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25 Gifted Retailers '08 — Part 2

Presentation is sponsored by World Market Center Las Vegas

Gifts & Decorative Accessories Market Research -- Gifts and Dec, 12/10/2008 9:29:00 AM

Retailers selling gifts and decorative accessories are a varied lot, as Gifts & Decorative Accessories' 25 Gifted Retailers '08 illustrate. They are typically untypical. Among our selected group is a stationery specialist, a shop within a car wash and a gift and fabric shop offering sewing classes. All but two operate only one store (the other two have two locations); 16 have websites, yet only four sell online; and they offer a wide range of product categories. These stores average about 4,200 square feet, with some as small as 500 square feet and another as large as 20,000 square feet. More than half of this year’s group have been in business for 10 or more years. This is just one of the reasons why we call them Gifted Retailers. They, and others like them, are the backbone of the gift industry, and even in tenuous times, are hardy. That is not to say that they aren’t challenged; they are. But by being small — and independent — they can adapt more readily to the changing retail climate, whether that change is an economic condition, an emerging trend or a shift in local population. And adapt they must in order to stay strong and competitive.

Presented here are snapshots of the second twelve of our 25 Gifted Retailers. Part 1, featuring the first 13 was posted in early November and can be found here. Continue to watch this spot. Beginning in early 2009, every two weeks, we will post a full profile of one retailer, letting you know what they are doing and how they are doing, so you can gain an even better idea of why we think they are Gifted Retailers.

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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, gift books, stationery, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, CDs/music, home textiles, permanent florals, bath linens, custom floral designs and wicker furniture. 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, tabletop/serveware, fashion accents, accent rugs, jewelry, photo frames, wall art, glassware/crystal, home textiles, permanent florals, and estate 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, GDA
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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care, tabletop/serveware, gift books, fashion accents, baby and tween items, gourmet foods, accent rugs, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, plush, CDs/music, home textiles, permanent florals, gift baskets and garden accessories. 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 Creations, 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 home decor, holiday decorating and foods, gift wrapping and table setting classes. 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. Carries gift books, stationery, greeting cards, photo frames, invitations and paper-related gifts. 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, collectibles, tabletop/serveware, gift books, fashion accents, toys/games/puzzles, gourmet foods, accent rugs, housewares, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, plush, CDs/music, home textiles, permanent florals, baby products, furniture and antiques. 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 International, 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, collectibles, tabletop/serveware, gift books, fashion accents, accent rugs, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, CDs/music, permanent florals, licensed products and baby products. 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. Carries candles, diffusers, holiday, spa/aromatherapy, collectibles, tabletop/serveware, gift books, gourmet foods, accent rugs, housewares, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, plush, CDs/music, glassware/crystal, home textiles, permanent florals, licensed products, gift baskets, baby products and antiques. Major vendors include A Cheerful Giver, Soy Basics and Virginia Candle/WoodWick for candles; Ganz, Habitat and Caldrea for personal care; RAZ Imports, Bethany Lowe Designs, Enesco Group, Lang Companies, Department 56 and Midwest for holiday; and Legacy and Lang Companies for greeting cards. Offers a wedding and baby registry, gift wrap, local delivery and layaway. Special events include porch sales, anniversary sales and holiday open houses, as well as 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, tabletop/serveware, gift books, fashion accents, toys/games/puzzles, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, plush, CDs/music, home textiles and baby products, as well as sewing items such as sewing machines, fabric, notions and patterns. 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, tabletop/serveware, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, glassware/crystal and original art. 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, tabletop/serveware, gift books, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, plush, CDs/music, permanent florals and licensed products. 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, collectibles, gift books, fashion accents, toys/games/puzzles, gourmet foods, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, plush, CDs/music, glassware/crystal, home textiles, permanent florals, licensed products and baby products. 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. Carries candles/candle accessories, holiday, personal care/aromatherapy, collectibles, gift books, fashion accents, toys/games/puzzles, stationery, jewelry, greeting cards, photo frames, wall art, plush, CDs/music, glassware/crystal, home textiles, permanent florals, licensed products and baby products. 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.

Read Part 1 of Gift & Dec's Gifted Retailer profiles

All sales information is from Gifts & Decorative Accessories’ market research estimates. All data are for calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2007.

Source: ©2008 Gifts & Decorative Accessories market research

How the list was compiled
Gifts & Decorative Accessories’ exclusive report, 25 Gifted Retailers, presents snapshots of independent gift and decorative accessory retailers that are using innovating approaches to marketing and merchandising and are making a difference in their communities.
This list is by no means comprehensive, nor is it a ranking. Many more than the 25 retailers listed here are strong retailers within their communities.
Because sales volumes are of interest, however, Gifts & Decorative Accessories does provide sales estimates for all companies. All sales figures and ranges are Gifts & Decorative Accessories market research estimates and are for total 2007 store sales, which may include revenues from the sale of products other than gifts and accessories. All sales figures and store counts are for the calendar year 2007.
Gifts & Decorative Accessories compiled this report by surveying independent retailers, researching business newspaper archives and speaking with gift industry insiders. Information was gathered, compiled and analyzed by Senior Research Specialist Dana French and Database Coordinator Cynthia Myers.
The sponsor of the published report, World Market Center Las Vegas, has no involvement in suggesting or selecting the 25 Gifted Retailers of 2008.

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