Gift Shop Magazine - All About Gift Retailers

What strategies should retailers implement to host a successful sale?

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:09:51 -0800

A good sale not only moves stale inventory, it injects much-needed cash flow into your business. Lauren Heamon of Fox Premier Sales Lauren Heamon of Fox Premier Sales770.237.2929

Success with Clicks and Bricks

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:17:39 -0800

From Online to Brick-and-Mortar Most gift stores these days have a presence online. But what if an online-only business decided to branch out to brick-and-mortar? GIFT SHOP explores the challenges and possibilities of this business move. The success of retailers like Jennifer DeMaria, Trace Walsh and Tara Mediate proves this: There is room for all types of business models in retail. Walsh and Mediate, the co-owners of KooKoo Bear Kids, started their successful retail business as an online-only model.

What steps can retailers adopt to follow up on customers who have attended an in-store event?

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:32:10 -0700

What should retailers do after an event to get the maximum benefits from it? In-store events are key to success in today's competitive retail market—and capturing data from customers who attend the event will measure its return on investment. Lauren Heamon of Fox Premier Sales Lauren Heamon of Fox Premier Sales770.237.2929

Can you recommend marketing strategies that will help boost store sales?

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:11:21 -0700

Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting

Monograms Are Her Muse

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:09:09 -0700

Blame it all on two fairly unusual names: Ariana and Lucia. A few years ago, retailer Francene Dudziec had a hard time finding trendy and fun personalized items for her daughters, now 13-year-old Ariana and 2-year-old Lucia. It was when she was pregnant with Lucia that Dudziec decided she would put her art director background to good use and start a store that specialized in monogrammed products. The result was Monogram Muse, a gift store that opened its doors in November 2007 in Clarks Summit, PA.

What are some successful strategies for pricing inventory?

admin — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:22:25 -0800

What are some successful strategies for pricing inventory? When do you need to markdown and by how much? Debbie Dusenberry of Curious Sofa Debbie Dusenberry of Curious Sofa

How can retailers boost sales every winter holiday season?

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:06:22 -0700

How can retailers boost sales every winter holiday season? It's make or break with the winter holidays. Are you prepared? Here are some tips to always make the season work for you. Trip Van Roden of Wellspring Trip Van Roden, President of Wellspring

Baskets & Beyond

admin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:41:17 -0700

Creative Containment with The Bwarie Gift Basket Company Tom Bwarie has one requirement for the containers he uses to create innovative gift packages: They have to fit through the door of his store. In the 31 years that Bwarie has been selling gift baskets, he has used everything from surfboards and boogie boards to riding saddles and beach chairs as containers for gifts. The Bwarie Gift Basket Co. is three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Carlsbad, CA. Since Bwarie went into business he has seen a lot of change in retail.

How do you host a successful in-store event during the holidays?

admin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:37:23 -0700

How do you host a successful in-store event during the holidays? What are some event ideas that can draw traffic? You probably kick off the holiday retail season with a bang. Here are some ideas to make holiday events profitable and fun. Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting Gail Markert of Markert Group Consulting

Toy Store Retailers

admin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:46:45 -0700

Fun and Games in Tennessee Like most gift-store owners, Andy Cannon starts planning for the Christmas holiday retail season right about now. Sure, he plans on what products to stock, what to order, how much to staff. But most of all, Cannon prepares for Christmas one special way: He starts growing a beard. Yes, the owner of Discovery Depot in Cookeville, TN, has another avatar every holiday season—as Santa.