Stationery

Stationary, Calendars, Frames (From page 49) spectrum for our customers,” Billings said.

Love of Character sells ready-to-use planners and calendars.

“In calendars, we try to find fun ones that have really pretty prints that people like to put in their homes as a pretty accessory and wall décor, and smaller desk size calendars as well,” Billings said.

They carry higher-end gift wrap by independent designers, in a mix of single and continuous rolls.

Small, cute notepads are no brainer purchases for customers to gift to themselves or others.

“They’re an easy gifting item that most people are going to enjoy,” said Billings. “And you’re not dictating someone else’s style by buying a notepad for them.”

It’s not your mother’s gift wrap.

They also produce custom notepads and stationery, which are ideal for teacher’s gifts, graduations, and Christmas gifts where customers have more time to plan their purchase out, Billings said.

In the past year, uplifting designs have been trending in stationery.

“With everything that was going on, people gravitated towards fun colorful patterns–rainbows, smiling faces and funny sayings,” Billings said.

Greeting cards that make someone laugh or smile in a time of hardship have been popular as well, Billings said.

She sees the niche for graphic simplistic designs, which are now on the sidelines, growing in the future in contrast to the bright and loud trend we’re seeing now. ❖

What Are Your Top Tips to Sell More Frames?

At the Gum Tree stores, they slip magazine cut-outs into all of their frames for display, explained Ford. The frames are displayed throughout the shop in various color vignettes.

“If a frame is in a blue vignette for example, we will pick a beautiful photo of a blue oceanscape to tie it all together,” Ford said.

Don’t relegate your frames to the home section, advises McNabb. At JK, they have frames in every section of the store, which has been instrumental in selling more frames. That includes their pet section.

“Some people have fur babies–not everyone has kids,” McNabb said. ❖