Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | September 15, 2024 💮
| CINDY’S NEWSLETTER for Gift Shop Managers |
Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, ready-to-implement content to gift shop managers, retailers, and volunteers across the country. We help our readership of over 3,000 retailers optimize shop operations, grow revenue, and connect with one another. The newsletter is published monthly and free since 2001.
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The value and richness of this newsletter comes from your participation. Do your part by submitting two comments per quarter, at minimum. Reply to reader’s questions listed throughout the newsletter (in green) or simply share what is working or isn’t working in your shop, a great selling product, a helpful website or resource, an operating question, your biggest challenge right now, a terrific vendor you’ve come across recently, tips on managing volunteers, or tips on managing yourself!
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September 15, 2024
Taking a stand against plastic risers
Michelle Sherrier is taking a stand against plastic risers. She recently shared some great ideas for alternative risers. Out with the boring, in with the whimsical. We share a few excerpts from her recent blog article “No Plastic Risers“.
Merchandising is storytelling, risers not only create height but also help continue to tell the story. You can create height with so much more than a clear plastic riser. Think about each display or vignette as a story. What story are you telling? Is it a tabletop or kitchen display? Think outside the box. Go into stores like Home Depot and walk the aisles. Take a stroll through a junk shop or a thrift shop, comb the home decor isles and book isles. It’s supposed to be whimsical so don’t overthink it.
Masculine/Desk Vignette
Stack old books from the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Take off the cover and color them out by the book spines. Or, remove the hard cover altogether for a vintage look.
Kitchen/Cooking Vignette
Old cookbooks stacked up with kitchen-related items. Canned goods with the labels removed are great risers for candles. Even paper egg cartons can be used as risers for something light.
Low Cost Wood 4×4’s cut in different sizes and sanded down also make great risers. Or, pieces of stair tread cut in larger pieces and stacked on top of each other.
Garden/Spring Vignette Pavers, bricks, terracotta pots flipped upside down make easy risers. Another favorite is galvanized buckets as binning and flipped upside down for larger risers.
Michelle Sherrier is the owner of MC Design Collaboration, a retail consultant specializing in visual merchandising and the host of The Retail Whore Podcast @theretailwhorepodcast. Michelle has spent 43 years in retail, from Fred Segal to Anthropologie after starting her own brand, MC Design Collaboration. Sherrier also shares her expertise through instructional videos available for free on YouTube.
SOURCE: MC Design Collaboration
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What is your best-selling high-dollar item?
A member in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook group recently asked, “What are your best-selling high-dollar items?” We We are a smaller shop in a 150 bed hospital.
Ours is Chala handbags.
Some items we sell that do well are Jen & Co handbags, Megan Browne jewelry, Sincere Surroundings – inspirational messages framed and blocks. – Cheryl F
Warmies are not a high-dollar item, but we just got them in and are doing well with them! Regular Warmies and the slippers. – Brad J
Umgee clothing, Wrangler & Montana West purses if your area likes Western. If you buy from Opportunities, you can definitely get a higher markup. – Ginger T
Myra purses. – Norma T
We do really well with Capri Blue candles. I was hesitant to bring in $36 candles but great sales from the start. – Andie H
Swig Life cups have done well for us, considering that they average $40-50 each. – Andie H
We are a small rural emergency hospital. We don’t have inpatient and we are in a depressed area. So for me high-dollar items will just sit. You have to gauge things on your area and the majority of your clientele. – Deanna L
Hobo and Myra handbags. Vera Bradley. – Lee P
Chala are good for us, but we do even better with Jen & Co purses. We can do them in quantities of one for the medium to large size, unlike the Chala, which we now have to do in twos, and they are good quality with reasonable prices. Our employees buy them well. – Tamara B
We brought in Jen & Co purses about nine months ago and they have been a huge seller for us. – Megan C
Jelly Cat Plush. We were hesitant to bring them in due to price but they keep on selling. We do have a maternity, but they don’t stay long. Mostly employees that buy these. – JoAnn R
Douglas stuffed animals are very nice, easier to sign up with and reasonably priced. People like very unusual, soft plush animals. – Jessica F
Silver Forest earrings and R.S. Covenant rings are top seller money makers for us. Coronet purses do very well, hospital logo apparel along and TY plush. These are our top five revenue makers. – Cynthia B
We do well with Jen & Co. purses, Katy Did cups, and Swan Creek candles and wax melts. – Tina H
Caroline & Company purses and bags do well for us. Also Sweet Grace products by Bridgewater, Capri Blue candles and other products, Swan Creek candles, Tyler Candle Company candles and especially their Diva candles and detergent. – Melissa W
Can you sell your hospital logo on fun t-shirts? That has saved us. Have sold 5000+ in 4 months. – Karen M
Vera Bradley, Chala Bags, Solar Balloons. – Ramona K
Perfumes, Katie Loxton handbags, Ray-Ban sunglasses. – Whitney A
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.
Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.
It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.
