NAME-DROPPED AND CUSTOM PRODUCTS
What’s Sure-Selling and What’s Not So Successful Name-dropped and Custom Products at a Selection of Nature-Oriented Stores By Carimé Lane
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ame-dropped apparel takes first place as the best-selling name-dropped and custom product at the caves, caverns and public lands partner stores that were interviewed for this article. Read on to hear more about their best-selling name-dropped and custom items, along with some of their unexpected successful–and less successful–merchandise purchases.
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Apparel, especially T-shirts, are the top selling name-dropped items at the approximately 1,200-square-foot Polar Caves gift shop in Rumney, N.H., said Alex Templar, general manager. He said guests of all demographics can easily pick up a T-shirt and take a part of their experience home with them. As well, purchasing clothing is a way for guests to “show off” an activity or place they’ve experienced. The Polar Caves also has established a history. In 2022, the business will be 100. As a result, anything with their name on it sells well, Templar said. The Polar Caves gift shop has been conservative with their ordering during Covid, Templar said. However, they were surprised to see an increase in their sales of tie-dyed items. “I think people are looking for a little shot of something to be happy and excited about Guides photographed with mugs were, left to right: Olivia R., Anya J., Macey right now,” Templar said. E., Tanner J., Gavin J., and Dylan J., of the Black Hills Caverns in Rapid City, They’ve seen a decrease in sales of gifts in S.D. Higher-priced logo stoneware mugs sell well for the location. general (not name-dropped or custom items), even before COVID started, Templar said. start to incrementally discount items that aren’t sellBut custom and name-dropped sales are still going ing, while still trying to recoup their costs. strong. However, in the summer, sales of black T-shirts The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society in Sanibel go down. Island, Fla., has two gift shops that are 1,500-squareIf an item isn’t selling, the shop holds onto it for feet each. Apparel and hats are the best-selling two years at most. At that point, Templar said they’ll name-dropped items here, said Ann-Marie Wildman,
Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties | February 2021 | www.sgnmag.com