Top-Selling Gifts at Resort Stores

Besides apparel and accessories, resort gift stores carry an assortment of gifts for guests to buy for themselves, family, or friends. It’s another way for resort guests to capture a treasured vacation and bring some of it home with them.

Valerie O’Donnell, retail manager/buyer for the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., said, “Our logoed items are our top selling gifts. It’s not just our guests who stay at the Ocean House—it’s our neighbors who shop and visit with us on a regular basis all year round. Guests bringing home that special something with the Ocean House on it reminds them of the memories they created while staying with us. And our neighbors who brought friends and family for the day like to take a little something home that reminds them of their day out with good friends and family.”

Kris Granahan, retail manager of Waterfront Gift Shop at The Abbey Resort and Spa in Fontana, Wis., said, “Because of our location, guests want something that reminds them of the water. Nautical is a huge seller for us— decorative sailboats, signs with area coordinates, coasters. Metal garden statuary is also a huge seller for us.”

At Grand Traverse Resort and

Spa in Acme, Mich, Retail Manager Jennifer Kotarski said their best-selling gifts are “our sweatshirt blankets and Resort logoed hoodies.”

Victoria Dow, retail manager/buyer for the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., said locally sourced items, including gifts, are strong sellers at Mirror Lake Inn. Among their most popular prod- ucts—”Pure Placid body products. Pure Placid is a local Lake Placid company that specializes in lotions, candles, oils, and scrubs using water from Lake Placid in their products. They have formulated a scent named Redwood & Lavender exclusively for the Mirror Lake Inn that reminds you of your experience here.” ❖