25 Gifted Retailers of 2008
'Typical' Equals Variety, Adaptability and Independence
By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM
In the November issue of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, we presented edited snapshots of the first 13 of our 25 Gifted Retailers of 2008. This month, we present the remaining 12 Gifted Retailers. As we previously noted, there is no one definition of a 'typical' gift and decorative accessories retailer, unless you define typical as being extremely varied. All 25 of our retailers are just that and they are also just as geographically diverse. This selected group of stores ranges from the East Coast to the West Coast; from as far north as Alaska to as far south as Florida; and from the mountains of New England to the desert of the Southwest.
As different as they are, many have some things in common: all but one (or 96 percent of them) carry greeting cards; 23 out of the 25 (or 92 percent) carry holiday products, jewelry, candles and candle accessories; while 21 include photo frames in their merchandise mix and 20 carry some sort of tabletop and/or serveware items.
For the complete snapshot of these retailers, and the previous 13 featured last month, please log onto www.GiftsandDec.com and scroll down to the Gifted Retailers box on the home page below the blogs.
Do you think that you are a Gifted Retailer? If you would like your store to be considered as a Gifted Retailer for our next report, please contact Dana French, dfrench@reedbusiness.com and provide her with your full contact information.
Rainbow Wicker & Silks Winter Haven, FL
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: $1 million–$2.9 million
Home furnishings and gift specialist, founded in 1982. Offers mid-priced lines in 12,500 square feet of selling space. Has 10 employees. Major vendors include Root Candles for candles; Thymes and Aromatique for personal care; and Sullivans, H.T. Ardinger & Son, RAZ Imports and Winward for holiday. Offers home decorating services and holds an annual two-day Christmas open house. Merchandises through vignettes and themes. www.rainbowwickerandsilks.com
Santoro & Company Bridgeton, NJ
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and home accent specialist founded in 1996. Offers upper-middle price points in 6,000 square feet of selling space. Has two salespeople. Product mix includes state pieces and antiques. Major vendors include CBK, IMAX and CDM for holiday products. Special events include numerous events to assist the local community and an annual holiday open house and outdoor light show. Constantly changes product mix and displays. www.santoroandco.com
Serendipity House Acworth, GA
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Home furnishings and gift specialist founded in 1995. Is located in a circa 1879 Queen Anne Victorian home. Has 4,200 square feet of selling space. Has five employees. Major vendors include Yankee Candle and Root Candles for candles; Enchanted Meadow/Golden Bough and Camille Beckman for personal care; Jody Coyote, Pandora Jewelry and Wah for jewelry; RAZ Imports, Roman, Sullivans and Manual Woodworkers & Weavers for holiday; and Shade Tree Greetings, Bottman Design and Life Sighs for greeting cards. Special events include Historic Downtown Acworth First Fridays, Annual Birthday Party and Sale, Christmas in July, Dixie Highway Yard Sale and Labor Day Sale on the Porch. Offers classes in home decor, holiday decorating, gift wrapping and table setting. www.serendipityhouse.biz
Silver Papery Austin, TX
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Stationery specialist founded in 2002. Offers promotional to high-end lines in 1,450 square feet of selling space. Also sells online. Has four employees. Major greeting card vendors include Notes & Queries, Smudge Ink, You Send Me and Great Arrow. Special events include book signings, speakers and trunk shows. Describes its merchandising as uncluttered and modern. Prides itself on its customer service and selection. www.silverpapery.com
Sparrow's Nest Johnson City, TN
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and home accent specialist founded in 2005. Offers promotional to high-end lines in 2,500 square feet of selling space. Has four employees. Major vendors include Swan Creek Candle and Caldrea for candles; Gianna Rose Atelier and Caldrea for personal care; Ho Tae, Beyond Words, Designs by Leehee, Baroni, Far Fetched, National Jewelry Co., Pick Up Sticks Jewelry, Solange, Ganz, Jody Coyote, Trish Waldron and Three Sisters Silver for jewelry; RAZ Imports, CBK, Ganz, Two's Company, Willow Tree, Gerson Intl., Now Designs, Dicksons, Caspari, Silvestri, ESC Trading Co., Tender Heart Treasures, Peking Handicraft, Roundtop Collections and Shea's Wildflower for holiday; and Shannon Martin, Bottman Designs, Caspari, Gina B. Designs and Cynthia Webb Designs for greeting cards. Prides itself on making customers feel at home. Offers free coffee and spiced tea. Special events include spring, fall and holiday open houses.
Stone Fence Madison, WI
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and home accent specialist in business since 1972. Offers promotional to mid-priced lines in 1,200 square feet of selling space. Is mall-based. Has eight employees. Key vendors include Yankee Candle, Beanpod Candles, Colonial Candle and Northern Lights for candles; Thymes and Crabtree & Evelyn for personal care; Holly Yashi, Vessel Amber and Moda for jewelry; Department 56, Roman and Midwest for holiday; and Pictura, Santoro, Little Fish, Lang and Renaissance for greeting cards. Merchandises by season and color. Prides itself on being current, but not trendy.
