A range of themed retail experiences remind guests to “create memories worth repeating” at Dollywood.
RESORT
GIFTS AND SOUVENIRS THAT MAKE SALES SOAR
Resort gift shops have a solid buying strategy to appeal to new and returning guests.
PERSONALIZED GIFTS THAT GO THE DISTANCE
Learn what personalized gifts and souvenirs are selling out at destination retail locations. STICKERS, PINS AND PATCHES ARE ALL THE RAGE
Find out how to take these small souvenirs to the next level in your store.
COVER STORY
EDITOR’S LETTER
Give your customers a souvenir story to tell.
RETAILER ROADMAP
Discover the stores featured in this issue.
NEWS BRIEF
Zoos debut new gift shops, Wayne Carver adds to portfolio and more.
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR
Make plans to attend these upcoming trade shows.
TRADE SHOW NEWS
Coverage from past and upcoming trade shows.
Dollywood has an assortment of 30 shops placed throughout the park. The range of themed retail experiences remind guests to “create moments worth repeating” when they visit Dollywood Parks and Resorts.
Special Section: Smoky Mountain Gift Show Product previews and exhibiting advertisers. 50 62 74
SOUVENIR
FOCUS: Resort Shops
People love going to resorts for relaxation since these destinations provide them with everything they need, including gifts and souvenirs to take home. A mix of name-dropped souvenirs and unique gifts appeal to new and returning visitors.
8 10 12 18 20 28 30 32 34 142 144 146
ATTRACTION ACTION
Make the work environment fun, rewarding and celebratory.
SAVVY SHOPKEEPING
Follow these proactive measures to prevent stockouts.
TREND TALK
Consider these trends for relaxing health-and-wellness products.
FRESH IDEAS
Bears; games & puzzles; keychains; camping; and butterflies.
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Get fresh new product ideas for your store.
AD INDEX
Easily locate an advertiser’s ad and website.
SUNSHINE AWARD
Sustainability and conservation are front and center at Zoo Atlanta.
ON THE ROAD: Heart on Main Street
Learn about shops in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas and Oklahoma.
NEXT EXIT: Troll Hole
This destination retailer is chock full of all-things troll.
PRODUCT TREND: Personalized Souvenirs
Gifts that have a person’s name on them can rack up sales.
MERCHANDISING: Plush Toys at Aquariums
These shops take pride in how they display ever-popular plush.
RETAIL SPOTLIGHT: Canyon Rim Gifts
The store offers fascinating tokens that remind people of West Virginia.
PRODUCT TREND: Zoo Apparel
Guests can shop mindfully for clothing that reflects zoo values.
RETAILER SPOTLIGHT: Blue Pebbles
The Lake Tahoe shop sets the tone for relaxation and recreation.
PRODUCT TREND: Drinkware
People love collecting all kinds of drinkware while on vacation.
THEME FOCUS: General Stores
These stores remind people of simpler times.
RETAILER SPOTLIGHT: On the Bay
This bistro and boutique makes for a winning combination.
Tap into the timeless popularity of these souvenirs.
A story to tell
When we started producing Souvenirs, Gifts and Novelties, all these memories came flooding back to me of places I’ve visited and the souvenirs I picked up along the way. I used to travel extensively to trade shows for work and I’d buy a magnet from every city I visited. It only took a couple of years for one side of my fridge to be almost completely covered with magnets from Las Vegas, Atlanta, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach and many other popular trade show destinations.
Then there was the time I went to Amsterdam for a conference in 2010. As my flight was about to depart at Schiphol Airport, it dawned on me that I didn’t know when and if I would ever return to Amsterdam. I went to the nearest airport gift store and stocked up on as many magnets, ceramic clog figurines, Dutch dolls and anything else that I could fit in my carry-on before my flight.
Going back to my childhood, I even remember the Mickey ears I got on my first trip to Disney World at age four that had my name embroidered on the back. Then there was also the time at age 12 that my mom insisted on bringing a large bunch of dried chili peppers back from Arizona to Pennsylvania with us.
We made quite the scene at Cleveland Hopkins Airport during a torrential downpour. My mother, not wanting to get her prized chili peppers wet, had my older sister give up her bright orange windbreaker to zip around the peppers as we trounced through deep puddles on our way to the car.
You make a lasting impact on your customers. They see items they purchase from you all the time, reminding them of the places they’ve visited. Like me, your customers might not know when they will be back, but you can find ideas in the following pages that will help them keep those memories close by. SGN
Published six times a year by: Breakwall Publishing LLC 3593 Medina Rd. #117, Medina, OH 44256 800-705-6833
BRIAN SKEPTON SALES MANAGER brian@breakwallpublishing.com 800-705-6833, Ext. 703 Direct: 689-257-4377
LEE WHITE SALES MANAGER lee@breakwallpublishing.com 800-705-6833, Ext. 707 Direct: 215-798-3878
CIRCULATION
GREGORY WOLF, RUSSELL MARTH
Entire contents copyright 2024 Breakwall Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
BreakwallPublishing
Arkansas State Capitol
Gift Shop
Little Rock, AR
Courtney Young
Blue Pebbles
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Cassi Selders
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, TN
Brandon Smith
Sandy Doherty
Elmwood Park Zoo
Norristown, PA
Jamie Sheard
Fishtail General Store
Fishtail, MT
Katy Martin
Fontana Village Resort
Fontana Dam, NC
Greg Brown
I Love DC Gifts
Washington, DC
Khalid Ismail
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Kansas City, MO
April Terranella
Lake Lawn Resort
Delavan, WI
Sue Phelps
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Juno Beach, FL
Jessi Louw
Bev Singer
Love from USA Group
Shoreview, MN
Anne Kennedy
Marine Mammal Care Center
Los Angeles, CA
Kathy Lee
HAVE A STORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
We would love to hear from you! Email Kristin Ely at kristin@breakwallpublishing.com.
Odysea
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Patrick Turner
Okanogan-Wenatchee
Kittitas County, WA
Judy Wilson
Old Riverton Store
Riverton, KS
Scott Nelson
Old Town Gifts
San Diego, CA
Irina Darrin
On the Bay
New Baltimore, MI
Cher Bell
Joe Young
Palm Island Resort
Placida, FL
Orchid Fernandez
Plenty Mercantile
Oklahoma City, OK
Traci Walton
National Forest Camp Store
Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties interviews retailers in popular destinations all over the United States. These are the stores featured in the September-October 2024 issue.
Reid Park Zoo
Tucson, AZ
Kimberley Rohr
Rim Canyon Gifts
Lansing, WV
Jennifer O’Dell
Kim Toney
Seattle Aquarium
Seattle, WA
Jasmine Ramirez
Texas Treasures
Dallas, TX
Brandi Allen
Troll Hole Alliance, OH
Sherry Groom
Yellowstone Gift Shop
Cody, WY
Joe Stringari
Zeb’s General Store
North Conway, NH
Ray Boutin
Zoo Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Jessica Horn
Wayne Carver adds Purr-Fection by MJC to portfolio
Wayne Carver, a manufacturer of a wide range of gifts and souvenirs, has announced the newest addition to its company, Purr-Fection by MJC.
In 1995, Wayne Carver made its first venture into the souvenir market by selling handcrafted wooden lighter sleeves. Since then, Wayne Carver has experienced continuous growth, driven by a manufacturing philosophy focused on the ability to personalize products on demand. Family-owned and operated, Wayne Carver has brought innovative ideas to the souvenir and gift industry, earning a reputation as a leader in personalized products.
Also family-owned and operated, Purr-Fection has been providing quality plush products at exceptional value since 1987. Purr-Fection ensures that its plush products are made from the finest modern fabrics at an affordable price. The company’s extensive knowledge of the souvenir industry and the plush market complements Wayne Carver’s expertise.
“As the owner of a family business, I am proud to call the souvenir industry our home,” says Warren Slabaugh, owner or Wayne Carver. “With that being the case, we have also enjoyed growing from a mostly name program company to being able to offer more general souvenirs. We see Purr-Fection as an exciting opportunity to expand even more on what we can offer our customers. Plush is a core product of the souvenir business and we look forward to providing that need.”
Craig Helmholz, Purr-Fection’s former owner, will continue to work with Wayne Carver in a sales and management capacity for Purr-Fection.
“Wayne carver has always had a great reputation in the souvenir industry,” says Helmholz. “They are known for quality products and service at a competitive price. More importantly, their family values, tireless effort, and work ethics carry through the workplace and to their customers. We quickly realized the similarities of our two companies. We are very excited for the opportunity to provide innovative products to the industry that we have all enjoyed for nearly four decades.”
Slabaugh says the addition of Purr-Fection represents a dedication to offering a diverse range of products that meet the evolving needs of the market.
Kip Zsupnik joins Leanin‘ Tree as chief revenue officer
Leanin‘ Tree Inc., Boulder, Colorado, has announced that gift industry veteran Kip Zsupnik has joined its leadership team as chief revenue officer. Zsupnik will lead the sales & marketing and customer service teams at the company.
Zsupnik brings over 30 years of experience in sales, manufacturing, product development and importing with him. “I am thrilled at the opportunity and eager to contribute to a company with such a rich heritage in the greeting card and gift industry, alongside an innovative and dynamic team,” says Zsupnik.
Little League
International debuts flagship store
Little League International Complex in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, debuted a new flagship store on-site in August, tied to the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series that same month.
The new store replaces the complex’s Main Gift Shop and Third-Base Store. Delaware North Sportservice has partnered with Little League International to operate the new store as well as to manage retail and e-commerce for the organization. Delaware North Sportservice has also been managing concessions at the complex since 2002.
The new 6,000-square-foot flagship store includes extra retail space, enhanced customer flow as well as areas for staff offices and warehousing for inventory and e-commerce operations.
Little League International says the new retail space provides World Series fans and other visitors with a one-stop shopping experience. From apparel and caps to pins, the new store serves as a go-to spot for families around the world coming to the complex.
Elmwood Park Zoo debuts new welcome center and gift shop
In Norristown, Pennsylvania, the Elmwood Park Zoo has debuted a new welcome center that includes a gift shop, veterinary health center and administrative offices. The nearly 32,000-square-foot building opened to zoo members June 24 and to the public June 27.
Jamie Sheard, associate director for guest services at Elmwood Park Zoo, says the new welcome center is part of the zoo’s master development plan to expand the zoo and its facilities. Sheard notes that the zoo began working on details for the new welcome center and expansion plans in 2018, with a goal to finalize expansions over a 15-year time span.
He adds that a $42 million private donation helped to speed up expansion plans to a 10-year time span and finish the welcome center quickly.
“We broke ground on the welcome center last April and opened this June,” he says. “So in 14 months, the whole building was built and ready for operation. It was a quick timeline.”
Sheard adds that this year marks the zoo’s 100th anniversary. “Timing for the new welcome center and gift shop was perfect since the zoo is celebrating its 100th anniversary.”
Prior to the debut of the new welcome center, Elmwood Park Zoo featured a 1,000-square-foot gift shop. With the new facility, Sheard says the gift shop has quadrupled in size to about 4,000 square feet.
“We’re really excited about it,” he says. “We’re able to merchandise better than before and we were able to bring in new fixtures and make the space better tie into themes at the zoo.”
ExplorUS opens retail store at Lake Kachess
ExplorUS, a national provider of concession services in national and state parks based in Overland Park, Kansas, has opened a camp store at Lake Kachess in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which is in Kittitas County, Washington.
The new store opened June 7. ExplorUS says the new store offers camping and hiking items as well as souvenirs such as sweatshirts, hats, games, toys and sunglasses.
According to ExplorUS, campers have a long drive to the nearest store, which is about 30 miles away from Lake Kachess. The provider notes that a trip to the store may take campers several hours. Having a store on-site alleviates those issues as the shop will offer some essentials for tourists, such as drinks, ice, sunscreen, bug repellent and snacks.
Judy Wilson, forest manager for ExplorUS, shares that the new camp store has been successful since it opened in early June. She adds that this is the first time ExplorUS has opened a camp store.
Sourcing new products and connecting with industry-leading wholesalers is now just a click away! Check out some of the leading brands you’ll be able to explore!
• A.T. Storrs Ltd.
• Amish Craft
• Art by Elowyn
• Avalon Meat Candy
• Ben Kaufman
• Better Magnets
• Capsmith
• Desperate Enterprises
• Dune Jewelry
• Dutch American
• EarthArt International
• First & Main
• Great Lakes Gifts Show
• Impulse Souvenirs
• Laser Gifts
• Little Critterz
• Melody Caban Consulting
• Moonbridge Marketing
• Mountain Graphics
• Natural Selections
• Ocean Jewelry Store
• Pennybandz
• Purr-Fection by MJC
• Retail Rehab
• Rudolph & Me
• Silver Streak
• SJT Enterprises
• Signs 4 Fun
• Souvenir Avanti
• Souvenir Source
• Stuffed States
• The Beach and Back
• Touchstone Distributing
• Town Pride
• Trees to Seas
• Wayne Carver
• Wikki Styx
• Wildthings Snap-Ons
• Xplorer Maps
• Zizo USA
Turtle Cove Gift Shop opens at Kansas City Zoo’s new Sobela Ocean Aquarium
Turtle Cove Gift Shop has opened as a brand new shop at the Kansas City Zoo in honor of the zoo’s latest attraction, the Sobela Ocean Aquarium.
After nearly five years of planning and a year of sourcing apparel, headwear, plushies and other products, Retail Operations Manager April Terranella says the priority was to maximize space in the 900-square-
foot store to provide an engaging variety of souvenirs.
A focal point of the planning: designing displays around the shop’s showpiece, a suspended sea turtle from the zoo’s Lantern Festival. “We had to be sure we had proper supports in the infrastructure regarding electrical because it lights up and its little flippers move,” she says.
The festive turtle “oversees” the entry display table and sets the tone for a playful experience at Turtle Cove, where there’s no lack of allthings-turtle, from drinkware to custom-bagged candies.
Slat walls and counterspace house apparel from T-shirts and hoodies to hats. Popular motifs aside from turtles include sharks and sea otters. Ev-
ery piece is namedrop and includes artwork on feel-good material.
Products were also sourced with sustainability in mind, aligning with the zoo and aquarium’s mission. “That may be using a recycled material or working with companies that refined their printing process to use less water,” says Terranella.
The Sobela Ocean Aquarium is home to nearly 8,000 animals in 34 habitats showing how ocean currents connect animals across the globe.
Terranella says, “Everyone loves it, and we motor through a lot of products in the gift shop, which is really exciting. Now, we work on keeping the products fresh so returning guests can continue to find new things.”
Sincere Surroundings cleans up from flash flooding
When heavy rainfall hit northwest Iowa in late June, many homes and businesses flooded in the region. Sincere Surroundings, a provider of home decor and personalized gifts based in Rock Rapids, Iowa, was one of the many businesses that flooded in late June.
Sincere Surroundings Owner Michelle Leuthold says over a foot of water covered the company’s entire building, covering equipment and lower inventory with muddy water.
“Our city has never experienced something of this magnitude in its history,” she says. “Businesses and homes were lost, and the damage is completely mind-blowing.”
In early July, Sincere Surroundings’ team members as well as
volunteers pitched in to clean up the building. Leuthold says technicians also helped to recover as much of the wholesaler’s equipment as possible.
