Lori's completed file on Feb. 3, 2014
Ideas To Help Power Your Gift Shop - December 4, 2014


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On Our Radar 
 
* Super Saturday. 
With Christmas falling on a Thursday this year, the Saturday before the holiday (Dec. 20) is predicted to be a blockbuster, especially since Black Friday sales were down 6.8%.

* The "Connected" Mall. Shopping at the local mall is about to get a lot more interactive for consumers. Property owner Simon and eBay have partnered to bring the best of digital technology to physical stores,
with a pilot program in Palo Alto, Calif., that provides shoppers with real-time retail information and deals.

Hot Topic:
Small Biz Saturday
 
How were sales on Small Business Saturday? A Pennsylvania retailer calls it her "best day ever," while an Arizona shop owner reports "tremendous" business. To join the discussion, visit our Operations forum. Reminder: Access to Giftbeat's Community Board is a FREE service for subscribers.
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Tip: 'Tis The Season - For Thieves
 
As you gear up for your busiest month of the year, don't forget to watch out for shoplifters. A New Jersey retailer shares a video of a brazen individual who came into the store and stole more than 80 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. Luckily, the store's cameras captured him, and the matter is now in the hands of the police. So stay vigilant, and be sure to give everyone who comes in your store all the attention they can handle. Your customers will love you for it -- and the thieves will hopefully move on. 
Pick: Coolest. Spoon. Ever. 

 

Have you heard of the Supoon? It's a silicone spoon from Dreamfarm that can be used to scoop, measure and scrape the bowl clean. Best of all, its unique shape allows it to sit up off your table or counter. Each 11-inch spoon comes boxed and is available in 8 colors: charcoal, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. Sugg. retail: $11.95. 
Trend: Interactive Window Displays

The famous holiday windows of New York's department stores are on display once again. One of the biggest trends this season? A move toward interactive and social media. Some Bloomingdale's windows let up to four people play a special Whack-a-bow game on their phones, while another display allows passersby to tweet their New Year's resolutions to a giant screen. WWSS (What Would Santa Say)!
Feeling Inspired
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."
  - Albert Einstein
Thanks for joining me. See you next time!

 
Joyce Washnik, Editor
Giftbeat

P.S. Looking for some holiday inspiration? Our friend Bill Sutton of the Village Shoppes shares his 2014 Christmas video. What a beautiful store!