Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | May 15, 2025 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


May 15, 2025

DeWayne’s Gift Shop, Selma, NC

I’m looking for ways to boost sales? All ideas are welcome!

Hospital logo apparel sells very well for us. – Toma 5/08/2025

    That’s our second largest seller! – Kim 5/08/2025

The Chestnut Tree Boutique and Gifts, Ravenna, OH

Accessories – 16%. Logo items – 14%. – Kim 5/08/2025

Once a month we have Spin the Wheel for the day. The line is out the door! I got the wheel on Temu for $9. It gets so insane when we do it that we need a break afterwards. 😅 – Jenny 5/08/2025

Our shops all have a Loyalty Club. For every $5.00 they get 1 punch on their card. Once it’s full (takes $100.00) they get 30% off 1 item. Employees love it and will round up their purchase to $5 to get a punch. – Ginger 5/08/2025

We are partnering with nurse managers for welcome gifts, retirement baskets, birthday baskets, and just pick-me-up gifts to help their teams. That has helped. – Jennifer 5/08/2025

We are also trying to boost sales. We are in the process of implementing a loyalty program through our POS. Another idea we are implementing is giving new parents in OB a coupon for 20% off, visitors in OR a coupon for the Coffee Shop/Gift Shop while they wait, and a coupon for Dexa scan patients. We have also introduced signage throughout the hospital thanking customers for their support and asking them to share social media posts, tell friends and relatives, and shop local when possible. – Lisa 5/08/2025

During inventory we found we had an overabundance of pants and capris. We put these and all Christmas leftover items on sale for 45% off. Our sales have been good and steady, we are reducing our inventory, and getting ready to concentrate on new and exciting clothing and purses. – Sarah 5/08/2025


Tariff talk: MADE IN USA

High tariffs may – or may not – be here to stay. Many retailers are choosing to dedicate more of their budget to products that are not subject to tariffs. This seems like an ideal time to revisit MADE IN USA vendors and products.

You can filter for MADE IN USA products from vendors on Faire wholesale.

Town Pride makes custom state/town/zip code wholesale goods. Everything from knit sweaters to candles, stationery, drinkware, serveware and jewelry. 

Wind River Chimes, Manassas Park, Virginia. – Janet S, 5/20/22

My Word by Pleasant Street Designs are Made in the USA. They have home decor type items. Their porch boards are one of our top sellers. – Kerri C, Community Healthcare System, IN. 5/17/22

Duke Cannon men’s products. – Cyrielle. 3/28/22

Silver Forest Spirit earrings, made in Vermont. Renaissance Glass earrings and pendants made in South Carolina (maybe North.) – Michelle S. 3/21/22

What are your MADE IN USA products? LEAVE A COMMENT

Lori’s Gifts launch self-checkout gift shop

Lori’s Gifts has introduced GO Market, its first-ever AI-powered hospital gift shop, powered by AiFi. They are cashier-less gift shops that customer’s can access at any time of day. The first GO Market is now open at Medical City Decatur in Texas, with a second location coming soon to Mount Carmel Dublin in Ohio. More are already in development.

Designed for small hospitals where a fully-staffed store isn’t financially feasible, GO Market locations offer a convenient 24/7 shopping experience.

How it works? Customers tap a credit card at the entrance and shop freely. At check-out, computer vision AI technology automatically detects and tracks the items selected and securely charges the customer’s credit card upon exit—no lines, no registers.

Each store ranges from 500 to 700 square feet—about half the size of a traditional staffed location—and is stocked with flowers, sundries, snacks, and apparel. With hospital staff making up roughly half of all customers, around-the-clock access ensures night shift workers are just as well served as day visitors.

The stores also feature in-store iPads to capture customer email addresses and provide digital receipts.

Lori’s Gifts operates more than 250 stores in 34 states.

SOURCE: Lori’s Gifts Inc.


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


UPMC Kane hospital gift shop reopens!

Kane Republican / Dec 2024

Kane Hospital’s gift shop, now reopened, marks a key achievement in the hospital’s strategy to foster stronger community ties and improve the patient, visitor, and staff experience.

This revitalization, led by the Kane Community Hospital Foundation, combines contemporary design with innovative fundraising and a renewed emphasis on volunteerism. The gift shop, operating under the foundation, serves as a vital space where volunteers can support its initiatives while building relationships that promote further education and community engagement.

Pictured from left to right: Dietitian and Kitchen Manager Libby Herbstritt, Food Service Attendant and Gift Shop Manager Amy Farrow, Kane Community Hospital Foundation Executive Director John Papalia, and volunteer Tammy Gustafson inside the gift shop at UPMC Kane Hospital.

The foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting UPMC’S corporate program in Kane and its surrounding communities, is dedicated to connecting people to advance health and wellness in the region. Its mission emphasizes providing financial resources for educational and service-oriented programs while fostering collaboration with local schools, higher education institutions, and health-related organizations.

At the forefront of the gift shop’s revitalization is John Papalia, executive director of the Kane Community Hospital Foundation. When Papalia joined the organization in December of last year, he identified two key goals, in collaboration with the foundation’s board: reestablishing the hospital’s volunteer program and reopening the gift shop. With the support of foundation members Amy Farrow and Tammy Gustafson, as well as input from hospital staff, including Libby Herbstritt, these goals have been realized.

The gift shop’s recent reopening has been met with enthusiasm from hospital employees and visitors, who praise its updated design and welcoming atmosphere. Beyond its role as a retail space, the shop has been transformed into a cornerstone for community engagement and fundraising, with proceeds supporting the foundation’s broader mission.

Papalia explained that much of the progress made with the gift shop can be attributed to the efforts of Farrow and Gustafson, who have been instrumental in purchasing inventory and making decisions about the shop’s décor. Papalia praised Farrow’s expertise in merchandising, noting her “magic” in selecting and ordering items for the shop. Together with Gustafson, they have taken charge of purchasing, while the foundation provides funding for inventory. The items are then sold with a modest markup, and the proceeds help support the foundation’s mission. She also manages the finances for the gift shop and plays a key role in recruiting volunteers to support its operations.

She explained that about a year ago, she and Papalia began discussing the idea of revitalizing the hospital gift shop, and she was immediately excited about the opportunity. At the time, Gustafson was not yet on board, but Farrow was eager to begin, especially given her background in retail. She shared that she had previously managed a store and had experience in regional training, store openings, and operations, making her particularly enthusiastic about the gift shop project.

Farrow reported that a flyer soliciting input from hospital employees regarding their gift shop preferences had been distributed, facilitating preliminary inventory planning. This feedback streamlined the curation of items appealing to both staff and visitors.

Papalia explained that the foundation’s volunteer program prioritizes recruiting dedicated individuals capable of supporting diverse organizational roles, such as assisting in the gift shop. Volunteers are especially needed to assist patients, transport materials, and support the foundation’s daily operations. He emphasized that the foundation is working hard to grow the volunteer program to meet the community’s needs more effectively.

Gustafson, a volunteer, further detailed the volunteer program’s structure, outlining the diverse tasks volunteers undertake. These include assisting at the front desk, guiding patients to various locations, and helping with transportation between departments. She noted that the foundation is implementing a new volunteer system to streamline and improve the application and onboarding processes. While the foundation is making strides to simplify the process, Gustafson pointed out that it still involves completing certain steps, such as background checks, paperwork, and online training. Unlike past decades, when community members could informally volunteer, today’s volunteers must meet specific requirements to ensure patient and facility safety. Gustafson played a crucial role in streamlining this process, making it easier for individuals to join the program and contribute to the hospital’s operations, including staffing the gift shop.

SOURCE: The Kane Republican


A crazy-good marketing tactic

Share a post, images, or video about your gift shop in the local Facebook Groups for your city or region.

It doesn’t have to be a video like this one from Wickenburg Community Hospital Gift Shop. Though it’s great stuff!

You can either write a new post or share one from your shop’s own page.

Local Appeal!

High Visibility!

Free!


Retailers react to tariffs and offer tips

Gifts & Decorative Accessories’ recently poll reveals “devastating consequences” for retailers in response to new tariffs. The survey polled nearly 200 gift industry retailers, manufacturers/suppliers and others aligned with the industry.

NOTE: The survey was conducted April 8-18, 2025. As of May 15, 2025, the United States and China entered a agreement to reduce tariffs to 30% for a 90-day period starting May 12, 2025. A 10% tariff on imports from all countries remains in effect. With tariffs continuing to be unpredictable, reductions are temporary and subject to change. Please take this into account!

Here are some key takeaways from the survey:

  • Paused tariffs are still weighing on the minds of retailers.
  • 88% said that tariffs would have a significant impact on their business.
  • Most respondents expect tariffs to last at least 6 months or longer.
  • 43% are taking a wait-and-see approach to pricing. 13% are increasing prices immediately.
  • 24% are raising prices only on new orders/business. 8% are mplementing temporary surcharge.
  • Others are already raising prices or using surcharges.
  • 58% planning a price increase of 11%–20%. 18% planning a price increase of 21%–30%.
  • Most popular increase range: 11%–20%.
  • Most affected: Home décor, holiday décor, apparel, toys, kitchenware.
  • Many retailers are looking for goods that originate in the United States.
  • Only 38% of gift retailers expect sales growth in 2025, down from 52% in 2024.

The 198 respondents included gift retailers (43.5%), gift suppliers/manufacturers (41.5%) and others allied to the industry (15%).

The garment industry is among the most susceptible to tariff increases. China produces about 45% of the world’s footwear.

Nearly 80% of toys sold in the U.S. come from China and toy companies have slim profit margins, limiting their ability to absorb tariff costs. Independent retailers may have to raise prices significantly, making it harder to compete with big box retailers.

What can you do in response to tariffs?

Really listen to your customers and get laser focused on what they want. Get creative. Appeal to customers on multiple levels. Comments from a recent Gift Shop Plus survey provide some insights on current customer needs… and desires. Here’s a few tactics to implement in response.

COMMENT: “People are becoming more and more interested in the backstory behind their purchases. They want to feel good about what they buy.”

Create signs to highlight the stories behind your products, allowing customers to learn and connect with them emotionally.

COMMENT: “I see the older customers spending money on things and the younger customers spending money on experiences.”

The typical hospital gift shop customer is a 35-45 year-old female hospital employee, often juggling roles as a wife, mother, and primary household purchaser. This demographic is frequently seeking convenience for last-minute gifts, personal items, or workplace celebrations. Create experiences like:

  • DIY build-your-own gift sets (e.g., Snack Sacks, BDay Bundles, School Boxes, Bandage Bag, etc.) that customers can personalize.
  • Mini Events: 10-minute chair massages (what hospital employee wouldn’t LOVE this!), “create a card” tables, or short demos from local makers.
  • QR Codes link to short product videos (e.g., behind the scenes of “How it’s made”).
  • Post-Tag-Discount gives 15% discount to customer’s that share and tag their purchase on social media.
  • Build a “Share. Love. Grow.” display with locally made crafts or snacks, goods that support a cause (e.g., bracelets made by survivors, journals that fund clean water, etc.) and eco-conscious packaging or fair-trade options.

COMMENT: “Customers want to escape the stressful, often negative political climate. They don’t want to experience it while shopping. They are looking for stress-free, friendly, positive environments.”

Humor is always the go-to emotion. We can’t emphasize enough the power of humor, especially in these emotionally-charged times. Make them feel good!

Your customer base – doctors, nurses, patients, family members – are likely experiencing stress, grief, anxiety and fear, uncertainty, relief, gratitude and celebration. Create experiences that evoke humor, empathy, calmness, love, comfort, hope, wellness and comfort.

  • Joke Bowl: Set up a bowl of joke notes by the register. Have customer’s grab and read one allowed while you’re checking them out. Slip in fun “surprise” notes or mini jokes in their bags for an unexpected smile.
  • Set up a “Caption This” photo wall with funny hospital or gift-related images for customers to submit captions via social media.
  • Add humorous gift tags or stickers: “For when ‘I care’ just isn’t enough,” or “Because adulting is hard.”
  • Create a “Best Cards for Humor” section. Stock it with witty messages that customers actually want to give. No cheesy, lame cards!
  • Set up a humor display with funny mugs, cards, socks, etc.
  • Use clever signs around the shop like “Gifts for people you kinda like.” or “Stuff You Didn’t Know You Needed (But Totally Do)”

FROM BECKY TYRE

Leading retail consultant and writer, Becky Tyre, recently provided some valuable insights, thoughts and strategies in response to recent tariffs.

Work with vendors/suppliers

Some retailers are hoping to “split the difference” with their vendors, so that they can keep the prices from jumping too much. But, they know this approach ultimately means less profits regardless.

You have likely received emails and letters from some wholesale vendors trying to get you to purchase merchandise NOW before the inevitable price increases. That makes sense for those of you who have extra cash on hand and somewhere to store the merchandise. But, 2025 has not been a banner year for many independent retailers, so it’s not a valid strategy for many.

Source local, regional and MADE-IN-USA products

Consider dedicating more of your budget to products not subject to tariffs. See the previous article this month for Made-In-USA vendors.

Look for additional ways to save

Ask your suppliers for options beyond the wholesale costs. Are you close to a minimum order threshold that could qualify you for free shipping? How about requesting longer payment terms? I never hurts to ask!

SOURCE: Becky Tyre, Retail Details


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel goods!


Faire has become a go-to wholesale marketplace for retailers looking to source unique products from thousands of vendors, all under one digital roof. But how does it work, and what are the key benefits and potential drawbacks?

What is Faire?

Faire is an online wholesale marketplace designed to connect independent retailers with a vast network of vendors. It simplifies the buying process by offering a single platform where retailers can browse, order, and manage invoices without the need to interact with multiple sales representatives. Net 60 Payment terms are help with cash flow management, especially for small shops. Most of the vendors that you would order through a rep will be on Faire.

Most participating vendors offer at least 10% off, several offer more depending on the size of the order. Most find it to be reliable and customer service is excellent.

Retailers like Faire’s fast shipping and product variety as major advantages. 

“We save more than that in shipping each month with participating vendors. There are thousands of vendors and so easy to shop, put in a cart, order product, return if damaged, etc. I also love that all of my invoices are in one place. We still order from a few vendors not on Faire but very few. – Facebook GroupHospital Gift Shops

Faire also allows buyers to order a small amount of product before totally committing. So it’s a great way to try new vendors without breaking the bank.

Faire.com

Is there a fee to use Faire?

The general marketplace has no sign-up or order fees. However, Faire offers a paid membership program called “Insider,” which provides exclusive benefits like free shipping on select brands, early access to events, and free import duties.

The monthly fee for Insider is $19.99 USD / $34.99 CAD per month. One shop manager reported that they saved more than that in shipping each month with participating vendors.

How Faire simplifies buying

Unlike traditional wholesale purchasing, where retailers must set up individual accounts with each vendor, everything is under one Faire umbrella (so easy!) and each company is different as to whether or not the reps get credit.”

Retailers appreciate the streamlined process. 

“Great for finding unique items and some major brands for testing or everyday stock. You don’t have to deal with a sales rep or opening an account. Credit card payment is the only catch if you don’t have one. Net 60 invoicing is awesome. Plus, they will take back unsold merchandise from your first vendors or make you a great deal to keep the merch. I have ordered items from vendors through Faire, then if it sells well opened an account directly with the vendor.” – Facebook GroupHospital Gift Shops

For retailers in rural areas where sales reps don’t visit frequently, Faire is a game-changer. Many shops have found that traditional rep visits have declined since COVID.

