Column: Retail Giftware lines

The gift that keeps giving

As we approach the all-important fourth quarter, Michele Trzuskowski from T is for Table explains why adding giftware lines to complement her tableware offerings makes good business sense.

Like many retailers, my favorite time of year at the store is the fourth quarter and the holidays. It usually means more traffic, more purchases, and more money to the bottom line. Yes, it’s more challenging when it means processing more shipments, more merchandise moves, and more working hours, but it’s also the time when gift-giving is at the top of customer’s lists.

As a primarily tabletop store, we continue to expand our gift department because not everyone is in the market for dinnerware every day. I noticed as we expanded the amount of gift skus we carried, that many of my porcelain China manufacturers had great giftware extensions of their lines, and if they didn’t, they were beginning to introduce them.

I thought I would share some of my favorites “go to” gifts to carry in your store either year-round or especially at the holidays – and the best part is – they range in variety of great price points.

The best categories in my opinion are candles, trinket and desk accessories, and finally gift sets. Although you could add many others to this list, if you’re going to start somewhere I’d start here.

Candles

Candles are always a great gift especially if it comes with a multifunctional use. Take Mottahedeh’s “Heirluminares” home fragrance collection. They’ve taken their most famous patterns like Lace, and Tobacco Leaf, and created a trinket/porcelain box with lid and a candle inside. As they state, “once the fragrance is a memory, the vessel is a treasure.” They also come in two sizes which is appealing for price point options.

Bernardaud is another company providing candles as part of their collection. They do great engraved

Versace’s 5.5” scented votives with lids is perfect for anyone who dreamed of creating a Versace tablescape but couldn’t quite afford it. Now, they can get their favorite pattern in a decorative keepsake that will give them that design aesthetic long after the candle is burned.

Gifts Accessories

This category is broad ranging from desk accessories, to trinket trays and even jewelry boxes. These gifts also come in some of your favorite China patterns or at least manufactured by the company.

Halcyon Days offers great themed collections in desk accessories for men with their playing cards, cigars, or hunting dog pen cups, pen trays, or trinket

As a tabletop store the best part of these gifts is that they are an extension of the China we carry

bisque porcelain tumblers filled with a 7oz. candle. Although Bernardaud offers candle refills, what’s great about both Mottahedeh and Bernardaud offerings is that once their candle is burned you have a great covered trinket box or a fabulous porcelain tumbler respectively. trays. Then Mottahedeh’s verse ring trays come in a wide assortment of shapes and sayings that make the perfect gift for someone special or as a corporate gift as well. Finally, Prouna offers beautiful jewelry trinket boxes with velvet lined compartments accented with Swarovski crystals, all around a US$100 to US$150 price point.

Gift Sets

The emergence of gift sets is another category that brings one’s favorite designer patterns into the home. For a coffee or tea lover

About T is for Table

T is for Table is a luxury independent boutique, with a focus on tabletop, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Open more than 20 years, it offers an experiential and inspirational space dedicated to helping customers tell stories, create traditions and celebrate life. The boutique offers everything from fine pottery, china, glass, serveware and table accessories, to home décor, jewellery and body products, and delivers a custom service with its custom engraving, home visits and gift registries. www.tisfortable.com

there are numerous demitasse and mug sets offered by most China manufacturers. I like the assorted designer series that Vista Alegre offers in their “Alma Da Madeira” pattern or their “Afrika” set.

The “tea for two” by Mottahedeh is a beautiful, unique gift set for a couple to share, plus it comes in their ever-popular Lace pattern offering 4 different colorways. Or if the recipient is a single tea aficionado, there is the Tea for One in several assorted and handcrafted designs from Halcyon Days.

You can even purchase a threepiece soap gift set with your favorite Mottahedeh designed porcelain soap dish. Imagine receiving a Tobacco Leaf Soap Dish with three bars of French milled soap – who wouldn’t love that!

The best thing about these gift sets, is that they come beautifully packaged, and even though we offer free gift wrap, I can truly appreciate gift packaging that doesn’t need a lot of help to look impressive.

As a tabletop store the best part of these gifts is that they are an extension of the China we carry and help to create a rich and broad assortment of what we love most – the China.

With the estimated gift giving value estimated at over $200 billion just in the U.S. alone, reevaluating your gift assortment is well worth your time and investment.