Lori's completed file on Feb. 3, 2014
Ideas To Help Power Your Gift Shop - September 3, 2015


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On Our Radar 
 
* After The Barcode. As consumers demand more transparency about the products they buy (especially food), are the days of the simple barcode numbered? Experts say yes, as retailers and manufacturers look for new tech options that can share ingredients, allergens, country of origin and more.

Click-And-Collect Purchases. Brick-and-mortar stores are having success offering in-store pickup services that meld the ease of shopping online with the immediacy of receiving the product. And customers who come in to pick up online orders sometimes make additional purchases.

Hot Topics:
Sock It To Me
 
Giftbeat's Community Board continues to buzz, with socks one of the hot topics. A Kansas retailer expects socks to be a huge gift item for fourth quarter. She already had one customer buy 27 pairs from Blue Q's new floor rack. A local newspaper columnist even tweeted about the socks and gave a shout-out to the retailer's store. How's that for some great publicity? Want to join the discussion and see other comments from your peers? You can find the topic in our Buying/Product forumReminder: Access to Giftbeat's Community Board is FREE for subscribers.
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Tip: Ready-To-Go Gift Bags 
 
Want an easy add-on idea that works for fourth quarter and holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day? Follow the lead of a Vermont retailer, who keeps ready-to-go seasonal gift bags made up with tissue paper. "Customers buy them and place their gift inside," he says. "Many times people will ask for one as we ring their purchase, or will add one if they're asked, 'Do you need a gift bag?'" In addition to the checkout, he has them displayed on a wall in the front of the store. Generally, he keeps 24 on hand, with retail prices from $1.25-$5.99.
Pick: McCrea's Unique Caramels

 

With unexpected flavors such as Black Lava Sea Salt, Basil Cayenne and Curried Butternut, McCrea's Candies is a small-batch caramel maker on a mission: to continually search for unique flavor combinations that surprise and delight! Its new upscale branding highlights the founders' green commitment, featuring 100% recyclable packaging and wrappers that are still compostable. Available in short and long tubes and a 5-piece pillow box, cost range is $2-$7.50. A party box holds 80 pieces ($25 cost). All candy is made in the company's Boston-based kitchen.  

Trend: Top 50 Retail Ideas

Many of the top retail ideas gathered by the folks at Trend Hunter are aimed at consumers who long to linger and be immersed in an experience, from interactive electronics stores to pop-up vodka bars. Make sure you don't miss Idea #2: Harvey Nichols turns clips of people stealing from the store into an animated ad. It's shoplifter-shaming at its most creative -- while promoting the store's rewards program.
Feeling Inspired
"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way."
 -- Dr. Wayne Dyer
Thanks for joining me! See you next time. 

 
Joyce Washnik, Editor
Giftbeat

P.S. Here's another tidbit of inspiration for you: Proving that you're never too old to have some fun, 96-year-old Jean Hazewinkel enjoys going down the big slide at the Minnesota State Fair. Makes me smile each time I watch it. :)