sales at boutiques.
We also offer Las Vegas Market and ASD sections that feature stories on gifts and personal care products, the sale of cleaning supplies and paper goods, and more. And don’t miss the interesting article on pet gifts, which includes a bonus sidebar on trends in collars and leashes. There is also a zoo and nature organization reopening report, and a piece on toy trends.
The issue also offers the latest trade show dates, several of which have been updated, and industry and product news. Additionally, read this edition for Vendor Spotlight stories on Bucket Wonders and Souvenifty, and special Stationery Product News items covering Leanin’ Tree cards.
I hope you enjoy the magazine. Please contact me with your comments, questions or suggestions by emailing editorsgnmag@Kanec.com, calling 610-645-6950, or messaging me on Facebook, and I will respond to your note personally.

Scott C. Borowsky
President and Executive Editor
Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties magazine