“The cleaning process has been a huge undertaking,” Leuthold notes. “We’ve had hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours that went into cleanup and recovery. Everything was removed from the building, washed off. Damaged product was disposed of.”
Leuthold adds that she’s grateful for progress made in the cleanup efforts in July.
“People came from as far as eight hours away to help with our cleanup and recovery,” she says. “It’s humbling to receive this much help.”
As of mid-July, Sincere Sur-
roundings had all of its necessary equipment up and running to restart production and begin shipping orders again.
OCT. 22-25
Dallas Apparel & Accessories
Dallas www.dallasmarketcenter.com
NOV. 5-7
International Gift Exposition in the Smokies
Sevierville, Tennessee www.iges.us
NOV. 6-9
Smoky Mountain Gift Show Gatlinburg, Tennessee www.smokymtngiftshow.com
DEC. 8-11
Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Show Myrtle Beach, South Carolina www.grandstrandgiftshow.com
SEPTEMBER
SEPT. 5-7
Surf Expo Orlando, Florida www.surfexpo.com
SEPT. 10-11
New England Made Giftware & Specialty Food Show Boxborough, Massachusetts www.nemadeshows.com
Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas www.dallasmarketcenter.com
SEPT. 17-20
Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show Las Vegas www.lvsouvenirshow.com
SEPT. 25-27
Panama City Beach Gift Show Panama City Beach, Florida www.pinnacle-shows.com
OCTOBER
OCT. 4-6
GTS Greensboro Expo Greensboro, North Carolina www.gtshows.com
OCT. 6-8
Minneapolis Mart Home & Gift Show Minneapolis www.mplsmart.com
OCT. 7-8
Seattle Mart Fall Show
Seattle www.seattlemart.com
OCT. 7-9
CMC LA Market Week
Los Angeles www.californiamarketcenter.com
OCT. 7-10
The Gathering Orlando, Florida www.thegatheringevent.com
OCT. 11-13
Corpus Christi Souvenir & Resort Show Corpus Christi, Texas www.pinnacle-shows.com
OCT. 15-18
Atlanta Apparel Atlanta www.atlanta-apparel.com
OCT. 22-24
Northern New England Gift & Souvenir Show
Bartlett, New Hampshire northern-new-england-gift-and-souvenir-show.ueniweb.com
OCT. 27-29 Trendz
West Palm Beach, Florida www.trendzshow.com
NOVEMBER
NOV. 6-8
Las Vegas Market – Fall Sample Sale Las Vegas www.lasvegasmarket.com/year-round/ off-market-events
NOV. 6-9
International Gift Exposition in the Smokies Pigeon Forge, Tennessee www.iges.us
NOV. 11-13
Atlanta Market – Fall Cash & Carry
Atlanta www.americasmart.com/markets/ fall-cash-and-carry
NOV. 13-15
Ocean City Resort Gift Expo Ocean City, Maryland www.oceancitygiftshow.com
The Toy Association and People of Play announce merger
The Toy Association has announced that People of Play and its assets will be merging into the association and that Mary Couzin, founder of People of Play, will be joining the senior leadership team at the association. Couzin will be responsible for guiding the future and growth of this new addition to the association, effective immediately.
People of Play’s wide range of assets and events, including Chicago Toy and Game Fair, The Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs), the Bloom Report, Young Inventor Challenge, Toy & Game Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Play in Education and POP Platforms, and the People of Play Holiday Guide, will join The Toy Association’s portfolio of worldclass events including Toy Fair New York, LA Fall Preview and The Toy Foundation’s Toy of the Year Awards. Couzin shares, “Who knew that over 20 years ago, when I started Chicago Toy & Game Group, now People of Play, and hosted our first big event, the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, to promote play, we would add so many events and initiatives
as well as have such an amazing, long-lasting effect on the industry. By joining The Toy Association with their additional resources and new vision, we can strengthen our brands for generations to come. I’m thrilled that People of Play will continue to grow and flourish and want to thank everyone who has been a part of our initiatives. As we have shown, everything is possible when people of play collaborate.”
Additionally, the 22nd annual holiday Chicago Toy and Game Fair, North America's largest consumer toy & game fair, will take place on Nov. 9-10 in Rosemont, Illinois. The event is open to the public with experiential and immersive events and interactive exhibits and activities for all ages.
Michael Hale to host VIP workshop at Coastal Connections Conference
The Coastal Connections Conference is pleased to announce that it is offering a special new VIP registration option for those who want to take advantage of additional networking and educational opportunities ahead of the Feb. 11-12 event at Margaritaville Resort Orlando.
The highlight of the VIP registration is a two-hour workshop featuring Michael Hale, owner of design consulting firm Retail Rehab, an attendee favorite who has a wealth of experience with planning and designing retail spaces. Included in the VIP registration package is a VIP dinner Feb. 10, a VIP breakfast Feb. 11, followed by the two-hour workshop from 10 a.m. to noon.
With 30 years of experience in various retail capacities, Hale and his
team make retail spaces more functional and productive. Retail Rehab clients include Princess Cruises, Loews Resorts, Sheraton Hotels and the Inis retail store in Huntington Beach, California.
During VIP workshop: Creating Dynamic Displays, attendees will get their creative juices flowing with a hands-on workshop led by Hale designed to invigorate their store displays.
“His sessions at our previous conferences have helped attendees gain a competitive edge in their store displays,” says Kristin Ely, Coastal Connections Conference director. “Being able to expand on that during a two-hour long workshop will be invaluable to coastal retailers.”
Hale adds, “Both my workshop
and main conference session ‘Profit Producing Spaces,’ will leave you with new and valuable techniques and strategies that can be immediately implemented to breathe new life into your store’s offerings and increase sales.”
For more information on the Coastal Connections Conference, workshop and VIP registration, visit coastalconnectionsconference.com.
Michael Hale, owner of Retail Rehab, will host the Creating Dynamic Displays workshop.
Summer 2024 Atlanta Market sparks optimism in gift and home industries
Atlanta Market ignited confidence among buyers and exhibitors as over 6,000 brands offered unparalleled opportunities for expanded product exploration, setting the stage for a promising 2025. Attendees also benefited from a robust schedule of educational and social events that fostered vital industry connections at the July 16-22 market at AmericasMart Atlanta.
“Despite current economic challenges, positive results from Atlanta Market’s Summer 2024 edition provided a symbol of promise for year-end as well as early 2025,” said Jon Pertchik, ANDMORE CEO.
Atlanta Market welcomed a diverse cross-section of buyers, including attendees from all 50 states and nearly 50 international countries. ANDMORE said this market saw a significant increase in apparel buyers, up 8% compared with last summer. The show also featured 70 updates to the 1,000-plus gift and home showrooms across the market.
The Winter 2025 Atlanta Market will run Jan. 14-20, 2025, at AmericasMart Atlanta.
Las Vegas Market’s Summer Edition highlights industry unity and resilience
Buyers and sellers at the recent Las Vegas Market shared optimism for post-election recovery fueled by innovation and customer connections, despite current economic challenges facing the home furnishings and gift industries. The Summer 2024 edition of Las Vegas Market ran July 28–Aug. 1 at World Market Center Las Vegas.
“The summer shows, including Las Vegas Market, have been a remarkable demonstration of the industry’s adaptability and resilience,” said Jon Pertchik, CEO of ANDMORE. “As we navigate through economic headwinds, it’s clear that our shared commitment and innovative approaches will guide us towards a brighter future.”
With 30% of the total attendees being first-time visitors to Las Vegas Market, the event delivered on the opportunity for showrooms and exhibitors to meet new buyers and open new accounts.
At the conclusion of the market, a sense of renewed energy and strategic focus signaled a more resilient future for the industry. The Winter 2025 Las Vegas Market runs Jan. 26-30 at World Market Center Las Vegas.
Great Lakes Boutique & Gift Show gains momentum
The Great Lakes Boutique & Gift Show is gaining momentum among buyers and vendors alike. As of late summer, Great Lakes Promotions’ event sold out of the initial exhibitor space it has to offer at the Kalamazoo Convention Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
“All 100 exhibitor booths were booked, and the show is moving to the main expo hall, adding another 20 exhibitor booths, which are filling fast,” explains Eric Howard, owner and event manager with Great Lakes Promotions.
Howard says the company’s strong marketing campaigns helped to increase the show’s brand nationally. The show will also have exhibitors from across the country.
The Great Lakes Boutique & Gift Show will feature a large selection of merchandise for buyers, including gift lines, souvenirs, apparel, bath & body, home decor, outdoor & garden, bags, gourmet foods, jewelry, books, stationery and more.
The new show will debut Feb. 25-27, 2025, at the Kalamazoo Convention Center. Registration and more information is available at www.greatlakesgiftshow.com.
Dallas Market Center announces changes at Total Home & Gift Market
Following record-setting markets showcasing more temporary exhibitors than in a decade, Dallas Market Center has announced the evolution of the Temps at Total Home & Gift Market for its January 2025 event. The reimagined show will create new, inspiring destinations for buyers and more space for growth categories.
For the upcoming event, the World Trade Center 11th floor will be the expansive new destination for order writing Apparel, Jewelry and Fashion Accessories. In addition, the 11th floor debuts a curated collection of top-end fashion and accessories lines in the show’s newest collection, BOUTIQUE. Dallas Market Center says this floor will unite top brands of trending merchandise.
The Trade Mart 1 Pavilion will expand its number of temporary booths and will be exclusively a juried collection of exhibitors in fine gifts, home accents and tabletop. The floorplan also has been redesigned to provide more aisleway exposure and heightened traffic flow.
The Temps at Total Home & Gift Market will take place Jan. 8-11, 2025, at Dallas Market Center.
BY TOMMY BROWN
RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION
Finding or retaining team members can be difficult for many attraction retailers, but it shouldn’t be. When viewing one’s team, ensure positive drivers are in place. The leader creates the environment — whether it be good or bad, they set the tone for the team. Make your work environment fun, rewarding and celebratory!
As the leader of your location, always recognize the person first, then the job tasks. We should never take humanity out of the workplace.
RECOGNIZE YOUR TEAM MEMBERS
In the morning always greet each member of the team — ask how they are doing and find out how you may help them, if help is needed. Say “thank you” to everyone at the end of each shift.
In the morning always greet each member of the team — ask how they are doing and find out how you may help them, if help
is needed.
A little appreciation goes a long way after a hard day of work. Always celebrate team members’ birthdays, as this recognition shows you care about them as individuals and not just their job performance. Also, be flexible and understand that their personal lives matter. Make their schedule two to three weeks in advance and allow them to take time off and trade shifts. A flexible workplace is a happy workplace.
SET STORE GOALS AND CELEBRATE VICTORIES
Team members must know and understand what they are working toward. Always celebrate when goals are reached or exceeded. Post the goals in your location so they are seen daily in the store. Also, assign personal goals to your team members and add these to their yearly review form.
Review forms should contain goals and expectations. They should be reviewed quarterly, as a year-end review should not contain any surprises. Fairness in reviews, recognition and pay should always be top of mind when presenting these to your team members.
PEER RECOGNITION PROGRAMS
The leader should not be the only one seeing positive behaviors within a team. Give the team a program where they can officially recognize one another. Again, recognitions should be celebrated! Sometimes you will be amazed at what your team does when you are not watching them.
PROVIDE POSITIVE RECOGNITION
Reinforce your store’s standards with positive recognition. For example, if you have a tardiness issue within your team, create a program that rewards team members for not being late. If a team member has not been late for three months, give them a half day off with pay.
Lastly, give your guests a voice to recognize your team members. Have comment cards available and encourage guests to recognize your team members. A guest compliment can be the best recognition. After all, they are the reason we have jobs in retail. SGN
TOMMY BROWN been in RETAIL MANAGEMENT for over 30 years. He has worked for Dillard’s, Sears, and Six Flags Inc. and is currently with the SAINT LOUIS ZOO. He is a past ZAG vice president and can be reached at tbrown@stlzoo.org.
BY KATHY CRUZ
TIPS TO STOP PRODUCT STOCKOUTS
Is your busy season coming to an end? If so, consider how often you ran out of a product during the busy season. Whether you’re a new or experienced gift shop owner, stockouts happen.
A stockout occurs when a retailer runs out of a product that customers want to purchase. Stockouts can hurt independent retailers because they lead to lost sales, decreased customer satisfaction and sometimes damage to a store’s reputation. Frequent stockouts can also drive customers to competitors, eroding a retailer’s customer base and potentially impacting long-term profitability.
Store owners can take proactive measures to avoid the potential problems caused by stockouts.
However, store owners can take proactive measures to avoid the potential problems caused by stockouts.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT + REPLENISHMENT
Invest in a reliable inventory management system to track stock levels in real-time. Sometimes these systems can manage stock across multiple locations.
Retailers can also use the software to set reorder points. Use this feature in your system to alert you if your stock is low or at a level where it’s an ideal time to reorder.
To quickly replenish, keep a buffer stock (safety stock) in your storage room and warehouse to protect against unexpected demand surges or supply chain disruptions.
DEMAND FORECASTING
Analyzing sales data can help you predict future demand. Look for patterns and trends, such as peak tourist seasons or popular souvenir items. Offer exclusive products that can only be found in your shop. Local makers in your community or online might offer this type of service. When you establish a relationship with them, they can provide unique souvenirs that showcase local culture, landmarks or traditions.
Sell-through rate is a key metric for store owners that measures percentage of inventory sold within a specific period. Check your point-of-sale or inventory system to see if this is a metric that is provided in your reports.
SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS
Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure timely deliveries and better terms. Having reliable suppliers can reduce lead times and help you manage inventory effectively.
Avoid relying on a single supplier, though. Having multiple suppliers reduces the risk of stockouts. Maintain relationships with backup suppliers who can step in if your primary suppliers face issues.
I want you to be set up for success in managing your shop’s cash flow. By being proactive, especially during peak seasons, you can avoid stockouts.
Not only will you improve cash flow, but you’ll also ensure you’re consistently meeting customer demand and maintaining a positive shopping experience. SGN
KATHY CRUZ is a RETAIL BUSINESS COACH and host of the SAVVY SHOPKEEPER RETAIL PODCAST. Reach her via email at: kathy@savvyshopkeeper.com. Learn more on her website, www.savvyshopkeeper.com, and Instagram, @savvyshopkeeper.
BY MELODY CABAN
THE TOP TRENDS FOR WELLNESS PRODUCTS
Between work deadlines, family demands and information overload, it is no wonder self-care has become a priority for many people. Gift shops can cater to this booming trend with a range of products that promote mental and emotional well-being. Here is a look at hot trends that go beyond relaxation, providing customers with tools for self-discovery, stress management and overall well-being.
MULTISENSORY TREATS
Multisensory products offer great self-care benefits. Weighted lap pads are smaller, more portable versions of weighted blankets. These lap pads provide deep pressure stimulation for on-the-go relaxation and stress reduction. They are perfect for use at a desk, while reading or even while traveling.
Also consider scented products. Smell is a powerful sense that can evoke emotions and memories.
Also consider scented products. Smell is a powerful sense that can evoke emotions and memories. Scented journals and notebooks infused with calming scents like lavender or chamomile offer a subtle sensory reminder to focus and unwind throughout the day. The trend extends beyond stationery, with scented items available in a variety of categories such as office supplies, hair care products and jewelry.