BenefitS
Wide Product Selection, Thousands of VendorsThousands of independent brands—on one platform. Unique, small-batch (or large), handmade items.
No Minimum Order Requirements No minimum order requirements on some items. Great for testing new products without large commitments.
Free Returns on First OrdersIf first order with a brand doesn’t sell, return for free (within 60 days).
Net 60 Payment TermsOffers 60-day invoicing for approved accounts.
Powerful Search ToolsCustom search filters: Made In, Ships From, Brand Minimum, Ship Window, Preorder By Month, Lead Time, Shop Local, Not on Amazon, Eco-Friendly, and many more.
Simplified SourcingDiscover new vendors without attending trade shows or juggling multiple vendor relationships.
Volume and Exclusive DiscountsSpecial discounts during sales events, discounts on larger orders, seasonal promos, and brand-sponsored credits.
Easy Order ManagementKeeps all invoices in one place for streamlined accounting and restocking.
Customer Support Handles ReturnsFaire offers great customer service and handles returns for damaged goods.
Insider Membership Perks$19.99/month plan includes free shipping on select brands.
DrawbacKS
Electronic Payment MethodsDoes not take COD or wire transfers. Only accepts credit/debit cards and bank transfer (via Plaid).
Some Higher PricesFaire takes a commission from vendors, which can result in higher wholesale prices for retailers.
Credit on Vendor Loyalty ProgramsSome vendors do not credit sales reps for orders on Faire, therefore not go towards the vendor’s loyalty plan.
Data Sharing ControlControls communication and customer data, limiting direct contact with vendors.
Vendor Loyalty RestrictionsDiscourages off-platform ordering, complicating long-term vendor relationships.
Limited CustomizationNot all products offer customization or exclusivity.
Inconsistent ShippingOrders ship from multiple vendors, leading to varied shipping times and potential delays.
Inconsistent Brand QualityAs an open marketplace, Faire includes a wide range of vendors—quality, professionalism, and fulfillment practices can vary.

Who should use Faire?

  • Retailers who prefer a streamlined buying experience with centralized invoicing.
  • Retailers looking for unique, small-batch products.
  • Businesses in rural locations without frequent rep visits.
  • Shops wanting to test products before committing to bulk orders.

“Faire is amazing and a big reason we achieved the successes we did the past two years.” Facebook GroupHospital Gift Shops

Faire provides an excellent opportunity for retailers to discover new vendors, streamline purchasing, and take advantage of flexible payment terms. While some retailers continue to maintain direct vendor relationships, many find Faire to be an essential tool for sourcing and stocking their stores efficiently.

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Best tips for choosing new inventory

There is always a tone of great advice coming from the Hospital Gift Shops community. In a recent discussion shop managers and buyers share their best tips for choosing new inventory. A warm thanks to all the members who commented!

Edited for privacy and clarity.

Hi everyone! I am the new Volunteer Services and Gift Shop Manager for a 200 bed hospital with a 24/7 emergency room and is one of the biggest healthcare providers in a large metropolitan area. The gift shop has two part-time staff and the rest is run by volunteers. I have a lot of experience with volunteer programming but no experience in retail so I have a lot to learn! What are some of your best tips for choosing some new inventory for your store? I am coming in, brand new and quite a bit younger, with all these ideas that I’m not even sure where to start. I want to refresh things while also being mindful of what sells. Thank you so much for your advice! – K.N. 1/23/2025.

Check out last quarter’s article in the newsletter’s February 2025 issue, “Lesson From 22 Years: One Manager Share Her Insights

I went to our biggest hospital in the state and spoke to the Manager of their huge gift shop. She gave me a short list. 🎯 – Susan

It really depends how big your shop is. The one I manage is relatively small so I don’t buy from places like Kelli’s. My favorite giftware is from Oak Street Wholesale, LLC.

Run some sales reporting with your POS system. Depending on your demographic and services offered, you may not need to completely start over. – Stephanie 1/23/2025

Our POS system only tells us the categories of what we sell (toys, candy, clothing, etc) and not specific items because we don’t use barcodes. So I’m struggling to figure out what specifically sells best with what we currently have out on the floor. It’s Clover. I believe it has the capability to use barcodes but we don’t currently utilize that system. – Kristie 1/23/2025

Congrats, such an exciting time for you. When I started our shop had the same manager for a really long time. When she retired they had three more managers over 24 months. I think a large part was because the three managers immediately started changing a lot of things without much input from their staff and volunteers. It wasn’t successful for the managers, volunteers, staff or the shop. Although I wanted to make immediate changes, I also wanted to stay. I hung out at the register and listened to what our volunteers and employees were wanting and asked them to share. It worked out well for me.🎯

Our shop also was not barcode driven. Another thing, I learned the system and implement barcodes straightaway. That will truly help you with inventory control.

You may want to review the departments and categories on the current inventory and consider changing some as new product comes—helps tell you what departments are really performing.

Our auditor also suggested reducing the number of departments, with categories for breakdown. Good luck!! – Beth 1/23/2025

Our nurses love food, so we stock snacks and Alani energy drinks and snacks. We also sell about a quarter million in logo wear from jackets to sweatshirts to tees. Our staff can wear them. We have one location with babies, so we stock that store with outfits. Our largest store has Fahlo and it’s very successful. Graphic tees and trucker hats. Our volunteers are older so we also sell to that demographic. – Stephanie 1/23/2025

We stopped carrying Willow Tree and brought in a little more modern with snarky sayings. We like PBK and Totalee – Stephanie 1/23/2025

Make sure you know your customers (e.g., is the majority visitors or staff). Review what sold well in past several years. Ask customers what they would like. What would a patient appreciate. Does your hospital have a maternity ward. Best wishes! – Elaine 1/23/2025

I was in the same boat as a manager with no retail experience but was fortunate to have a fantastic coordinator. We did a survey 🎯 for our employees to see what they like, want, think is missing, etc. I also do a monthly newsletter highlighting fundraising events as well as new items. Logo items do well, purses and jewelry are huge for us, Fahlo has done well, and recently the Watchover Voodoo dolls. – Kim 1/23/2025

I came in to my shop in 2019 and had a similar situation. The previous manager had been there for a long time and she purchased (I hope no one takes offense to this) “old lady items.” Our biggest customer base is hospital staff so I focus my buying towards them. Of course I buy and sell a lot of items that visitors would buy for patients, but my main focus is staff. Take some time and ask customers what they would like to see offered in your store. If they will let you, send out a quick survey email to get their feedback. I sell tons of pop culture items that speak to the staff who grew up in the 90s. – Carlos 1/23/2025

A lot of staff members grew up in the 90s and don’t shop at the store much because there isn’t much there for them. 🎯– Kristie 1/23/2025

Check out bioworld. There’s a lot of items and their sale area is great. – Carlos 1/23/2025

I have a smaller gift shop. I have to be very selective because of space. My big sellers are purses – Jen & Co, Susan Joy Accessories and Chala Handbags. Jewelry – Rain Jewelry for inexpensive but good quality earrings and Meghan Browne Style. Any type of spiritual gifts and books. I carry all sizes of angels and crosses. – Cheryl 1/23/2025

Congratulations and welcome! We do well with Simply Southern (we are in Ohio), Fahlo bracelets and plush, Swan Creek Candles, Swig drinkwareCandleberry, logo wear, purses from Jen & Co bagsMyra bagsSilver Forest earrings, Main Street Earrings from Coronet JewelryKedzie and other items from DM MerchandisingDionis lotions and lip balms, Birthstone plush bears from Demdaco. We do seasonal items from several different vendors. Hope this helps a little! Best of luck to you! – Dawn 1/23/2025

Figure out who your customer is and ask the regulars what they are looking to buy. 85% or more of our business is staff. Top departments are hospital logo apparel, fashion clothing and accessories and necessities like electronics and spa. – Anne 1/23/2025

I recommend a survey like on SurveyMonkey. You can hang up a QR code or get an iPad to complete survey in store. Even a suggestion box or short paper survey is a good start. 🎯 – Darlene 1/23/2025

Thank you for this question! I am a new coordinator of a gift shop with no retail experience! I live near New York City, so one of the volunteers goes to the fashion district and gets kickoff bags and they sell very well. She also gets scarves (winter and summer) and shawls that sell for the patients because it can get cold in the hospital rooms. We use Kevin’s World Wide for logo merch—sweatshirts, long sleeve, t-shirt, hats and plush. Cute PJs do well from Amanda Blu and mellow (something)—can’t remember the name, will post again. They are same quality and cheaper, though not as cute. We do jewelry from K. Caroral but that didn’t sell well, it is going but very slowly. We sell a lot of Bazzini nuts—this might be a local thing. Cookies, chips and candy always sell. We have an agreement with a local florist to deliver flowers and they give us 20% of whatever we sell. We had to get a refrigerator for them, but they do well and it is a nice service for visitors! Great question! Hope this helps, you and I are in the same situation!!!  – Patty 1/23/2025

Fahlo bracelets are a huge hit for the holidays. I sold 27 of them today and we are a relatively small hospital gift shop. The Ganz miniature glass animals also sell very well, along with Coronet’s Main Street Earrings and Evergreen’s Sassafras mats.

SOURCE: Hospital Gift Shops, Facebook Group


Holiday Reminder: Don’t pack away that red merchandise

Mark your calendar! 📅 Repurpose red, white and green Christmas items for display props.

Before you mark down or pack away red (or pink) merchandise after the holidays, pause! 💡

Red is your most versatile display color—perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Red-White-Blue holidays like Memorial Day, and more.

Give those red items a second life and save them a spot on a dedicated backroom shelf!

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


💮 💮 💮

Discussions have moved to the
private Facebook Group

Hospital Gift Shops


300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


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© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | February 15, 2025 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


February 15, 2025

Thomas Hospital, Fairhope, AL

Lessons from 22 years: a manager shares her insights

Marla Touzel, Manager Volunteer Services and Gift Shop
Trinity Health, Muskegon, MI. 1,100 sqft. 358 Beds

I have been with hospital gift shops and volunteers for 22 years. I’ve been through auxiliaries and guilds, then a hospital department, mergers, reorganized roles, employee theft just to name a few. Last year, sales for our 1,100 sq ft shop were $509,000. Here are some of the things I’ve learned to make a shop profitable and turn merchandise.

Employee Discount

We offer all hospital employees a 15% discount on one regularly priced item each month. This incentive encourages employees to make a purchase at a good value, without significantly impacting profits. Employees have the flexibility to choose when to use their discount. They often up buying additional items because they feel they got a good deal on one. In fact, this can increase sales; they don’t want to miss out on an item, even if they’ve already used their discount. Providing customers with a reason to visit and finding something to buy—rather than just browse—can lead to greater sales. For example, over $100,000 in sales were generated just from apparel.

Buying

Seek different opinions on what people like, then ask the important question: what would they be willing to pay for it? I have a 24-year-old coordinator and two employees in their fifties. I’m somewhere in between. You might think something looks great, but the real question is whether people will actually pay that price. Then consider the quantity and whether it’s something that can carry over.

I buy much less decor than practical items. If it’s strictly a decor piece, the retail price must be reasonable. For spring/summer, I did more solar stakes than decorative mushrooms. With the current economy, items need to be functional or serve a purpose, not just look pretty. Every item in your shop needs to justify its place.

Pricing

“It’s Bundt Cake Day! See the Facebook post for Bundt Cake Day on the hospital’s profile!

We have a standard markup, but it’s truly fluid. An item priced at $49.99 looks different from one priced at $50.99 on the tag. I evaluate each item individually to determine its retail price, rather than applying a straight percentage. Of course, it still needs to be doubled, but the additional amount is based on the actual item. You can have amazing products, but if they’re not moving fast enough, they’re not truly profitable.

I run reports by category, based on season and vendor, which gives me a clear picture of what’s selling and at what price. I rarely put items on sale, except late in the season when it’s mostly odds and ends.

I also don’t do outside sales. Why bring in a company that takes up staff time and moves dollars outside the gift shop for a small percentage. The money tied up in a 10-20% fundraiser doesn’t justify the means. The only outside sale event we do is with Nothing Bundt Cakes once a month. We sell 1,000-1,200 cakes inside the shop for a 25% commission. We set up at the front of store for the day, and we open from 10 pm to midnight for the late shift. Our merchandise sales definitely go up on those days because I make sure to refresh and rearrange the displays the day before.

Watch

Pay attention to what’s not selling quickly. If customers aren’t buying it, change it up—even if it’s only been a few days. Believe me, people often miss what’s right in front of them. If you create a beautiful front display and it starts to dwindle, don’t let it stay that way. If it’s not full, it’s time for a refresh. This also sends a message to your customers that they need to buy it when they see it because things are moving fast.

COMMENTS

I’m a much smaller gift shop, but love all your tips. I had a meeting with Nothing Bundt Cakes last week to discuss once a month promotional sale. I was nervous about trying it, but I think I will give it a try. – Cheryl F

When we first started we did 250. We were sold out by noon. We make the call based on each month for the next one. In June we went to 900 because sales were slow in May. Our [branch] is amazing – giving us the benefit of changing each month. Having [the event] inside the shop is a game changer – brings them in! – Marla

What lines of clothing do you carry? Where are you located? – Teri N

It’s really varied! I don’t always reorder seasons from the same companies. I go by what the the trends of what i see in other places. One year I did hundreds and hundreds of leggings. Prints, colors just racks. But they sold because they were butter soft and $14.99. Everyone loves cozy in the Fall! – Marla

Thank you! I shall pass this information along to my other buyers. My problem is I have two staff that don’t like change and they remind me quite often that they’ve been doing this for 50 years. Anything is worth a try. – Jenny J

I get that completely! I had volunteer buyers for many years! Are you paid by the hospital or auxiliary owned? I explained to my director that I couldn’t be evaluated based on sales if I could not decide what we carried. I still like a lot of input, but I make the final decision. Inventory dictates our display timeline, promotions, marketing, ect. If something doesn’t arrive then I’m responsible for changing the direction. I can’t run the gift shop if I don’t control the inventory. The auxiliary board could do outside sales but they couldn’t interfere with the gift shop management. The shop’s profit were combined with their sales as a “gift” to the hospital.

Then the board dissolved and we couldn’t bring in outside sale vendors during COVID and I watched how sales improved. So I made the decision not to bring them back.  