Q. Recommendation for an alternative to Kelli’s?
Q. Does anyone have a recommendation for another vendor like Kelli’s? Kelli’s shipping is expensive. – Anonymous
The following are responses from managers in the Facebook Group for Hospital Gift Shops. The group is a private community of gift shop professionals, therefore names have been removed for privacy. We always recommend you conduct your own research and due diligence when selecting a wholesale provider that best meets your needs.
- We did a cost analysis on the candy we were getting through Kelli’s and we were spending so much more than when we go through Blair Candy and through Grandpa Joe’s. We were able to bring our margins up by almost 5% in most cases. We use Kelli’s a lot but it has just become expensive.
- I primarily use Kelli’s for balloons, single-use medications, and a few candy items that I can’t get through my regular distributor, but I always wait to order until I have $450 of product, to get the lower shipping.
- When Kelli’s started charging for shipping, I started looking for other options. They have gotten so expensive! It was ok when shipping was free, but not so much now. I look on Faire for other options. Grandpa Joe’s candy is a good source and sometimes has free shipping.
- We have used Kelli’s for years and are happy with them.
- Blair Candy is usually cheaper than Grandpa Joe’s, but I do use Grandpas for a lot of our nostalgic candies which are HUGE seller for us.
- Kelli’s is really a wholesale distributor, which means they didn’t make anything they sell – they are going out to wholesalers and buying large volumes at a low cost, marking it up and then selling it to you. The benefit to a gift shop buyer is the convenience of having a large variety of items that sell well in a hospital gift shop, but you pay for that convenience by paying more for the item and, as mentioned, the shipping is very high. In the end, your pricing will have to be higher as a result. There’s also the benefit of buying lower quantities. If you buy directly from the vendor, you will find better pricing (no middleman), but there’s more upfront work as you need to work with more vendors or reps and you need to look at little harder for lower quantities (in our case).
- They are making money, but not a lot. I looked at Swig and it is cheaper to go directly through or even on Faire than ordering through Kelli’s.
- Oh wow. I didn’t even know Kelli’s had Swig. I can imagine it’s a lot cheaper. Faire is usually the cheapest source, since you’re getting it right from the manufacturer. I also love the convenience and how I can shop from the app at home when I have time.
- I primarily use Kelli’s for balloons, single-use medications, and a few candy items that I can’t get through my regular distributor, but I always wait to order until I have $450 of product, to get the lower shipping.
- We have been using Faire since they launched. I love it. Plus the insider free shipping. We have tested so many new items that way.
- Young’s, Ganz, Gerson, Rain (for jewelry) some people like Giftcraft (but avoid rep named Lauren), Coco + Carmen, Joy Susan, Schylling, Evergreen. I’m sure other buyers can add their vendor suggestions. There are thousands out there. And my personal favorite these days and lowest cost option is buying through Faire, an online marketplace that connects you directly with thousands of wholesalers, without having to set up multiple accounts and deal with countless invoices. Good luck!
- Hanna’s Handiworks is a great option for home decor and I just noticed they have a great sale right now.
- I would echo many of the other vendors that others have mentioned above. I’ve definitely taken advantage of the free shipping membership option for Faire. I’d also suggest Toysmith for small toys and impulse items. If I remember correctly, they have no minimums and free shipping.
- I use Burton and Burton for balloons. We can send them back if they don’t hold helium.
- I only get one or two candy items from Kelli’s, the bulk is from a local distributor. I like Grandpa’s selection, but what they have in stock seems erratic, and I thought their shipping costs were a little high.
- We only use Kelli’s as a last case scenario.
- Ohhh Kelli’s. It’s a love/dislike relationship for me. I have used them for years. Love the quantities that some items have, convenience and the fact that buying such a wide range of merch gets you to their spend goal pretty fast. Dislike their transition over the past few years, i.e., shipping/pricing. I even found some products where they were charging me retail. To their credit they did make good on that and offered a discount. With all that being said, I work with reps that I know are trustworthy to help find most new merch. But I must say that I have found that Faire has become a go to in finding more unique things. I just added freeze dried candy from a vendor on Faire, it was literally gone in three days. I will say that most of our everyday snacks we offer comes from Sam’s. Convenient and easy.
- Will you share what vendor you bought the freeze dried candy from?
- My first order was with Rodgers Jam Berries. I ordered chewy spree, now and laters, sour gummy worms, jolly ranchers, skittles. Skittles by far was the most popular with jolly ranchers aka poofs and close second. I did a reorder of those and then placed an order with Freeze Dried Candy Store. They offer varieties different from Rodgers. With them I tried the tootsie rolls and taffy.
- Nostalgic candy has been a huge hit for us. Visitors and patients love something fun and joyful from their childhoods when going through clinic/hospital. Hammond’s candy bars are also a good seller with their fun and unique flavors. Valley Fudge & Candy from Faire is something we have to reorder nearly every week!! Wallaby licorice from Blair or grandpas is also a good seller.
