Windchimes, Flags and Banners at Beach and Resort Stores

Shoppers at Vision of Eden in Sacramento, Calif., adore the store’s selection of wind chimes. “Ours range from really small ones that cost $14.99 to these giant ones that cost hundreds of dollars,” explained Owner

Donna Tielsch.

At stores that carry the tuneful chimes, a great selection allows every shopper to walk out with something — whether it’s an inexpensive gift or a patio trinket, a musical delight or an eye-catching accent.

“Some people really like chimes that are tuned to the pentatonic scale, so they’re actually making musical notes, not just sound,” Tielsch explained. “Other people come in and say, ‘I need something with a hummingbird on it, or a butterfly or a dragonfly.’ ”

Among the most popular wind chimes at the 2,200-square-foot store are solar models that charge by day and glow by night. “People love them because even if there’s no wind, they look so beautiful in the dark,” Tielsch noted.

Decorative garden flags are also popular at Visions of Eden, especially those of medium dimensions — two

“Some people really like chimes that are tuned to the pentatonic scale, so they’re actually making musical notes, not just sound. Other people come in and say, ‘I need something with a hummingbird on it, or a butterfly or a dragonfly.’ ” by 1.5 feet, which is big enough to make a front yard statement without being unwieldy. Best-selling styles feature pleasant, universal sentiments like “welcome” and designs such as flowers or butterflies.

Natural agate wind chimes suit the rocks-andmineral theme at Crystal Magic, a 2,400-square-foot boutique in Sedona, Ariz. Kathy McMillen , the store’s manager and buyer, sources rocks along with gemstone décor from around the world; displays and light fixtures are all crafted in-house by the store owner.

The top-selling wind chimes are high quality, melodious models from the Woodstock line. But in Sedona, a favorite resort for spiritual seekers, many favor more subtle models from Atelier Zaphir, where the chimes sound from inside hand crafted tubes. “People really like using those for meditation,” McMillen explained. Those same customers also favor Tibetan prayer flags, which the manager called “absolutely our top seller” in the flags and banner category. Crystal Magic also does a brisk business in crystals of all kinds, as well as so-called chakra flags.

Like a number of other flag and banner retailers, McMillen said she had watched sales of inspirational banners decline over the past few years. “We sell fewer every year since I arrived six years ago, and I’m not sure why,” she said.

To sell wind chimes, flags and other outdoor décor, “you have to have put them out where people can touch them, see them and hear them,” Tielsch opined. “Customers will walk by and play with our wind chimes all day long.”

At Kahuku Gift and Garden in Captain Hook, Hawaii, wind chimes do better than banners, which in turn move faster than flags. But all these items find favor among shoppers looking for beachy accents and island memories.

“With flags, your more Hawaiian designs sell better — things like tropical flowers and butterflies,” explained Kahuku Owner Lisa Barsell . All kinds of wind chimes are popular, including those crafted from local

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