My buyers became display designers. They liked still being involved and updating the displays. They have since retired but we all worked really well with the transition. They still got to see new merchandise and be involved with the Gift Shop. – Marla

Auxiliary volunteers. – Jenny J

That is hard! So hard because they’re giving of their time and efforts in a large endeavor. Maybe ask if you can come up with an idea for a display and purchase the items to help grow in your role and learning? Then track the sales from that display. Numbers don’t lie. – Marla

Thank you for the tips! What is your location? Hospital size? Employee numbers? Do employees make up majority of your sales? – Barbara H

I’m in Muskegon MI. I carry a large variety of lines. It depends on the item and price. I love to use lens feature on Fashion Go Wholesale. Even if I see something online from that catches my eye, I screenshot it or save it on my computer and then use that to search. Some companies sell the same item but have different costs and minimums so I can order smaller qty amounts and try to see what works and the quality. When it comes to apparel, I don’t limit myself to certain lines. I look at the items then pricing and sizing and how it fits with with other things I have coming. One year we did pocket tunic dresses from 42 pops as a $14.99 start of fall special. Cost was $5. It was an inexpensive retail addition to a customer closet but we got major profit off it. – Marla

Very valuable tips that gave me a lot to think about. We do a lot with home decor, especially seasonal, but sales have been declining. Wall art has seriously dropped for us, and we now order very little. We do Nothing Bundt Cakes three times a year as a Volunteer fundraiser. Our franchise only gives us 15%, so I may have to ask them about an increase when they come for our next fundraiser. I was told they will be raising their individual Bundlet prices from $6 to $7 in November. With their cooler special they have been doing 6 for $30 or 4 for $20, if you bring back your cooler, but I suspect that pricing will increase as well. We do an employee appreciation sale once a month, giving employees 20% off regular prices with a few exceptions on things like cards, stamps, candy and live flowers. The employees love it, gets them in the shop and gives sales a nice boost. Thanks again for your helpful post! – Tamara B

Sounds awesome! I had two locations at the time – trying to run specials, do the marketing, put items out at the same time became too much. You honestly have to do what works well for you and your market. My two locations were three miles apart but still were very different in terms of what sold. – Marla

How do you keep track of the employees that use the discount during the month? – Jody L

Employees write their name on a notepad. My volunteer coordinator updates a spreadsheet weekly, sorted it by last name. Most employees are pretty good about it. If there is multiple use we just put it on the list for next month and highlight it, so the clerks can let them know if they come in. It’s been so long since we’ve offered this its not a big issue. I’ve worked the register and asked employees. Before I could check the list, they’ve told me they already used it. Its the chance they take when they want to use it…its a better deal at $47.99 rather $17.99 so they must choose carefully.

Our hospital size is 358 beds but we have one floor shut down right now due to staff. Our hospital employees definitely make up the majority of our sales. We strive to make it a fun and inviting area, I have two part-time clerks but I won’t let just anyone volunteer. They need to have excellent customer service skills. If they’re fumbling at the register, customers get irritated and will not come in if they see that person. It makes a big difference who is working. – Marla

Another great way to make sure you are hitting your profit goals is by using this formula: Planned profits + Planned discounts + Planned expenses/planned sales + Planned discounts = Margin you need. This has been very useful for my shop to hit profit goals. – Mary

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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


Do you know the secret of the ‘Impulse Zone’?

Retail expert, Becky Tyre, shares tips on deciding what to display in your checkout area, or as she eloquently calls it, the “impulse zone”.

Display high-margin items so the area has the potential to be one of the most profitable areas in your store.

Are they high margin items? Ideally, you should be pricing your impulse offerings at least 4x wholesale cost for under $20 retail items or 3x for items over $20. 


Keeping those markups in mind, impulse buys should be affordable for customers as the appeal of “an easy, inexpensive add-on” is appealing to most customers. 


Success with impulse buying occurs when customers feel they’ve discovered something fun, valuable or surprising for that spontaneous purchases.

Read more at Retail Details


5 simple sales training strategies

by Carrie Fleishman, President, Purchasing Power Plus / Feb 2024

GUEST AUTHOR

A well-trained team can turn casual browsers into loyal customers. Whether you’re working with seasoned staff or new volunteers, sales training doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming—it just needs to be consistent and actionable.

Here are five simple yet effective training strategies to help your employees and volunteers confidently engage customers and boost sales.

1. Keep Training Short and Focused

Long training sessions can be overwhelming and difficult to retain. Instead, schedule quick, 15- to 20-minute training huddles that focus on one key skill at a time.

Example: One session can highlight best-selling products and how to recommend them; another can focus on handling customer questions with confidence.

Make It Routine: Hold these sessions weekly or biweekly so training becomes a habit, not an afterthought.

2. Teach the Power of Suggestive Selling

Customers often need guidance in choosing the right gift. Train your team to ask open-ended questions that spark conversations and lead to meaningful recommendations.

A common pitfall? The dreaded, non-engaging, “Can I help you?” Most customers will instinctively reply, “No thanks, I’m just looking.”

Instead, encourage your team to talk up customers—not just about products, but about anything:

  • The weather
  • A local sports team
  • A new restaurant in town
  • Their Pets

Keep it casual, but make sure it’s genuine—customers can tell the difference. Think about the kind of experience you’d prefer when you’re shopping.

🎯 Tip: Instead of a generic pitch, offer a conversational insight: “That candle is made in the USA by a family-owned business. It’s one of our best sellers.”

Better ways to engage customers:

  • “Who brings you in today?”
  • “Are you looking for something comforting or something fun?”
  • “Hi! How are you doing today?”

🎯 Tip: Train your team on responses tailored to your shop’s setting. For example, visitors may be looking for a moment of respite while navigating a stressful situation. A thoughtful, empathetic response can make all the difference:

“I’m so sorry to hear that your dad is in the ICU. If you need a quiet place to take a breath or help finding something comforting for him or yourself, please let me know—I’d be happy to assist.”

This small gesture can create a welcoming, supportive environment for customers during difficult times. By leading with a friendly conversation, your staff creates a welcoming atmosphere and guides customers toward a purchase rather than leaving them to browse aimlessly.

3. Create Quick-Reference Sales Tools

Confidence comes from knowing what to sell and how to sell it. Equip your team with simple, easy-to-access resources, such as a cheat sheet with:

  • Best-selling products and their key features
  • Common gift-giving scenarios and top recommendations
  • Seasonal specials and limited-time offers

Keep these guides at the checkout counter or on a mobile device so employees and volunteers can reference them easily.

4. Pair New Team Members with Sales Mentors

On-the-job learning is one of the most effective ways to build confidence. Pair new employees or volunteers with experienced team members so they can:

  • Observe effective customer interactions
  • Practice making product recommendations
  • Get real-time feedback on their approach

A strong mentorship system ensures new team members feel comfortable engaging with customers while maintaining consistency in how your shop delivers great service.

5. Reinforce and Reward Great Sales Behavior

The best training doesn’t stop after a session—it becomes part of everyday practice.

  • Set simple, achievable sales goals. For example, challenge employees to recommend an add-on product to three customers per shift.
  • Recognize team members who successfully engage customers and drive sales.
  • Offer small incentives like a free coffee, a gift card, or a team shout-out to those who consistently apply what they’ve learned.

When training is rewarding, practical, and fun, employees and volunteers are more likely to use their skills, feel invested in your shop’s success, and provide better customer experiences.

Carrie Fleishman is the President of Purchasing Power Plus (PPP), a specialized buying group supporting healthcare gift shop retailers since 1996. With hundreds of stores in their network, PPP leverages collective purchasing power to offer substantial savings, flexible dating programs, and relief from inflated order minimums—all through a trusted network of vendor partners. Visit purchasingpowerplus.com to learn more.


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel goods!


Greeting cards from A Line and OTC from Kelli’s Gifts and Weiners. I’d like to know if there are others for OTC. A Line has great prices for greeting cards, gift bags, and more. I sell out quickly each month. – Terri L

I need a different OTC resource as well. Kelli’s seems to have the monopoly on the market. I’ve tried ordering through Amazon Business, but sometimes I get really short expiration dates. – Cheryl F

Kelli has small OTC packets; I need actual bottles like we keep at home. – Kendra B

PicturaCardthartic for greeting cards. – Bonnie A

Avanti. They have a rep who services the rack. Takes unsold holiday cards and gives us credit, etc. Great company. – Vesta R

Leanin TreeMichelle C

I get Gina B from FaireLeticia M

Leanin Tree, love their selection. – Tiffany R

Leanin Tree, they are part of Purchasing Power Plus if you are a member. – Julie V

Avanti and Legacy Publishing. Legacy has cards that start at $.99. Both brands fly off the racks. – Katy S

Greeting cards from E. Frances PaperRifle Paper1 Canoe 2Elum. OTC mainly from Kelli’s, but some from our local grocery vendor where we buy snacks and drinks. – Laurie B

CurrentAmy A

Pictura for greeting cards. – Lanie R

For greeting cards, we use a large number of different vendors to keep our stock unique and fresh, including 9th Letter PressAbigail JayneCalypsoDesign DesignFreshcut PaperGraphique, and many more available on Faire! For OTC items, we used to rely heavily on Core Mark, but they consistently seem to be out of stock, so we now purchase almost exclusively through Kelli’s. – Jordan A

Greeting cards from RSVP by Sellers Publishing and Oatmeal Studios from BIELY & SHOAF, and Compendium. OTC from Kelli’s. – Dawn S

We use Weiners IncCostco, and Kelli’s for OTC. Tree Free for most counter cards, as they have one SKU and retail at $4.50. Then supplement with higher-priced cards from local artists on Faire. – Karla G

RSVP from Sellers and Avanti for greeting cards. OTC from Kelli’s, and sometimes our candy vendor. – Debbie C

Greeting cards from Current. The best prices for really nice cards. – Debbie B

OTC from Dollar Tree, Kelli’s, and Sam’s. You can order online with Dollar Tree by the case (usually 12 for Tylenol, shampoo, etc.) and have it shipped or pick it up to save on shipping. You can also order online and pick up at Sams Club. – Ginger T

E. Frances makes adorable cards that do well for me. I also have ordered from Apartment 2 on Faire. I just found All The Ways to Say, which looks really nice and they have matching merchandise. – Cary B

Designer GreetingNancy W

Leanin Tree for cards. – Ramona K

Tree Free. – Diane D

Calypso, I believe they are still PPP, with many different artists. I get a nice variety, and I ended up retailing all for $4.95. Also, Freshcut. – Laura B

Design Design and Up With Paper. Check out their tiny pop-up trinket line that comes with its own spinner and sells for $3.99 (you could go higher). People love them. – Lynn M

Avanti for greeting cards. – Nikki M

Shade TreeMary R

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CREDIT: Mike Mozart, JeepersMedia

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Purchasing Power Plus: Retail with Purpose

We recently touched base with President, Carrie Fleishman and Vice President, Daniel Fleishman of Purchasing Power Plus (PPP). We are excited to have them share their knowledge as guest author’s in the newsletter. PPP is tailored specifically to hospital gift shops. Here’s more about what they offer. We encourage you to check them out!

Purchasing Power Plus is an exclusive buying group supporting healthcare retailers across the United States. Since 1996, PPP has helped hospital gift shops and pharmacies thrive, stay competitive, and remain essential to the communities they serve. With hundreds of stores in their network, PPP leverages collective purchasing power to offer substantial savings, flexible dating programs, and relief from inflated order minimums—all through a trusted network of vendor partners.

Purchasing Power Plus is more than just a buying group. It’s a community-driven resource that helps hospital gift shops navigate challenges like inventory management, merchandising, and staying ahead of retail trends.

Why Join the PPP Community?

Strong Vendor Partnerships
We connect you with trusted vendors, from industry leaders to small, trendy lines—ensuring your inventory stays fresh, fluid, and filled with products your customers want. Plus, our easy-to-use website provides a centralized location where you can browse vendors, explore products, and shop direct links—saving you time and effort.

Real Savings That Add Up

  • Save an average of 10% on wholesale pricing from our vendor partners.
  • Enjoy extended terms and no inflated minimums, so you can order what works best for your shop—without unnecessary pressure.
  • Take advantage of additional promotions, exclusive sales, and special buying incentives throughout the year.
  • We negotiate extra discounts, free freight opportunities, and sample programs to give you even more ways to save.
  • Even with just one to three vendors, your savings can quickly cover the cost of membership—every discount you receive goes straight to your bottom line, boosting your profitability. That’s why joining PPP is an easy decision for your shop!

Simple, Streamlined Buying

Our easy-to-use website allows you to browse vendors, explore product offerings, and stay on top of industry trends, making wholesale buying easier and more efficient.

The Magic of Connection

We know that the best ideas and inspiration often come from meaningful connections. That’s why we host exclusive events where members can meet vendors, discover new products, and connect with other retailers who share similar challenges and successes. And if you’re attending markets in Dallas, Atlanta, or Las Vegas, we have partnered with those markets, and you may be eligible for travel incentives that make it easier to explore new products and engage with the PPP team in person.

Fresh, Evolving Product Offerings

We continually add new vendors to keep your shop stocked with products that are on-trend, in demand, and suited to your customers’ needs. From well-known industry names to up-and-coming brands, PPP helps you bring in exciting new merchandise that keeps your shop thriving.

Independence Matters

Your shop is an essential part of your hospital and community. With PPP, you maintain complete buying independence, so you can choose the products that best reflect your mission and customers’ needs—keeping your shop unique and thriving.

A Family-Driven Team That Cares

PPP isn’t just a company—it’s a family-led team that truly cares about the shops we work with. We understand the challenges you face because we’ve walked alongside shop owners like you for decades. Our approach is personal, supportive, and hands-on—we’re here to listen, offer guidance, and help you find the right solutions for your shop.

Let’s Build Something Great Together

Joining PPP means more than just saving money—it means becoming part of a supportive community that understands your business and shares your goals. We make wholesale buying easier, more affordable, and more inspiring, so you can focus on what you do best.

Purchasing Power Plus knows your shop is more than just a store—it’s a place of comfort, connection, and care. Whether you run a small boutique or a larger-scale shop, PPP simplifies the wholesale buying experience so you can focus on what truly matters: serving your customers with products that they love.

Download the Retailer Program Overview to learn more.

purchasingpowerplus.com

888-221-3367


2024 Servant’s Heart Award Winner, Holston Valley Medical Center

Tina Gay, a mother of nine with 32 grandchildren, still finds time to volunteer at not one, but two hospitals. She volunteers Tuesdays in Holston Valley Medical Center’s surgery waiting area and Thursdays and Fridays in Indian Path Community Hospital’s gift shop.

Tina has been volunteering since 2018, and she is the only volunteer who serves at both hospitals. She always greets patients, family members, caregivers and team members with a friendly, caring attitude.

Tina eagerly jumps in and helps out wherever she’s needed. When the “hospitality cart” program began rolling out, Tina began making “blessing kits” containing toothpaste, toothbrushes, wash cloths and soap, paying for them with her own funds. The kits were given to patients and family members who are experiencing an extended hospital stay.

When the “clothes closets” were established at Indian Path and Holston Valley, Tina began collecting clothes to stock them.

After undergoing knee surgery, Tina couldn’t perform her usual volunteer work for a few weeks, but she didn’t let that stop her. During her down time, she made pediatric “activity kits,” containing coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, note pads and stickers for patients in the pediatric emergency department at Indian Path, once again funding them at her own expense.

Tina also volunteers at Bays Mountain Park and two local churches, and she sings in the choir. Tina is loved by all for her wonderful attitude and greatly admired for her selfless work and team spirit.

SOURCE: Ballad Health


When to use vertical vs. horizontal displays

Vertical vs horizontal product displays. Let’s take a deep dive! Vertical merchandising involves stacking products in columns from top to bottom, while horizontal merchandising arranges them in rows across a shelf.

While most display experts prefer vertical merchandising, there are pros and cons to each. Shop size, shelving and layout may also dictate which method will be most effective. Implement methodologies that work for your specific scenario.

