Surf Expo Special Beach and Resort Report

Taking Home Something (From page 55)

executive vice-president of merchandising for the 1,200-square-foot store, reported that her top selling more expensive gifts include “candles, diffusers, baby gifts, any gift related to wine, and greeting cards, because we carry a lot of various quality brands like Papyrus, and we also make them ourselves, as we have been doing for 43 years.” She proudly noted that the shop has been voted “Best Gift Store on the West Side” for the past nine years. “I’ve had stores in many malls for years, but now we just have this one marina location, it’s a great business with loyal customers.”

In the décor category she said, “We do a lot of sales in signs, many of them are either inspirational or humorous, because people really want to laugh. We also have beach and mermaid signs because of our location. We also sell a lot of Botanical-brand candles, we do absolutely phenomenally with those.

Unlike many other stores, Taplin said she has not been much affected by supply chain problems. “Part of that is because I am known as the ‘queen of the over-buy.’ We always have plenty of merchandise in stock,” she reported. “We make our own or import tissue packs, picture frames, candle holders, some of our inspirational signs and more, so we also always have some of those products in the warehouse.”

But Taplin attested that “The main reason I would say we have no problems is that I have always bought a lot. I have had some items that were backordered, and I forgot I ordered them, and so we ordered again, and now we have plenty. I have been teased that I do so much business at my store because people know that when they come here, I will have the items they are looking for.”

At Within the Wild Winterlake Lodge resort in Anchorage, Alaska, Kirsten Dixon , owner of the seafront gift shop and resort said that among her top-selling high-end gifts, the most popular include sea-glass earrings and sea glass items in general. “We do a lot of local crafts as well as a commercial brand in nice comfy sweaters, called Barefoot Dreams. We also sell a lot of Patagonia gear, and ocean-based products like lotions and creams.” She stressed that “People are buying things that fit the area, that fit the idea of Alaska and being along the ocean coastline. Hopefully every-

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