The winter holidays may be months away, but souvenir-seeking customers on vacation are only in your store once a year, and they are thinking ahead. You can capture their attention with a holiday display and offerings that will have them thinking about both good tidings and good tides.
“Consumers are making holiday purchases earlier than ever before. Hosting a Christmas in July event featuring your new Christmas items is a fun way to launch those Holiday items." — Abbey Grooters, Sincere Surroundings
“Our coastal holiday collection is filled with unexpected pops of color creating the perfect blend of shoreside hues and the nostalgic colors of Christmas,” she says. “Everyone loves bright color, cute turtles and humor. You’ll find these themes throughout our Nautical Holiday Collection.”
In addition to ordering ornaments with the destination name-dropped, Sotomura suggests having the year printed on ornaments that you buy early in the season. “People want to remember the year they vacationed in the area.”
At Old World Christmas, “capturing a person’s memories so that they can memorialize them on their tree or throughout their home is our main goal,” according to Neal Applefeld, president and CEO. “This year we have everything from Santa sunning himself to a seahorse to a beach bag and beach house – all great reminders of activities throughout the year.”
Dune Jewelry & Co. has also noticed higher-end holiday goods trending. “People are back to life again, and while our day-to-day habits have changed, we’re showing up for important moments with significance,” says Holly Daniels Christensen, founder and CEO. “I expect to see gifts with higher perceived value and sentiment, rather than gadgets and trinkets.”
Nostalgic Noel
Cape Shore continues to see sea glass, driftwood, shells, and very natural looks trending with its coastal customers. “We have also seen a rise in the vintage/nostalgic look,” says Tara Merrill, sales and marketing manager. “Whether it is resin or blown glass, customers are gravitating to that look. We have especially noticed this in our ornaments.”“Consumers are making holiday purchases earlier than ever before. Hosting a Christmas in July event featuring your new Christmas items is a fun way to launch those Holiday items." — Abbey Grooters, Sincere Surroundings
Beyond red and green
According to Abbey Grooters, marketing director of wooden home decor and gift wholesaler, Sincere Surroundings, Christmas no longer encompasses the traditional red and green that most of us grew up with.“Our coastal holiday collection is filled with unexpected pops of color creating the perfect blend of shoreside hues and the nostalgic colors of Christmas,” she says. “Everyone loves bright color, cute turtles and humor. You’ll find these themes throughout our Nautical Holiday Collection.”
She says it’s never too early to stock up on holiday products. “Consumers are making holiday purchases earlier than ever before. Hosting a Christmas in July event featuring your new Christmas items is a fun way to launch those Holiday items and test what products consumers are resonating with.”
“We have also seen a rise in the vintage/nostalgic look. Whether it is resin or blown glass, customers are gravitating to that look. We have especially noticed this in our ornaments.” — Tara Merrill, Cape Shore
Customize
Customization should not be overlooked, and Impulse Souvenirs’ sales manager, James Melley says, “Custom ornaments, from embroidered to wood, can always capture a destination’s memories with unique art.” He adds, “Ornaments continue to be a major year-round collectible. Sea life, Santa in a coastal theme and tropical designs are always a big hit.”In addition to ordering ornaments with the destination name-dropped, Sotomura suggests having the year printed on ornaments that you buy early in the season. “People want to remember the year they vacationed in the area.”
At Old World Christmas, “capturing a person’s memories so that they can memorialize them on their tree or throughout their home is our main goal,” according to Neal Applefeld, president and CEO. “This year we have everything from Santa sunning himself to a seahorse to a beach bag and beach house – all great reminders of activities throughout the year.”