HITTING THE SOUVENIR JACKP T

Native American casinos have a successful history in the United States. As of 2011, there were 460 gambling operations run by 240 tribes with a total annual revenue of $27 billion, according to online sources. The stores at these casinos give tribal crafts and gifts a selling home alongside such finds as name-dropped souvenirs. Casino gift stores offer a perfect break from the gaming floor and a chance to pick up mementos of a guest’s trip.

At the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana, the Bayoutique Gift Shop, located in the Seven Clans lobby, keeps shoppers interested with a wide range of gifts and souvenirs. Store Manager Elizabeth K. Childs says the store carries a nice selection of pins, magnets, postcards, mugs, shot glasses, hats, shirts and similar souvenir items. Childs says most souvenir gifts feature the casino’s logo, including specialty Coushatta Casino Resort logo items, while others are Louisiana-themed. There is a second store located directly on the casino floor. “This gives us a variety of retail options that our guests enjoy and support,” she says.

Finding The Right Mix

Bayoutique Gift Shop sources from 15 to 20 different vendors. Two primary vendors are the women-owned It’s Promo Time from Slidell, Louisiana, and W.E. Distributors from Lake Worth, Florida.

“Typically, we attend Atlanta Market, yet the majority of purchases are done one-on-one with different vendors with whom we have great relationships and who search out items they believe will work for us,” she says.

Apparel and accessories are the store’s main focus, across all price ranges.

“We also feature a small, carefully chosen selection of children’s toys, and of course, Coushatta tribal goods, like intricate beadwork items and their world-renowned longleaf pine needle baskets,” Childs says. “Our best-dressed guests will cheerfully confirm that our curated apparel section is very popular.”

Childs says the Bayoutique Gift Shop’s handcrafted tribal merchandise, as well as jackets, shirts and bags, sell well.

“Our patrons enjoy owning and wearing Native American art and/ or accessories and clothing designed, handmade or embellished by tribal artisans to express the creator’s unique cultural designs, plus the knowledge that each purchase supports the arts. The combination of tribal colors makes these items aesthetically pleasing — a desirable addition to home decor and personal wardrobes,” she says.

Impulse buys also have a home at the store. Sunglasses, watches and seasonal goods are displayed at the front of the store and near the checkout area.

The Bayoutique Gift Shop prices range from $1 to $300-plus, with authentic tribal baskets topping $1,200, Childs says.

“Patrons often shop for themselves and friends and family members,” she says. “They like to take a break from the gaming floor and have a different experience away from the casino action, selecting a ‘treasure’ or two as a memento of their trip.”

The hottest trend for 2023, according to Childs, has been gnomes. The flocked bunny for Easter was extremely popular as well, she notes.

Shopping Times Six

At Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina, there are six retail shops across the property to choose from. The six retail stores can be found on the casino floor, in the Creek Tower, in the Cherokee Convention Center and at the River Shops located on the second floor of the casino, according to Harrah’s Retail Manager and Buyer Carolina Stebbins.

Souvenirs generating interest for shoppers include keychains, shot glasses, mugs, stickers and apparel, she says. Visitors can also choose local native jewelry from Cherokee as well as logoed apparel and hats.

“Our customers love that they can purchase our local jewelry that has been curated by our Cherokee crafters,” she says.

Stebbins says the resort overall carries a wide range of products from souvenirs, novelties and gifts to outdoor gear, high-end jewelry and home decor. The bestsellers differ by store, she says. For example, at the Gilded Basket and the Tower Shop, logoed souvenirs and gift items from Darling Affect, Vera Bradley and DM are bestsellers.

For souvenirs on the casino floor, the Gilded Basket offers a variety of Harrah’s logoed merchandise such as shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and glassware. The shop showcases a beautiful selection of locally made Cherokee crafts.

Stebbins says name-dropped clothing is also available at the Tower Shop in the Creek Tower. The store offers sundries, snacks, drinks, tobacco, books, magazines and cards as well as Cherokee crafts, too.

Also a source for logoed apparel is on the second level of the Cherokee Convention Center at the Cherokee Tower Shop. The store also offers sundries, snacks, drinks, tobacco, books, magazines, cards and Cherokee crafts.

The casino’s newest outlets are Cherokee Outdoors and Rivershops Home. Shoppers can browse higher-priced items at Cherokee Outdoors in the River Shops, where there is outdoor gear and clothing from the big brands to the small and undiscovered labels.

At Rivershops Home, shoppers can find the perfect pieces for their homes. The store offers accessories, home decor and gourmet food, and shoppers can browse through brands including Stonewall, Rewind and more, Stebbins says.

At Studio and Swarovski, shoppers find ladies’ apparel, shoes, accessories and sportswear/coordinates with vendors such as Karen Kane and Tribal Sportswear. Inside Studio is Swarovski, which is known for its jewelry, watches, sparkling crystal figurines and home accessories.

An Impulse To Shop

Impulse purchases include snacks, keychains, magnets, name-drop mugs and shot glasses displayed on spinners or near the point of sale, according to Stebbins. Bestsellers include name-drop shot glasses and keychains, and the stores’ prices range from $1.99 to $1,000.

Casino shoppers are buying for themselves and friends and family. “We’ve observed that visitors like to collect items from their visit, and our outlets gory is jewelry, with plated jewelry selling best and sterling silver coming next,” Downey says. are ideal for them as we carry Cherokee souvenir items, casino souvenir items and Great Smoky Mountain-themed souvenir items,” Stebbins says.

Native American-themed merchandise includes handcrafted jewelry and pottery “along with some very popular Native-inspired blankets from Pendleton and Native-made blankets from Eighth Generation,” she says.

Guests can find everything from a logoed deck of cards for 50 cents all the way up to blankets, pottery and jewelry in the $200-to-$300 range at the store, Downey says. Some shoppers are buying for themselves, while others are purchasing gifts for friends and family.

Merchandise is sourced at trade shows or through vendors on the road, and Stebbins attends the Smoky Mountain Gift Show, IGES and Atlanta Market. She says guests are “really looking for more local artisans in all categories.”

Gifts From The Great Lakes State

Gifts with a Michigan theme or with a casino logo sell well for the shop at the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg, Michigan. The store is located near the main entrance of the gaming floor, says Brandy Downey, guest relations supervisor.

The merchandise mix additionally includes gifts with a Native American theme and sterling silver and plated jewelry. Handbags, northern Michigan wine and snacks are also offered.

Apparel is the current bestselling category, she says. “Logoed clothing is a little more popular than our Michigan-themed clothing. Our gift and accessories category are next with everyday gift items selling best and Michigan-themed gifts and accessories close behind. Our third bestselling cate-

“We get people who are in the area for the first time and are just stopping in, or it is their first time at a casino, and they want something to commemorate their visit, or someone brought a friend for a special occasion, or they promised to bring something back for a family member,” she says of shoppers’ motivations.

Souvenir and gift purchases are made easy with highly accessible stores at casinos. For Native American casinos, handcrafted tribal gifts are hot-selling options, while name-dropped souvenirs sell quickly. It is all in a day’s work for the store managers and buyers who keep the sales floors stocked with the best merchandise choices for tourists and locals alike.