TypePROSCONS
VERTICALHigh-margin/popular items receive higher visibility.Can be challenging for customers to reach top or bottom items.
Customers can easily scan products at eye level.May not be ideal for small spaces with limited height.
Allows customers to stay in one position.Does not encourage browsing other product and categories
Encourages eye movement from top to bottom, making products easier to find.Might require frequent restocking to maintain organization.
Works well for displaying products in multiple price points or varieties.Perception that items on top and bottom shelves being less important or desirable
HORIZONTALKeeps products at eye level, making them more accessible.Takes up more shelf space, limiting variety in smaller areas.
Allows for a more visually balanced display.Customers may overlook lower or higher sections of the shelf.
Easier to showcase feature or best-selling products.Can create a monotonous look if not well arranged.
Works well for showcasing larger items.Might not maximize shelf height efficiently.

🎯 Tip: An exception is when you need to move slow sellers. Use horizontal merchandising to position slow-moving products directly in the customers’ line of sight. It’s worth a try to clear stock before having to mark it down.

When to use vertical merchandising:

Displaying a variety of products within a category (e.g., different brands, flavors, or sizes).
Make full use of tall display fixtures
To encourage customer eye movement from top to bottom.
Organizing items by price tier—premium items at eye level and budget-friendly options above or below.
Allows a smaller shop to utilize upper wall space to showcase more products.

When to use horizontal merchandising:

To highlight featured or best-selling products at eye level for easy access.
Displaying large or bulky items that need more width.
Customer base includes people who may have difficulty reaching high or low shelves.
Creating a clean, balanced visual appearance that doesn’t feel cluttered.
Space dictates the use of wide shelving rather than tall displays.

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DISCUSSION


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private Facebook Group

Hospital Gift Shops


300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!

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© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | November 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


November 15, 2024

Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA

We are closing up shop

We are closing shop here at Cindy Jones Associates! Next month will mark the final issue of Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers. The Facebook Group for Hospital Gift Shops will continue to thrive as a supportive space for professionals. The website and Newsletter Archive will remain available as a free resource for all gift shop managers, providing valuable tools and insights for those continuing the important work in hospital gift shops. See you next month for a final farewell! – Cindy


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Tips to finish strong this holiday season

Keep the fourth quarter interactive — full of events, giveaways, intentional marketing and sparkle!

Examine the holiday season from previous years and make a list of successes and failures. Then stick with what worked and discard what didn’t, whether it be products, events, marketing, promotions or the like. And remember, what works in one shop might not work in your own. Every shop is unique with all kinds of variables that impact sales.


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


Some not-so-great merchandise displays

Let’s take dive into the good and the bad merchandise display. There are plenty of articles with tips on displaying your merchandise. Most provide examples of masterful displays. But, you rarely see the not-so-good displays. We hunted the internet to find bad examples. It’s “visual” merchandising, after all. More on that later in this article.

Never underestimate the power of good merchandise design techniques. It can make your shop go from “cheap” to professional. Research shows a visually appealing environment inspires spending.

Clutter is one of the most common mistakes in display design. Resist the temptation to display everything in your stockroom. Other attributes include color pallet, layout, texture, shape, proportion, repetition, elevation, and balance. All of these elements come together and create an effect on shoppers.

Good design leads the customer’s eye — and mind — through your shop. Clutter literally disrupts mental processing. Your eyes don’t know where to go and what to process first. Subconsciously, the mind is working to try and organize the clutter in some manner so it can process what it’s seeing. You don’t want your customers “working”. We want to see customers experience all the feel goods, consciously and subconsciously. Displays will often have a direct correlation to sales.

Merchandise displays can serve two purposes. First, they obviously present merchandise to the customer. But they can also encourage browsing. A well-designed display can lead the shopper’s attention through various sections or pods in the display. Their attention shifts from one pod to the next, mentally “consuming” the merchandise—and, hopefully, making a purchase! Remember, the pods should also compliment each other such that the display is perceived as a total body of work. Pods can also be linear, helping the shopper navigate through the merchandise. Take the following example:

Use repetition. Display a product in groups of 4 or more,depending on the items size.

Height is your friend. Elevate items using creative risers (chair, wood crates, stacked books, etc.). You can also use product to create height, such as the Santas in the example above.

Use a Triangle of Interest, arranging merchandise with the tallest items in back, smaller items flanking the side, and the smallest items in front.

Setup displays near the door and keep your door open as much as you can- you’ll lose a ridiculous amount of walk-ins by having it closed. Consumer behavior is a funny thing.

There are also plenty of beautiful displays that break all these rules. But, what they do have is a single binding attribute, such as a well-defined color pallet, a certain theme, cross merchandising approach, or a fully-staged and accessorized lifestyle display.

Now, back to the not-so-good merchandise displays where design techniques could have been better utilized. This is not to say that are entirely bad displays. But, the leave some room for improvement.

CLICK TO EXPAND


Preparing your team for the holidays

by RETAIL DETAILS

From your newest staff members to employees who have been with you for years, every single person on your team can use a review of procedures coming into the busiest season.

November is the perfect time to make sure that your team feels confident using your store’s POS (point of sale) system particularly when it comes to your loyalty program, gift cards and returns/exchanges. Many of you will benefit if your staff has familiarity with your inventory control processes and shipping procedures, as well.

  • If you have employees who return to work seasonally, it’s important to review what has changed since they last worked in your store.
  • For many retailers, gift card sales and redemptions are not daily transactions, so it’s important to review any gift card guidelines with all employees review exactly how to ring them up in your POS system when sold or redeemed.
  • All staff members should know which categories, departments or lines have additional back stock and exactly where they can find things quickly.

PRO TIP: Try to eliminate the need for back stock on your most popular items. Rather than have a little bit of everything in the back room, it’s much easier for your staff if you only have back stock of certain things. For instance, for popular sellers like candles and tea towels, keep all stock on the sales floor and only use backroom space for bigger items or things that are more easily restocked as they sell.

Keep reading for more pro tips that include three retailers’ specific reasoning and one insight from a retailer who disagrees that cross-training is a good idea…..

SOURCE: Becky Tyre, Retail Details

Becky is a writer, retail coach, shop local advocate and Retail Details owner. With 40+ years of retail consulting experience, she helps retailers be more successful. @retaildetails

We love Retail Details by Becky Tyre. We encourage you to subscribe! All their content is hands-on and applies to all retailers. Subscribe to get full access to the retail tips newsletter and her complete archives.

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www.i3pos.com


NRF 2024 holiday consumer spending expectations

The National Retail Federation (NRF) announced that consumer spending this winter holidays is expected to reach a record $902 per person on average across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to NRF’s latest consumer survey. Of the $902 shoppers plan to spend, approximately $641 is on gifts for family, friends, co-workers and more, which is an increase from $620 last year. The remaining $261 will be spent on other seasonal items such as food or candy, decorations, greeting cards and other holiday items.

This holiday season, consumers will head to various shopping destinations for gifts and other items on their lists. Online remains the top destination this year, with 57% of consumers planning on making their holiday purchases online. This is followed by department stores (46%), grocery stores and supermarkets (46%) and discount stores (45%).

Read more in 2024 Holiday Spending Expected to Reach New Record

SOURCE: NRF


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel goods!


Happy PAWlidays Pet Photo Contest

A festive pet photo contest

Collect prizes donated by your local pet stores. Coupons or discount cards are always welcome by pet owners.

Enlist your local shelter to select the winning photo.

Holiday Wreath Market

Local florists bring in wreaths to sell

Reach out to local flower shops and invite them to participate in a “Holiday Wreath Market” at your shop.

Florists can display and sell wreaths, arrangements and more. A percent of proceeds go to the shop. Promote the event through social media, hospital publications, and email lists.

Click to expand

Medical Staff: Letters from Santa

Santa’s letter for kids whose parents are doctors, nurses, or medical professionals.

A lot of staff will be at the hospital working and can’t be with their kids on Christmas. This sweet letter offers a whimsical Alternative Delivery Date.

Print and give away with purchase at checkout or charge $10 to print and ship. See an example from St. Tammany Health online form.

All the Jingle Ladies Shopping Event

Cater an event to the families’ shopper.

On average women are responsible for their household’s holiday shopping. Hold a ‘Jingle Ladies Shopping Night’ that is fun for our customers. Serve festive “mocktails” and charcuterie cups for guests to enjoy while shopping.

Give exclusive discounts during the event and a free ornament for attending.

You might see an influx of male shoppers right before Christmas. Host ‘Help a Guy Out for the Holidays’ with a guys shopping night. Offer grab-and-go gifts bundles or baskets wrapped in cellophane. Don’t forget complimentary gift wrapping!

Read more in Finishing Strong: 15 tips for holiday sales at Gift Shop Plus.


SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


SHVL Annual Conference

Save the date! This year’s annual conference for the Society for Healthcare Volunteer Leaders will be held in New Orleans on March 13-15, 2025. Registration is now open! The conference includes events focused on hospital gift shops.


Auxiliary funds phone charging stations in ER

As a nonprofit organization, the Berger Hospital Gift Shop Volunteers’ mission is clear: Every penny raised through the gift shop is reinvested into the hospital, enhancing patient care and supporting the various departments.

Their most recent contribution to the hospital came in the form of cell phone charging stations for the Emergency Department and surgery waiting area, after volunteers noticed a steady increase of requests from gift shop patrons for various device chargers.

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


OCTOBER 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #657
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

We would like to take the opportunity this month to thank all our advertisers.

This newsletter would not be possible without them!

Thank you!


TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


Discussions have moved to the Hospital Gift Shops group on Facebook


300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | October 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


October 15, 2024


We would like to take the opportunity this month to thank all our advertisers.
This newsletter would not be possible without you!
Thank you!


SPONSOR

FreshCut Paper
Mini Pop-Up Joy, Holiday Cheer!
Add festive cheer anywhere with our Mini Merry Tree- perfect for gifting or decorating, a delightful holiday touch!

– Hospital friendly
– Always fresh, never wilts
– No refrigeration or watering
– Allergy and pollen free

Forever flowers to take anywhere!
FaireWholesale Inquiries2024 Wholesale Catalog
sales@freshcutpaper.com833-327-2737

ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

i3 Verticals – NCR Point of Sale Solution

A “Volunteer Friendly” NCR Point of Sale solution
for hospital gift shops. Easy to learn! Easy to use!
Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


SPONSOR

I Heart Guts!

Because life takes guts

– 47 different award-winning organ plushies and gifts
– Great post-op gifts, turning that struggle into a snuggle
– Hospital staff love the organ pins for badge-reel bling
– Also organ socks, stickers, magnets, and slippers

iheartguts.comWholesaleFaire


SPONSOR

Punchkins
The punniest new plush gifts!

Punchkins are a fun new brand of premium collectible plush stuffed with personality!
– Adorably designed. Highly relatable.
– Unique embroidered expressions: Sweet, salty, naughty or nice
– Over 50 punchy styles
– FREE SHIPPING on your opening order!

From cute and cuddly to smart and sassy, Punchkins make the perfect gift. Healthcare professionals, patients, and their families will love Punchkins! 2023 All New Styles

Punchkins WholesalePunchkins.comSpring 2023 Catalog sales@punchkins.com • 443-212-8670


SPONSOR

Purchasing Power Plus
Be Delighted

Join our vibrant retail community & step into the future of wholesale buying with Purchasing Power Plus. Supporting healthcare gift shops nationwide with:
– Exceptional savings
– Retail Education
– Trend Reports
– Community & Connection
– Exclusive events
Experience wholesale buying as it should be: thoughtful, inspiring & effortlessly simple. Let’s grow your business together!

memberteam@purchasingpowerplus.net • 407-268-4444 • purchasingpowerplus.com


SPONSOR

HospitalGiftShop.com
The easiest way to open an online shop!

– Open for business 24/7 with an online and mobile shop
– 20+ years of trust from hundreds of leading hospitals
– We manage your online shop and orders for you
– Zero fees, simple set up
– Expand your product selection & increase revenue effortlessly!

Join our trusted network and revolutionize your shop’s reach!

HospitalGiftShop  • partners@hospitalgiftshop.com 
  

VISIT THE NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

The Newsletter Archive is full of content-rich, actionable articles and reader comments to help you run your gift shop.

Search the archive for valuable content like inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, how to start an online store, promo and event ideas, how to calculate shop performance, or best sellers across other shops.


SEPTEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #656
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • Taking a stand against plastic risers
  • What is your best-selling high-dollar item?
  • Q. Recommendation for an alternative to Kelli’s?
  • Take the 2025 State of the Industry Survey
  • The economy: slowing but growing, inflation down
  • Dallas Market 2025 Dates
  • In-house advertising: A genius idea!
  • Best selling products for men
  • Hospital Gift Shop Consultants
  • Markup for flowers
  • Gift Market Calendar

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


Discussions have moved to the Hospital Gift Shops group on Facebook


300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | September 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


September 15, 2024

Mercy Hospital Southeast, Cape Girardeau, MO

Taking a stand against plastic risers

Michelle Sherrier is taking a stand against plastic risers. She recently shared some great ideas for alternative risers. Out with the boring, in with the whimsical. We share a few excerpts from her recent blog article “No Plastic Risers“.

Merchandising is storytelling, risers not only create height but also help continue to tell the story. You can create height with so much more than a clear plastic riser. Think about each display or vignette as a story. What story are you telling? Is it a tabletop or kitchen display? Think outside the box. Go into stores like Home Depot and walk the aisles. Take a stroll through a junk shop or a thrift shop, comb the home decor isles and book isles. It’s supposed to be whimsical so don’t overthink it. 

Masculine/Desk Vignette
Stack old books from the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Take off the cover and color them out by the book spines. Or, remove the hard cover altogether for a vintage look.

Kitchen/Cooking Vignette
Old cookbooks stacked up with kitchen-related items. Canned goods with the labels removed are great risers for candles. Even paper egg cartons can be used as risers for something light.

Low Cost Wood 4×4’s cut in different sizes and sanded down also make great risers. Or, pieces of stair tread cut in larger pieces and stacked on top of each other.

Garden/Spring Vignette Pavers, bricks, terracotta pots flipped upside down make easy risers. Another favorite is galvanized buckets as binning and flipped upside down for larger risers.

Michelle Sherrier is the owner of MC Design Collaboration, a retail consultant specializing in visual merchandising and the host of The Retail Whore Podcast @theretailwhorepodcast. Michelle has spent 43 years in retail, from Fred Segal to Anthropologie after starting her own brand, MC Design Collaboration. Sherrier also shares her expertise through instructional videos available for free on YouTube.

SOURCE: MC Design Collaboration


SPONSOR

Purchasing Power Plus
Be Delighted

Join our vibrant retail community & step into the future of wholesale buying with Purchasing Power Plus. Supporting healthcare gift shops nationwide with:
– Exceptional savings
– Retail Education
– Trend Reports
– Community & Connection
– Exclusive events
Experience wholesale buying as it should be: thoughtful, inspiring & effortlessly simple. Let’s grow your business together!

memberteam@purchasingpowerplus.net • 407-268-4444 • purchasingpowerplus.com


SPONSOR

FreshCut Paper
(Pumpkin) Spice Up Your Life
Enjoy autumn all year with our NEW Pumpkin Spice Bouquets! Featuring sunset blooms, a gingham bow, and a white pumpkin vase, it’s a cozy, heartfelt addition to any space.

– Hospital friendly
– Always fresh, never wilts
– No refrigeration or watering
– Allergy and pollen free

Forever flowers to take anywhere!
FaireWholesale Inquiries2024 Wholesale Catalog
freshcutpaper.comsales@freshcutpaper.com833-327-2737


What is your best-selling high-dollar item?

