Spring 2019

From the Editor: Creative Spark By Julie McCallum

A strong winter show season has the gift industry inspired for the year ahead. After a long and cold winter, spring is slowly blossoming into a hopefulness we all look forward to. Pantone’s latest color of the year, the vibrant yet mellow Living Coral, symbolizes our need for warmth and comfort according to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute. Discover the color trends and forecast for the year ahead and how to use them for a year’s worth of inspiration.

In this issue, senior retail editor Debbie Eisele takes us on a retail tour of the historic town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. She visits 4 retailers who contribute to the eclectic and unique shopping experience in the thriving downtown area.

Parties and celebrations bring the fun to your gift shop shelves. Stocking up on partyware that is unique and trendy will make you a destination for all the savvy hostesses in your area. Read about what makes this growing category hot.

The second annual Creative Display Contest has brought out the best from our readers. The many entries showed off an amazingly diverse group who all have a passion for great display merchandising. We selected the top finalists and you, the readers, voted. The winner: Soapy Gnome in Goshen, Indiana.

In the past few years, more entrepreneurs have engaged in the mobile storefront as an alternative method of selling and to avoid the higher cost of brick-and-mortar locations, or to augment retail store sales. We take a look at the trend and talk to a few retailers who are paving their own successful paths in the mobile fashion industry. And for more fashion inspiration, the Fashion & Accessory Lookbook features stylish finds from your favorite gift brands.

And speaking of being mobile, more and more consumers are using mobile payments as an alternative to cash and credit sales. Do you have what it takes to collect? Keith Loria takes a look at the necessary technology required to be mobile payment friendly at your establishment. Enjoy the beautiful springtime weather and don’t forget to be on the lookout for what sparks your imagination.

Julie McCallum

Julie McCallum is publisher of Gift Shop Magazine. She is formerly the editor-in-chief of the publication, as well as editor of Museums & More, and she has more than 25 years experience in publishing.