Surf Expo Special Beach and Resort Report

Taking Home Something (From page 56)

thing in the store fits that idea.”

In home décor, she said it is primarily art that sells the best. “We sell a lot of local artists whose work is hung around the lodge and in the guest cabins, and guests can purchase it at the gift shop. We also do well with linens, nice quality napkins, and Alaska-made wood products like handmade wooden bowls.”

Like Taplin, Dixon’s gift shop has not been too much affected by supply chain problems, but for different reasons. “So many of our products are local,” she said. “Freight to Alaska is extremely expensive, particularly with new surcharges being added, so I have to be a little bit smarter in terms of the cost of freight for everything.” Dixon added that along with the 300-square-foot shop, Winterlake also has a small café which is more affected with supply chain difficulties than the store. “It’s getting harder for perishable commodities with freight going up, that is definitely the case.”

Overall, despite supply chain concerns, gift shops in beach towns and at resorts are thriving, at least in part due to carrying merchandise that resonates with the community in which they are located. ❖