Product Features

Go By The Book

Gift Books Are Big Business The gift-book business is big business. For many publishers it's the gift books, or rather the sale of books in nontraditional outlets—called "special markets" in the book industry—that provide the... more »

Steeped in Success

Sell Tea, Make Money Robert Boewe has seen it happening. Over the years, an increasing number of customers at Spice Merchant, his store in Wichita, KS, are looking for and enjoying tea. In the rest... more »

Trending Up: Summer 2007

Sunblossom Solar Gifts LLC Lightweight SunSprite chimes are for indoor use. A wrought iron stand makes the chimes portable. Available in a variety of designs. 866.456.8357SolarChime.com My Little Shoebox The Awesome Blossom Card is a... more »

What Men Want

Men and Shopping Do Mix Sure, word on the retail floor might be that men and shopping don't mix, but Candace Corlett, principal of WSL Strategic Retail, a retail strategy consulting firm in New York... more »

Trending Up: Spring 2007

Graffiti Zoo Catchy names and unusual flavor combinations are the hallmarks of these handcrafted chocolates. A portion of the proceeds from sales goes to animal conservation funds. 866.294.3555GraffitiZoo.com Made By Humans For a touch of... more »

Mixing Culture With Commerce

Retail operations are a critical part of museums around the country, from Boston's Museum of Science to the San Diego Maritime Museum. The sale of gifts and merchandise isn't just about providing revenue for the... more »

Plush with Success

Tried-and-True It's no secret. Plush isn't a fad; it's a reliable, tried-and-true product category. In fact, teddy bears celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2002. "It's the most stable thing I have. I can always count... more »

Profits are in the Bag

The Accessory of Choice In recent years, handbags have increasingly become the accessory of choice for many women. NY-based Accessories magazine has been reporting steadily increasing sales in handbags for a few years now. In... more »

Green: the new black?

Eco-friendly Fashions The fashion world is a fickle one. Popular styles and colors change like the wind. However, there's an emerging trend that doesn't appear to be going out of style anytime soon. Retailers are... more »

Halloween: Stoking Spirited Sales

Invest in Halloween Martha Evans remembers when she last saw a 90-year-old woman dressed as a witch. A friend hosted a "Witchy Woman" Halloween party in town and 100 women showed up, all dressed in... more »