Dancer in the Aisles
Editor-in-chief Caroline Kennedy has been with Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine for more than 23 years. Her long association with the gift industry gives her a broad perspective on its trends and the ever-changing landscape of gift retailing. She brings her veteran’s-eye view to the highlights and sidelights of our everyday world. When asked why she has stayed on the job for so long, her answer is, “It’s like going shopping every day!” Recent Posts
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Posted by Caroline Kennedy on January 26, 2010
Do you have such loyal customers as Willow Glen, CA, retailer Natalie Thompson discovered that she has?Who is Natalie Thompson and why do I ask, you wonder … Her story, which ran in the San Jose Mercury News was brought to my attention. As with many independent retailers, 2009 was difficult year for Thompson's gift store Fleurish. Her 8-year-old business was struggling in a difficult economy, she had to cut back on inventory, and on top of that Thompson had other personal financial setbacks. She decided to close the store. Within 24 hours of sending out an email notice to her neighborhood customer list, she received an outpouring of messages from customers noting how much the store meant to them. But she also received much more … Learn what else her customers did; ...Read More
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on December 30, 2009
I know, I know. We haven't even rung in the New Year yet and I'm reminding you about filing taxes? Well, we all get very busy this time of year and we all need a nudge to help us get organized and plan ahead. I ran across a press release today that brought this subject up and I thought that I would share. Af ter all, sharing is caring, as my friend Nancy says. The release notes out that tax deadlines do vary according to when a business' tax year ends, so the first thing you need to take ...Read More
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on December 1, 2009
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on November 24, 2009
Veteran retailer Carol Schroeder shares her blog with Gifts & Decorative Accessories. Our "Savvy Store Solutions" contributor will share her experience and perspective on the everyday ups and downs of being a gift and decorative accessories retailer. Carol Schroeder is author of Specialty Shop Retailing: Everything You Need to Know to Run Your Own Store published by John Wiley & Sons. She is also a retail advisor to the Gift and Home Trade Association.
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on November 5, 2009
As a shopper, I am curious about something that annoys me during the checkout process. When and why did it become common practice when giving back change for a purchase to place the coins on top of the bills? I always end up dropping the coins because they spill off of the bills. My wallet has a very small section for change that is not easy to manage when I am holding it and juggling my purse and my purchases as well, especially when there is a line of people behind me. Why can't the salesperson place the change in the palm of my hand where I can easily hold onto it and still take hold of the bills? Just curious … Perhaps some of you retailers can enlighten me?
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on October 29, 2009
 In honor of National Cat Day, I share with you a picture of my very handsome boy, Jeremiah.National Cat Day! Who knew, but then again, why should I be surprised? There seems to be a national day for just about everything. And cats, along with dogs (as I am sure that every dog has its day!), should be honored in some why for all that they do for us — shed hair, catch mice, purr, scratch the furniture, ignore us when we want their attention, tap dance on our keyboards when we are working and they want our atttention, comfort us and much more. Happy National Cat Day!...Read More
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on October 9, 2009
I have just spent the first three days of this week (Monday–Wednesday) visiting craft workshops in the Marche region of Italy and being immersed in its culture, cuisine, history and artistry. The best of intentions often are waylaid by reality. I had planned to blog each day about the day's experience. However, the schedule just did not permit me to do so with out impacting on my ability to get rested and ready for the next day's events. Each day, we left the hotel at around 9 a.m. and did not return until around midnight. the days were jam-packed with bus rides to various towns, meetings with local officials, visits to museums and artists workshops, historical overviews … and dining experiences. It was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. I think that I experienced more in the three days than one would normally experience during a two-wee...Read More
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on October 4, 2009
My flight was late leaving the New York area, which made our arrival in Rome late, cutting down from 20-plus hours to a brief 45 minutes the time that I had to clear passport control and security, and then find my gate for my connecting flight to Ancona. I made it to the domestic gate with little time to spare, but ready to jump aboard the plane, only to be shown to a shuttle bus that took me and the other passengers to a more remote area of the airport where the smaller aircraft was parked. Upon arrival in Ancona, I discovered that I made the connection but my luggage did not. It took an hour to file the report while my host, Ms. Paola Pianaroli, from the Italian Trade Commission waited patiently.Suitcaseless, I settled into the lovely Grand Palace Hotel overlooking the port harbor where cruise ships and ferries come and go. After a lovely lunch with some of the o...Read More
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on September 9, 2009
In my usual morning round of reviewing email, press releases, pr wires and the like, I came across an item by another blogger, Andy Sernovitz, that is of value to retailers. Andy presents five tips to help retailers build sales through word-of-mouth, customer-to-customer communication. The tips are simple and mostly low-cost, no-cost. The key is to get customers talking and spreading the word about your store to bring in new customers and generate more sales.One suggestion that I like: "Use your receipts. After every transaction, you’re probably already handing out a receipt. Use it to encourage your customers to come back with friends by printing for-a-friend coupons on them, or tickets to your special events." Click here to read the rest.
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on August 24, 2009
Look out manufacturers, retailers and marketers, there’s a new demographic group out there that you may want to target, especially if you produce/sell/market children’s products. Not too long ago, I read an article that informed me that I and some of my friends are a part of a new, and somewhat influential demographic group, when it comes to purchasing power. It is known by the acronym of P.A.N.K. I used to be a D.I.N.K (double income, no kids). Then I got divorced. Now I come to find out, I am a P.A.N.K. — Professional Aunt, No Kids. This is a newly recognized consumer group that is already being by marketers and the likes of Disney and Hasbro. And it is a good target market for gift retailers. PANKs can be defined as single (or unmarried) women, many of them professionals with a good disposable income who love spending it on the offspring of t...Read More Industries: Retailing
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on August 11, 2009
In my previous blog post I wrote about my personal long-time treasured friends and how meaningful such relationships are. That post provided a bit a window into a very personal side of me, but in thinking of about it over the past few days, I realized that the broader concept has a certain relevance to our businesses. ...Read More
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on August 6, 2009
Last night was a very special evening. I had dinner with three friends, one of whom I wasn't expecting to see, but who arrived at the table as a total surprise! Nancy, Michele, Ina and I have been friends for more that 35 years. Ina now lives in Seattle and the surprise of Ina joining us (she came straight from the airport) was so meaningful. It reinforced the true value of friends and friendship. And it brought to mind a snippet of a song I learned as a kid, "Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold." Nancy, Michele and Ina are my gold friends. We have seen each other through the good times and the not-so-good times of life's ups and downs — through relationships, marriages, divorces, funerals, births, career shifts, illness … you name it, we've been there for each other and through it with each other....Read More
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