SPECIAL GIFTS AND HOME DÉCOR SECTION
Looking Around While Hunkering Down How Shoppers Are Seeing Ways to Improve Living Spaces with Home Décor Gift Boutique Buys
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ome décor is a hot-selling item for giving and receiving these days, according to gift boutique owners and staff. All across the United States, with so many people staying home to work and play due to the pandemic, it’s no wonder; top buying choices vary but the interest in reshaping and revamping home environments is clear.
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At PopCycle in Tucson, Ariz., Store Manager Libby it every day. They’ve been finishing up their homes, Tobey related that among the store’s top home décor adding small gallery touches like the handmade key sellers are some that are made in-house. “The foundracks. That is a big purchase these days.” She stressed ers of the store make these incredible vintage Tucson that everything people buy is home-related in one way postcard-style images on old, reclaimed cabinet doors. another, whether it is one of the prints the shop has They’re made right here, and they are one of available for hanging from over 10 local artour most popular items. We carry a toists, or a little in-home spa kit. tal of over 95 local artists here in all, Heading north to Once in a Blue and we have all kinds of wonderMoose, in Anchorage, Alaska, ful décor things. People are buycompany President Vernon ing a lot of prints, coat racks, Cates said the shop’s top“What we’re seeing is that key racks, things like that. selling home décor items are people are actively seeking more There’s also a real emphasis wall hangings of all kinds, locally sourced home gifts, and that is on finding locally made or from original works to art especially true of things that are creahand-crafted items for prints. “We have venture comforts. We are also seeing a lot the home,” she said. dors who make beautiful more people buying gifts for others in that same vein. There has been a lot of interest She observed certain prints, but a lot of our in nesting and improving the look of your changes in how people items are locally-made, nest. It started when COVID-19 first hapare beautifying their which has a lot of appeal pened, and it’s continued on.” homes and why. “What to buyers. Many of the art - Libby Tobey, PopCycle, we’re seeing is that people works are made from metal.” Tucson, Ariz. are actively seeking more loHe sees a locally oriented shift cally sourced home gifts, and in terms of home beautification, that is especially true of things he stated. “We’ve noticed that that are creature comforts. We are people have really increased their also seeing a lot more people buying purchasing of Alaskan-made items.” gifts for others in that same vein. There According to Cates, “I think a lot of what has been a lot of interest in nesting and improving drives that interest is the fact that we are seeing more the look of your nest. It started when COVID-19 first local shoppers than those from out of town, and they happened, and it’s continued on.” She added, “People want to support the community. The kinds of items were finally buying that interesting lampshade to rethey buy are about the same, but where they’ve been place the old shade that they never really liked but made is what’s different.” Cates presides over nine difhadn’t thought that much about until they had to see ferent shops, which range in size from 600 square feet
Souvenirs, Gifts & Novelties | January 2021 | www.sgnmag.com