A member in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook group recently asked, “What are your best-selling high-dollar items?” We We are a smaller shop in a 150 bed hospital.

The 40oz steel tumbler Stanley knock offs are a great seller for us. Our customers prefer ones with funny sayings, rhinestones, or cute pictures. We sell those for $38-$48 each and people continue to purchase them even if they have one. No one wants to be without their drink, so if they forget it at home, they’ll buy another. We also just began selling hospital logo t-shirts, jackets, and sweatshirts. We had them approved by marketing and our hospital allows them in the dress code. We have sold over $110,000 in four months. The mark up is great and we are still mobbed when a new shipment arrives.

Ours is Chala handbags.  

Some items we sell that do well are Jen & Co handbags, Megan Browne jewelry, Sincere Surroundings – inspirational messages framed and blocks. – Cheryl F

Warmies are not a high-dollar item, but we just got them in and are doing well with them! Regular Warmies and the slippers. – Brad J

Umgee clothing, Wrangler & Montana West purses if your area likes Western. If you buy from Opportunities, you can definitely get a higher markup. – Ginger T

Myra purses. – Norma T

We do really well with Capri Blue candles. I was hesitant to bring in $36 candles but great sales from the start. – Andie H

Swig Life cups have done well for us, considering that they average $40-50 each. – Andie H

We are a small rural emergency hospital. We don’t have inpatient and we are in a depressed area. So for me high-dollar items will just sit. You have to gauge things on your area and the majority of your clientele. – Deanna L

Hobo and Myra handbags. Vera Bradley. – Lee P

Chala are good for us, but we do even better with Jen & Co purses. We can do them in quantities of one for the medium to large size, unlike the Chala, which we now have to do in twos, and they are good quality with reasonable prices. Our employees buy them well. – Tamara B

We brought in Jen & Co purses about nine months ago and they have been a huge seller for us. – Megan C

Jelly Cat Plush. We were hesitant to bring them in due to price but they keep on selling. We do have a maternity, but they don’t stay long. Mostly employees that buy these. – JoAnn R

Douglas stuffed animals are very nice, easier to sign up with and reasonably priced. People like very unusual, soft plush animals. – Jessica F

Silver Forest earrings and R.S. Covenant rings are top seller money makers for us. Coronet purses do very well,  hospital logo apparel along and TY plush. These are our top five revenue makers. – Cynthia B

We do well with Jen & Co. purses, Katy Did cups, and Swan Creek candles and wax melts. – Tina H

Caroline & Company purses and bags do well for us. Also Sweet Grace products by Bridgewater, Capri Blue candles and other products, Swan Creek candles, Tyler Candle Company candles and especially their Diva candles and detergent. – Melissa W

Can you sell your hospital logo on fun t-shirts? That has saved us. Have sold 5000+ in 4 months. – Karen M

Vera Bradley, Chala Bags, Solar Balloons. – Ramona K

Perfumes, Katie Loxton handbags, Ray-Ban sunglasses. – Whitney A


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


Q. Recommendation for an alternative to Kelli’s?

Q. Does anyone have a recommendation for another vendor like Kelli’s? Kelli’s shipping is expensive. – Anonymous

The following are responses from managers in the Facebook Group for Hospital Gift Shops. The group is a private community of gift shop professionals, therefore names have been removed for privacy. We always recommend you conduct your own research and due diligence when selecting a wholesale provider that best meets your needs.

  • Does anyone have a vendor other than Kelli’s for sundry and OTC meds? I have been with the hospital gift shop for 17 years. I had the same rep for over ten years. After COVID I have had eight different reps. I tried Weiner’s LTD but some of their quantities are very high 24-36.
    • We use Costco Business Delivery for some of our sundries and their pricing is great.
    • Check out Empire Sundries in place of Kelli’s for your sundries
  • We did a cost analysis on the candy we were getting through Kelli’s and we were spending so much more than when we go through Blair Candy and through Grandpa Joe’s. We were able to bring our margins up by almost 5% in most cases. We use Kelli’s a lot but it has just become expensive.
  • I primarily use Kelli’s for balloons, single-use medications, and a few candy items that I can’t get through my regular distributor, but I always wait to order until I have $450 of product, to get the lower shipping.
  • When Kelli’s started charging for shipping, I started looking for other options. They have gotten so expensive! It was ok when shipping was free, but not so much now. I look on Faire for other options. Grandpa Joe’s candy is a good source and sometimes has free shipping.
  • We have used Kelli’s for years and are happy with them.
  • Blair Candy is usually cheaper than Grandpa Joe’s, but I do use Grandpas for a lot of our nostalgic candies which are HUGE seller for us.
  • Kelli’s is really a wholesale distributor, which means they didn’t make anything they sell – they are going out to wholesalers and buying large volumes at a low cost, marking it up and then selling it to you. The benefit to a gift shop buyer is the convenience of having a large variety of items that sell well in a hospital gift shop, but you pay for that convenience by paying more for the item and, as mentioned, the shipping is very high. In the end, your pricing will have to be higher as a result. There’s also the benefit of buying lower quantities. If you buy directly from the vendor, you will find better pricing (no middleman), but there’s more upfront work as you need to work with more vendors or reps and you need to look at little harder for lower quantities (in our case).
  • They are making money, but not a lot. I looked at Swig and it is cheaper to go directly through or even on Faire than ordering through Kelli’s.
    • Oh wow. I didn’t even know Kelli’s had Swig. I can imagine it’s a lot cheaper. Faire is usually the cheapest source, since you’re getting it right from the manufacturer. I also love the convenience and how I can shop from the app at home when I have time.
  • I primarily use Kelli’s for balloons, single-use medications, and a few candy items that I can’t get through my regular distributor, but I always wait to order until I have $450 of product, to get the lower shipping.
  • We have been using Faire since they launched. I love it. Plus the insider free shipping. We have tested so many new items that way.
  • Young’s, Ganz, Gerson, Rain (for jewelry) some people like Giftcraft (but avoid rep named Lauren), Coco + Carmen, Joy Susan, Schylling, Evergreen. I’m sure other buyers can add their vendor suggestions. There are thousands out there. And my personal favorite these days and lowest cost option is buying through Faire, an online marketplace that connects you directly with thousands of wholesalers, without having to set up multiple accounts and deal with countless invoices. Good luck!
  • Hanna’s Handiworks is a great option for home decor and I just noticed they have a great sale right now.
    • We got some really great Christmas things at March Market in Dallas from Hanna’s….very cute very affordable
    • I think this is a great way to get away from companies like Giftcraft and Ganz.
  • I would echo many of the other vendors that others have mentioned above. I’ve definitely taken advantage of the free shipping membership option for Faire. I’d also suggest Toysmith for small toys and impulse items. If I remember correctly, they have no minimums and free shipping.
  • I use Burton and Burton for balloons. We can send them back if they don’t hold helium.
  • I only get one or two candy items from Kelli’s, the bulk is from a local distributor. I like Grandpa’s selection, but what they have in stock seems erratic, and I thought their shipping costs were a little high.
  • We only use Kelli’s as a last case scenario.
  • Ohhh Kelli’s. It’s a love/dislike relationship for me. I have used them for years. Love the quantities that some items have, convenience and the fact that buying such a wide range of merch gets you to their spend goal pretty fast. Dislike their transition over the past few years, i.e., shipping/pricing. I even found some products where they were charging me retail. To their credit they did make good on that and offered a discount. With all that being said, I work with reps that I know are trustworthy to help find most new merch. But I must say that I have found that Faire has become a go to in finding more unique things. I just added freeze dried candy from a vendor on Faire, it was literally gone in three days. I will say that most of our everyday snacks we offer comes from Sam’s. Convenient and easy.
  • Will you share what vendor you bought the freeze dried candy from?
    • My first order was with Rodgers Jam Berries. I ordered chewy spree, now and laters, sour gummy worms, jolly ranchers, skittles. Skittles by far was the most popular with jolly ranchers aka poofs and close second. I did a reorder of those and then placed an order with Freeze Dried Candy Store. They offer varieties different from Rodgers. With them I tried the tootsie rolls and taffy.
  • Nostalgic candy has been a huge hit for us. Visitors and patients love something fun and joyful from their childhoods when going through clinic/hospital. Hammond’s candy bars are also a good seller with their fun and unique flavors. Valley Fudge & Candy from Faire is something we have to reorder nearly every week!! Wallaby licorice from Blair or grandpas is also a good seller.

Take the 2025 State of the Industry Survey

The Gift Shop® Plus 2025 State of the Industry Survey is now open. This survey is designed to capture your experiences, challenges and expectations as a gift shop owner, manager or buyer, as well as provide insight into where the current state of retail lies as the year winds down and we look ahead to 2025.

As a valued reader, your insights are crucial in helping us understand the current state of the industry and what the future holds. Your responses provide valuable statistics and trends that will benefit the entire specialty retail sector.

Take the survey here.

ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

i3 Verticals – NCR Point of Sale Solution

A “Volunteer Friendly” NCR Point of Sale solution
for hospital gift shops. Easy to learn! Easy to use!
Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


The economy: slowing but still growing, inflation down

The National Retail Federation September issue of NRF’s Monthly Economic Review had some encouraging news.

In Summary — employers should keep adding jobs even if at a slower pace, price increases for goods and services are coming under control, unemployment is near historically low levels and the Fed is expected to cut rates at least twice.

  • The U.S. economy is not in a recession and is unlikely to enter one by the end of 2024.
  • The economy is experiencing a “soft landing” with slowing growth and inflation cooling simultaneously.
  • Recent data has alleviated fears of a deteriorating economy, despite early reports of higher unemployment and slowed manufacturing.
  • Second quarter GDP growth was revised upward to 3%, and consumer spending was adjusted to 2.9%.
  • Consumer spending, the largest component of GDP, was revised up to 2.9% growth for the quarter from 2.3%
  • Inflation, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, remained stable at 2.5%, close to the Federal Reserve’s target.
  • The labor market is showing signs of weakness, with only 114,000 jobs added in July and an unemployment rate rising to 4.3%.
  • The Fed is set to cut interest rates but they won’t immediately boost the economy.
  • The Fed is expected to cut rates twice more this year, which should support consumer spending for the rest of 2024.


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!


Dallas Market 2025 Dates

Dallas Market Center announced dates for its 2025 markets. The March 2025 markets has been shifted to accommodate holidays like spring breaks. Major show dates are below. Visit the Dallas Market Center website for dates of accessories trade events, showrooms and others.

2025 Dallas Market Center Show Dates

Jan 8-14: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market

Jan 21-24: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market

Mar 25-28: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market + Total Home & Gift Market

Jun 10-13: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market

Jun 18-24: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market

Aug 12-15: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market

Sep 16-18: Dallas Total Home & Gift Market

Oct 21-24: Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market


✔️ Print tent cards for your events—especially special openings for the late-shift—and set them at punch card time clocks, staff elevators, staff break rooms, staff locker rooms.

✔️ These are high-traffic, high-visibility areas with a captured audience.

✔️ Strategically placed signage will serve as a reminder every time they punch out, use the break room, staff elevators or other employee areas.

✔️

Thanks to Marla Touzel, Gift Shop Coordinator at Mercy Health Partners, in Muskegon, MI, for this great tip!


Best selling products for men

Readers recently shared some of their best-selling brands for men. Just in time for the holidays!


UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

OCTOBER
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Oct 11 – Yom Kippur begins
Oct 13 – No Bra Day 🤣
Oct 14 – Columbus Day
Oct 16 – Boss’s Day
Oct 19 – Sweetest Day
Oct 31 – Halloween
NOVEMBER
Nov 5 – Election Day
Nov 11 – Veterans Day
Nov 13 – World Kindness Day
Nov 28 – Thanksgiving 🌽🍁🌾
Nov 29 – Black Friday
Nov 27 – Cyber Monday
Nov 30 – Small Biz Saturday
December
Dec 21 – Winter Solstice
Dec 25 – Hanukkah Begins 🕍
Dec 25 – Christmas 🎄
Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve

SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


Hospital Gift Shop Consultants

We get a lot of requests for consulting still. Cindy is retired so we started a list of active Hospital Gift Shop Consultants. Please note that this list is provided as a courtesy. We do not necessarily endorse or recommend any specific consultant on this list. We encourage you to conduct your own research and due diligence when selecting a consultant that best meets your needs.

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Markup for flowers

Photo Credit: Anton Mislawsky

Flowers and plants are our third highest seller only behind snacks/food and logo apparel. I was a florist before I came to a hospital gift shop. Flower shops make their money on the labor put into the flowers.

A good mark up for pre-made bouquets 30% – 35%.

If they are made in-house by volunteers I would recommend at least a 50% mark up on flowers, greens, and hard goods. I mark up flowers and hard goods at least 50%.

I know in-house flower arranging is a luxury not everyone has. We are very lucky to have the space to provide that service. – Noelle D Boardman, St. Luke’s floral & Gifts, Cedar Rapids, IA. 545 beds. 8/30/24

Thank you Noelle!


AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #655
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • Create a Thanksgiving Tree
  • Which POS has the best support?
  • Cancer awareness merchandise
  • Markups standards
  • Q. What is the ideal stockroom size?
  • ‘It’s been fun’: Hospital gift shop closing doors after 70 yrs
  • List of Hospital Gift Shop Consultants
  • Job Openings
  • How are Sales? Retailers share year-end projections
  • Fall & holiday display planning
  • Hospital Gift Shop Roundtable
  • Gift Market Calendar

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


Discussions have moved to the Hospital Gift Shops group on Facebook


300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | August 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


AUGUST 15, 2024

UF Health Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL

A Thanksgiving Tree

A hospital gift shop is the perfect place for a Thanksgiving Tree. Many of your customers may be facing challenges. Or carrying a lot of baggage. Patients, their families, brave doctors, and tired nurses. The HGS is often a place of respite and relief. They’ll be thankful for a place to “unload”, find reprieve, celebrate a victory, or thank a professional.

How does it work? Customers write “I’m thankful for” messages on the leaves and post them on the tree. This idea is a fun, interactive wall or store window.

Be sure to post photos of your tree on social media of messages mentioning specific medical staff. “Thank you Dr. Jones for fixing my broken leg. Love, Joey”.

Try it year around on other holidays or make it a quarterly event. Consider incorporating the tree into your rotating displays so you don’t have to remove it.

There are several DIY methods for making a tree design. A removable peel-&-stick wall decal, window cling decals, a fabric cloth, metal wall art. Short on space? Place several smaller trees around the shop.

There is always something to be thankful for….especially at a hospital.

DIY wall tree
Table-top trees, Finehomedisplays.com
Metal tree sculpture, Amazon
Fabric tree, Amazon
Sticky note leafs, Etsy

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SPONSOR

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Be Delighted

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– Exceptional savings
– Retail Education
– Trend Reports
– Community & Connection
– Exclusive events
Experience wholesale buying as it should be: thoughtful, inspiring & effortlessly simple. Let’s grow your business together!

memberteam@purchasingpowerplus.net • 407-268-4444 • purchasingpowerplus.com


Q. What is the ideal stockroom size?

Q. What is your stockroom sq ft compared to retail square footage? We are looking for some kind of benchmark. I know there are many other factors which include; current retail and sales per sq foot, bed count, and employee count. We have two locations with the possibility to remodel or move and I would LOVE to have some hospital-specific data to for my requested layout. Thanks for continuing to support hospital gift shop managers. – Anne Sutton, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Gift Shops, Cincinnati, OH 7/30/24

What size is your stockroom sq ft compared to your retail sq ft? Provide both your stockroom and retail space. We’ll report back next month. Comment below.

