Name Programs

Trends in Name Program (From page 126) summer vacationers coming, name-dropped items do very well. Our guests are looking for souvenir items that represent the locations they’ve visited, like key chains and magnets, which we also sell here namedropped.” Like Wurstner and Bannister, Reyes said strong displays are the best way to sell more namedropped products. “Along with displays in the store, we also have a remote gift shop set up right outside the shop, and we put name-dropped items out there to draw even more attention to them. They do very well out there.”

Also in Texas, at the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Kaylin Vansau, gift shop sales associate, offers her take on name-dropped gifts. The shop is volunteer run by the Friends of Ellen Trout Zoo, who work hard to make sure the shop is well-stocked with souvenirs and gifts as well as food and beverage items.

“In the name-dropped category, we have hats, Tshirts, pins, key chains, magnets, coffee mugs, wine glasses, and shot glasses. We have no name-dropped plush,” Vansau said. “Sales are going very well, but to be honest that’s the same as in any year, it’s no different now since the pandemic. Our name-dropped items are a popular part of our sales.” Agreeing with other zoo gift shop staff members, she noted, “Display is by far the best way to sell more name-dropped items. We are a very small shop, and what we do is mix the namedropped items in with others that have no name-drop, but we position our customized items to stand out throughout the store.”

While name-dropped merchandise at zoo gift stores continues to thrive, plush appears to be less likely a candidate for name-dropping than other items, both due to the difficulty in customizing it, and the fact that although they love to purchase plush animals, shoppers don’t have it on their must-have request list for name-dropped or logo items. Apparel and drinkware, small souvenirs and ornaments – those are the most requested name-dropped items by guests. ❖