MINDFULNESS GAMES
Interactive mindfulness games are all the rage! Made for either groups or solo play, these games provide fun prompts, challenges and activities that encourage positive affirmations, reflection and connection. Look for options in various formats, from pocket-sized card packs to larger games perfect for family game night.
TECH MEETS WELLNESS
Some tech items also offer relaxation to customers. Consider smart diffusers. These allow users to customize settings, schedule diffusions and create personalized aromatherapy experiences. Light therapy lamps are another popular choice for combating the seasonal blues and promoting better sleep patterns.
FOOD AND DRINK
Some food and drink also promote self-care. Look for chocolates infused with adaptogens like Ashwagandha or Lion’s Mane mushroom, known for their stress-reducing and focus-enhancing qualities.
There is also a rise in nonalcoholic beverages infused with botanicals and adaptogens. These drinks offer people with alternatives to sodas or alcoholic beverages, promoting relaxation or focus, depending on the ingredients.
The popularity of these self-care trends goes beyond aesthetics. These tools offer a tangible way to prioritize well-being, making them thoughtful and relevant choices for today’s gift givers. SGN
MELODY CABAN is founder of MELODY CABAN CONSULTING, a Latina-owned consulting service that cracks an urgent problem facing museums. Learn more at www.melodycabanconsulting.com.
Bear necessities
This favorite furry animal dwells the depths of the forest and captures people’s hearts.
1. Messy Moose Socks: Baby socks featuring a black bear, www.messymoosesocks.com; 2. Souvenir Source: Water globe with black bear on a tree, www.souvenirsource.com; 3. A&F Gift: Painted black bear on a unisex T-shirt, www.afgift.com; 4. Lipco Group: Hiking bear magnet, www.lipco.biz; 5. Sincere Surroundings: Name-dropped bear picture with solid wood frame, www.sinceresurroundings. com; 6. New England Bells: Solid brass and leather bear bell door hanger, www.newenglandbells.com; 7. Barry-Owen Co. Inc.: Multiple layer wooden bear ornament, www.barryowen.com; 8. Mountain Graphics: Name-drop bear sticker, www.mtgraphics.com; 9. Purr-Fection by MJC: Tender Friend black bear plush, www.purr-fection.com.
Scoring
1. Lipco Group: Children’s favorite card games, www.lipco.biz; 2. Tiki Toss: Tiki Toss Original Surf, www.tikitosslife.com; 3. The Trendy Traveler: Texas Boots Tic-Tac-Toe game, www.thetrendytraveler.com; 4. Plus Plus: Tube Lion, www.plusplususa.com; 5. Wikki Stix: Adventures Across America activity book, www.wikkistix.com; 6. Geo Central: Crystal mining kit, www.geocentral.com; 7. Dolphin Hat: Moose Match Mayhem, www.dolphinhat.com; 8. Safari Ltd.: Eugy Parrot 3D puzzle, www.safariltd.com; 9. Genius Games: Ecosystem: Coral Reef, www.geniusgames.org.
Unlocking memories
Keychains serve as daily reminders of a special time and place in people’s hearts.
1. Touring Souvenirs: Lake Tahoe keychain, www.touringsouvenirs.com; 2. LuxCups Creative: Texas cacti keychain, www.luxcups.com; 3. Impulse Souvenirs: Keychain with soft enamel charms, www.impulsesouvenirs.com; 4. LaserGifts: Flash-N-Flip solar flashing keyring name program, www.lasergifts.com; 5. Pennybandz: Pennypalz rattlesnake keychain, www.pennybandzwholesale.com; 6. Jilzarah: Lake house wrist keychain, www.wholesale.jilzarah.com; 7. Silver Streak: Ammonite round keychain, www.silverstreaks.com; 8. Dune Jewelry: Wave turquoise gradient keychain, www.dunejewelry.com; 9. Wayne Carver: Articulating sea turtle keycharm name program, www.waynecarver.com.
Happy campers
These camping-themed products bring out the fun memories of a nature-filled trip.
The beautiful butterfly is a captivating creature to feature on gifts and souvenirs.
1. Art Studio Co.: Embroidered butterfly shopper bag, www.artstudiocompany.com; 2. B. Berish: Purple-and-gold accent butterfly pillow, www.bberish.com; 3. Life Force Glass: Blue butterfly acrylic bookmark, www.lifeforceglass.com; 4. Bamboo Trading Company: Be-You-Tiful blue butterfly necklace, www.bambootradingcompany.com; 5. Art by Elowyn: I Stop for Butterflies bumper sticker, www.faire.com/direct/artbyelowyn; 6. Beyond Borders Art: Handpainted butterflies, www.extolltd.com; 7. Better Magnets: Soft-touch matte finish butterfly magnet, www.bettermagnets.com; 8. Odd Sox: Women’s butterfly crew socks, www.oddsox.com; 9. Aurora World: 13-inch monarch butterfly plush, www.auroragift.com; 10. Bamboo Source Tropical Decor: Metal and capiz shell butterfly, www.bambootropicaldecor.com.
Every Monday, Heart on Main Street’s Executive Director Patrick Keiser visits a different community to feature the downtown area and its retailers through their social media channels. Here is a selection of some of the towns he has visited and some of his favorite retailers there. If you would like your town to be featured, email contact@heartonmainstreet.org
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
In downtown Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, you can find stores of all varieties that cater to the locals as well as those who vacation there.
One standout retail store that has called this area home since 1990 is called Wilkins & Olander. This gift, children and apparel store celebrates Door County, the state of Wisconsin, and the lake lifestyle of the area.
Whether you need a summer outfit, a onesie for your little one, or a gift for someone else, Wilkins & Olander has everything that you need to remind you of your time in Sturgeon Bay.
Bishop Arts District, Dallas, Texas
The Bishop Arts District, part of Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood, is a unique section of the city that feels unlike anything else. Filled with vibrant wall murals, tree-lined streets, and public art projects, Bishop Arts District has much more of a small-town feel than being part of a metro area.
The area, which was once forgotten by many in the city, has undergone a revitalization over the last several decades to boost commerce. A great example of this is the Mosaic Makers Collective. This store specifically focuses on goods made by female Texans in order to make sure that these artisans are able to get their wares into the market.
The wide variety of makers represented allows for Mosaic Makers Collective to have a little bit of everything. You can find jewelry, home decor items, women’s and children’s apparel, greeting cards, stickers, Texas-themed items, and bath and body products. The retailer’s concept of bringing handmade and artist-driven products to the forefront aligns perfectly with the culture that you find within the Bishop Arts District.
Follow along with Patrick Keiser and his past Heart on Main Street visits at www.sgnmag.com/heart-on-main-street.
Lincoln, Illinois
Located along historic Route 66, you can find the town of Lincoln, Illinois. Lincoln has the distinction of being the very first town in the U.S. to be named after Abraham Lincoln. Restaurants and retail stores such as Top Hat Creamery, the Spirited Republic, and Abe’s all derive their names from Lincoln as well.
Small Town Creations is aptly named for this small town. This gift store specializes in one-of-a-kind finds that make every shopping experience unique. From flavored coffee beans to handmade wooden home decor pieces, there is something for everyone.
Noblesville, Indiana
This past April, visitors flocked to Noblesville, Indiana to view a total solar eclipse. Many of the storefronts throughout the downtown got creative during that once-in-a-lifetime event, including Logan Village Mall.
As an artisan market, the store is set up with different sections for each artisan. It even created a mini main street within the store. Walking into the store takes you from suburban Indiana to a Dutch village in an instant. The creativity of Logan Village Mall creates a customer experience no one is likely to forget.
Ada, Oklahoma
Over the last several years, there has been a focus on renovating the downtown area of Ada, Oklahoma, by refurbishing the facades of buildings. One business that has benefited from this revitalization is Serendipity on Main. This boutique has called Ada home since 2013. From workwear to casual clothing, from bath and body products to children’s toys and more, Serendipity on Main has the right mix of products.
In Alliance, Ohio, tourists can check out Troll Hole Museum & Gift Shop’s collection of over 40,000 troll figures and take home souvenirs to remember the visit.
TrolLing for an eclectic time
STORY BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
The TrolL Hole Museum & Gift Shop is chock fulL of andalL-things-trolL souvenirs galore to round out the experience.
It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest troll doll collection. Owner Sherry Groom estimates a current count of more than 40,000 figures inspired by the Norse folk creatures, known for their characteristic upward whisp of colorful, touchable hair and their associated tales that share universal truths such as cooperation and the Golden Rule.
“We love helping people create memories and I sneak in morals of the story during the tours,” says Groom, who opened The Troll Hole Museum & Gift Shop in 2016. That same year, she and her husband, Jay, acquired a strip of blighted buildings in downtown Alliance, Ohio, with plans to reimagine three blocks on East Main Street.
Jay told her she needed “a hook” to draw visitors. He mentioned, “You have a huge pile of trolls. Maybe you could get a Guinness record.”
Groom is a folk artist who gravitates toward sculpture and mixed media assemblage. She’s also a psychiatric nurse who owns a 16-bed group home. Now the couple also operates The Troll Hole Museum & Gift Shop along with adjacent businesses, Mad Dogs & Crazy Cats cafe and Wisecracks Comedy Escape Room.
“It’s an eclectic place, and that’s the goal,” Groom says of The Troll Hole. “It’s full of bright, shiny, colorful stuff that catches your eye and is fun to play with.”
QWhat did it take to accomplish a Guinness World Record for the largest troll doll collection?
AEach troll has to be different in at least one way. At the time, a young woman and teen in England held the record with 6,600 trolls. Once I started the effort, I got a ton of publicity and unknown people reached out to me and started even sending me their trolls. We hired a curator to help us set up a system to log each troll. I’m business minded, so I found trolls at a bargain. One collector had 10,000 items and I bought them sight unseen. Another who made custom trolls was going out of business and they had 11,000 in their stock, so I bought those. It keeps growing.
Hall of Fame in nearby Canton, and a Rock and Troll Hall of Fame after the Rock Hall in Cleveland. There is a DreamWorks room, a troll hunter cabin, a grotto, and a space that highlights the economic impact of trolls. There are also hidden corridors and we offer tours. We keep a map of the nation and the world on the wall and people
“It’s an eclectic place, and that’s the goal. It’s fulL of bright, shiny, colorful stufF that catches your eye and is fun to play with.” — SherRy GroOm
put pins in it. They deliberately plan trips and fly here from all over, including Australia and California.
QWhat unique trolls can guests find in the Troll Hole gift shop?
AI sell Scandinavian trolls imported from contacts in Sweden and Iceland, and we also offer vintage trolls along with DreamWorks trolls since those movies introduced a whole new generation of kids who like the characters Poppy and Branch.
QAside from trolls, what other souvenirs can visitors take home?
AOur gift shop is expansive and stocked with a variety of products, including custom vintage T-shirts with our logo. We offer several different designs, including a Troll Bowl stadium with trolls playing football, a Run with the Trolls T-shirt because we sponsor a race, and Trolls Uniting the World in honor of the Alliance of Trolls Convention we organize.
QHow can visitors make the most of their time at the museum and shop?
AThe Troll Hole includes two floors plus a basement and the gift shop is about 1,700 square feet. We have 14 different themed rooms, including a Troll Hole of Fame with a football troll team playing off the Football
Our shop also offers a selection of troll-focused art and a wide range of souvenirs including magnets, holiday ornaments, mugs, purses, hats, T-shirts and postcards bearing our logo or various troll themes. I do my own folk art as well, so I make trolls out of black walnuts and create little keepsakes.
We also offer jewelry such as molded charms of trolls. Because trolls like bright, shiny objects, we sell crystals, polished rocks and fossils.
The shop also includes a selection of rusty metal Mexican garden art like a big rooster and other items that are not necessarily troll-related like wind chimes and custom artsy umbrellas. As expected, it’s an eclectic mix. SGN
SMOKY MOUNTAIN GIFT SHOW
Check out the September/October Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties advertisers that will be exhibiting at IGES November 5-9 and at Smoky Mountain Gift Show November 6-9*!
Little Critterz/Animals Forever ...................... 31, 133.......................... 6429
McCutcheon’s Apple Products ........................... 124............................ 2219
Mitchell Proffitt 123 6808
Northern Icons Creations Inc. 17 3115
Pennybandz 137 8304
Rhode Island Novelty................................................ 35............................ 6153
Signs 4 Fun 126 6248
SS Handcrafted Arts 121 6541
The Petting Zoo 89 2305, 6315
The Postcard Factory/PCF Souvenirs 119 6713
Town Pride ...................................................................... 33............................ 2215
Whistle Creek 14 2423
Dollywood Director of Merchandise & Games Sandy Doherty (left) and VP of Merchandise & Games Brandon Smith provide Dollywood visitors with a wide assortment of souvenirs that celebrate the park’s namesake, Dolly Parton, and provide a lasting reminder of their trip. Photos: Don Fields Photography
STORY BY BROOKE BILYJ
A range of themed retail experiences remind guests to “create memories worth repeating” at Dollywood.
HELLO,
Dolly!
Tucked into the foothills of East Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood has become almost as renowned as its vivacious namesake, Dolly Parton, who was born nearby before becoming a bestselling country singer, actress, author and philanthropist. Recently ranked the No. 1 theme park in the U.S. and No. 10 in the world based on reviews by Tripadvisor users, the Appalachian destination attracts more than 3 million visitors annually — making it Tennessee’s most-visited ticketed attraction.
Home to more than 50 rides and coasters along with world-class entertainment and tons of family fun, the 165-acre theme park sits next to Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park, two four-star resorts, and several dinner shows that offer memorable experiences in the Smokies. An assortment of 30 shops
Splash
placed strategically throughout the park, totaling 38,146 square feet of retail space, offer unique merchandise, souvenirs and mementos.
“Everything we do is all about creating memories worth repeating, so as they’re sipping coffee from their mug at home or putting on that souvenir T-shirt, they have great memories of what they experienced,” explains Brandon Smith, vice president of merchandise and games at Dollywood Parks and Resorts. “The goal is for them to think about that experience and extend that out to the home, so they want to return.”
Here’s how Dollywood creates a memorable retail experience that keeps guests coming back.
DISTINCTIVELY THEMED
With retail locations spread throughout the park, each shop inside Dollywood must create a unique experience to draw in guests.
“We have the opportunity to create a lot of themes and take advantage of various trends in the marketplace in addition to traditional
souvenirs,” says Sandy Doherty, director of merchandise and games at Dollywood Parks and Resorts. For example, as guests enter the park and head down Showstreet, shops like Gazebo Gifts supply the typical necessities they’ll need to stay comfortable all day, such as headwear, sunscreen, sunglasses and shirts.
Further down the street, stores like Traditions offer fashionable southern-inspired apparel and accessories from brands like Simply Southern and Kerusso. Meanwhile, Mountain Laurel Home provides decor and furnishings like soaps, candles, linens and gifts, and The Southern Pantry stocks specialty food products and kitchen accessories.
While the mountainous surroundings inspire some of the Appalachian-themed merchandise, the park’s namesake songstress lends her iconic image to the product assortment, as well. “Of course, we have souvenirs and necessities, but
“Of course, we have souvenirs and necessities, but it’s all about Dolly. Dolly is the growth engine for our park, so we celebrate her as much as we can, particularly in retail.” — BRANDON SMITH but
Continuing up the hill toward the rides, the merchandise focuses on ride souvenirs that commemorate attractions like Wild Eagle and Dollywood Express. The historic train is a remnant from the park’s roots as Rebel Railroad, which first opened on the site in 1961. Temple’s Mercantile, located across from the depot, offers train-themed merchandise like T-shirts, picture frames, mugs and snow globes so guests can take the experience home with them.
it’s all about Dolly,” Smith says. “Dolly is the growth engine for our park, so we celebrate her as much as we can, particularly in retail.”
