May the Force Be With You

Quinn Halford -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 1/1/2001

There have been forces in play over the past couple of years that promise to alter wholesale buying and selling in the gift industry. One is the rise of b-to-b Web sites, and another is the wave of mergers and acquisitions among gift trade show organizers. And these two forces have spawned yet a third: a combination of the first two, as demonstrated by the recent alliance between the Dallas Market Center, DMG World Media, George Little Management, and Whereoware. More information about that alliance is in "Up Front," page 14.

Trade show producers, caught up in fast-paced global competition, see the need for strategic alliances to finance expansion of their operations. There's been such a whirlwind of activity, and it's been so difficult to keep track of who's producing which shows where, that we assigned editor Eliza Gallo to come up with the skinny. She interviewed many of the leaders of the North American gift trade show business, and she writes about their thoughts on where the industry is going in "Consolidation and Its Aftereffects," a special report that begins on page 47. While all the participants predicted nothing but good things for buyers and exhibitors, the proof, of course, will be in the pudding.

Going Forward

We recently asked gift industry manufacturers and importers to nominate their top retail accounts for Gifts & Dec's 2001 Merchandising Achievement Awards. Many responded, and so some of you retailers will soon be receiving a letter from me along with an official entry form. We have created new categories for this year's awards: Store Design A (for stores with annual sales of less than $1 million); Store Design B (for stores with annual sales of more than $1 million); Promotion (advertising, store events, and community service projects); and Visual Merchandising (in-store and window displays). All independent specialty retailers are invited to enter the competition. More information and a registration form can be found on page 188.

Last year we introduced "Today's Gift Retailer," a three-part survey of independent gift retailers that covered everything from store sizes and locations to promotion budgets and employee practices. We'll continue to update that survey, revisiting the questions asked previously and adding new ones. This year, "Today's Gift Retailer" will appear in the June issue.

There must have been something in the air in 1976. So far, we've learned that four manufacturers-Department 56, Folkmanis, Toland, and Zelco-are celebrating 25th anniversaries this year. We will feature them in our "Celebrate" column, beginning with Folkmanis on page 272 of this issue. Are there any more of you out there?

Big Brother

One South Carolina reader called to voice a complaint about what she thinks are the big brother tactics of her local downtown business association. In order to standardize opening hours for the organization's retailers, one of the members is planning to ask the city council to pass a law mandating specific hours during which retailers must stay open. Is that going too far? Let me know what you think.

And may the force be with you throughout 2001.