Looking Ahead During a Tough Year

Scott C. Borowsky

No doubt about it, 2020 was difficult in more ways than can be easily summarized. As of November 17, 1.3 million people worldwide had died of the coronavirus, 246,879 of whom lived in the United States. These loses have been terrible for families, communities and countries, and the good news on the vaccine front as of press time in November offered a glimpse of hope on a return to a changed normalcy.
Working through and around the crisis have been the employees of countless businesses and service and health organizations large and small. In the Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties coverage area, all types of retailers have been conducting business both online and onsite. For some stores, multiple-employee operations have become owner-operated with one person conducting in-person business, For others, employees are working in masks and tasked with ramped up cleaning protocols to keep staff and shoppers safer.
In this the last issue of the year, we cover a wide range of interesting story topics in articles that offer all types of tips and advice. The edition also offers a selection of company profile stories as part of the twice-annual Profile in Excellence feature. The profiles are a chance for advertisers to promote their companies.
In the Surf Expo Section, we offer stories on apparel, accessories, gifts, and display. And the Jewelry Section features articles on the jewelry picture at museum shops, and jewelry shopping habits. The Zoo Section contains a bonus jewelry story covering sales at four zoo retail locations.
Gem, mineral, and fossil sales at children’s and science museum stores, and at toy stores, are covered in the Tucson Gem Show Feature. And the Apparel Section offers articles on apparel sales – both online and in person – at apparel boutiques, and on wearable merchandise at college stores. Don’t miss the section’s bonus sidebar “SGN Asked – Do You Have Any New-To-Your-Store Merchandise That Is Selling Well?.”
To recognize the Atlanta and Las Vegas Markets, we offer stories on edible gifts and gift and home décor merchandise, as well as company profiles, in special feature sections. We also cover quality and lower-priced gifts at museums, Western apparel and accessories at boutiques in a special WESA story, outdoor and garden gifts at garden centers and botanical gardens, game, puzzle and toy trends, truck stop and travel center merchandise, and more.
I hope you enjoy the magazine. Please contact me with your comments, questions and suggestions by emailing editorsgnmag@kanec.com and I will respond to your query personally.

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