| Retailer Spotlight Insights from Black Retailers in Massachusetts, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and California
 Contributor Hilary Larson reports on the rewards and challenges faced by Black retailers.
 Apparel and Accessories
 Great-Selling Garments – T-shirt Trends at Zoos and Aquariums
 For this article, Contributor Carime Lane interviewed four store managers about their T-shirt-selling strategies.
 Bonus Sidebar: Do You Sell T-Shirts in Different Cuts?
 Why or Why Not?
 Where Sales Win – Licensed Gifts for Football and Sports Fans
 For this article, Contributor Hilary Larson interviewed store owners and managers in Philadelphia, Pa., Brookfield, Wis., Tukwila, Wash., and Carson, Calif., for a look at best-selling licensed gifts for sports fans.
 Getting Shoppers Excited About the Extras – Jewelry, Handbags, Footwear and Socks at Boutiques
 The right accessory brings an outfit together, expresses personality and can be used to complement other outfits in a customer’s closet as well. This article contains insights on selling accessories from store owners in Chicago, Ill., Lakeland, Fla., Dallas, Texas, and Willoughby, Ohio.
 Bonus Sidebar: What Type of Shopping Experience Do You Strive to Create For Shoppers?
 How People Show Their Love for Parks – Apparel at Public Lands Partner Stores
 As Americans have flocked in record numbers to national parks, demand for souvenir apparel has reached new heights, according to this article.
 Bonus Sidebar: Are Hats Good Sellers? What Types of Hats and Why?
 Selections for When the Sun Shines – Summer Apparel and Accessories at Resort Stores
 Whether name-dropped or one-of-a-kind items made by local artisans and vendors, apparel and accessories are among the top sellers for resort stores. This article explores the topic with retailer interviews from stores in Orlando, Naples and Islamorada, Fla., Mount Tremper, N.Y. and Big Sur, Calif.
 Bonus Sidebar: Current Trends in Sunglasses
 Jewelry
 Carving Out Sales – Jewelry at Cave and Cavern Stores
 At cave and cavern stores, jewelry is as hot as ever, this story reports.
 Bonus Sidebar: What Is Your Top Customer Service Tip?
 Home Décor
 Gifts for Home with a Collegiate Flair – Home Décor Merchandise at College Stores
 Home décor isn’t a major category for college bookstores where apparel, souvenirs and textbooks are strong sellers. But these stores do offer a
 variety of gifts for the home.
 Maritime Museum and Coastal Store Report
 Tying Sales to Sea-Themed Gifts – Nautical Merchandise at Maritime Museums
 Merchandise with a local touch does well for maritime museums. For this article, SGN’s Contributor interviewed a curator, a director of visitor services,
 a museum store buyer, a museum operations coordinator, and a guest services manager to discuss nautical merchandise offered in their stores.
 Bonus Sidebar: How Do You Reach Out to Boat Enthusiasts?
 Bringing to Mind Where Sea and Land Meet – Best-Selling Coastal Gifts
 For this article, SGN’s Contributor interviewed store owners in Plymouth,
 Mass., Hamburg, Pa., and Sea Isle City, N.J., for a look at selling coastal gifts.
 Bonus Sidebar: How Stores Use Color for Sales Success
 Resort Report
 Quality Gifts at Resorts – Unique Products from Unique Locations
 Resort stores stock a selection of higher-priced gifts for shoppers looking
 for unique quality goods.
 Having a Vision for Selling – Visual Merchandising and Display at Resorts
 This article covers how resorts draw attention to their gift store merchandise.
 Games, Puzzles and Plush
 From the Classics to What’s Current – Trends in Games and
 Puzzles at Pharmacies and Hardware and Toy Stores
 Games and puzzles are standard fixtures on toy store shelves, but they are also available in some non-traditional niche retailers—namely, hardware
 stores and pharmacies.
 Bonus Sidebar: Top Games and Puzzles for Kids and Adults
 Finding Fun Beyond Games – Trends in Plush, Dolls and Action Figures at Toy Stores
 For this article, toy retailers in West Chester, Pa., Kokomo, Ind., and in Delaware, said plush, dolls, and action figures remain as popular as ever.
 Party Stores
 Keeping Sales Popping – Party Supply and Decoration
 Best-Sellers at Party Stores
 Get-togethers are slowly getting larger as more people feel comfortable attending in-person events, and party stores are there with the goods customers want for their parties.
 Bonus Sidebar: Are Parties Staying Small?
 Christmas Stores
 Trends and Best-Selling Merchandise at Year-Round Christmas Stores
 For this article, three store owners and a buyer from Christmas stores in
 Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona, described current trends,
 best-selling merchandise, and the techniques they use to get customers
 in the holiday spirit all year long.
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