Editor’s Letter

Picking Up the Pace

We’ve got momentum. 2026 undoubtedly began on a high note. The January markets set a strong tone industrywide, with market centers reporting increased attendance, foot traffic and order writing. After several years marked by caution... more »

In With the New

Exhale. There’s a distinct quiet that settles in after the holidays. Outside, the world softens as the winter hush creeps in. The garlands come down, the last of the giftwrap is cleared from the counter... more »

A New Era of Celebration

As seen in Celebrations and Occasions 2025. Celebration once followed a script. Not anymore. For generations, our milestones have followed a predictable rhythm: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, babies. They’ve given us reasons to gather, to gift... more »

From the Editor: Closing Notes & Fresh Starts

Happy Q4, dear readers! As you embrace the end-of-year festivities and bustling foot traffic from holiday shoppers, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush. All the while, you’re thinking ahead to January buying... more »

Coast to Coast

As seen in Waterfront Living 2025. As the editorial team worked on another annual edition of Waterfront Living, I kept returning to one undeniable truth: retail, like the coasts of the U.S., is incredibly diverse.... more »

Embracing the Vision

Retail is often discussed about with numbers — foot traffic, sell-through rates, sales predictions and margins. But behind that data is something that is absolutely core to our industry: vision. It’s easy to forget that... more »

Beyond the Turmoil

With mounting concerns over escalating tariffs and economic uncertainty, U.S. retailers face an unsettling question regarding their busiest time of year: Is the holiday season in peril? In April, U.S. costume and toy companies sounded... more »

From the Editor: Beyond the Transaction

Customers are craving experience more than ever before. In the State of the Industry survey that Gift Shop® Plus conducted in late 2024, we received an overwhelming number of responses from retailers sharing that despite... more »

From the Editor: Stronger Together

Happy New Year! As we take on 2025, it was my intention to gain an accurate perspective on how our industry feels and present it to you in the most clear, concise way possible. Enter... more »

Editor’s Letter: Celebrating the Journey

As we close the chapter that is 2024, I reflect on all the twists and turns that retail has encountered not just in the last 12 months — but in the last several years. With... more »