What size is your stockroom sq ft versus your retail square footage?

Do your part and leave a comment here or enter it at the bottom of the newsletter.

Thank you!

FROM CINDY

Stockrooms do not generate sales. Prioritize the sales floor sq ft because that’s where your shop makes money. Determine this and work backwards from there. What is your target for Sales Per Sq Ft and does it align with benchmarks. Then what is the minimum square feet of storage required to hit Sales Per Sq Ft, calculating in-shop storage as well (drawers, backoffice, etc.) Since stockrooms don’t make money they need to be very efficient. You could consult a planner to design a space-saving layout for your stockroom design. They will help you build an efficient storage plan using less square feet. Ask other shop managers to share their designs. We generally don’t recommend using bed count or employee count to help you determine the size of your stockroom, assuming no unusual space allocations. 

Providing adequate on-floor inventory to reduce the amount of relatively expensive stockroom space is perhaps the biggest problem in developing retail space. For you to accomplish this, the design plan includes shelves and hanging bars to limit the stockroom’s use of space to 15–20% of the overall area. – Lily Stamets, Hospital Gift Shop Consultant

Ours is 1/2 the size of our shop space. We are housing products in the director’s office. – Ann Bergmann, Cumberland Healthcare, Cumberland, WI. 25 beds

Our shop is 415 sq ft, with a back room of 96 sq ft and our store room is 119 sq ft Never enough space! 😉 – Vesta Smith, Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, The Dalles, OR. 49 beds

1/3 the size – Loretta White

We have a very small storage room (2 boutique locations). We have to use our office space to store some inventory. The storage space we do have is located in the “old wing” of the hospital about a 10 minute walk one way. – Kate Ellwood

The Stanford Health Care Gift Shop has a warehouse that occupies 5,000 sq ft. The main hospital (600 beds) gift shop is 3,000 sq ft and the women’s cancer center boutique is 400 sq ft. We also have an online store and orders are fulfilled from the warehouse. We currently ship to residential addresses within CA only and offer in-store pick up at the warehouse or gift shop as they are located in different cities. – Jordan Alvarez, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA. 600 beds

Mine is about 1/2 the size due to a walk-in cooler. Once used for flowers now used for cold drinks. – Tricia Rochman, MHC Pink Geranium, Carbondale, IL. 155 beds

I’d love to swap the two–my stockroom is at least three times the size of my retail space, but because of their respective areas in the hospital (and the fact that the storage room is essentially a concrete bunker), it would never work. – Kevin McClurg

We have an old radiology room. Always cold because the walls are concrete. Lol – Nancy Williams

Our gift shop is 1000 sq ft and our storeroom is 110 sq ft. That is a good size for the storeroom, as it is just out of past season merchandise and various display materials. Everything that is current season is kept in the gift shop, too easy to forget what you have to sell, if you can’t see it. Our storeroom is one floor below, so it’s convenient also. – Mary Robinson, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, MN. 151 beds. 8/21/2024

Our retail space is 950 sq ft and our storage space is 204 sq ft. – Andie Kirchner, Spartanburg Medical Center, Spartanburg, SC. 500 beds. 8/21/2024

Our retail space is 270 square feet. Storage space is about the same. Not a lot of room! – Peter Waugh, Memorial Hospital, North Conway, NH. 8/21/2024. 25 beds

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


‘It’s been fun’: Hospital gift shop closing doors after 70 yrs

NEW BRUNSWICK Aug 3, 2024

Dwindling nurses’ auxiliary membership factors in decision to close the gift shop at The Moncton Hospital

After 68 years raising money for health-care causes, a hospital gift shop run by the Moncton Hospital Nurses’ Healthcare Auxiliary will close its doors. The group, formed in 1940 by retired or semi-retired nurses, opened the gift shop in 1956.

Gisèle Riley, gift shop manager and member of the auxiliary since 2002, says it has changed a lot in that time. “In 1956, it was a small canteen, and it was selling cigarettes and candy, just little snack items, and it morphed into this shop,” Riley said. “This shop was renovated in about 2005 to what it is today.” Now, Riley said, the space has evolved into much more.

She said people describe it as a reprieve from the stressful hospital atmosphere. “I’ve often witnessed this myself, that visitors will come in, patients will come in, even in wheelchairs, the staff will come in. Sometimes they’re just looking around to get a little break from whatever it is they’re dealing with,” she said. “Be it sick patients, be it visiting a sick patient, be it just coming in for tests. They always come in and say, ‘Oh, it’s so nice to come in here. I can forget what’s going on outside.'”

Sale proceeds from that business went to a variety of health-care needs over the years, Riley said, and totaled about $2.5 million. The group contributed to hospital fundraising for new equipment, continuing education for nurses, the tissue bank, covering travel expenses for patients, and more.

But a dwindling membership left the auxiliary with little option but to close.

“We have agonized over this for the last two years, and hoping we would get some new members,” said Riley. “We did get a couple of new members a few years back, but not enough to really fill in the gaps and take over the businesses.” The auxiliary itself will also be shutting down, along with its hair salon and vendors table.

Membership was as high as 30, Riley said, but has now fallen below 20 — with members ranging in age from 70 to 104.

In a statement, Jeff Carter, Horizon’s vice-president of operations, and Julie Thebeau, communications director for Friends of the Moncton Hospital Foundation, thanked the group for their decades of contributions. “For nearly 85 years, this non-profit, volunteer-driven organization has contributed greatly to the fabric of the Moncton Hospital, and this includes their remarkable work with the gift shop,” the statement said.

“Horizon and the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation are working collaboratively on a modern vision for the future state of the hospital lobby space, and we look forward to sharing more on this exciting initiative as details are finalized in the months ahead.”

Planned renovations to the Moncton Hospital’s lobby will begin in January, and the gift shop will close in September.

As the store shelves grow emptier, and store operations wind down, Riley says she feels a sense of pride.

“We’re, I’d say, very quiet and unassuming. We don’t go out and shout about our accomplishments, but … we can close and be very proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years,” she said. “We’re a very dedicated group of women — smart women spending the time and the effort to make this happen.”


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


Which POS has the best support?

Q. We are looking at a new POS register system and need cold hard truths please! 1) When you need support, how long before it is fixed or resolved? 2) How often do you need to call? 3) How good is support? Our current one, which I hope they can just upgrade since it is wonderful, is fixed usually within 20 min. Never any issues. We use GemPay for staff purchases. – Tricia Rochman, MHC Pink Geranium, Carbondale, IL. 155 beds. 6/20/24

We are a larger hospital, but the Unity Point system gift shop mostly use NCR CounterPoint from i3 Verticals in Michigan. They have gotten much better about fixing things quickly. It’s easy for volunteers to understand. Our Payroll and credit card processes are all incorporated in the system, we used to have 3 separate machines. It is pricey though. – Noelle B, St. Luke’s Floral & Gifts, Cedar Rapids. 540 beds. 

Our Gift Shops are on four different campuses in four different towns all with different managers. We have three on PSG POS and the fourth is converting now. When you call for support if you do not get a tech, they call back usually within a few minutes. They are also responsive to email in the event they are helping someone else. The system itself works great and has many reports available to you. Payroll works great on it!  – Ginger Taylor, Cox Health Systems, Springfield, MO. 7/23/2024. 1050 beds. 

We just received Square POS system (I wasn’t given a choice) I just finished all the programming of the inventory and now have to start training my 70- 80+ yr old volunteers that are scared to death of it. I am not thrilled with it. It doesn’t come with a way to do payroll deduction which I am getting back lash over from employees. It’s isn’t the easiest system to maneuver. And the training really to put as politely as possible, sucks! And it doesn’t come with a handbook. So I am trying to write as simple as I can instructions for my volunteers to follow because my main job at the hospital is the Admin assistant and Physician Credentialer that takes up 40 hrs. a week so it isn’t an option to sit in the gift shop for if the volunteers have issues. I honestly wish they had given me a couple options and let me research them prior to them just picking one. – Deanna Mehlenbacher, Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital, Bath, NY. 7/18/2024

We use Quickcharge from Transact (acquired from MM Hayes).  We learned about them here in this newsletter. In the beginning they worked with our Hospital IT department to get things set up and our IT was very complimentary of the process. We haven’t had very many support issues but but when we do they have been very responsive and the support team is very knowledgeable. You can reach out to them and start a ticket right from the register. – Judi Stallings,UNM Hospital Gift Shop, Albuquerque, NM. 620 beds. 7/17/2024

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Markups standards

Should we consider pricing our merchandise a bit over the standard? When product comes in ticketed with Manufacturers Suggested Price (MSP), do you try to sell at those prices or do you re-ticket?  – Sarah

STANDARD MARKUPS BY CATEGORY

JewelryFlowersCandy & sundries
60-70% markup
🎯 Cost x 2.4 or more
**Most jewelry comes pre-priced.
33-35% markup
🎯 Cost x 1.5 or more
30-33% markup
🎯 Cost x 1.4 or more
**Higher for specialty candy
Gifts, toys, apparel, cards, plush, baby, accessories
Double + 6-10% for shipping
🎯 Cost x 2.5 or more
Think twice about ordering heavy items that cost a lot to ship. Always take a higher markup when an item warrants it. Ask for a shipping cap of 20% on your orders. Ask your reps for freight allowances. Consider the shippers location. Mention to reps no back orders. Watch for high handling fees. Avoid small, interim orders.
ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

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A “Volunteer Friendly” NCR Point of Sale solution
for hospital gift shops. Easy to learn! Easy to use!
Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


Job Openings

Gift Shop Coordinator ($16.89 – $20.06/hr)
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

Supervisor, Gift Shop ($48.5K – $58K)
U of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Cntr, Houston, TX

Gift Shop Manager (part-time)
Mayo Clinic Health System, Jacksonville, FL

Gift Shop Manager ($66.5K – $75K)
Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation, Arcadia, CA

Gift Shop Assistant Manager ($51.4K – $85K)
UT Medical Center, Knoxville, TN

E-commerce Gift Shop Manager ($34 – $49/hr CAD)
Vancouver Coastal Health, Canada

Director of Gift Shop ($40.6K – $51.4K)
Neshoba General, Philadelphia, MS

Assistant Gift Shop Manager ($18.50/hr)
Cloverkey Shop, Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL

Gift Shop Assistant
Kettering Medical Center Network, Kettering, OH

Volunteer & Gift Shop Coordinator
VCU Health System, Tappahannock, VA

Gift Shop Manager ($60K – $80K)
Lola Gift Shop, San Francisco, CA

Manager, Volunteer Services & Gift Shop
Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!


How are sales? Retailers share year-end projections

SmartRetailer / Aug 2024

Independent retailers throughout the country say inflation, interest rates, and an upcoming presidential election are affecting sales at their stores.

“Having been in retail for 45+ years, I have seen and experienced a lot. This year, I will be cautious but hopefully not to a fault,” said Oscar La Vine. “I carry high inventory in my stores. This year, I plan to sell down on the inventory and reorder on my strongest-selling product lines.” La Vine owns Celebrate Door County in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. The store offers clothing, gifts, souvenirs, pottery, candy, and food items.

“I have always felt that when an election year comes around, people tend to be a little more cautious in their spending,” La Vine said. “We will get through this year with a few hiccups — holding on tight and giving attention to detail, so that we survive whatever we are going through and will look ahead to 2025 as a year to straighten some of these factors out and lead us down a smooth highway going forward.” …read more


It’s here! Well, right around the corner. Are you ready for the biggest quarter of the year?

✔️ Begin holiday marketing and event planning now

✔️ Finish Fall and holiday apparel buying (sweatshirts, sweaters, warm-ups). Begin spring ladies apparel
buying. 🍁

✔️ It is definitely NOT too early to put out your fall merchandise.

✔️ Clean out storage areas for fall and holiday deliveries

Photo: Courtesy of Retail Details


Hospital Gift Shop Roundtable

Join the HGS Virtual Gatherings over Zoom, hosted by Lilly Stamets, Owner of Premier Retail Consulting and Retail Subject Matter Expert for the California Association of Hospital and Healthcare Systems.

📅 When: Monthly on Wednesdays

What to Expect:

Safe Space: An exclusive and secure environment for all gift shop professionals.
Attendees: Connect with new and seasoned buyers, managers, supervisors, and volunteers.
Purpose: Ask questions, share insights, get answers, or simply vent – it’s your space!

Important Notes:

Invitation-Only: By invitation only, ensuring a curated and comfortable environment.
Exclusions: No vendors, hospital leadership, or publications – just a community of gift shop professionals.
Access: We meet online using Zoom!

Contact Lilly at lilly@lillystamets.com or lstamets@gmail.com to join.


UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

SEPTEMBER
Sep 2 – Labor Day
Sep 8 – Star Trek Day 🖖🏼
Sep 9 – Grandparent’s Day
Sep 22 – First Day of Fall 🍁
Sep 25 – National Lobster Day 🦞
OCTOBER
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Oct 11 – Yom Kippur begins
Oct 13 – No Bra Day 🤣
Oct 14 – Columbus Day
Oct 16 – Boss’s Day
Oct 19 – Sweetest Day
Oct 31 – Halloween
NOVEMBER
Nov 5 – Election Day
Nov 11 – Veterans Day
Nov 13 – World Kindness Day
Nov 28 – Thanksgiving 🌽🍁🌾
Nov 29 – Black Friday
Nov 27 – Cyber Monday
Nov 30 – Small Biz Saturday

SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


List of Hospital Gift Shop Consultants

After retiring from consulting we still get a lot of requests for help. Here is a list of other Hospital Gift Shop Consultants to explore. Please note that this list is provided as a courtesy. We do not necessarily endorse or recommend any specific consultant on this list. We encourage you to conduct your own research and due diligence when selecting a consultant that best meets your needs.

Who are some of the consultants you’ve used? We’d love to add them to the list.

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Cancer awareness merchandise

We gathered some of the most popular recommendations for cancer awareness products from our readers. Join the Hospital Gift Shops Group on Facebook for more!

Fundraising for a Cause has a great product array for all types of cancers

We gathered some of the most popular recommendations for cancer awareness products from our readers. Join the Hospital Gift Shops Group on Facebook for more!

fundraisingforacause.com

Choose Hope is a great cancer awareness product company with a large assortment.

choosehope.com

Faire always has a large selection of cancer awareness products at wholesale.

faire.com


JULY 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #654
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • High School volunteer program at Strong Memorial
  • Setting your shop hours
  • How to display all those stickers!
  • Which POS has the best support?
  • “Shop Local” at the Hospital Gift Shop
  • July Action Plan
  • Display Tip: Shower Curtains
  • The J Months
  • A. Girl Scout Cookie booth
  • Gift Market Calendar

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


Discussions have moved to the Hospital Gift Shops group on Facebook


300+ members
Advice, inspiration, product best sellers
Private and vetted membership
Hospital gift shop professionals only!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | July 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


JULY 15, 2024

Children’s Hospital, Akron, OH

High School volunteer program at Strong Memorial

From The Best of Friends Blog / Jul 2024

The Summer High School Volunteer Program began soon after Friends of Strong became an official organization in 1975. We have recruited many incredibly talented students over the years. At program inception, we were hosting 20-25 students per summer. Our peak was in 2019 with a record 357 students. Post-COVID, we are slowly climbing our way back up to that goal. This year, we placed 107 volunteers across 13 total departments.