In fact, Dolly’s Fan Shop recently debuted inside the park’s new Dolly Parton Experience, a collection of curated exhibits and interactive elements that opened this year to highlight Parton’s legendary career. “About 85% of that [merchandise in the Fan Shop] is exclusive product that we have developed specifically for that store,” Doherty says.
Dollywood’s product development and procurement team partners with vendors to create custom products. Smith says, “We don’t have tons of product that you’re going to find in any other gift shops in this area.”
These unique and exclusive products are key to creating a distinctive retail experience in each store throughout the park, which sells more than 19,000 SKUs in total. “We strive to limit the amount of repetition when it comes to product, so as guests are walking by, they don’t
Colorful name-drop T-shirts, hats and other apparel are fun souvenirs for people to take home with them after their visit to Dollywood.
Visitors can buy souvenir mugs that feature some of Dolly Parton’s most popular lyrics.
see a table set and think it’s the same thing they just saw two shops ago,” Smith says. “Our guests want unique products, so we purposely do not purchase products that they will see on the Gatlinburg strip or the Pigeon Forge area. We really strive to be unique.”
MAKING MEMORIES
While each store showcases a unique merchandising theme, the goal is to offer a range of products that appeal to guests from every generation.
“We have a very family-friendly mix of rides, shows and attractions throughout the park,”
Smith says, “so if any guest of any age visits this park, there’s something for everybody to do.” And, of course, there’s a full spectrum of souvenirs for them to buy.
While younger kids gravitate toward the bubble wands
DID YOU KNOW?
and plush toys sold throughout the park — especially at Cozy Bear, the one-stop-shop for all things related to play — adult visitors tend to pick up shirts, hoodies and hats, making apparel Dollywood’s most popular product category. “Surprisingly, hoodies and fleece sell all season long,” Doherty says, “even when it’s 95 degrees outside.”
Dollywood has been ranked the No. 1 theme park in the U.S.
Guests will find the widest assortment of Dollywood gear and goods at the flagship souvenir store, Emporium. Located at the exit, Emporium offers one final shopping stop as guests leave the park through the 9,700-square-foot store.
“It carries a bit of everything from around the park,” Smith says, spanning Dolly Parton and Dollywood themed merchandise, ride-specific products, a kids’ section and plenty of apparel and accessories for men and women of all ages. “From a growth engine perspective, that store has
Even in summer, longsleeved apparel is popular at Dollywood’s shops.
done wonders,” he says. “Retail has really driven a lot of our sales growth over the past few years.”
In addition, the Craftsman’s Valley region of Dollywood keeps the Appalachian trades of the past alive through daily demonstrations as well as several make-your-own-craft experiences.
FESTIVITIES FOR EVERY SEASON
To freshen up the product mix throughout the year, Dollywood’s retail stores lean into seasonal festivals for merchandising inspiration.
3 MILLION
The number of visitors
Dollywood attracts each year.
“We purposefully support the different festivals at Dollywood through products, colors and art styles,” Doherty says. “We change out product with each festival so that the guest has a cohesive experience while they’re walking through the park.”
For example, Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival celebrates springtime in the Smokies, showcasing more than 500,000 blooms and other plants impressively shaped into towering topiaries taking the form of bears,
birds and other Smoky Mountain critters. The merchandising team incorporates each festival’s themes and color palettes into custom garments, products, and visual displays throughout the retail stores. “We don’t necessarily use the exact festival logo, but we support it with, say, a Dollywood-themed shirt with flowers, butterflies or topiaries on it,” Doherty says.
These festival-themed products pop up throughout Dollywood’s retail stores — like one
Bright, shiny Dollywood tumblers are refreshing souvenirs for park guests.
of the front table sets inside Emporium, which is switched out regularly to feature merchandise for the current celebration. These seasonal updates keep the product selection fresh, particularly for season pass holders who visit frequently. “Having them see different looks and products is very important to us,” Smith says.
FAMILY DYNAMIC
Families come to Dollywood from all over — as far away as the West Coast, Texas, Canada and beyond. “That multi-generational family is really our target demographic, not just at the park but in retail,” Smith says.
“If we take care of our hosts, our hosts are going to take care of the guests. We’re not out to make money; we’re here to take care of others, and the money will follow.”— SANDY DOHERTY
Dollywood’s shops invite families to make memories by creating comfortable spaces to engage. Several stores feature cozy covered porches furnished with rocking chairs where guests can relax. “The goal is to drive home that southern hospitality and homeyness,” says Smith.
Treating customers like house guests is what shapes the Dollywood experience throughout the park. Doherty explains that the key to the destination retailer’s success is the servant leadership philosophy of putting others first.
In fact, the company refers to its 4,000 employees (including 400 retail employees) as hosts “because we’re hosting our guests,” she shares. “If we take care of our hosts, our hosts are going to take care of the guests. We’re not out to make money; we’re here to take care of others, and the money will follow.” SGN
The shops also have plenty of merchandise for kids, including apparel, plush toys and more.
REMINDERS FROM THE RESORT
A mix of name-dropped souvenirs and unique gifts are sure to sell at resort gift shops.
STORY BY MEGAN SMALLEY
Vacation is all about taking time to relax in a different location, whether that be by calming coastal shorelines, picturesque mountainsides or anywhere else in between.
To capitalize on getting much-needed rest on vacation, people love going to resorts that provide them with everything they need in one destination, from food to
activities and at the end of the day, shopping for mementos to take home.
Resorts are scattered all over the place in just about any destination people might want to visit. People flock to Palm Island Resort in Placida, Florida, for the tropical, island vibe it provides. Retail Manager Orchid Fernandez notes that visitors simply love that the spot is surrounded by the ocean.
“The atmosphere here is so laid-back and
Lake Lawn Resort Gift Shop features the resort name drop on many souvenirs in the store, including hoodies, plush and towels. Bears are also a popular motif.
beautiful,” she describes. “You’re surrounded by palm trees and water. Everyone all says the same thing: it’s so laid-back.”
Instead of traveling by car, a lot of resort guests travel around by go-cart or simply by foot. Fernandez adds that all her customers say they appreciate the high level of customer service the resort offers.
“Everyone who stays at the resort notices that housekeeping is good, everything is good,” she says. “It’s a really great place to come on vacation.”
People interested in a more rustic vacation surrounded by nature might enjoy Fontana Village Resort in Fontana Dam, North Carolina. The resort’s Retail Manager Greg Brown says the resort offers 194 accommodations, including both cabin and lodge rooms along with additional camp sites along the Tennessee River. He notes that the resort boasts an array of amenities that cater to a variety of interests: a marina with boat rentals and tours, a swimming pool with a lazy river, a disc golf course, a mini golf course and over 20 miles of on-site hiking and mountain biking trails. The resort also has two restaurants, a gas station and, of course, retail.
“These features ensure that visitors have everything they need for a relaxing and enjoyable stay,” says Brown.
Other resorts focus on providing family fun for guests of all ages. Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin, is what Gift Shop Manager Sue Phelps calls “a generational resort,” with many families returning to the lakeside resort year after year. The resort itself is rife with history.
“This area was occupied by Native Americans thousands of years ago. It also was the headquarters for Barnum and Bailey Circus at one point in time,” Phelps shares, adding that a circus elephant was even buried in the lake after it passed away many years ago. “People come here because of the history. We still have Indian burial mounds on our property.”
Visitors love the resort’s lakeside activities as well — Phelps says guests can enjoy boating, water skiing, biking and more. In colder months, they can also ice skate or play ice shuffleboard. On rainy days, kids can enjoy indoor laser tag as well.
She adds, “It’s amazing. We get grandparents,
great-grandparents and the great-grandchildren all coming here. It’s very much a family resort.”
PUT THE NAME ON IT
Like with many attractions, resort guests appreciate when resort retailers have souvenirs that feature either the town or resort name drop on them so they can remember their stay.
Phelps shares that she features the Lake Lawn Resort name drop on just about any souvenir she can — T-shirts, hoodies, plush, beach towels, decor and more.
PRO TIP: THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Display gift shop merchandise at the front desk to entice guests into the shop.
“Whatever I can put a logo on, I will!” she says.
Currently, sweatshirts and hoodies that say, “Lake Lawn Resort – Catch the Vibe” and spell out “Wisconsin” down the sleeves are a big hit with customers, especially younger buyers.
Lake Lawn Resort opened in 1878, and Phelps adds that customers seem to like merchandise that includes “established in 1878” with the resort name drop.
Simplicity is also key with souvenirs. Phelps says people love to buy plain coffee mugs with the Lake Lawn Resort name drop.
“People seem to go toward larger mugs, plain with the name drop on it,” she explains. “They’re
Forget something?
Resorts are all about offering everything guests might need in one location. So resort gift shops should make sure they also carry some essentials — such as lip balm, snacks or sunscreen — people might have forgotten to bring with them on vacation.
Greg Brown, retail manager at Fontana Village Resort in North Carolina, notes that Fontana Village is in a remote location, making it even tougher for people to pick up essentials if they forgot them.
He says his shops offer both toiletries and cooking necessities for people who might want to cook outside on a fire while at the resort. Snacks, refreshments and alcohol are also important to have on hand for people.
“Given our remote location, providing essentials can significantly enhance guest satisfaction and foster a sense of convenience and care,” explains Brown.
Added convenience can lead to positive reviews, encouraging repeat visits, too.
“Guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness and effort dedicated to ensuring their comfort and meeting their needs,” he concludes.
not fancy, but that’s what they want.”
Fernandez says she can’t keep merchandise in stock if it bears the Palm Island Resort logo, especially in the apparel category.
“Name drop is popular on both men’s and women’s apparel,” she notes.
Fontana Village Resort features four stores full of souvenirs and other essentials for resort guests, including The General Store, The Dam Garage, The Marina shop and The Dam Gift Shop. Brown says name-dropped stickers are popular at the stores.
“We carry many different styles of stickers,” adds Brown. “We currently have about 75 different styles per location. People love shopping stickers, so the more we can give them, the happier they are.”
T-shirts and other name-dropped apparel also do well at the North Carolina resort.
“Surprisingly, sweaters have been a big hit during the summer season,” he says. “Fleece crewneck has been popular, too.”
Brown adds that the softer the better with T-shirts. “People make a decision to buy with their hands and their eyes.”
UNIQUE FINDS
Resort guests also appreciate when the shops carry some one-of-a-kind souvenirs or gifts they can take home.
At Palm Island Resort, people love that Dune Jewelry features sand from around the area.
“Everybody loves the fact that it’s the sand from here, all elements of Cape Haze,” Fernan-
Beachy and coastal themes are popular on souvenirs at the Palm Island Resort Gift Shop in Placida, Florida.
dez says. “We also sell a lot of the animal tracking bracelets from Fahlo. Those are extremely popular here since we’re near the ocean.”
Worry Dolls are also a draw for customers at the Palm Island Resort shop.
“Carrying Tail of the Dragon items is significant because it allows enthusiasts to take a piece of the experience home with them.” — GREG BROWN , FONTANA VILLAGE RESORT
“They’re these little dolls that ‘take your worries away’ after you put them under your pillow,” Fernandez explains. “Those are really cute, for both kids and adults.”
While not your typical souvenir, Lake Lawn Resort guests love browsing the gift shop’s assortment of moccasins. Phelps says the store carries a wide assortment of Minnetonka moccasins that are always a big seller among men and women alike.
“I’d have to say our most popular item are boots and slippers in the winter,” she adds.
Phelps says logoed beanies also do very well in the cooler months. And Lake Lawn Christmas ornaments are certainly big close to the holidays, but Phelps says those will sell year-round, too.
Women also love shopping around the gift shop for resort wear.
“I carry a lot of Coco + Carmen and Simply Noelle clothes for the ladies, and they love it,” says Phelps, adding that having nice apparel is great for guests who might be making their fifth or sixth trip to the destination. “A lot of people walk in and say, ‘I know I’ve been here, I don’t need more Lake Lawn Resort merchandise,’ but they’ll go to the women’s clothing.”
PRO TIP: DON’T FORGET REPEAT VISITORS
Not all apparel needs to be name-dropped. Repeat guests already have those items.
Fontana Village Resort carries a lot of nice items for customers to take home as gifts, such as resort apparel, vintage candy and some local crafts or honey. Brown says people also love the shops’ Tail of the Dragon-themed souvenirs.
“Located just nine miles from Fontana Village Resort is Tail of the Dragon,” he explains. “This nickname was given to a section on U.S. Route 129, which winds through the mountains along
the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. This 11-mile section of road is renowned for its 318 curves, making it a thrilling experience for motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts. The Tail of the Dragon has become a bucket-list spot for many drivers and riders due to its challenging and exhilarating nature.”
Over the years, the resort has gotten more guests who are in town to test the wild roads.
Brown adds, “Carrying Tail of the Dragon items is significant because it allows enthusiasts to take a piece of the experience home with them.”
SERVICE FOCUSED
As part of a resort, these gift shops need to keep hospitality top-of-mind with customers.
Brown says listening to guests is key to success for resort gift shops.
“Listen to your guests,” he says. “If you have the things they want, they will continue to shop in your store. Communication and time management with staff is vital.”
More than anything else, Fernandez says she loves the customer service aspect of her job at the Palm Island Resort shop.
“In a gift shop, conversations and getting personal with customers is so important,” she shares. “Ask them questions — it will make things easier to sell. Build relationships. Remember, in a resort, you’re going to see the same people for about a week or two, and then you’ll see them every year. People come to private resorts like this for years. So build that relationship here in the shop.”
She concludes, “My main thing — customer service is what I like to give.” SGN
Fontana Village Resort guests can commemorate their time on the Tail of the Dragon with a dragon-themed souvenir.
STORY BY KRISTIN ELY
Gifts and souvenirs that have a person’s name or other special way of speaking to an individual can rack up sales for destination retailers.
PERSONAL AND POPULAR
It has been said that “Nothing is sweeter than the sound of your own name.” Seeing it in writing is also just as sweet. Having it on a pen, keychain, pocket knife or mug from your favorite destination multiplies their appeal.
Bonnie Gunderson, owner of Bucket Wonders, a wholesale supplier of personalized gifts and souvenirs, says sales volumes for personalized gifts are surprisingly high. “Customers love to find their own name, which makes personalized lines very successful and profitable,” she says. “If you put a personalized keychain against a general souvenir keychain for example, the personalized version will nearly always outsell the general one.”
With dozens of personalized items to choose
from at Old Town Gifts in San Diego with hundreds of names on them, shoppers usually end up finding exactly what they are looking for to commemorate their visit to the first European settlement in what is present-day California.
“Personalized items are of course very popular because everyone wants to have something with their name on it,” says Owner Irina Darron. “And they also want something that has a function so it’s very good to have something they can use like a pocket knife or a pen that you can give as a gift to somebody.”
Pocket knives, wooden surfboards and pens top the list of personalized souvenirs that customers can purchase.
“We have these pens made out of rosewood.
