Gift items in your shop...

Create a Post
JbNormandog

JbNormandog

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 8, 2004
Posts
3,751
Loc
NJ
Hi all,

I carry gift items as well as framing.

My selection is starting to get a bit stale, things are still moving but I like to stay ahead by finding unique and different things to sell.

My problem is I haven't found anything different for a while and even going to the NY gift show didn't result in much either.

I just went through their newest selection of vendors and don't feel to optimistic that much will be there again.

Before I ask other framers that sell items what sells best for them I will offer my better sellers. High end mugs by Mara have been steady sellers as well as Tizo picture frames and chess items.

My question is this, what vendors do you use? (I got in contact with a company called timeworks through the Grumble a while back and liked what they sold, this is why I ask here.)

I know before someone rains on my thread, just because it sells in the midwest doesn't mean it will sell in the east...blah blah blah ... I am looking for general ideas and vendors so that I can track them down and see if there is anything that I think can work for me. Basically if a fellow grumbler tells me thay found a good product with good customer service, I think it is worth a look.

Fire away....



Thanks, Bob.
 
Just a thought Bob, but I would start by cozying up to John Raines' web site and look at his Christmas orniments from Germany. Not your "China Carp", and neither are those who enjoy Ingleglas orniments... which aren't cheap... and you don't outfit a tree in a couple of years... it's a consistant collecting year after year after year...

But, just like Hummel, Christmas is only one of those "passing fads". :D
 
Have you tried local artists that create gifty items? We have five that make jewelry, one of those is a lampwork bead artist. We also carry Primal soap (http://www.primalelements.com) and Facisimiles by Design Masters (http://www.designmasters.com). We have several that knit scarves and one that paints silk scarves. We also have a potter and a woman who works with pewter. And there is all the art on the walls. We are also an art gallery. And do several shows a year.

Hope this helps.
 
Bob,

I too, carry gift items in my shop. My first question back to you would be "who is your typical gift customer?"... not so much east vs. west!

I have carried Glass Eye Studio blown glass items (have been big sellers in the past, but this year just so-so).

I carry everyday ready made frames by Malden but the biggest sellers were when they still offered "stained glass" picture frames!! Traditional wood is next and then fancy metals...

Jewelry is another big seller.

There is a craft site where you can look for all the handmade artistic items and jewelry... www.wholecrafts.com

Are you going to the NY Gift show this month? Sometimes you really have to look since some of the smaller lines are not displayed as visibly...

Roz
 
Roz makes good points Bob. I added gift lines this past November, had researched and put my info aside and waited until I was opened a year before jumping in. The best decision I ever made. Most of the artisans I brought in also have an association with wholesalecrafts.com

It is well worth the searching time. My biggest sellers were Glass...then metal. What I found of all things I have brought in , is that customers preferred the unique work of independant craftsman over anything else. I liked being able to give them info about the artisits and the processes they use.

E-mail me or call anytime if you want to talk more about it. I am going to check out the Las Vegas Gift Market while I'm out there...
 
Ditto what Susang said. We have started adding items from the Philly show and seen decent results from our efforts. Local artists (as some have stated) are a great resource and can usually be carried on a consignment basis. That way you don't have a lot of lettuce tied up in inventory. Mmmmm... lettuce.
 
The best thing that you need to tell us before anyone can give any valid advice on what you should carry is to tell us about your customer and what your current product offereing is.

There are many here that could give you some good adivce but you really are getting some shots in the dark here because nobody knows much about your business or customers.

I am not ripping on any of the previous responders but lets face it, would you take advice from someone about your business if they did not know much, or anything at all, about what you were currently doing?

We have been carring gift and home decor accessories for close to 10 years now and there are many good and bad products/companies out there. If you want to make sure that you have something that you will not see in the bg box type stores, you need to visit the "temporaries" when you go to gift shows. They tend to want to work with you and will stand by their products better.

You are dealng with Timeworks which is a good company, are you mainly traditional decor or do you get into much contemporary? I know of a good company for contemporary clocks that retail at very good price points.

What else do you currently carry fr gift items? Who is your typical customer? What are the other businesses that are near you?
 
Starlightz

We carry Starlightz by a company called Artecnica, Inc. Started carrying them in 2005 and sold 8. Brought in some new designs for the holidays and sold 55 for 2006.
Check them out, great enviromentally friendly product and their selection changes from season to season.
Are you going to WCAF? Vivian Kistler is leading a workshop at the World Marketplace in Vegas. Don't know if the class is sold out yet, but might be worth a look for you.
Look up the post that John Ranes started about the gift show in Atlanta going on right now. One thing I learned from John is if you are going to carry any kind of scented candle, make sure you know the shelf life.
Regards,
Julia
 
We are mainly a photo shop and carry a few lines of frames, including Malden frames which seel ok and ship quickly. One of our customers suggsted we try this company http://www.swingdesign.com/ and we have had great success with their stuff since we brought it in. Alot of our customers like that it is designed locally (still made overseas)
 
Create a Post
Back
Top