Aislinn Sexton, the Friends of Strong Senior Volunteer Services Specialist, welcomes this year’s amazing cohort of high schoolers, saying, “We are so excited to host high school student volunteers again this year. I am excited for everyone to enjoy what could be their first experience in a health care setting. I also want to thank all our departments and supervisors that help make this program a success!”

Students get to select a department where they will support staff, help provide an exceptional health care experience for patients, and learn the intricacies of working in a healthcare environment. Over the course of eight weeks, each high schooler (ages 14-18) volunteers once a week, adding up to a minimum of 30 hours supporting patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) initiatives in their chosen area of service.

Prior to starting, each one completes all hospital-mandated training, including HIPAA training, meeting all hospital requirements for working with patients, as well as all proper health screenings. Each student also gets a university volunteer ID badge to identify them to visitors and patients. In many ways, these volunteers become an integral part of our community here at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Our highly sought-after program is popular among parents – some of whom also served in the program as high schoolers or during college. The program helps students decide whether healthcare is the right path for them.

This program continues to inspire countless students and participating families to pursue the selfless act of volunteering for many years. Carly Chapman is a returning high school volunteer who has been heavily influenced by her experience volunteering in 2023 in the Hall of Justice. She is excited to be back this year to work with the Pediatric Physical Therapy Department.

Read more…

SOURCE: The Best of Friends Blog 


SPONSOR

Purchasing Power Plus
Be Delighted

Join our vibrant retail community & step into the future of wholesale buying with Purchasing Power Plus. Supporting healthcare gift shops nationwide with:
– Exceptional savings
– Retail Education
– Trend Reports
– Community & Connection
– Exclusive events
Experience wholesale buying as it should be: thoughtful, inspiring & effortlessly simple. Let’s grow your business together!

memberteam@purchasingpowerplus.net • 407-268-4444 • purchasingpowerplus.com


How do your shop hours compare

One of the top contributors in the Facebook Group (Hospital Gift Shops) asked a great question on setting a shop’s open hours. Here is her question and some of the many responses. Thanks Tricia! Your posts are always so insightful for everyone.

Q. What are your shop’s hours? We have a combo of paid and volunteer for ours. We have 2 full-time paid and 5 college students who divide up the afternoon, evening and weekends. I have volunteers who run the store from 9:00am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Our hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am – 11:30pm. Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am – 8:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 11:00am – 4:00pm. -Tricia R.

20 COMMENTS

The Facebook Group is a private community of gift shop professionals.
Some comments and names have been edited for member privacy.

FROM CINDY

Shop hours are crucial to a shop’s success. Post shop hours at the entrance of the shop the Patient Handbook, New Employee Manual and other regular hospital publications. Post them around the hospital as well, like the cafeteria, HR office, pharmacy and anywhere staff visit frequently. Ensure that shop hours are maintained with no interruption of service. Hospital gift shops have a potential customer each hour of the day 365 days a year! There is often a scarcity of volunteers to work evenings and weekends. Part-time paid employees may be needed for those shifts.  🎯 TIP: Open the shop 7:00am on  payday (usually Friday), especially through the holidays in November and December!- Cindy Jones

Our Main Campus is Monday-Thursday 8:30-4:30, Friday 7a-7p, Saturday/Sunday 9-4. Our second campus is Monday-Friday 9am-3pm. We have 2 full time, 5 PRN, and 1 full time floral designer plus me, I am salaried – Andie H  

We are open 8-5 Monday thru Friday but our sister store that has the ED is Monday thru Friday 8-5 and Saturday 8-12. You need to look at your trends. When are you the busiest and when are you slow. Track it for a couple months and see it may help. We can not have volunteers alone in store, there has to be paid staff with them. – Jennifer A

We are open M-F 9am to 7:30pm, Saturday is 10-7:30 and Sunday 12-6pm. We have volunteers M-Fand every other Saturday during the day. We have 2 full time staff, 2 part time and 1 casual – Julie A

We are Mon to Fri 9-6 and Saturday 9-2. We have paid staff and volunteers. – Nancy Williams

We are open M-F 10am-4pm. No weekends. I try and open once a month for a couple of hours for the night shift. I am the only full time employee. I have one PT employee and 2 volunteers. Our hospital is rural with less than 100 beds. – Dawn S

Our is strictly run by volunteers. Along with managing the volunteers and gift shop, my full time position at the hospital is admin assistant and physician credentialing. I have volunteers, Tuesday 10-1 and 1-4, Wed 10-1, Thurs 10-1 and I cover Fri 10-1. Plus staff knows if they want or need something they come and get me and I let them in to get what they want. I get in at 6:00 am Mon -Fri.  – Deanna L

We are open M-F 9a-7p, Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5. All staffed by paid employees. I’m curious what kind of sales you get between 8pm and 1130pm?  – Whitney

We do pretty good between those hours. We add another $500 – $700 depending on what the café is serving – Tricia E
We only do it once a month so it is usually very busy for us. – Dawn S

We are open 9-5:30, M-F 9-1on weekends. We open at 7am on our staff discount day . We are 2 full time, 2 part time paid staff and 5 volunteers. We used to be open later hours but the sales didn’t support it. – Karla G

We are open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm. Closed on the weekends. We have 2 stores, a warehouse, and an online website. We have a mixed team of 12 full time, part time, and contracted team members. We sometimes have volunteers but do not count those in on our total head count. – Jordan A

We are open M-F from 9 am – 7 pm. We try to open on the weekends from 10-2 but that is dependent on if we can get volunteers. Our volunteers fully staff our shop. We have a PT Coordinator but her role is more focused on purchasing, inventory management and some admin support. I’m the only FT staff member but I oversee the volunteer program, gift shop, coffee cove and auxiliary so my time focused on the Gift Shop is limited. We are a smaller 189 bed facility. – Megan C

Our gift shop is all volunteers. Mon, Tues, Wed – 9am -5pm. Thurs- 9am-8pm. Fri -11am-5pm (only because there is no volunteer for 9-11 at this time). We began opening until 8 on Thursdays about 2-3 months ago. Most nights we have taken in an extra $300 to $500. The main reason we do it is to accommodate our evening employees and off site employees. –Barbara H

The Gift Shop is open M-F from 8am – 8pm. Saturday from 9am-4:30pm and Sunday 10am-4:30pm. We have a mixture of volunteers and paid staff. We have a paid staff person on every shift. Sunday is a little slow, about $800, yet after taking out the COGS and staff pay we still come out close to breakeven around $700. – JD M

We are a small shop and totally staffed by volunteers. We have no paid staff. I am the shop Manager and Buyer. We used to be open 10 am – 4 pm until covid took so many of our volunteers. Now we are so short staffed that we can only open 10 am until 2 pm Monday through Friday. I would like to go back to the 4 pm close but need more staff first. – Susan K

Summary of hours from reader comments:

Weekday Opening HoursWeekday Closing Hours
8:00 AM and 9:00 AM4:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Weekend Opening HoursWeekend Closing Hours
9:00 AM and 12:00 PM2:00 PM and 5:00 PM

Observations:

  • Main Campus Shops: Typically have longer hours during weekdays compared to weekends.
  • Second Campus, Sister Stores, or Volunteer-Run Shops: Often have reduced hours compared to main campuses.
  • Paid Staff Shops: Tend to have more consistent and longer hours of operation.
  • Rural Hospitals: Often have limited hours and staffing due to smaller patient volume.

…read more comments in the Hospital Gift Shops community


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Search articles on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


Which POS has the best support?

Q. We are looking at a new POS register system and need cold hard truths please! 1) When you need support, how long before it is fixed or resolved? 2) How often do you need to call? 3) How good is support? Our current one, which I hope they can just upgrade since it is wonderful, is fixed usually within 20 min. Never any issues. We use GemPay for staff purchases. – Tricia Rochman, MHC Pink Geranium, Carbondale, IL. 155 beds. 6/20/24

We are a larger hospital, but the Unity Point system gift shop mostly use NCR CounterPoint. i3 verticals formerly Randall Data in Michigan. They have gotten much better about fixing things quickly. It’s easy for volunteers to understand. Our Payroll and credit card processes are all incorporated in the system, we used to have 3 separate machines. It is pricey though. – Noelle B, St. Luke’s Floral & Gifts, Cedar Rapids. 540 beds. 

How is the support and customer service from your POS? Response time, problem solving, frequency of calls? Note which POS you use too. Comment below or on the Facebook Group for Hospital Gift Shops!

Which POS has the best customer support?

Do your part and leave a comment here or enter it at the bottom of the newsletter.

Thank you!

Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


“Shop Local” at the Hospital Gift Shop

Don’t forget, your hospital gift shop is a “shop local” destination. Capitalize on this distinction. Make sure that city campaigns, events and communications include your shop. Reach out to the cities retail organizations who run special events like the city’s Economic Development Department, Main Street Program, and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to get on the list.

ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

i3 Verticals – NCR Point of Sale Solution

A “Volunteer Friendly” NCR Point of Sale solution
for hospital gift shops. Easy to learn! Easy to use!
Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


How to display all those stickers!

The standard tiered or spinner displays is great for organizing your stickers, but does it pop! It’s important to keep collections or multi-SKU merchandise neat and organized. The risk of displays appearing unkempt or cluttered is always present. Carousels are great for this. But, they are blasé and uninspiring. Here are some creative ideas from to elevate your sticker displays.

Remember to think “outside the box” and draw inspiration to create whimsical and fun displays with personality!

Here are some engaging props that make a great focal point for a table display:

Cover a small travel bag or suitcase
Picture frame, or mirror
Old glass window
Musical instruments
Display stickers on water bottles strung together and hung above the stickers collected in bowls, baskets, buckets, boxes or bins.

SOURCE: Retail Details


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!


July Action Plan

⏳ Buy

—  Order next year’s calendars and date books. 📆

—  Order a large stuffed animal for November delivery to raffle off during the Christmas holidays. 🧸

✂ Mark Down

— Be merciless with markdowns. Before you put your merchandise back on the shelf, consult your sales reports. Each product should have to justify its existence coming into the Fall and if it doesn’t make the grade, add it to your Labor Day sale pile.

🧸 Display

— Create some humorous and engaging displays with related merchandise for these July holidays: Dog Days of Summer, International Joke Day, National Ice Cream Month, International Kissing Day, Chocolate Day, National Picnic Month, National Apple Turnover Day, National Bikini Day, National Blueberry Month, National Hot Dog Month.

📝 Plan

—  A prosperous holiday season takes planning and time. When you have an abundance of time like during the hot months of summer, use it to put your plan in action.

—  Work on Fall merchandise and display plans.

—  Thoroughly clean and organize the shop and stockroom while business is slow. We’re talking about down to the fixtures here. Remove every box, bag or tag. Sweep or mop every floor surface. Get your carpets cleaned. The whole goal is to look as new as possible. Repair, repaint and relight. Once everything is clean, you will notice the chipped paint, the broken furniture, the yellowed signage. Customers notice
these things! 🧹

—  Now is the time to take markdowns and get rid of old merchandise.

—  Take mid-year physical inventory to determine your in-stock position.

—  This is also a good time to take an inventory of your wrapping supplies. Order enough tissue and bags to last through the holidays. 🛍

—  The holiday merchandise you ordered in January should begin arriving.


Shower curtains make great display backdrops! 🎯

Shower curtains are cheap and come in endless colors, styles, are versatile, durable and inexpensive. Use them as display backdrops, to cover an unsightly area, or create create display pods or “rooms” in your shop. Bonus, they already have holes!

Thanks to Becky at Retail Details for this great tip!


The J Months

Do you cringe when you think about the “J” months; January, June, July. These are typically slow months for sales.

Get your creative juices going and make plans for various promotional events to boost sales in your shop during the dreaded ‘J’ months. Each newsletter’s section on Upcoming Holidays (see below) also include fun holidays that you can plan events around like Pina Colada Day 🍹, Book Lovers Day 📖 and Cat Day 🐈‍⬛.

Set up a calendar for special events and window displays. Take notes to the market so that you can buy product to support these plans.

Keep in mind that the ‘J’ months are also the best months to conduct a shop renovation since traffic is slow.


UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

AUGUST
…fill the slow season with fun events!
Aug 3 – Ntn’l Watermelon Day 🍉
Aug 8 – Intn’l Cat Day 😻
Aug 9 – Book Lovers Day
Aug 15 – Ntn’l Relaxation Day 🛀🏽
Aug 21 – Senior Citizens Day
Back-to-School Begins
SEPTEMBER
Sep 2 – Labor Day
Sep 8 – Star Trek Day 🖖🏼
Sep 9 – Grandparent’s Day
Sep 22 – First Day of Fall 🍁
Sep 25 – National Lobster Day 🦞
OCTOBER
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Oct 11 – Yom Kippur begins
Oct 13 – No Bra Day 🤣
Oct 14 – Columbus Day
Oct 16 – Boss’s Day
Oct 19 – Sweetest Day
Oct 31 – Halloween

SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


A. Girl Scout Cookie booth

Q. We had the idea to setup a Girl Scout cookie booth outside the gift shop. We saw this article about a booth at Karmanos. Is there any reason we can’t do this?

I would be agreeable to it, but it will also have the potential to “open the door” for other groups to ask to do the same. – Peter Waugh, Memorial Hospital – Volunteer Services, North Conway, NH 7/17/24

Our hospital policy is no outside sale group allowed – Tricia Rochman, Pink Geranium Gift Shop, Carbondale. 154 beds 7/24/24

We allow it if they donate a portion of their sales to the Auxiliary. – Ali McCrary, Good Samaritan Gift Shop, Vincennes. 158 beds. 7/24/24

That is what our hospital also does. Some companies are only 10%-15% which if they need assistance from gift shop is not worth it. – Noelle D Boardman, St. Luke’s Floral & Gifts, Cedar Rapids. 548 beds 7/27/24

I’m curious why they would need gift shop assistance? Our volunteers run our badge reader for us, so it’s not a cost to my department when we have these. – Ali McCrary, Good Samaritan Gift Shop, Vincennes. 158 beds. 7/24/24

Our special sales are auxiliary events and our auxiliary members don’t participate often. Only gift shop volunteers know how to run the payroll system and we barely have enough to cover the shop itself. We had a company come in and needed bags and for us to enter all the payroll. We did speak to them after the fact and let them know. When they wanted to come back we let them know we would only provide payroll deduct forms. They needed to have supplies and their own staff support. The sales person that came the first time was very lazy and gift shop staff ended up doing a good portion of the work trying to make it a success. Our net profit was only a few hundred dollars for a 2 day event. We have a local popcorn company that dropped off product daily, we ran the sale, they only billed for the items sold and we made 30%. Net profit with that sale was a couple thousand for a 2 day event, worth the effort we put in. Noelle D Boardman, St. Luke’s Floral & Gifts, Cedar Rapids. 548 beds 7/27/24

Good point from the earlier commenter on opening the door to other groups. If you do go ahead, establish parameters to keep the askers in check. (Only youth groups, limit to one group a quarter, etc.) – Jil Cofer. 7/17/24

To share your comments on Girl Scout Cookie booths here

Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


JUNE 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #653
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • The hospital gift shop: A place of refuge & respite
  • Ideas for displaying long necklaces
  • Medical humor magnets
  • Visual merchandising
  • Learn which tools work best to design displays
  • The Guide 2024 from Gift Shop Plus
  • When they ask, “How’s business?”
  • Girl Scout Cookie booth
  • Gift Market Calendar

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


Discussions are happening now in
the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook group!


