What to Do With Lingering Leftovers

At the end of a park’s season, it’s common to have a few stragglers left on the clothing rack. And once an item has been picked through, it can be difficult to get the last ones sold. So what’s a shop to do?

When he has apparel left over, Eric Bertch, owner of Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo, Iowa, will put it on sale the following season. “We have little trouble going through our inventory,” he said.

Isherrie Dunk, retail assistant manager at Pier Gear, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier in California, said the 700-square-foot shop rotates apparel weekly and oftentimes a few stragglers are left. “We create a last-chance rack for guest to grab and go,” she said.

Jennifer Vance, retail manager and buyer, Timber Ridge Lodge & Water- park, Lake Geneva, Wis., said buying merchandise in smaller amounts helps avoid having excess stock in the first place.

When Ryan Burke, general manager, DeSoto Caverns, Childersburg, Ala., has extra items at his 1,500-square-foot store, he finds new ways to display them in a more appealing way, offers discounts to try and push the item, or has team members promote the item by wearing it to catch guests’ attention.

A few weeks before the end of the season, Jessie Hayes, group sales manager, Raging Rivers Waterpark, Grafton, Ill., said her shop has a blow-out sale and discounts merchandise. Afterward, not much is left in the store. ❖ seasonal businesses when hit with unexpected demand.”

Dunk said the most unique items sell best. Soaps from Luna Los Angeles’ vegan collection have creative sayings that are hard to leave behind. “You don’t often see bars of soap in a souvenir store, but the delightful smell and creative wording always grabs guests’ attention,” she said. The shop also sells tons of small dishes by Down to Earth. These simple yet universal dishes are mostly used for jewelry placement, but can be used in many other ways.

Sales of swimming goggles by Bling2o for $10 have shocked Vance. “They are priced well and are packaged in a clear case,” she said. “Sales have been incredible.”

When she took a chance on cotton candy, Hayes wasn’t sure how it would be received at her 780-square-foot shop. She was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s a popular seller. “It’s great when someone gets a sweet tooth and it’s priced affordably,” she said. ❖