Old Town Gifts in San Diego embraces its roots with personalized wooden surfboards.
Photo: Robyn Scherer
They say San Diego, have an engraved symbol on it, and they also have names on them. Customers get a souvenir that says San Diego that’s personalized with their name, so it’s like two for one,” explains Darron.
THE NAME GAME
At Old Town Gifts, finding a name is usually pretty easy. Darron says the store carries a very large selection of names to choose from, including some Spanish names like Jose and Jesus. The retailer also has names spelled in multiple ways, such as “Michele” as well as “Michelle” to make sure most names are covered.
“It is very easy to find the right name and I think we have a bit over 1,000.” — IRINA DARRON, OLD TOWN GIFTS
There are situations though when a customer has a unique name that she’s never heard of.
For those scenarios, the store offers items that are personalized in a different way, like “Dad” or “Best Friend” or “Awesome Person.”
Bucket Wonders’ EveryName program helps retailers when this situation occurs.
“The EveryName feature is unique to Bucket Wonders and allows stores to sell even more from their personalized programs,” explains Gunderson. “By scanning a QR code on the display, customers can order online unique names not found on the display, and these unique names ship directly to the customer in just a couple of days.”
With EveryName, the store profits from these
direct online sales in the same amount as instore purchases. When the store places an order to refill their display, online sales are applied as credits to the invoice.
Darron’s go-to for personalized items is Wayne Carver. “Their products are really well made, I like their designs and they are easy to work with,” she says. She recalls working with them on a design that represented Old Town that went through a couple renditions.
Men and boys are drawn more toward the pocket knives while women and girls are more interested in the pens, but when it comes to personalization, she concludes, everyone likes them. “It is absolutely all ages,” she says.
Wayne Carver also provided Old Town Gifts with Rosewood displays with the names written on them. “It is very easy to find the right name and I think we have a bit over 1,000,” says Darron.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
At Texas Treasures in Dallas, Owner Brandi Allen carries personalized solar-powered keychains from LaserGifts that customers like.
“It’s solar-powered. It has two little indicators on the top of the keychain so as long as it has artificial light or the sun it will never die, and they’re pretty sturdy,” she explains. “They’re in acrylic and they flash on and off with the name on it, and it changes color sometimes.”
The boy names flash blue and girl names flash pink on these solar-powered souvenirs.
Pocket knife keychains and rosewood pens are popular with all ages at Old Town Gifts.
Photos: Robyn Scherer
“Everybody loves them. I have to order them every month,” says Allen.
Bucket Wonders also has a keychain that Gunderson says is among the company’s top selling lines, called the zipper pull. She describes it as a “cute, mini keychain.”
“It’s shiny and colorful, and easy for travelers to collect from various destinations,” says Gunderson.
In addition to keychains, Allen carries pocketknives and larger knives with names on them. Magnets, bike license plates and metal Texas Ranger law badges are also among the personalized selection at Texas Treasures.
“If a kid sees her name on it, especially something that’s spelled correctly with their name, they just absolutely love it, and usually older people do too.” — BRANDI ALLEN, TEXAS TREASURES
Both kids and adults are drawn to the personalized items there. “If a kid sees her name on it, especially something that’s spelled correctly with their name, they just absolutely love it, and usually older people do too,” notes Allen. And if her customers can’t find their name because it is either too long or unusual, they aren’t out of luck. They purchase a small tube that Allen will send off to LaserGifts and then send the personalized product to the customer when it is ready.
OTHER IDEAS
It may not be possible to add every name to a wall of souvenirs, but don’t fret. Melody Caban, owner of the retail consulting firm Melody Caban Consulting says there are other ways to personalize products.
“Maybe you can include something like Moonglow’s necklace that captures a personalized moment in time. Maybe it’s the day you had your child, your anniversary date, that day you visited Capri — those dates can be personalized to the moon that was shown for that day, which is really fun.”
She also suggests scratch-off maps like those available from Luckies of London or scratch-off MLB stadium maps from Pop Chart. “You’re really getting that moment personalizing that
poster and really making a memory.”
Get creative and imagine what you would want personalized, suggests Caban, when deciding what to personalize in your store. Items with initials on them or astrology items can also be a great way to appeal to a wide audience in a more personal way, she says.
“Your store is going to be connected to those amazing memories people are having, and I can imagine people coming back again and again to commemorate with those personal items.”
STILL GOING STRONG
Personalization is not only special for the customer, it also evokes nostalgia that adults want their children to experience.
Caban explains, “Having that little piece of nostalgia with your personalized items is going to pay off, especially with those millennials who love nostalgia and looking back at those great times growing up so I would bring those pieces in and really highlight what they could mean to your customer.”
Gunderson also sees some staying power with personalized products. “We’ve been in this business 25 years and names sell just as strong today as they did 25 years ago.”
Many of Bucket Wonders’ customers have had the same product in the same spot for 20-plus years without a decline in sales, she notes.
“Personalized programs are a very popular, high-selling product,” says Gunderson. “It’s also noteworthy that many personalized lines are low dollar items, which make them ideal in a changing economy. These lines sell consistently through any economic climate, with very little fluctuation in sales.” SGN
Texas Ranger law badges and bicycle license plates are among the personalized gifts available at Texas Treasures.
BLOW PLUSH DISPLAYS OUT OF THE WATER
AQUARIUM AND RESCUE CENTER GIFT SHOPS TAKE PRIDE IN HOW THEY ORGANIZE AND DISPLAY EVER-POPULAR PLUSH.
People love visiting aquariums and rescue centers to see beloved marine life in action: the sharks, the seals, the sea turtles and multicolored fish from around the globe. There’s something awe-inspiring about taking time to view creatures who dwell in the world’s vast ocean environment.
But these attractions often do more than simply showcase what’s out there to tourists and local marine enthusiasts — conservation and marine rescue efforts are often at the heart of these operations. Ticket and retail sales typically help these organizations to advance these sea-focused causes.
STORY BY MEGAN SMALLEY
Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida, was established with the mission to promote the conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Jessi Louw, senior retail operations manager at Loggerhead, says gift shop sales support 40% of the center’s operational costs.
“It does emphasize how important this department is to the day-to-day operations,” she says.
Bev Singer, merchandiser for the center, explains that the shop carries merchandise that will appeal to any visitor, and plush certainly fits that bill, making up 12% of gift shop sales.
Guests can’t miss the tall shelves full of plush at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center gift shop, which carries a variety of sea life in plush form.
“One would think maybe it’s just little children who want plush, but it’s a lot of adults, too,” she says, adding that the destination retailer sells plush with the whole family in mind.
COUNTLESS CRITTER OPTIONS
With a focus on helping sea turtles, it comes as no surprise that sea turtles are the most popular plush featured at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center gift shop.
“The majority of our plush is sea turtles, all different species of them,” says Louw.
Even though sea turtles are the attraction’s specialty, the shop carries many other sea creatures in plush form to offer variety.
Singer notes, “Some of our stuffed sea turtles look very realistic. Then other plush are pink, have rainbows, bows or eye lashes. We have every shape, every color, every size. We really do believe we have plush for everyone.”
Jasmine Ramirez, store director at the Seattle Aquarium Gift Shop, takes a similar approach
Trend alert
when stocking plush for the aquarium gift shop. Sea otters are fan favorites at Seattle Aquarium, so the store has plenty of sea otter plush, but Ramirez fills out the category with many other lovable sea creatures, such as harbor seals, octopus, sharks, seahorses and axolotls.
“Axolotl are trendy,” she says. “It’s not a species we have here, but it’s trending big time in the marketplace, so we added axolotl into our plush assortment. Every year, we get a few trending or seasonal things we rotate into our merchandise mix.”
In addition to carrying different species of plush, aquarium and rescue center retailers often have various sizes and price points for these products. Customers also like when retailers carry some eco-friendly options. Ramirez notes that the shop has been stocking more eco-friendly stuffed animals made of recycled water bottles.
“Our eco-friendly plush are so soft that I can’t believe they’re made from recycled plastic!” she adds. “There are good options out there. As an institution, we’re focused on transitioning to plastic-free options when possible.”
Just because an aquarium doesn’t have a certain sea creature doesn’t mean the gift shop shouldn’t stock merchandise related to that animal, especially when it comes to plush. Retailers should watch out for trending sea creatures and animals and consider stocking those in their store.
In 2024, the axolotl remains a hit with young customers. Even if an aquarium or rescue center doesn’t feature axolotl in any of their exhibits, the axolotl plush can still sell well as people are crazy about these adorable critters.
Louw adds that Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s gift shop also has a growing inventory of plush made from recycled material.
“That helps to highlight our commitment to reducing waste and promoting recycling,” she says.
At the Seattle Aquarium Gift Shop, the plush mountain stands out to customers as well as its wall with plush baskets and toy rescue kits.
PERFECT PLACEMENT
PRO TIP
SPRINKLE PLUSH AROUND THE STORE TO MAKE DISPLAYS POP
— JASMINE RAMIREZ, SEATTLE AQUARIUM
THINK OF PLUSH LIKE SOLDIERS. FIND A WAY TO KEEP THEM NICE AND NEAT, BUT ALSO GET CREATIVE WITH IT.
— JASMINE RAMIREZ, SEATTLE AQUARIUM
PRO TIP PRO TIP
MAKE SURE ALL THE EYES ON THE PLUSH ARE FACING OUT TO HELP ENTICE SALES. — BEV SINGER, LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER
Plush might be fun for people of all ages, but it generally sells best among kids. For that reason, aquarium and rescue center retailers say they often like to keep most of their plush in their kids’ sections. Even though Singer says most of the plush at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center gift shop is in the back of the store, customers can’t miss it. Three tall bookshelves that stretch all the way to the ceiling are packed with plush. Large sea turtle plush sit on the very top of the shelves, purveying the store. The retailer also has some baskets scattered in the area filled with smaller plush options. Tucked within the shop’s kids’ section, the Seattle Aquarium gift shop houses most of its plush on a round display Ramirez likes to call “plush island.”
“Core plush pieces go there,” she says. “We also have a small wall with animal rescue kits and smaller plush.”
In Los Angeles, Marine Mammal Care Center renovated its gift shop in January. Gift Shop Manager Kathy Lee notes that the area needed to be opened a bit to feature more displays and educational offerings.
Since the renovations, Lee says the shop has had success stocking its plush in two different areas to make sure customers can’t miss them.
“The store designer set up zones with the plush across an entire section of the wall,” she explains. “We also have some plush placed in other displays to fill out the space.”
Although plush typically sells best around kids’ merchandise, aquarium and rescue center shops occasionally like to sprinkle them around other parts of the stores to help displays and other merchandise pop.
Lee adds that destination retailers also shouldn’t be afraid to move plush around a bit to see where it will sell best. “We do move things around the gift shop area if they aren’t selling as well as we would like.”
SET UP FOR SUCCESS
Since plush comes in all shapes and sizes (just like animals do), setting up the perfect plush display or section can be tough. Ramirez says it’s important to get creative when organizing plush.
“There is a bit of a science to stocking plush,” she says, explaining that sea otters often look better when she lays them on their backs while she might place a bunch of fish plush in a bucket. “I learned to think of plush like soldiers. Find a way to keep them nice and neat, but also get creative with it.”
Ramirez says keeping her plush section neat can be a daily battle, though. Plush occasionally falls out after a customer pulls some out to feel, or some items are misplaced. She says store associates regularly help to make sure the plush area stays stocked and tidy.
Louw notes that kids often get excited and move toys and plush around. She says the store leans on its sales associates and volunteers to keep its plush area looking top-notch throughout the day.
“We work closely with our volunteers since the center has a big volunteer community, and we do have volunteers in the store who help us keep the store clean,” she says.
Singer adds that the store has a stock associate who comes in each morning to make sure plush is fully restocked. “We get very busy during the day. It’s easier for us to restock in the morning — take a quick look and make sure it’s full,” she says. “We always want the plush area looking full and packed.”
Singer also has a winning technique for making the store’s plush stand out — make sure all the eyes are facing out at the store.
“Part of keeping the store neat includes all eyes looking out,” she says. “It may sound kind of silly, but my thoughts are you’re seeing a thousand plush turtle eyes watching you, saying, ‘Please take me home!’” SGN
CANYON RIM GIFTS
Lansing, WV
OWNERS: Jennifer O’Dell and Kim and Ray Toney
BESTSELLERS:
T-shirts that reflect the park and surrounding area, fudge, soft serve, rocks and minerals, and hermit crabs.
RETAIL TIP:
Get creative with displays, invest in a point-of-sale system, and keep tradition alive while also making enhancements.
Honoring memories
Canyon Rim Gifts carries on a tradition of offering an eclectic mix of souvenirs, gifts and fascinating tokens of time in West Virginia.
Jennifer O’Dell, who with her sister Kim Toney and husband Ray Toney, run the legacy shop their mother Barbara O’Dell opened decades ago when they were small children. “This gift shop made me who I am today,” she says of Canyon Rim Gifts in Lansing, West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. It was basically a second home for the girls when they were growing up.
“I remember making a nickel an hour,” O’Dell laughs, sharing how the sisters would “skate back and forth” in the shop, watching their parents build presentations of merchandise.
“We had fun decorating the displays,” O’Dell says.
Toney chimes in, “I remember having to take trash bags to clean up the parking lot and there better not be one cigarette butt out there! If you told a kid to do that today, they’d look at you like you lost your mind.”
STORY BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Sisters Kim Toney (left) and Jennifer O’Dell are carrying on their mother’s legacy at Canyon Rim Gifts.
Photos: Chris Jackson
Old-fashioned values and work ethic grew Canyon Rim Gifts into a destination, with repeat visitors returning to greet Barbara and her business partner Gloria Friederichs.
The shop, its myriad inventory, creative displays and thoughtfully orchestrated systems are rooted in simple list-making and the late Barbara’s inspiration. It’s routine, in the sisters’ blood like a gene they inherited.
The variety at Canyon Rim Gifts is staggering.
“We probably have the largest T-shirt collection in West Virginia,” O’Dell says of the good, better and best options that suit every budget with more than 70 design choices. Some reflect the state park and Canyon Rim, others are state name-drop themes.
A SOUVENIR MENAGERIE
The 6,000-square-foot shop holds “a ton of merchandise,” O’Dell says. Plus, there is a kitchen space where they make fudge in-house, offer hand-dipped ice cream, and display jams, honey and other West Virginia-based food products. An old-school soft serve machine is still kicking and has been in its spot since the store opened.
“We have babied it and kept alive, and every time I call in for service they say, ‘We are running out of parts for this machine,’ but it does the job, so that’s what’s important,” Toney says.
The soft serve machine is a shop relic that lives on, much like the store’s old-fashioned penny press.
“We keep fresh copper pennies available so when people want to make a little penny jewelry piece or keychain, they have a shiny one,” O’Dell says of the front-entrance display.
Hermit crabs may be the most unique offering at the shop. The neon pink, green and blue cages are the size of a coffee can and a cutesy “my hermit crab house” label attracts the younger set. The shells come painted.
A large section of the store is a “rock hounder’s heaven,” O’Dell says. Guests will linger for up to an hour in front of a U-shaped display of rocks and minerals. “You can build a bag, buy them by the pound, purchase stones or create a necklace,” she says.
Canyon Rim Gifts carries everything from geodes to crystals and polished stones, many of the specialty pieces selected by Ray Toney.
