Finding Big and Small Successes – February 2019

Scott C. Borowsky

Small, unresolved issues hampering your business success can sometimes slip through the cracks and become overshadowed by emergencies and other bigger issues and problems. But it is sometimes the recurring difficulties and everyday tasks in obvious need of improvement that require a dose of your close attention. Once these matters are resolved, you can move on to other projects within your organization with a fresh frame of mind and a renewed sense of energy.

It is a goal of SGN to help you find new energy for and insights into the successful operation of your retail store. In each edition, we offer interviews with dozens of real retail experts – your colleagues who buy for, manage, own and assist at stores across the United States. In this issue, our team of Contributing Writers interviewed at least 110 store staff members. The stories resulting from these interviews cover everything from merchandise buying and display to popular gift trends and customer service and much more.

Toy Fair International is a February institution in New York City. To commemorate the fair, we offer a special expanded “Toy Fair and Annual Plush Report ∙ Games, Playthings and Plush” section. You will find interesting coverage of toy and museum shops and discussions of merchandise categories such as board games, plush, puzzles, craft kits, dolls and more. You can also read about the latest display strategies being employed at toy stores in a story that includes the bonus sidebar “Who Makes Up Your Displays and How Are They Trained?”
To commemorate another 2019 trade event, March’s ASD Market Week in Las Vegas, we offer an “ASD Gift and General Merchandise Special Report.” The section includes stories on the best-selling merchandise at variety, discount and gift stores, selling more gifts and home goods at discount, dollar and specialty shops, selling the party basics and others.

You will also find articles covering edible gifts, home accents and signs, the best-selling merchandise categories at museum shops, Halloween goods, apparel, beach, resort and spa merchandise, jewelry, licensed, quality, gem and mineral gifts and others. And don’t miss our recurring zoo and aquarium section for a special look at the profitable name-dropped and custom gift categories and a special occasion trends story covering St. Patrick’s Day and Easter merchandise.

I hope you enjoy the issue. Please contact me by emailing editorsgnmag@kanec.com or calling 610-645-6040 ext. 0 and I will respond to your note or call personally.

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