Cut-out clutch purse features a removable strap and comes in four colors. Faux
leather. 9”x6”. $38. 2 Chic by Two’s Company. 800.896.7266. www.2chic.com
CIRCLE #748
Fern Leaf necklace and earrings feature a burnished gold finish. Part of the Natural Elements
collection. Perch by Tii. 855.474.3344.
www.shoptii.com
CIRCLE #750
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>fashion
Love Bird linen scarf in navy, green and red. 70”.
$34.99. Creative Co-Op. 866.323.2264.
www.creativecoop.com
CIRCLE #747
№ 130 gifts and decorative accessories
gda1406FAfeature.indd 130
| june 2014
And the consensus is it would be
a mistake not to have a selection.
While apparel wasn’t a good fit for
Mason & Madison, White hasn’t
ruled out Fashion completely.
“Fashion is definitely important to
the merchandise mix. Sometimes
when someone can’t settle on a
gift choice, they will pick up a little
something for themselves and
that typically tends to be a fashion
item,” she said. White’s fashion
section includes handbags, scarves
and jewelry.
As we stop and look at the category you have to wonder why it’s
become so popular for gift stores
and why it doesn’t show any signs
of fading. And the answer would
be that gift stores are no longer
what they used to be. We’ve all
heard this over the last few years,
so the bigger picture here isn’t so
much that the Fashion category
has exploded, but that the gift
store has changed.
“Gift stores have changed and
evolved over the last several years.
At our Toss retail stores customers
love the fact that they can buy a
gift for someone and an outfit and
a bag for themselves. Smart gift
retailers are carrying clothing and
fashion accessories, and as a result
are doubling their sales due to cus-
tomers making self-purchases,”
said Jennifer Hogan, owner of
Toss Designs.
“I think the lines will continue
to become grayer,” agreed Creative
Co-Op’s Tamra Bryant. “No longer
is someone a gift, fashion or home
decor store only. The end consumer
wants to shop and have a personal
experience. Offering the fashion
goods mixed with other goods adds
a great opportunity for impulse
buying as well as an unexpected
mix of goods that the end consumer
can relate to.”
So, has the Fashion category
reached its peak? Not yet. And
perhaps it never will—at least not
until the gift store model changes.
“Fashion is still trending up and
continues to be a growing percentage of our total business,” said
Pannek.
“[It] hasn’t reached its peak. It’s
still on the way up,” concurs Hudson & Main’s Arnette Correa. This
is a solid category that has become
one of the more important segments in the industry. One that a
successful gift retailer can’t ignore.
As Patti Koch relates: “Few
categories are as strong—or have
shown such growth in recent
years—to eclipse the fashion
category.” •
giftsanddec.com
5/27/2014 6:52:27 PM
Garden Delights
c Geranium is
one of eight floral scents in the
artist's candle
collection. Made
in Canada. 10
oz. $22. Virginia Johnson.
416.516.3366.
www.virginiajohnson.com
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CANDLES
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>candles
d Flaire candles are new to the Creative Co-Op collection.
Terra-cotta jar candles are hand-poured and made in the
U.S. Creative Co-Op. 866.323.2264. www.creativecoop.com
e Tomato smells like it's just fresh from the
garden. 9 oz. 50-70 hours. $24. Produce Candles. 843.277.6318. www.producecandles.com
CIRCLE #857
CIRCLE #859
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CIRCLE #858
Circle #236
№ 154 gifts and decorative accessories
gda1406CNgarden.indd 154
| june 2014
giftsanddec.com
5/27/2014 6:57:42 PM
HOME
FASHION
Timber Tidings
Wood continues to be incorporated into various holiday
decorative items—some even mixed and matched with
other materials. Quirkier items like colorful garland,
chalkboard wall plaques and vintage-looking gift tags
are keeping wood-based holiday items interesting.
BODY
CANDLES
>holidays
&
b Holiday Hang Tags feature four vintage holiday
designs. $18 for set. Spitfire Girl. 323.912.1977.
www.spitfiregirl.com
GOURMET
STATIONERY
BATH
CIRCLE #840
HOLIDAYS
GIFTABLES
c Christmas Cottage Star, Snowflake, Moose and
Tree garland also come on a wooden spool. $6 each.
One Hundred 80 Degrees. 888.400.4180.
www.onehundred80degrees.com
CIRCLE #841
a Christmas Wall Plaques are part of the Country
Christmas collection. $22.99 each. Creative Co-Op.
866.323.2264. www.creativecoop.com
PLAYTHINGS
CIRCLE #839
d Here Comes Santa ornaments feature vintage
prints on wood in red and ivory. $6 each. Kurt Adler.
212.924.0900. www.kurtadler.com
CIRCLE #842
№ 226 gifts and decorative accessories
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| june 2014
ALL PRICES RETAIL
giftsanddec.com
5/27/2014 7:28:40 PM