Custom totes, Christmas ornaments and a range of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve items are for “parkies” who collect national park memorabilia. Wood puzzles and postcards, magnets, bookmarks and hiking water bottles by Prairie Mountain appeal to these guests.
A junior park ranger-rancher section filled with products by Wild Things offers nature games and apparel. Canyon Rim Gifts also stocks items from The Candleberry Candle Co., along with popular personalized street signs by ScandiCal.
A growing pet section includes an all-out display of magnets bearing dog names. “We sell handfuls every day,” Toney says of the “I love Bean,” and, “I love Penelope” messaging. So far, every customer looking for a specific pooch name has found one in the display.
Among the supersized display of shirts, Toney says the No. 1 best-selling says, “Laid
Customers enjoy sorting through the vast rock and mineral options at Canyon Rim Gifts.
New River Gorge mugs, magnets, stickers and puzzles are popular with customers.
Back” by the brand High Range.
Oh, and Canyon Rim Gifts has no shortage of Sasquatch gifts and souvenirs.
“We have Sasquatch bear by Wilcor Outdoors, and we even have a giant stuffed replica we named Sas,” O’Dell relates. “When we went to a buying show this year, we saw the display, looked at each other and both said, ‘Yes! We have to have it.’”
Coal products and a dedicated hillbilly section appeal to tourists who want to take home some humor.
“We have redneck chopsticks that are a giant clothespin,” O’Dell describes.
display mugs with mugs and group T-shirts together,” says Toney, adding that guests usually want to purchase a certain type of souvenir.
O’Dell gets creative with displays. For the earthy necklaces, she went out to the woods, foraged for some interesting branches and created a forest-themed presentation. “I’m in the process of looking for a kitchen hutch, and I have a wash tub to show off our goat’s milk soap products by Wild Mountain Soap Co. out of West Virginia,” she says. The shop also offers Finchberry and Bates Family Farm goat’s milk soap.
The rock and mineral department has the greatest risk of theft. While an appealing section
Add to the list a “complaint department” that is basically a mouse trap mounted onto wood with a message: push red button for service.
O’Dell gets a kick out of the “exercise block.” Its instructions read, “Place block on floor. Walk around it twice. Sit down, relax and congratulate yourself. You just walked around the block twice.”
INVITING INVENTORY
O’Dell notes that it’s tough to explain how she and Toney go about organizing the varied inventory at Canyon Rim Gifts. But there is
“This is our mom’s gift shop, even though we inherited it — it’s her heart and soul.”
— JENNIFER O’DELL
some method to the menagerie of goods that the destination retailer sells.
And the sisters have been building displays since they were learning to spell.
The shop is organized into departments. “We
of the store for many visitors, Toney says overseeing the rock rummaging is nearly impossible. But now that the shop has transitioned to a new point-of-sale software system — a technology Barbara had hesitated about for years — the sisters will be able to better track losses in that area, along with pricing slow-moving inventory as sales items.
Another project they’re taking on is to enhance the eatery side of the shop. “Our mom loved honeycomb and we sell cloister honey and an amazing lavender whipped honey,” says O’Dell.
This year, Canyon Rim Gifts is bringing back the West Virginia dog, a hot dog topped with homemade chili and coleslaw.
While some modern tweaks will make running the business smoother and inventory is ever evolving, the most important aspect of running the shop is keeping the spirit alive.
O’Dell concludes, “This is our mom’s gift shop, even though we inherited it — it’s her heart and soul.” SGN
The shop has gifts that appeal to both park and Sasquatch enthusiasts.
STORY BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Guests wear their love for animals by shopping mindfully for clothing that reflects zoo values such as conservation and sustainability.
WEARING AWARENESS
Mindful materials, alignment with a sustainability mission, and providing a mix of apparel for regular member visitors and one-time guests are priorities for zoo gift shops. With many zoos offering souvenir outposts, such as an aquarium-focused shop or a pop-up stand to support a special exhibit, there are many layers of considerations that factor into buying decisions for these destination retailers.
Baby elephants on board? A zoo shop will stock merchandise celebrating the milestone. Staging an annual lantern festival? Themed hoodies that will keep visitors warm after hours are a necessity.
It’s not just animal behavior that is studied carefully at zoos. Gift shop store directors must keep a close eye on how the humans act — the items they pick up, gravitate toward, buy or request.
Restating an important retail purchasing strategy, April Terranella, retail operations manager at Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, says, “As the buyer, the worst thing you can do is only buy what you love. Work
To appeal to all its guests, Zoo Atlanta showcases varying types of apparel in its displays.
Photos: Aiva Genys
its gift shops are cotton with no plastic fasteners, says Jessica Horn, store director.
“Conservation is really important, and as an employee, guest and customer, I love the zoo and I am also looking for products that share the zoo’s values,” says Horn.
hard to pay attention to what guests like, what they buy and what they don’t buy so you can select items that will turn, whether you really like them or not.”
STOCKING SUSTAINABLE SOUVENIRS
Because zoos are much more than a visitor attraction and play an integral role in animal conservation, research, field study and environmental preservation, the products their gift shops carry must reflect the same values.
Products at gift shops throughout Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium are sourced with sustainability in mind, aligning with its mission. And when it comes to apparel, “That may be using a recycled material or working with companies that refine their printing process to use less water,” says Terranella.
“Conservation is really important, and as an employee, guest and customer, I love the zoo and I am also looking for products that share the zoo’s values.”
— JESSICA HORN, ZOO ATLANTA
At Reid Park Zoo’s gift shop, Store Director Kimberley Rohr says sourcing apparel made from 100% organic cotton, preferably U.S. grown, is a priority because it’s more eco-friendly and reduces emissions during transport. “U.S. cotton typically uses less water and the farms typically have better practices to protect the soil, so this is what we strive to use,” she says.
All tags on Zoo Atlanta’s apparel offerings at
She notes that the zoo’s gift shop even sells some items without gaining a profit and donates proceeds to various safe gorilla foundations.
Maybe not apparel, but a fashion accessory? Especially unique, Zoo Atlanta’s gorillas create their own souvenirs for the shop — walking sticks. “They strip them, chew on them and the zookeepers square them off and guests can watch them in action,” Horn says. The walking sticks complement an array of gorilla apparel in all sizes for all ages.
Event Network supports Zoo Atlanta’s purchasing and merchandising, and it introduced a private-label apparel line called Wearsponsible.
“They can control where apparel is made, the materials used and ensure fair labor certifications,” says Horn. “They encourage 100% organic farming and the zoo absolutely loves that because it protects their initiatives, as well.”
Zoo Atlanta initially started offering T-shirts and sweatshirts from Wearsponsible. The zoo has since expanded to socks, hats and bags from the Wearsponsible line. “The artwork on apparel is created by local artists, who we love to support,” adds Horn.
CONNECTING MERCHANDISE TO EXHIBITS
Celebrating animal births, the addition of different species to a zoo and special events are other purchase drivers. At Reid Park Zoo in
The Kansas City Zoo Gift Shop groups apparel by animal and color themes to help them stand out to guests.
Tucson, Arizona, a strong following for its herd of elephants is reflected in the shop with dedicated elephant displays featuring apparel, mugs, plushies and more.
Recently, a baby giraffe was born, also resulting in interest from visitors who looked in the shop for apparel commemorating the milestone. Wild dogs are also a new addition, as are sloths.
“We have a T-shirt that says, ‘I’m not lazy, I’m energy efficient,’ with a sloth on it and that is always a top seller,” Rohr says.
Zoo Atlanta is marking a 25-year anniversary of showcasing pandas.
“This is a big part of our collection now and making sure we always have panda apparel and other products in stock,” says Horn.
At Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, the new
Turtle Cove Gift Shop opened as a complement to the Sobela Ocean Aquarium. The zoo has numerous shops, but this one is dedicated to sea life-themed products.
Beyond honoring zoo animals, buying for zoo shops also involves considering price points that appeal to frequent visitors and tourists, along with stocking a variety of items and styles. Sweatshirts are offered in hoodie pullover and zip-up versions, along with crewnecks. Just because the temperatures can exceed 100 degrees during hot summer days doesn’t mean guests are only shopping for T-shirts, Terranella points out.
Rohr adds, “We have a busy season in late fall with Zoo Lights and we are open every night in December, which really brings in the business for hoodies since it is cooler.”
Carrying a variety of sizes is also important. Infant onesies are a common ask, Rohr says, and toddler clothing also sells fast. Summertime is also a popular time to buy bucket hats. “Those are top sellers,” she notes.
Sloths are a new addition at Reid Park Zoo and are popular when featured on the gift shop’s apparel.
“And remember, everyone’s budget is different,” Terranella adds. “If you are on vacation, you may be ready to spend more money, but if this is a weekly trip to the zoo, you might not want to spend as much.”
PRESENTATION BY CATEGORY
“Everyone is looking for something different, so interaction with the guests is key.”
— KIMBERLEY ROHR, REID PARK ZOO
Conservation extends into zoo gift shop presentation. Big Tim is a shining example at Zoo Atlanta’s gift shop. The elephant structure is a centerpiece made from recycled flip-flops, and customers can purchase souvenir leopard, giraffe and rhinoceros figures made from the same repurposed material. (While not zoo apparel, these fun take-homes reflect the zoo’s mission.)
At Turtle Cove Gift Shop in Kansas City, a repurposed sea turtle from a previous lantern festival suspends from the ceiling over a display, front and center. It’s the first thing customers see
upon entering.
Overall, organizing a zoo gift shop by animal category with feature displays highlighting special exhibits, along with staging areas for early childhood and apparel, helps guests find what they’re looking for.
“Some of our apparel is organized in collections like a sweatshirt design with a matching T-shirt, and we categorize adult apparel into one area, and children’s and infant/toddler apparel have their own sections,” says Rohr. “We have matching themed socks for each department to make it easier on shoppers.”
A lot of color coordination and animal groupings are also in play, Rohr adds.
She emphasizes the importance of asking customers what they are interested in and guiding them to displays. “Everyone is looking for something different, so interaction with the guests is key,” she says. “As soon as they walk in, we ask if they have something in mind and that initial connection is where you get most sales.” SGN
BLUE PEBBLES
Lake Tahoe, CA
OWNERS:
Cassi and Andy Selders
BESTSELLERS:
T-shirts, ballcaps, mugs, keychains and giftware with a Lake Tahoe theme
RETAIL TIP:
Treat customers like friends, give them recommendations on where to eat, and learn about their hometowns.
Good vibes in Lake Tahoe
Blue Pebbles sets the tone for rest, relaxation and recreation in its Heavenly Village shop.
There’s a party in store for guests who visit Blue Pebbles, and the lively vibe is by design.
“People come in and dance to our music, shop away and have a great time,” says Andy Selders, who owns the South Lake Tahoe store in The Shops of Heavenly Village with his wife, Cassi.
Often, Selders cues up reggae tunes, though he is no control freak. “I want employees to equally have fun, because if they are enjoying their time working here, it rubs off on everyone around them,” he says. The team is very much a family.
“When someone is out sick or has a family emergency, everyone steps up to the plate,” says Selders, crediting the retailer’s cohesive culture to a hybrid Golden Rule and lead-by-example philosophy. “Treat your employees well and they’ll take care of you back.”
Blue Pebbles co-owner Cassi Selders creates a fun atmosphere at the store for lake and mountain lovers alike.
Photos: Lauren Lindley STORY BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Despite perennial labor challenges that many retailers and business owners face, Blue Pebbles maintains a solid team. It’s a business full of families, really. “We have couples who work here, cousins, sisters and brothers in law,” he relates.
Selders says even the Blue Pebbles name is centered on family.
across the street from us,” says Selders.
Traffic at Blue Pebbles is steady and bumping all the time.
This and the incredible naturescape are what drew the Selders to Lake Tahoe to invest in Blue Pebbles, which was formerly a licensed Del Sol shop that sold color-changing apparel.
When the Selders’ children Haven and Avalon were young, they called their son Blue for his eyes and their daughter Pebbles after the Flintstones cartoon character with spunky red hair. All four Selders work in the shop, which is a passion project and one of five stores. Three are in Heavenly Village, there are two on the California coast in Morro Bay, along with a wholesale company called Andy Cassi LLC that produces the house brand, Base Level.
“We keep it local, keep it fresh, target every age group and are always creating the next
“By keeping everything on hangers with clear size markers, our store stays clean and customers don’t have to rattle through 30 shirts to find their XXL.” — ANDY SELLERS
thing,” says Selders of the evolving stock of Lake Tahoe gear.
MADE IN LAKE TAHOE
The Heavenly Village location is an especially sweet spot for Blue Pebbles because of attractions that bring in visitors year-round, from ski season to boating and lake time. “This is where the ski resort meets the party and the beach, and there is a casino district and world-class music
Selders reports increasing sales by tenfold within a year of ownership. “I was excited to bring in some young blood,” he says, relating that customer service is the key. “We treat our customers like they’re longtime friends, give them recommendations on where to eat and enjoy their time, and we have fun learning about their hometowns,” he says.
Everyone at Blue Pebbles truly enjoys the time they spend with customers, Selders adds.
Aside from its location in the ski-beachparty sweet spot, Blue Pebbles is also a soft spot. A cozy feel is the litmus test for introducing T-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies and sweatshirts — all unisex — into the expansive Lake Tahoethemed inventory.
Ballcaps along with mugs, keychains and giftware are top sellers aside from the racks of T-shirts that populate Blue Pebbles. All apparel is displayed on hangers. “Hangers are huge to me,” says Selders. “Folding requires more staffing, and by keeping everything on hangers with clear size markers, our store stays clean and customers don’t have to rattle through 30 shirts to find their XXL,” Selders says.
Selders prefers to arrange displays by product type, grouping together T-shirts, mugs, hats and so on rather than creating groupings of vary-
The Selders neatly stock hoodies on racks in the store, making them easy to find, and mugs lined up on shelves.
ing items. The departmental approach allows customers to easily find what they are looking for, he says. Most of the time, they enter the store with a buying mission: To find a T-shirt, keychain or sticker.
The Lake Tahoe stickers by the local company Sticker Pack priced at about $3 fly out of Blue Pebbles by the dozens — and in bulk. “People literally will come in and buy 50 stickers,” says Selders. “They get them for their cars, coolers, laptops and young kids love them, too.”
Custom-designed products that are unique to Blue Pebbles set the shop apart from other tourist offerings.
“We do a lot of our designs in-house,” Selders says of Sticker Pack products and the house brand Base Level apparel.
The local angle is a heavy focus. Selders emphasizes, “We design our Lake Tahoe gear in Lake Tahoe.”
ALL IN WITH INNOVATION
“I’m always looking for the next opportunity in business,” Selders says, speaking to his stores’ inventory mix and at Blue Pebbles, how he’ll evolve when Target moves in across the street this year. “They are going to smash my swimwear section,” he figures.
Swimwear is big at his other stores but not so much at Blue Pebbles.
The big box entrance into his market isn’t a big deal to Selders. “They are going to stay in their own lane and I’m willing to diver-
sify when the time comes,” he says. “I’ll adapt to whatever situation comes our way.”
The big box can sell paper towels. Selders will offer beach towels.
“If they sell Doritos, I’ll sell granola,” he says. “If they have Coca-Cola, I’ll stock kombucha.”
Selders is no retail novice, either.
