Gift Shop Plus Summer 2023

From the editor: Crushing it By Julie McCallum

I love to meet women who are crushing it in business.

Their stories inspire me to work harder, work smarter and never give up. It is so important to not only celebrate other women, but to also mentor and develop talent. We truly do rise by lifting others up.

I’m excited to report that Gift Shop® Plus and our entire retail group here at Great American Media Services is growing and will now include Lawn & Garden Retailer (L&GR) in addition to Gift Shop® Plus and Stationery Trends. Abby McGarry, previously the editorial director of our horticulture group, will be the editorial director of the retail group, and I will move into the group publisher role.

I could never do this if it wasn’t for the strength of this editorial team. Carly McFadden is a rock star as managing editor of Gift Shop® Plus, and I’m excited to watch her flourish in the role. With the addition of L&GR to our group, we welcome Teresa McPherson, the experienced managing editor of L&GR. Sarah Schwartz will remain in her role as editor-in-chief of the iconic Stationery Trends. Be ready for amazing content to come from this group!

In this issue, we are excited to shine a spotlight on fashion and apparel, beginning with the Trend Report. We take a look at the fun TikTok-inspired fashion “cores” that are pop culture at its finest. Customized apparel and souvenirs create tangible mementos of special places and experiences. We have a great roundup of unique items. And we can’t wait to introduce you to the dynamic mother-daughter duo in California that is honoring and celebrating authenticity in their apparel and gift boutique.

As we reach the halfway point of 2023, it’s time to focus on finishing strong. That means a robust holiday selling season. To help prepare, we have 20 tips for selling Christmas and a collection of holiday ornaments and décor that will lead to a robust fourth quarter.

Giving back is as important as ever. Products with a purpose and charitable initiatives are top of mind in the gift industry, and we present companies making a difference. And don’t miss Retail Chat with Sarah Mount, vice chair of Gift for Life.

Serving the retail industry has been so important to me as the editorial director of Gift Shop® Plus and Stationery Trends. I look forward to the opportunity as retail group publisher to connect with ALL of our partners and readers. It’s all about how we can help make their businesses better.