What’s Sure-Selling and What’s Not So

Successful

Name-dropped and Custom Products at a Selection of Nature-Oriented Stores

By Carimé Lane

Name-dropped apparel takes first place as the best-selling name-dropped and custom product at the caves, caverns and public lands partner stores that were interviewed for this article. Read on to hear more about their best-selling name-dropped and custom items, along with some of their unexpected successful–and less successful–merchandise purchases.

Apparel, especially T-shirts, are the top selling name-dropped items at the approximately 1,200-square-foot Polar Caves gift shop in Rumney, N.H., said Alex Templar , general manager. He said guests of all demographics can easily pick up a T-shirt and take a part of their experience home with them. As well, purchasing clothing is a way for guests to “show off” an activity or place they’ve experienced. The Polar Caves also has established a history. In 2022, the business will be 100. As a result, anything with their name on it sells well, Templar said.

The Polar Caves gift shop has been conservative with their ordering during Covid, Templar said. However, they were surprised to see an increase in their sales of tie-dyed items. “I think people are looking for a little shot of something to be happy and excited about right now,” Templar said.

They’ve seen a decrease in sales of gifts in general (not name-dropped or custom items), even before COVID started, Templar said. But custom and name-dropped sales are still going strong. However, in the summer, sales of black T-shirts go down.

If an item isn’t selling, the shop holds onto it for two years at most. At that point, Templar said they’ll start to incrementally discount items that aren’t selling, while still trying to recoup their costs.

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society in Sanibel Island, Fla., has two gift shops that are 1,500-squarefeet each. Apparel and hats are the best-selling name-dropped items here, said Ann-Marie Wildman ,