Summer 2017

Editor’s Letter: Celebrate and Enjoy By Julie McCallum

Hello, summer. It’s time to exhale, sit back and relax. What better place to do that than Charleston, South Carolina. The city seeps southern hospitality, charm and style, as evidenced by the fantastic new store, The Skinny Dip, pictured on our summer cover and profiled in our #shopcharleston feature on page 57.

Opening a gift shop is a dream for many with an entrepreneurial spirit and a love of retail. What makes the dream a reality? Preparation and education are at the top of the list. In our operations feature on page 152, we look at some things to consider when opening a store. And on page 148, attorney Angie Avard Turner talks about the legal checklist of what to do before the doors open.

Stocking the shelves for the holidays is always on the top of the minds of gift retailers during the summer months. Take a look at this season’s offerings for ornaments, décor and gifts in the Holiday Gift Guide on page 125, as well as the product showcase on page 48. To help get in the holiday spirit, we sit down with the Adler family in this issue’s Meet the Maker feature on page 168. Family tradition has reigned supreme at Kurt S. Adler for over 70 years, with the famly’s next generation carrying on the holiday decoration business.

Keeping loved ones close may not always be easy but with sentiment jewelry, it’s possible to wear memories around your neck. Whether the sentiment is expressed with initials, a word, or even ashes in a bottle, it’s often comforting to be able to carry a tangible item with you to help preserve a memory. On page 76, we take a look at a collection of jewelry that holds special meaning to those who wear it.

Gift shops and gift retailers are paying special attention to making their stores and boutiques unique. Globally handcrafted products that adhere to fair trade principles have filled a niche in the gift retail landscape. On page 102, contributor Poornima Apte takes an in-depth look at why and how to include these special products in your mix.

Also striving to make a difference, the companies profiled in Products with Purpose are providing a morale boost within the gift industry. Their dedication to creating and selling products that benefit society are worthy of our praise. Meet them on page 112.

We hope to have a chance to visit with many of you during the summer show season. If you are at the Las Vegas Market on Sunday, July 30, please join us as we announce the winners of the 40 Under 40 contest at 6:30 in Building C, room C-174. It will be a great time as we celebrate the next generation of leaders in the gift industry.

Julie McCallum

Editor-in-Chief

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.