The Feathered Nest Chanute, KS
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and home decor specialist founded in 1999. Offers mid-priced lines in 2,300 square feet of selling space. Has five employees. Major vendors include A Cheerful Giver, Soy Basics and Virginia Candle/WoodWick for candles; Ganz, Habitat and Caldrea for personal/spa care; RAZ Imports, Bethany Lowe Designs, Enesco, Lang, Department 56 and Midwest for holiday; and Legacy and Lang for greeting cards. Offers a wedding and baby registry, gift wrap, local delivery and layaway. Special events include porch and anniversary sales, holiday open houses and promotional drawings. Prides itself on keeping merchandise and displays fresh, showing and sharing creative ideas and having excellent customer service. www.featherednestonline.com
The Guild Paducah, KY
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and fabric specialist in business since 2003. Offers mid-priced to high-end lines in 5,000 square feet of selling space. Has one employee. Major vendors include Votivo for candles; Burt's Bees for personal care; Heartstrings for jewelry; and Pomegranate for greeting cards. Offers sewing, quilting, knitting and smocking classes. Holds seasonal open houses. www.theguildllc.com
The Heights Gallery Little Rock, AR
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift specialist founded in 1979. Offers promotional to high-end lines in 1,600 square feet of selling space. Has two full-time and five part-time employees. Major vendors include Legend Designs for jewelry; Kurt Adler, Midwest, Department 56 and Roman for holiday; and Pilgrim Imports for greeting cards. Special events include receptions for local artists and two holiday open houses. Describes its merchandising as colorful and ever-changing. Prides itself on its display windows.
The Peddler Essex, CT
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and home accent specialist in business since 1967. Offers mid-priced lines in 700 square feet of selling space. Has two employees. Major vendors include Colonial Candle for candles; Bronnley of London-USA and Dionis for personal care; Silver Seasons and Hand & Hammer Silversmiths for jewelry; Midwest and Kurt Adler for holiday; and Caspari and Carol Wilson Fine Arts for greeting cards. Stresses customer service.
The Pleasantree Fairfield, OH
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: $1.1 million
Gift and home accent specialist in business since 1988. Offers mid-priced lines in 3,500 square feet of selling space. Has 17 employees, including a 14-member sales team. Key vendors include Yankee Candle, Virginia Candle/WoodWick and Soy Basics for candles; Crabtree & Evelyn for personal care; Chamilia, Kameleon, Annaleece and Jody Coyote for jewelry; Midwest, RAZ Imports, Ganz and Roman for holiday; and Dolly Mama's and Greeting Place for greeting cards. Special events include a men's night out during the holidays, bag sales, jewelry events and open houses.
The Rag Doll Pioche, NV
One Store. Estimated 2007 total sales: Less than $1 million
Gift and home accent specialist, established in 1987. Offers promotional to mid-priced lines in 1,400 square feet of selling space. Major vendors include McCalls Country Canning and Mole Hollow Candles for candles; Camille Beckman for personal care; Blake Brothers West Inn for jewelry; Hanna's Handiworks and First & Main for holiday; and Leanin' Tree and Marian Heath Greeting Cards for greeting cards. Special events include Mother's Day, Anniversary and Christmas sales. Describes itself as being conveniently located in the middle of nowhere.
Products Carried by the 25 Gifted Retailers
| *Other includes antiques, furniture, lamps, lighting, apparel, mouth-blown glass, wallpaper, wine, garden accessories, gazebos, fountains, pet products, sewing machines and sewing accessories and other decorative accessories Source: Gifts & Decorative Accessories market research |
|
| Greeting cards | 96% |
| Candles/candle accessories | 92% |
| Holiday products | 92% |
| Jewelry | 92% |
| Photo frames | 84% |
| Tabletop/serveware products | 80% |
| Stationery | 80% |
| Personal care/aromatherapy | 76% |
| Gift books | 76% |
| CDs/music | 76% |
| Fashion accents | 72% |
| Wall art | 72% |
| Home textiles | 68% |
| Baby/infant products | 64% |
| Glassware/crystal | 64% |
| Permanent florals | 64% |
| Plush products | 60% |
| Other* | 60% |
| Housewares | 52% |
| Accent rugs | 48% |
| Licensed products | 44% |
| Collectibles | 44% |
| Toys/games/puzzles | 44% |
| Gourmet foods | 44% |
| Gift baskets | 20% |
Price Points Carried Among the 25 Gifted Retailers
| Low | 64% |
| Middle | 100% |
| High | 44% |
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