Before opening Blue Pebbles, he and Cassi managed shops in Michigan and Colorado. They landed in Tahoe through a retail chain, then began investing in housing properties and renovating places to sell. “We got to know the landlord here and when a spot came up for sale, we acquired it,” he shares.
The Selders have since expanded to the Lake Tahoe-based Beanies & Bikinis and Beachside Gifts in South Lake Tahoe, and Blue Pebbles of Morro Bay and Beachside Gifts of Morro Bay in California.
Indeed, retail is an ever-growing party for the Selders and Blue Pebbles.
He says the shop’s offerings attract guests, but so does the festive atmosphere. “Your products matter a lot, but creating a vibe is equally important,” he says.
The Selders aren’t sure what’s in store for Blue Pebbles next. But whatever that next adventure is, Selders says he will be all in. “I’m willing to take big chances and we are willing to jump off the bridge and see how far we can swim.” SGN
As a popular ski town, customers appreciate the name-dropped beanies.
Lake Tahoe stickers fly out the doors at Blue Pebbles, sometimes selling by the dozens.
T-shirts and apparel are top-selling gifts and souvenirs at Blue Pebbles.
STORY BY MEGAN SMALLEY
Refreshing ideas
Customers love collecting drinkware of all kinds to commemorate their trips.
For many years, mugs and glassware have been souvenir staples for destination retailers. Tourists love collecting mugs and pint glasses that say where they’ve been. At home, they remember that trip every time they brew a cup of coffee in the morning or pour a beer at the end of the day.
But lately, tourists are interested in collecting more than just mugs and glasses in the drinkware category. People enjoy collecting to-go cups, such as water bottles and tumblers, that not only to showcase where they’ve been, but also due to their sustainablility factors like replacing single-use drinkware.
To appeal to everyone in today’s market, destination retailers can offer a combination of more traditional items — such as mugs and pint glasses — as well as trending merchandise — travel cups, bottles and
Love from USA Group carries a variety of name-dropped water bottles at its shops.
tumblers — for success in the drinkware category.
STATEMENT PIECES
When Traci Walton opened Plenty Mercantile as a gift and souvenir shop in Oklahoma City with her daughter 12 years ago, water bottles weren’t popular gifts or souvenirs. She says the shop has carried some Stanley-style thermos and cups for a while, but they only became popular in more recent years. She suspects growing interest in sustainability has helped to fuel the recent water bottle craze.
“Twelve years ago, sustainability wasn’t at the forefront of people’s minds. It didn’t get people through the door but was a bonus for people,” she says, noting that today, however, sustainability is “a driver” for many people.
Water bottles have also become fun statement pieces, she says. People love decorating their favorite water bottles with stickers to make them one of a kind.
For that reason, Walton places Oklahoma City stickers close to the water bottles as an upsell.
“We sell a ton of stickers for water bottles, especially if they are dishwasher safe,” she says.
Stanley-style cups also remain extremely
Fill it up
In 2023, Plenty Mercantile opened a new location at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. The new gift and souvenir shop carries some drinkware options just like its flagship store, but it comes with a cool new perk: it has a computerized water bottle refill station.
Plenty Mercantile Co-owner Traci Walton shares that it was important to her to incorporate the refill station at the airport shop.
“You might not be able to take your filled water bottle through security, but you can go in our store and refill it,” she says.
The refill station is free for customers, but for an additional cost they can add flavors.
popular this year. Anne Kennedy, buyer for Love from USA Group, shares that stainless steel drinkware has been big at many of the destination retailer’s locations this year. Love from USA Group oversees 19 retail shops at several airports, including the Denver International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as well as the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The company also oversees 12 brick-and-mortar stores at various locations in Chicago; Bloomington, Minnesota; Roseville, Minnesota; and Rochester, Minnesota.
“We’re probably seeing the best sales in our stainless cups with straws, kind of like the Stanley,” she says.
The Stanley-style cups are such a hit with people that Love from USA stores even began stocking mini shot glasses that resemble Stanley cups late last year.
“We just sort of jumped on the whole craze of everyone wants that little Stanley cup, and now it’s in miniature form and it’s cute,” says Kennedy. “We’ve seen people buy those for their kids just because they’re cute. And people are buying multiples. We’re selling those in all markets, and they’re our hottest-selling item.”
Kennedy says she suspects stainless steel drinkware is trending lately because people want reusable drinkware they can take with them on their travels.
“I do think the trend of the Stanley cup, the Yetis and the like have made these kinds of drinkware more mainstream. It’s taken away some of the market share from our coffee mug business, which makes sense,” she explains.
Customers visiting Love from USA Group stores all love the mini shot glasses that resemble the popular Stanley-style cups.
“Customers are traveling, and they want their water bottles or coffee to go. I think where this trend is at in its lifecycle is it’s peaking. Now the question is will it become a mainstay?”
GLASS THAT LASTS
For tourists interested in sustainable, durable drinkware, souvenir glassware might appeal to them. Doug Ingalls is a manager at 1 Brilliant Gift, which is a souvenir wholesaler. He shares that people appreciate glassware for both its cost and quality.
“People seem to be asking for glassware — it’s glass, not plastic. It has value-add. It seems to work well as a souvenir,” he says.
PRO TIP: TEST OUT HOW THE DRINKWARE FEELS BEFORE STOCKING IT.
Ingalls says 1 Brilliant Gift has had success selling colorfully name-dropped glassware.
“We have a line, ‘Wanderer,’ which has very, very colorful destination artwork on drinkware, both mugs and glassware,” he says.
He says 1 Brilliant Gift released glasses shaped like beer cans a little over a year ago that have been a hit. Ingalls shares, “That has become really popular lately, especially with a little bit of a younger crowd.”
Destination retailers can appeal to many customers by offering a variety of shapes and makes for souvenir glassware, from traditional pint glasses to whiskey glasses to wine glasses.
Stemless wine glasses engraved with a Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, design are among Odysea’s drinkware offerings.
Walton says the pint glasses sold at Plenty Mercantile play into the popularity of Oklahoma City’s many breweries and do extremely well for the retailer.
“Oklahoma City has a lot of breweries — our beer culture is amazing,” she says. “We sell a lot of pint glasses. We have a bison design, and also a Sasquatch that oddly does really well.”
Patrick Turner is co-owner of Odysea in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He says people love the shop’s glassware options, including its cocktail glasses, wine glasses and stemless wine glasses.
“We offer classic glassware that is engraved with several designs that people really enjoy,” Turner shares.
He adds that having the Rehoboth Beach or Delaware name drop on the glass is key.
“If people want just a plain stemless wine glass, they could go to any number of places to get those,” he explains. “Having the name drop provides them with another connection to a Rehoboth Beach and coastal Delaware memory.”
MAKE MEMORIES WITH MUGS
Even though many people are drinking their coffee in to-go tumblers these days, tourists still appreciate collecting traditional coffee mugs on their vacations.
Ingalls says 1 Brilliant Gift does well with its full-color sublimated mugs. He notes that printing doesn’t come off as easily on sublimated mugs versus those made with traditional printing techniques.
“You can get a lot of colors with sublimation, and that’s what people like,” he says.
Walton shares that Plenty Mercantile sells a variety of Oklahoma City name-dropped mugs that are designed in-house. But just as important as the graphics are mugs’ handles.
“I know that sounds odd, but we watch our customers pick up mugs, and they are checking the handles,” she says. “Is it comfortable or is it wide enough for them to use? If it’s user-friendly, then that’s a shoe in.”
She suggests always testing how the mug feels
We’re probably seeing the best sales in our stainless cups with straws, kind of like the Stanley.
— ANNE KENNEDY, LOVE FROM USA GROUP
before stocking it — and that’s a good practice to apply for just about any souvenir, too.
“That’s a major thing for us,” she says. “We have to get the product in our hands before we purchase it.”
BEYOND THE CUPS
Destination retailers might want to sell accessories people can pair with their drinkware, such as aluminum straws for travel cups, koozies for bottles and coasters.
Walton says she recently began to offer straps for people to hold their water bottles.
“We also sell reusable straws and straw tips,” she shares.
Customers also might be interested in coffees, teas or cocktail mixes when they’re placed near
drinkware or set up on a display together. Walton says she has had a display that features cocktail glasses, light-up ice cubes and cocktail mixes to give customers some fun entertaining ideas.
Regardless of the drinkware a destination retailer offers, Walton advises encouraging customers to feel the drinkware before they buy it.
She says, “We try to merchandise in a way that makes it super accessible so customers can get that product in their hands.” SGN
Name-drop stainless cups with straws are also a draw for today’s tourist.
ISTORY BY MEGAN SMALLEY
n the late 1800s, general stores served as hubs providing customers with just about anything they could want or need — groceries, hardware, apparel and everything else in between. Often serving customers in smaller towns, general stores ensured that people didn’t have to travel to a big city to get what they needed for the week. People also used general stores as meeting places, and shopkeepers always had the scoop on juicy town gossip. With the advent of big box stores and online shopping, today’s consumers are much less likely to go to a general store for their essentials — but that doesn’t stop people from browsing these shops when they pass them on a road trip!
Many longstanding general stores retain an old-fashioned vibe with decor that reminds customers of simpler times. While the merchandise selection has evolved to include more gifts and souvenirs at general stores, many of these stores still stock some essential groceries and home goods to remind people of the store’s roots. General stores provide road trippers with a mix of essentials and one-of-a-kind gifts to take home.
EVERYTHING PLUS SOUVENIRS
For almost 100 years, Old Riverton Store has been a popular shopping destination for both locals who live near Riverton, Kansas, and travelers driving along Route 66. The store has always sold groceries and home
GENERAL STORES REMIND CUSTOMERS OF SIMPLER TIMES WITH THEIR OLD-FASHIONED DECOR AND EXPANSIVE MERCHANDISE ASSORTMENT.
goods. But as the store grew in popularity among travelers, it expanded its souvenir offerings to cater to the growing customer base.
Owner Scott Nelson is proud that the store has become a go-to destination for travelers.
The small store overflows with merchandise. Nelson keeps several shelves stocked full of Route 66 souvenirs, such as mugs, snow globes and license plates. There are several racks of souvenir T-shirts. Then the cash wrap is jammed full of travel snacks and accessories that would appeal to road trippers.
“If you ever came in here, it’s not a lot of room,” Nelson admits. “It’s full is how I’d describe it.”
The busyness of the store might not seem to be in line with best prac-
tices for visual merchandising, yet the busyness is part of what people love about the place. This aesthetic is a trend at other general stores as well.
Fishtail General Store in Fishtail, Montana, is similarly packed full of merchandise to appeal to any and every customer that walks in its doors. Having been in business since 1900, the shop is the longest continually operated general store in the state of Montana.
FUN FACT:
Old Riverton Store is known for its selection of Route 66 souvenirs. Owner Scott Nelson is also president of the Route 66 Association of Kansas.
Owner Katy Martin says the store was first established to serve gold miners and ranchers traveling through town, with the intent of having “everything” these workers might need.
Being in a remote part of Montana, the retailer still carries just about anything customers might need — from pantry staples and first-aid kits to hardware — but Martin says it’s also important to carry what travelers might want.
Martin says having a diverse product mix is key to keeping the general store vibe.
“Our motto is carry a little bit of everything since 1900 — good food, bakery items, supplies,” she says.
“We also try to have things that people would like to take home with them to say they were in Fishtail.”
In Conway, New Hampshire, Zeb’s General Store Manager Ray Boutin agrees that having a wide product assortment is part of what makes it a “general store.”
“Our product mix is what gives us the distinctive flavor of a general store,” he says. “We offer products from over 500 companies. Everything from locally made soaps and maple syrup
Old Riverton Store carries many Route 66 souvenirs to appeal to travelers.
to locally themed apparel, toys, Christmas gifts, books, pickles and so much more.”
The store’s massive penny candy counter is also a big draw for customers of all age groups.
FUN FACT:
While Zeb’s General Store has only been operating as a retail shop since 1991, the actual building has been intact since just before the Civil War.
Boutin notes that having a wide assortment of gifts and souvenirs has helped the business to flourish.
“Our large selection of products gives us an appeal across all demographics,” he adds.
PRESERVING HISTORY
General store customers often appreciate the unchanged design and architecture of these stores.
Martin says she doesn’t try to change the look of Fishtail General Store much, but she notes that she’s always keeping up on maintenance of the 124-year-old building.
“You fix it as you go along,” she says. “It’s like having a house. You take care of your house.
We paint every three to four years. We put a new roof on as needed. We keep it clean. When things break, we get it fixed. It’s a matter of having a maintenance schedule.”
Many general stores like to use antiques for stocking and displaying merchandise. Boutin shares that Zeb’s General Store uses old wooden barrels for candy and an old clawfoot bathtub for soaps and bath bombs.
“Our interior is chock full of antiques both on display on shelves, hanging on the ceilings and being utilized for product merchandising,” Boutin shares.
Old Riverton Store also decks its walls out with old memorabilia that was gifted to the owners throughout the years. Nelson says he also uses antique furniture to stock merchandise.
And out front, the store has a rusty old wagon full of plants as well as a greenhouse that is a hit with customers in warmer months.
“We take care of plants in spring, summer and fall, which adds to the beauty of the store,”
Nelson says. “We’re almost like a living museum. The store has a homey look, I would say.”
LASTING APPEAL
Although customers aren’t coming to general stores for town meetings anymore, there’s still something inviting about many of these shops.
Souvenirs are a draw for customers at Zeb’s General Store, but Boutin adds that people also love the customer service his team of roughly 60 employees offers.
FUN FACT:
Since huckleberry is the state fruit of Montana, Fishtail General Store has just about anything “huckleberry,” including jam, taffy, lollipops, pancake mix, syrup, chocolates, lip gloss, popcorn and even hot sauce.
“There’s no substitute for good location, great product mix and hardworking, friendly, caring staff,” he says.
Even though it’s in a remote location, Fishtail General Store also stays very busy for most of the year. Having a deli counter in the shop also attracts a lot of workers traveling
through town. Martin says her shop opens its doors as early as 4 a.m. to make sure people traveling in the early hours of the morning can get a bite to eat if they need it. She’ll close at 8 p.m. to catch any workers getting home late as well.
The combination of warm meals, fully stocked shelves and people chattering give the store its welcoming ambiance.
“It feels like home,” says Martin. “It feels like you walked into your pantry to get what you need, be it sugar, baking soda, hot sauce. We have a warm, friendly feeling, and we’re here to help people. I always say that we help everyone, even the people we don’t like. We try really, really hard to make people feel like we should feel. Cozy is a good word for the store!”
Martin says her shop stays particularly busy from April until December when people like to come to the area for hiking and fishing.
“For a general store, we’re very fortunate,” she adds. “We’re in a beautiful place. People want to be here.” SGN
New Baltimore, MI
MANAGER: Joe Young
BESTSELLERS: Spartina resort apparel, shot glasses and name-drop T-shirts
RETAIL TIP:
Treating customers like friends and family keeps them coming back again and again.
A winning combination
The bistro-and-boutique combination makes On the Bay a festive destination for diners and shoppers alike.
Eat, drink and shop — in one stop is a motto for On the Bay in New Baltimore, Michigan. Owner Cher Bell says the winning boutique-and-bistro combination attracts guests who peruse the gift shop’s displays of carefully sourced, higher-end fare and mix of name-drop items while waiting for a table in the lively courtyard. Or vice-versa: Parties enjoy live music, a selection of handcrafted tiki cocktails and lobster dishes and later meander into the boutique to find a special piece or On the Bay apparel to take home.