Take the 2025 State of the Industry Survey
The Gift Shop® Plus 2025 State of the Industry Survey is now open. This survey is designed to capture your experiences, challenges and expectations as a gift shop owner, manager or buyer, as well as provide insight into where the current state of retail lies as the year winds down and we look ahead to 2025.
As a valued reader, your insights are crucial in helping us understand the current state of the industry and what the future holds. Your responses provide valuable statistics and trends that will benefit the entire specialty retail sector.
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The economy: slowing but still growing, inflation down
The National Retail Federation September issue of NRF’s Monthly Economic Review had some encouraging news.
In Summary — employers should keep adding jobs even if at a slower pace, price increases for goods and services are coming under control, unemployment is near historically low levels and the Fed is expected to cut rates at least twice.
- The U.S. economy is not in a recession and is unlikely to enter one by the end of 2024.
- The economy is experiencing a “soft landing” with slowing growth and inflation cooling simultaneously.
- Recent data has alleviated fears of a deteriorating economy, despite early reports of higher unemployment and slowed manufacturing.
- Second quarter GDP growth was revised upward to 3%, and consumer spending was adjusted to 2.9%.
- Consumer spending, the largest component of GDP, was revised up to 2.9% growth for the quarter from 2.3%
- Inflation, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, remained stable at 2.5%, close to the Federal Reserve’s target.
- The labor market is showing signs of weakness, with only 114,000 jobs added in July and an unemployment rate rising to 4.3%.
- The Fed is set to cut interest rates but they won’t immediately boost the economy.
- The Fed is expected to cut rates twice more this year, which should support consumer spending for the rest of 2024.
Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!
Dallas Market 2025 Dates
Dallas Market Center announced dates for its 2025 markets. The March 2025 markets has been shifted to accommodate holidays like spring breaks. Major show dates are below. Visit the Dallas Market Center website for dates of accessories trade events, showrooms and others.
2025 Dallas Market Center Show Dates
Jan 8-14: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market
Jan 21-24: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market
Mar 25-28: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market + Total Home & Gift Market
Jun 10-13: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market
Jun 18-24: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market
Aug 12-15: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market
Sep 16-18: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market
Oct 21-24: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market
In-house advertising: A genius idea!
✔️ Print tent cards for your events—especially special openings for the late-shift—and set them at punch card time clocks, staff elevators, staff break rooms, staff locker rooms.
✔️ These are high-traffic, high-visibility areas with a captured audience.
✔️ Strategically placed signage will serve as a reminder every time they punch out, use the break room, staff elevators or other employee areas.
✔️
Thanks to Marla Touzel, Gift Shop Coordinator at Mercy Health Partners, in Muskegon, MI, for this great tip!
Best selling products for men
Readers recently shared some of their best-selling brands for men. Just in time for the holidays!
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
| OCTOBER |
|---|
| Breast Cancer Awareness Month Oct 11 – Yom Kippur begins Oct 13 – No Bra Day 🤣 Oct 14 – Columbus Day Oct 16 – Boss’s Day Oct 19 – Sweetest Day Oct 31 – Halloween |
| NOVEMBER |
|---|
| Nov 5 – Election Day Nov 11 – Veterans Day Nov 13 – World Kindness Day Nov 28 – Thanksgiving 🌽🍁🌾 Nov 29 – Black Friday Nov 27 – Cyber Monday Nov 30 – Small Biz Saturday |
| December |
|---|
| Dec 21 – Winter Solstice Dec 25 – Hanukkah Begins 🕍 Dec 25 – Christmas 🎄 Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve |
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Hospital Gift Shop Consultants
We get a lot of requests for consulting still. Cindy is retired so we started a list of active Hospital Gift Shop Consultants. Please note that this list is provided as a courtesy. We do not necessarily endorse or recommend any specific consultant on this list. We encourage you to conduct your own research and due diligence when selecting a consultant that best meets your needs.
♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
Markup for flowers
Flowers and plants are our third highest seller only behind snacks/food and logo apparel. I was a florist before I came to a hospital gift shop. Flower shops make their money on the labor put into the flowers.
A good mark up for pre-made bouquets 30% – 35%.
If they are made in-house by volunteers I would recommend at least a 50% mark up on flowers, greens, and hard goods. I mark up flowers and hard goods at least 50%.
I know in-house flower arranging is a luxury not everyone has. We are very lucky to have the space to provide that service. – Noelle D Boardman, St. Luke’s floral & Gifts, Cedar Rapids, IA. 545 beds. 8/30/24
Thank you Noelle!
AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #655
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?
- Create a Thanksgiving Tree
- Which POS has the best support?
- Cancer awareness merchandise
- Markups standards
- Q. What is the ideal stockroom size?
- ‘It’s been fun’: Hospital gift shop closing doors after 70 yrs
- List of Hospital Gift Shop Consultants
- Job Openings
- How are Sales? Retailers share year-end projections
- Fall & holiday display planning
- Hospital Gift Shop Roundtable
- Gift Market Calendar
DISCUSSION
Discussions have moved to the Hospital Gift Shops group on Facebook
300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!
↓ Click to join ↓
♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
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© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.
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