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  Ideas To Help Power Your Gift Shop - July 1, 2015 |
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On Our Radar
* Wearables Market. A new forecast from the International Data Corporation estimates that 72.1 million wearable devices (i.e., smartwatches, headsets and activity monitors) will be shipped in 2015, up a whopping 173.3% from the 26.4 million units shipped last year.
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Hot Topics:
Best Advice You Followed
What's the best piece of advice you received from another retailer? Giftbeat's readers are sharing words of wisdom, including this from a Canadian shop owner: "One of my favorites is your store is not a museum, meaning don't get attached to product, thinking it will eventually sell if it hasn't moved in a long while. Put it on sale and free up your dollars for new merchandise." Check out the discussion in our Operations forum. Reminder: Access to Giftbeat's Community Board is FREE for subscribers.
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Quick Links
- Have you started following our Facebook page yet? Please take a look - we post more trends, tips and photos that inspire (including cool displays we find on our shopping expeditions).
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Tip: Do You Need A Bag?
 Want to save some money each day? Ask customers if they need a bag for their purchase, especially if the item is already boxed or wrapped. Many of our readers mention it as the best cost-saving step they've taken over the past year, including this Virginia shop owner: "The majority of the time, customers say, 'No, keep your bag because we will just throw them away.'" |
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Pick: Big Picture Farm's Caramels
Raspberry Rhubarb Goat Milk Caramels, anyone? From Big Picture Farm (Townshend, Vt.), the confection was awarded Outstanding New Product of 2015 at the sofi Awards, the annual competition that honors excellence at the Fancy Food Show. Goat's milk is steeped with local cold-press rhubarb wine and caramelized with a heaping portion of raspberries. I'll take a dozen, please!
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Trend: Gazpacho, Beets & More
 I just returned from the Fancy Food Show, where I had the pleasure of tasting goodies from around the world (it's a tough job, but someone has to do it). Here are five top food trends from the show: Gazpacho to Go, i.e., Watermelon Habanero Gazpacho from Gina Cucina; Can't Beat Beets, i.e., Beet Hummus from Eat Well Embrace Life; Flower Power, i.e., Lavender Cheese from Rogue Creamery; Cocktail Culture, i.e., Bourbon Barrel-Aged Syrup from Bissell Maple Farm; and The Maize Craze, i.e., Pipcorn from Pipsnacks. |
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Feeling Inspired
"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
-- Jimmy Dean
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Thanks for joining me! I'm off to Atlanta next week -- hope to see you there!
Joyce Washnik, Editor Giftbeat
P.S. If you want to sign up for a worthwhile e-newsletter, check out Of A Kind, a New York City-based fashion and home decor retailer, just spotlighted by NRF's This is Retail series. |
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