Joe Young, who manages the operation and is a partner of 21 years with Bell, says the company’s complementary dine, drink, do retail philosophy wins back repeat guests who are both local and traveling to experience the St. Clair and Anchor Bay lakefront of historic New Baltimore. “Because Lake St. Clair is one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country, people travel here for some large tournaments, and the
STORY BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Joe Young, manager at On the Bay, wears many hats for the business, managing the shop and bistro 24/7.
Photos: Erin Goodrich
Customers love picking up name-dropped shirts, ball caps and more from On the Bay.
town itself is growing and has become a destination because there is so much to offer,” says Young.
The quaint waterfront village circa 1867 is a northern suburb of Detroit and boasts a collection of independently owned shops and eight other dining spots. Bell moved to the community to build a home there, and in 2016, she serendipitously happened upon a vacant building just a block from Anchor Bay. This would be her shop, “my special place,” she says.
Bell was no rookie in the retail world. She has four decades of business under her belt, including owning a clothing manufacturing company in California and being one of the few woman-owned motorcycle shops.
“When you go to the Keys, what do you do? You walk around the little shops. So I combined our bistro and boutique into one — it’s tropical, nautical and it continues to grow.” — CHER BELL
Young is a rough carpenter and man “who wears 100 different hats and manages On the Bay 24/7,” says Bell, who splits her time between New Baltimore and Key Largo, Florida. “He has a wonderful relationship with everyone who comes into On the Bay.”
Young agrees, “This is definitely a fun, ever-evolving business.”
A TIKI VIBE
A few years after the shop came a bistro/cafe,
and then a liquor license in 2021. Next was an expansion into the parking lot to create a tropical cabana courthouse complete with covered gazebos to house guests during the pandemic, fire tables for cooler nights, firepits and live music.
The 2,000-square-foot interior and expanding courtyard, nearly mirroring the size, is an island of its own. Bell and Young infuse Key West vibes and tropical flair into the environment, across the shop and bar-grille.
She jokes, “We like to say, ‘We are on Bay time,’” and that’s exactly the experience they want customers to soak in when they visit On the Bay.
Bell explains the evolution from boutique to bistro to a full-blown complementary entertainment destination.
“I always served smoothies and subs in the shop, along with desserts and espresso — a little cafe,” she says, noting the location close to a beach allows guests to take picnic lunches to go. “Local mothers who dropped off their kids at school would come in for coffee, and we eventually ramped up to five full-time employees making smoothies with fresh fruit,” says Bell.
The cafe promoted lingering in the shop, which encouraged finding gifts, mementos, name-drop keepsakes and higher-end coastal tableware and decor, such as pieces from Mud Pie, nautical brass fixtures including clocks, and custom signage by Meissenburg Designs.
Top sellers over the long-term include Spartina resort collections, and special pieces you
won’t find in box stores, Bell says. “People go on vacation and they want to come back feeling inspired, so I am selling brightly detailed suns and other metal fixtures for their patios — I keep it high end, it’s not tchotchke,” she says. “We carry take-home treasures.”
Once On the Bay received its liquor license and expanded into a bistro/bar, the smoothies got boozy and Bell incorporated a Keys-inspired vibe to the experience, from menu offerings like its tropical drinks to wares in the boutique.
This summer, On the Bay added an expansive, robust tiki bar to its courtyard.
The eat-drink-shop combo works.
Specials and theme nights in the bistro result in sales in the boutique. For example, On the Bay hosts ladies’ nights on Thursdays, Young says. Fridays are reserved for a local named
Yanni who carves pineapples and watermelons into exotic drink vessels that are filled with boozy treats and garnished with fruit kabobs and sometimes sparklers.
Festivity promotes celebrating, which calls for marking the memory with a gift.
“This is definitely a fun, everevolving business.” — JOE YOUNG
“When you go to the Keys, what do you do?” Bell relates. “You walk around the little shops. So, I combined our bistro and boutique into one — it’s tropical, nautical and it continues to grow.”
AN EVOLVING EXPERIENCE
The bistro and tiki courtyard draw guests — a completely different setting than Old Baltimore’s other restaurants — and after a day and night of fun, visitors want to take something home with them from On the Bay.
Logoed hoodies, T-shirts, hats and glassware
These beanies remind people of their time by Lake St. Clair.
move quickly in the boutique, Young says. “We over-printed the On the Bay T-shirts our staff wears and now customers are buying them up in the shop and loving it,” he says. “Everyone loves On the Bay stuff.”
Aside from On the Bay’s boutique, the company offers a pop-up shop in a nearby marina store. The boutique keeps dedicated shelves stocked with name-drop hats, stickers and sweatshirts along with gourmet staples from companies like Stonewall Kitchen, including bloody mary mixes and spices.
On the Bay unveiled a complete facade renovation for summer, is completing a 20-foot addition to its courtyard for more seating and continues evolving inventory in the boutique, which is presented in collections so guests can easily find the aesthetic they’re seeking: tiki, namedrop, resort apparel or nautical decor.
“Customer service is the key to success,” says Bell of the expansion of On the Bay and its growing popularity. “Our customers are like
friends, and when they walk in the door, we treat them as if we’ve known them forever.”
On the Bay is open year-round, and business picks up in winter during the holidays. During the cold season, enclosed, heated gazebos allow visitors to enjoy On the Bay’s courtyard and indoor boutique.
“It’s beautiful to watch the snow falling,” says Bell. “Then in the summer, it turns into an open courtyard with island music.” SGN
These unique tumbler-style shot glasses are a hit with On the Bay customers.
STORY BY BROOKE BILYJ
Tap into the timeless popularity of stickers, pins, buttons, patches and other affixables.
STICKING AROUND
You see them every day: driving to work, taking a drink, opening your laptop. Stickers and decals from your recent trip, plastered somewhere you look routinely, reminding you of a favorite place or time. Portable, versatile and affordable, stickers are the smallest way for tourists and travelers to make a big statement about where they’ve been. The staying power of stickers and decals — and similarly stickable emblems like buttons, pins, magnets and patches — makes these small-ticket items easy add-on sales for souvenir retailers anywhere.
“Everybody seems to like stickers,” says Bob Harju, owner of Pumpernickel Press, a greeting card company that recently expanded its product line to offer stickers, pins, patches and other souvenirs. And there are a few reasons why, he notes.
“It’s an inexpensive, lightweight item you can stick in your suitcase with no problem,” says Harju. “They’ve come flying back as a big thing over the last 10, 15 years, and everybody’s sticking stickers everywhere.”
ADHERING TO TRENDS
In 2015, nearly 20 years after launching Pumpernickel Press, Harju saw an opportunity to expand his product line when he licensed vintage-style travel poster art from the Anderson Design Group (ADG) in Nashville. Because there were already other licensing agreements in place for posters and apparel featuring ADG’s nostalgic artwork, Harju had to think smaller — like “souvenir products that go on a spinner fixture in a store,” he says. “Stickers were one of the categories that we felt would be fairly easy to produce in the U.S. and be the most appealing right off the bat.”
Pumpernickel Press introduced Tourist Courts — a souvenir product line featuring ADG’s vintage poster art
Pumpernickel Press’ new Tourist Courts line features vintage poster art of national parks on stickers, patches and other souvenirs.
depicting all 63 national parks along with national monuments, historical sites and other destinations. The collection started with postcards, stickers, magnets and coasters. Then, as retail buyers started asking for more products, the line expanded to include pins, patches and other products. In terms of bestsellers, “magnets and stickers are right there at the top,” Harju says.
“Stickers, pins, decals and patches are very popular; they always have been, and I think they always will be.”
— KHALID ISMAIL, I LOVE DC GIFTS
Around the same time that Harju launched Tourist Courts, Joe Stringari noticed stickers spiking in popularity at Yellowstone Gift Shop, where he works as general manager. “It was always part of our inventory, but somewhere in that 2016 time period, stickers really took hold,” says Stringari. “The college kids started putting them on everything, whether backpacks or water bottles, to personalize their gear. That really fueled the market.”
Over time, the assortment gradually expanded. When Stringari started buying merchandise in 2012, Yellowstone Gift Shop carried one sticker line along with souvenir decals from Brass Reminders. Since then, he’s added three more sticker vendors to his line-up — which now includes Blue 84 and Steamboat Stickers in addition to half a dozen of his apparel vendors who “have also ventured into the sticker business.”
ATTRACTING ATTENTION
When visitors stop by the gift shop located inside the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock, many head straight for the stickers. “Most people, when they come in, that’s what they ask me for immediately: ‘Stickers, patches, where are your magnets?’” says manager Courtney Young. “Stickers and patches are probably some of our most purchased products.”
Young points shoppers toward an eye-level shelf where clear containers hold collections of Arkansas-themed stickers and patches, respec-
tively. Most of the products feature the state’s flag, shape or domed capitol. Others portray outdoor scenes that highlight state parks, lakes, rivers and landscapes of The Natural State.
“Those are some of the most purchased, most asked for items because when you come to Arkansas, you want to remember that you came to Arkansas, so you get something with the flag or the state that you just visited,” says Young, who designs the stickers herself through StickerYou, and buys patches from Rock City Outfitters.
Stickers, decals, pins and patches are placed front and center at I Love DC Gifts, a souvenir shop located across from Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. “Literally, when you first walk into the store, depending which door you walk into, you’ll see the decals, stickers and patches first, or you’ll see the pins first,” says Khalid Ismail, who co-owns the store with his father. Their family
also owns another souvenir shop called Stars & Stripes inside Pentagon City Mall, in addition to another business, Alamo Flag Co., which makes the American-made flags and state- and country-themed lapel pins and patches sold in both retail stores.
Although these items “aren’t as big of a sale because they’re smaller, we do sell a lot of them,” Ismail says. “They’re very popular; they always
Yellowstone Gift Shop has broadened its sticker and pin selection to appeal to travelers.
have been, and I think they always will be.”
AGELESS APPEAL
Young adults, from teens to 20-somethings, tend to be “the main purchasers for stickers, patches and pins,” Young says. She says parents will buy stickers for younger kids, while adults in their 40s and 50s veer toward apparel.
Pins, however, are popular even into the golden years. “The older adults are loving the pins. That’s the number one product they ask for,” Young says, especially for legislators or other state employees. “They want to show people that they represent their state, so Arkansas-themed pins are important for the people working here.”
While pins provide a professional accessory, patches offer a more casual badge that customers can add to jackets, bags or hats. Areas like Yellowstone, for example, attract large groups of
motorcycle riders “and they like the patch game, as well,” Stringari says. Plus, there’s not much room on a motorcycle to haul huge souvenirs.
The same is true on tour buses. “Customers on tour buses don’t have tons of room,” Stringari says, “so items like magnets and stickers fit very nicely in their pockets and they’re not taking much room in their luggage.”
Though these emblematic expressions may be small tokens with relatively low price points, they can make a powerful statement and leave a lasting impression. That’s why Ismail and his father might spontaneously give a few free stickers away to customers, “because I know they’re going to throw it on something they’re going to use every day, and it makes me feel good knowing they can look at that and know they got it from this store,” he says. “When you go in with the intention of just wanting to make money, you’re never going to succeed, but our purpose is making memories. If you give someone a sticker, it doesn’t cost much; but to them, it’s memorable.” SGN
At the Arkansas State Capitol Gift Shop, patches feature the state flag, parks and other icons that represent the state.
CATCHING OUR EYE
Looking for something new to offer? Here are some trending products that are sure to turn heads.
1. Mountain Graphics: Name-drop 14-ounce camping mug, www.mtgraphics.com; 2. Desperate Enterprises: Don’t Feed Sasquatch metal sign, www.desperate.com; 3. Bamboo Trading Company: Sea turtle-themed Club Bag, www.bambootradingcompany.com; 4. Xplorer Maps: Poker-size playing cards featuring name-dropped maps, www.xplorermaps.com; 5. Ben Kaufman: Striped beach towels, www.benkaufmansales.com; 6. Sincere Surroundings: 16.5-inch by 1.5-inch wood sign, www.sinceresurroundings.com; 7. Silver Streak: Enhanced crystal geode package, www.silverstreaks.com; 8. Country Home Creations: Hot honey and feta cheesespread mix, www.chcdips.com; 9. Little Flower Soap Co.: Bourbon whiskey lover lip balm, www.littleflowersoap.com.
Have a product to feature? Send a high-resolution image and description to: katie@breakwallpublishing.com.
1 Brilliant Gift – www.1brilliantgift.com .............................. 117
Great Lakes Gift Show www.greatlakesgiftshow.com 24
Holden International – www.holdenintl.us ...................... 83
IGES – www.iges.us 19
Impulse Souvenirs – www.impulsesouvenirs.com ........ 147 Jack Russell – www.jackrussellapps.com 131 Kool Tees – www.kooltees.com 68
S. Adler – www.kurtadler.com 69
Vegas Market – www.lasvegasmarket.com
SUNSHIN E AWARD
STORY BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Winner: Zoo Atlanta
Location: Atlanta
Store Director: Jessica Horn
Sustainability, front and center
Gorillas make the walking sticks themselves.
“They strip them, chew on them and the zookeepers square them off, and you can see how helpful it is, especially for one of the babies we have who is teething,” says Jessica Horn, store director at Zoo Atlanta.
Guests can watch primates chip away at these souvenirs that do good on multiple levels. All walking stick
TREADING LIGHTLY
The newly remodeled Explorer Store at the main entrance is a single-use, plastic-free store environment stocked with sustainable products, including a star: Big Tim.
The sculpture celebrates the life of an 11-foot male tusker African elephant who lived in Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Ocean Sole Africa’s hand-carved centerpiece is made of recycled flip-flops.
The shop also sells souvenir elephants, giraffes and rhinos made
“As an employee and guest, I love the zoo, and its conservation initiatives along with our approach in the gift shops really make a difference.” — Jessica Horn
sales benefit gorilla safety and advocacy organizations.
Zoo Atlanta is involved in field conservations projects around the globe, and its four gift shops align with a mission to protect, preserve and educate.
SPONSORED BY:
from the same recycled flip-flop materials.
ANIMALS FIRST
The Explorer Store is stocked with animal welfare in mind and does not carry candy with palm oil. “It’s really
bad for our animals if it were to be left behind and it is usually sourced from rainforest trees and can result in tearing down habitats,” says Horn.
All apparel price tags are cotton. Vendors like Nature Planet create stuffed animals completely from recycled plastic bottles, plus they’re baby safe with uncoated tags made from 100% recyclable material.
Zoo Atlanta continues to support six 2024 conservation commitments to protect wildlife in Cambodia, Malaysia, Madagascar, Nepal and two locations in mainland Africa.
According to Horn, those conservation projects focus on the Asian hornbill, red pandas, radiated tortoises, clouded leopards, western lowland gorillas, central chimpanzees and drill monkeys.
Horn says, “As an employee and guest, I love the zoo, and its conservation initiatives along with our approach in the gift shops really make a difference.” SGN
Sunshine Awards recognize retail stores in our industry that are making a difference through charitable donations and efforts. Is your store worthy of an award? We’d love to hear from you! Complete an entry form at www.sgnmag.com/sunshine-award
