Resort Show Section

Setting a Stage (From page 38)

In Carolina Beach, N.C., Bob Mather , co-owner of Bungalow By the Sea, uses his store’s décor to create what he calls “a very Tommy Bahama-like interior. The walls are a lovely gold mustard color, and behind the counter we have beautiful palm tree wallpaper. We also have palm trees throughout the store. The look is more tropical overall than out and out beachy,” he reported.

The environment he is trying to create is “Warm and friendly. Really very much like the old Tommy Bahama stores; that’s what we were after for both the look and the vibe.”

The 900-square-foot store’s top selling coastal gifts include a wide range of items. “We do very well with placemats and towels with flamingos and starfish on them; we also sell a lot of December Diamond merman ornaments,” he said, adding that “I am also an artist and I sell some of my coastal paintings, prints, and cards here as well.”

Taylor Deluca , manager of Two Sides of Nature on Anna Marina Island, Fla., related that her store, too, goes for bright colored walls and plenty of palm trees as its main décor. “We also have a lot of big signs throughout the store, retro style signs that have beach maps and sayings like ‘Anna Marina Island – where nothing to do is something,’ ” she said. “They serve as décor and they’re also available for sale. Those are very popular.”

Having a “relaxed, friendly, fun environment with a coastal theme encourages shoppers” to enjoy a visit to the store and make purchases that fit the store’s theme. Top-sellers include “T-shirts with lots of marine themes, towels, cards, and purses, all in coastal themed colors.” There are two separate Two Sides of Nature shops, one that focuses on boutique and gift items, and the other that primarily sells clothing.

In Nags Head, N.C., at Gulf Stream Gifts, Sales Associate Kim , speaking for Store Manager Chris Wolff, described the peaceful and beachy vibes in the coastal shop. “Our walls are painted peach and white; our signage has a dolphin on it, and perhaps most attractively of all, there is a lovely garden.” The garden belongs to the shop owners who live in this building, too. “People see the pretty flowers as soon as they walk in,” Kim said.

Window displays follow the same seaside theme “We have seashells in our front window, which serve as décor and they’re also items that we sell, both individually and in little gift baskets. This adds to the atmosphere,” she said. “We also sell a lot of sun catchers and garden flags that keep things looking cheerful and bright in here.”

The store sees many repeat customers, as well as

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