What category of product do you think will have an increased impact in the coming year?

Smaller cell phones with more bells and whistles, iPods, BlackBerries or accessories to enhance these gizmos. When you read the figures after Christmas sales, the biggest winner is anything electronic. People are more willing to spend money on these items than anything else. However, my passion is fashion accessories, so I don't see myself carrying electronic gear, except maybe cell phones. As it becomes more miniaturized, it's going to become like a watch. They're already studding them with diamonds and covering them in platinum and gold, aiming toward the female market. We do sell cell phone charms, mostly to younger girls. Cell phone purses used to sell for a while, but I noticed a big downturn when the Bluetooth came out.

A close second is things that are eco-friendly or socially responsible. I have some items made by women's co-ops from Guatemala and South America, to get them out of the cycle of poverty. I'm trying to find products with packaging that is more eco-friendly. It seems to appeal to people.

The category that lights me up most isn't product at all — it's production, in the form of new technology. As a stationer who's also been a freelance designer for over 25 years, the ability to create unique, amazing invitations and stationery in-house has been held in place by the limitations of equipment and software. A year ago, much of what we're doing in the back room now was virtually impossible (with any degree of consistency or success), relegating those high-design jobs to outside printers. Today, the sky's the limit. There's almost nothing we can't do, and at a better price point or better profit margin. Between the technology available today and the things in the pipeline for tomorrow, I truly feel this is one of those moments in the stationery industry we'll all look back at later on, recognizing a massive shift in direction.

Competition from the chains, the doldrums the housing market is experiencing and the “use it and throw it away” society that is prevalent have made the gift shop experience challenging. So wherever a store can “do it yourself” to offer unique product, that category will have the biggest impact. Our category oab (only at bizarre) is strong and growing as fast as we can grow it. We have commissioned companies such as Peggy Karr Glass to produce licensed Nebraska Husker plates and bowls for us; we commissioned another artist to paint a whimsical landscape of Omaha which Peggy Karr again produced on a tray. Companies are also creating Christmas ornaments from our painting of Omaha, and we are now working on a holiday dinnerware ensemble that will include holiday plates and bowls, invitations, napkins, glasses and a centerpiece. A local artist created the designs.