Special Surf Expo Section

Where Great Gifts (From page 44)

Besides gifts, a category with consistently strong sales, there continues to be a demand for stationery. Handwritten notes had something of a Renaissance during the COVID-19 pandemic; the trend has continued. “Our best-sellers in that category are notepads—both magnetic and the regular, standard notepad,” Briard said. “They’re all Nantucket-themed, custom designs. We thought [stationery sales] would die down for awhile—it’s really moved in the last two years. This year I did very well with stationery—not so much cards or notecards, but the notepads.” Kelliher sells an assortment of notecards bearing inspirational sayings; at Abracadabra, Lodwick said journals are a big item. “We have a wide variety, many with inspiring prompts. We also have a large section devoted to cards, many by Pacific Northwest artists. It’s a great way to buy a small piece of art.”

Grace Cole , owner of Scribe Paper & Gifts in Marblehead, Mass., said some of her stationery items are among her best-selling gifts. She does well with acrylic note cubes, notepads, and letterpress stationery, as well as timeless choices like candles and body care items. “As far as straightforward stationery, the boxed correspondence and notecards—I carry Crane—and an Italian imported box sell great. They retail for $35, which is a great price point. I have people coming in and buying it all the time, so I’m constantly reordering. My invitation business dropped dramatically during the pandemic, but the card business was huge. I would post my favorite cards on social media, and people would come by and do curbside pickup.” She added, “I think the forced separation made people take stock. They realized how impersonal texting is. Getting a handwritten note mixed in with the bills and fliers is such a joy. We really saw how much it makes someone’s day.”

Because of their seasonal nature, many beach gift shops largely cater to tourists. Year-round retailers enjoy additional business from locals; many know their customers personally. “We have about 20,000 people here year-round—in the summer it swells to 60,000,” Briard said of Nantucket. “In the spring and fall, my customers are definitely the day trippers. I just try to keep my merchandise fresh. Because we’re an historic building, we’re limited with what we can do inside. Most of my customers, because I’m very connected to the community, know they can come to me or call me if they

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