Over 280 members
Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods
Private and vetted members
Hospital gift shop professionals ONLY!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | June 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


JUNE 15, 2024

Sacred Heart Hospital, Port St. Joe, FL
Sacred Heart Hospital, Port Saint Joe, FL

The hospital gift shop: A place of refuge & respite

Never doubt what you do and the immeasurable impact your gift shop has on your hospital community!

My career in medicine is always introducing me to new emotional experiences, but nothing will ever make me feel the way I do when I walk into a hospital gift shop. It’s like stepping through an interdimensional portal; the frenetic, anxious atmosphere of the hospital gives way to the anodyne hum of small-stakes commerce so seamlessly it’s almost jarring.

When I enter the gift shop, I’m suddenly in a world where I never have to hear bed alarms or overhead code blue announcements – only the soft rock offerings of 93.9 LiteFM. Tubes of every Pringles flavor climb the walls like ivy and nobody’s talking about vital signs. I can take in a deep, carefree breath of air that smells like greeting cards and tell myself that in this moment there are no major medical decisions to be made; I’m just a guy on a little errand. – Ben Goldenberg, internist and infectious diseases fellow

When things became overwhelming, I, too, sought the parallel universe of the hospital gift shop. The hospital lobby was a wormhole, a gateway to a clean, quiet, fresh, and shiny world. At its center was the refuge, the gift shop.

I remember low-pitched voices and elevator music; the rustling of wrapping paper. Colorful cut blooms dancing in fancy vases with fresh floral arrangements safe behind glass doors—the calming scent of candles and soaps—rose, eucalyptus, lemon. And the gift of chocolate. High-quality candy not stale from a vending machine. The excuse I gave to “run down to the gift shop.”

This world was not my home, and I knew that I was needed elsewhere, back in the chaos to do my best to help the sick, the injured, and the mentally disturbed. So I gobbled my chocolate and walked away, knowing this place would always be there. – Maureen Hirthler, retired physician

SOURCE: Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine


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Ideas for displaying long necklaces

We are loving the information coming out of Retail Details by Becky Tyre. Her emails are full of quick tips and ideas that are actionable and practical in terms of implementation. Subscribe here and click through to her website. Here are a few recent ones that we found helpful.

“At the beginning of June, I posted a request on social media asking you to fill-in-the-blank: I need ideas for displaying _____ in my store. Several retailers requested ideas for displaying long necklaces. I know that most traditional necklace display racks are not tall enough, so I searched my display archives and resources and I am happy to share!

“Robyn Code from Sum Girls Boutique in Berkeley Michigan commented on my Instagram post that she added hooks to a ladder and uses that for long necklaces. Such a great idea!

SOURE: Retail Details


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search over 4 years of articles in the Newsletter Archive.

Find information on inventory control, POS software, volunteer management, online ecommerce software, sale and event suggestions, formulas for calculating shop performance, what are other shops selling and more.

It is full of valuable information and reader comments to help you run your shop.


Medical humor magnets

These are really funny magnets with a medical twist from I Heart Guts. Place in a basket next to the register. Feature them in your hospital newsletter to draw in customers from the medical community. They also come in buttons and a variety pack.

ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

i3 Verticals – NCR Point of Sale Solution

A “Volunteer Friendly” NCR Point of Sale solution
for hospital gift shops. Easy to learn! Easy to use!
Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


Visual merchandising

The key to effective table displays is layering and varying heights. Use a main table with ancillary tables on top and below. Piece it together with end tables (or nightstands), a coffee table, or piano bench, stools, creates, or a stack of books. Keep it ‘homely’ and try to avoid standard display fixtures that are uninspiring. Also, note the off-center table placement,

SOURCE: Retail Details


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!


Learn which tools work best to design displays

It happens to each of us at one point or another. You see items beautifully laid out and displayed within reach but wonder if it is OK to scoop up those napkin rings that are holding those napkins oh-so stylishly.

Doing so might make a mess. But where are those napkin rings? Shopping is supposed to be fun — not a frustrating scavenger hunt.

A tempting, mouth-watering display of props and merchandise is laid out in the way you might want to utilize them, but a search of the immediate area does not reveal the product. This crosses the line between tempting and teasing.

Tempting the customer? That is the goal. Teasing them? That is self-defeating.

LastingLite Emporium, Berne, IN

In my opinion, this is more of an issue with displaying hardlines (tabletop, linens, decorative accessories) versus fashion and softlines. When displaying clothing that includes the use of fashion accessories (scarves, jewelry, bags), it is understood that the customer will find those items in their respective departments, not directly adjacent. Read more…

SOURCE: Smart Retailer


The Guide 2024 from Gift Shop Plus is now available.

It’s full of trending products, tips, and quick buy links.


from Retail Details / May 20 2024

How to handle the “How’s Business?” question from customers. Customers often ask “how’s business?” as a way to make conversation. It is usually a friendly way for customers to engage with the business owner or employees. But sometimes customers are genuinely interested in the success of your business because they value the products or services you provide, they like you and want to see you thrive.

In either case, the answer should always be positive! The fact is that people want to do business with successful businesses and people do not want to buy from you if they are worried that you going out of business.

I’m not telling you to lie; just to find something positive to say. For instance, even if summer is your slowest time and business sucks, you can say: “It’s summer, but our local customers keep us going.” or divert the conversation with something like: “It’s nice to be able to spend time catering to our locals during the week.” Both of these examples emphasize the local angle and may encourage the “asker” to make a purchase more than attempting to guilt them into a purchase with a negative answer.

The exception is when your sales reps ask. You should be honest with them, so they can help you find high-margin items. After all, it behooves them for you to stay in business.

The other exception is me ;-) When I ask, (which is never in front of customers) it’s because I truly care about your business, can offer suggestions or simply lend a friendly ear when you need to vent.

Have a great positive response to share? Leave it in the comments so other retailers can see it. Need more suggestions? Let me know. And please share your “positive” answer ideas with your retail staff, too.

SOURCE: Retail Details


UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

JuLY
Jul 4 – Independence Day 🇺🇸
Jul 7 – World Chocolate Day
Jul 10 – Ntnl Pina Colada Day 🍹
Jul 14 – Ntn’l Mac & Cheese Day
Jul 26 – Summer Olympics Start 🏊🏼‍♀️
AUGUST
…fill the slow season with fun events!
Aug 3 – Ntn’l Watermelon Day 🍉
Aug 8 – Intn’l Cat Day 😻
Aug 9 – Book Lovers Day
Aug 15 – Ntn’l Relaxation Day 🛀🏽
Aug 21 – Senior Citizens Day
Back-to-School Begins
SEPTEMBER
Sep 2 – Labor Day
Sep 8 – Star Trek Day 🖖🏼
Sep 9 – Grandparent’s Day
Sep 22 – First Day of Fall 🍁
Sep 25 – National Lobster Day 🦞

SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


Girl Scout Cookie booth

Q. We had the idea to setup a Girl Scout cookie booth outside the gift shop. We saw this article about a booth at Karmanos. Is there any reason we can’t do this?

Comment below or on the Facebook Group for Hospital Gift Shops!

Don’t just take; give back!

Do your part and leave a comment here or enter it at the bottom of the newsletter.

Thank you!

Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


MAY 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #652
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • Friend or foe: External gift shop management company
  • Inspiring props for Spring/Summer displays
  • Pinch Me Therapy Dough
  • A great event idea: Progressive Sale Day
  • Volunteer appreciation: Surprise celebration of recognition
  • Q. ISO software for creating SOP manuals?
  • A favorite fundraiser: Chili Cook-Off
  • Retail inventory method: A how-to guide
  • Gift Market Calendar

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


DISCUSSION


Discussions are happening now in
the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook group!


Over 280 members
Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods
Private and vetted members
Hospital gift shop professionals ONLY!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | May 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


MAY 15, 2024

Mercy Hospital, St. Louis. MO

Friend or foe: External gift shop management company

Let’s tackle a controversial topic: full-service gift shop management companies. Several of these companies like Hydra Health, CloverKey, Nurture Gift Shops, and Lori’s are actively running hospital gift shops across the country. We’ve heard readers respond saying, “They are taking our jobs.” We’ve also heard, “They saved our gift shop from closing.” Sometimes, both situations can be true!

In March, we shared an article from Retail TouchPoints (Feb 2024) about Hydra Health and their ‘acquisition’ of the shops at Geisinger Henry Cancer Center in Wilkes-Barre and Penn Hospital in Philadelphia. If you missed it, here’s the article. The article has stirred up discussion around its content and the nature of said companies, rightly so.

Here’s one valuable perspective from a manager at an Albuquerque shop:

“I just finished reading the article about Hydra Health and have to say I found it rather offensive. The article made several derogatory and quite frankly incorrect remarks about Hospital Gift Shops. I felt compelled to respond. At my hospital, the Gift Shops employ five full-time employees as well as a manager and assistant manager. We are all hospital employees. Our department falls under the division of support services, acknowledging the significant contribution we make to the staff, patients and visitors’ satisfaction. Not ‘insignificant”. My hospital is expanding with an additional 900,000 sf building and we are planning a beautiful new 1200 sf Gift Shop located in the center of the 1st floor lobby. Hardly an “afterthought”. Not sure where the author has visited a hospital Gift Shop but I have never been in one that didn’t carry “what people are actually looking for”. – Judi Stallings, UNM Hospital Gift Shop, Albuquerque, NM. 650 beds. 3/29/24

We appreciate this valuable comment. It’s always important to avoid generalizations as they can be misleading. For example, this part is far from the truth, “In typical gift shops, you see a lot of things behind glass display cases, but what people are usually looking for is some deodorant or even a hairbrush…” Shop managers strive every day to create a shopping experience that brings value to both staff, patients, and loved ones. The gift shop is often referred to as the hospital’s ‘family room’ providing invaluable tangible and intangible contributions to the medical community and patrons.

To be fair though, some hospital shops are indeed struggling for various reasons. So, what can we learn here? The article offers several insights to learn from, one being Hydra Health’s retail model. It also highlights that companies like HydraHealth, CloverKey, and Lori’s are poised to step in and manage shop operations, which can have both positive and negative consequences. Every situation is different.

We would like to hear from you on this. Are there positive outcomes where a shop was otherwise ‘saved’? Keep in mind, there are many variables at play in every situation. You can also comment privately on the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group

In case you’re wondering, why would we share this seemingly unsavory article? We always strive to present balanced content. Our goal is to bring you every aspect of HGS retailing, regardless of the angle. Knowledge is power, after all.


People like to buy from people they feel they know. You and your team are a huge part of your shop’s story, so leverage that asset. Put your best face forward out in your hospital or medical center. 

Cindy Jones, Editor


Inspiring props for Spring/Summer displays

Inflatable pool tubes and life preservers are lightweight and easy to suspend. It’s hard to make out in the image but this display has a series of banners hanging with affixed life preservers. They are decorated with rope and merchandise – hats, swimsuits, flowers, sunglasses, flipflops and small clutches. You can spray-paint them or use various colors of electrical and duct tape. Ropes add a nautical touch and provide a means to attach products and accessories to the props.

summer display.jpeg

Nothing says Spring more than umbrellas. Use a grouping like this display for a clever backdrop, or add a few to a table-top display. They can also be hung from the ceiling and filled with light-weight product to act as a shelf.

summer displays.jpg

By the way, we have no idea why this mannequin is naked! 😝


Pinch Me Therapy Dough

Hospitals can be stressful, so we’re always looking for products that ‘speak to’ our special customer base. GiftShopMag had a recent article on the maker of Pinch Me Therapy Dough, Nancy Rothner.

Pinch Me Dough is a scented, pliable compound designed to reduce stress. It’s a pliable, squishy dough compound that comes in a variety of scents and colors designed to evoke pleasant, calming emotions. Because people are drawn to different smells based on their life experiences and personal preferences, the company offers dozens of scents.

All ingredients have been tested and are safe and non-toxic, with the exception of a wheat component but the owner reports it doesn’t cause a reaction for gluten intolerant consumers. All products are made in-house at Pinch Me’s Delaware-based facility. 

They also sell Therapy Lockets, Therapy Bracelets and Pillow Sprays.

SOURCE: GiftShopMag

ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

i3 Verticals – NCR Point of Sale Solution

A “Volunteer Friendly” NCR Point of Sale solution
for hospital gift shops. Easy to learn! Easy to use!
Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


A great event idea: Progressive Sale Day

Progressive Sale Days in are a promotional strategy where the percentage discount offered on products increases incrementally throughout the day, vice versa depending on your goals. This approach is designed to create a sense of urgency and excitement among shoppers, encouraging them to make purchases at various times during the sale period. Here are the key elements of Progressive Sale Days:

  1. Time-Based Discounts: The central feature of Progressive Sale Days is that discounts increase as the day progresses. For example, early in the day, a store might offer a 10% discount, which could rise to 20% in the afternoon and 30% or more in the evening. The exact increments and timing can vary based on the retailer’s strategy. Less increments are sometimes more manageable and help to run the event more smoothly.
  2. Customer Engagement: Varying discounts over the course of the day keeps customers engaged and interested. Shoppers may visit multiple times or monitor the sale closely to take advantage of the best deals, leading to increased traffic and potential sales.
  3. Inventory Management: Progressive Sale Days can help move slower-selling items, while higher discounts later in the day can clear out remaining stock.
  4. Marketing and Promotion: Effective communication is crucial for Progressive Sale Days. Use crystal clear language on your advertising channels such as social media, email newsletters, in-store signage, and their websites. This ensures customers are aware of the changing discounts and can plan their shopping accordingly.
  5. Psychological Impact: The structure of Progressive Sale Days leverage the concepts of scarcity and urgency. As discounts become more significant, the fear of missing out (FOMO) can drive customers to make purchases before the best deals are gone.
  6. Customer Experience: To maximize your Progressive Sale Days, provide clear information about discount timings, and maintaining smooth checkout processes. Make sure your staff are sufficiently informed, as well.

Night Shift Staff

Hold a Progressive Sale in reverse for staff on those long overnight shifts. They will appreciate the gesture and late hours.

Progressive Quantity Sale

Another type of progressive sale increases the discount according to total items sold or by count on one item. This is particularly effective to clear out seasonal merchandise or slow selling items. An example is 30% off the first items up to 50% off 3 or more items.

SOURCE: RetailDetails


Volunteer appreciation: Surprise celebration of recognition

When Phyllis Robeson and Mary Ann Luedtke arrived at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center on Wednesday morning, both thought they were attending a ceremony aimed at recognizing the Urbana hospital’s volunteer manager.

Little did the two know, staff had gathered with a cake and plaque dedicating the hospital’s gift shop in their name to honor the combined 40,000 hours of volunteer service they had provided to the facility over the course of approximately 50 years.

“That in itself is a gift to this hospital, the patients we serve, our visitors and our partners,” said Cindy Magsamen, OSF’s major gifts officer, while addressing Robeson and Luedtke after the reveal. “Are you surprised?”

Luedtke estimated she started volunteering at the hospital in 1963, when it was still known as Mercy Hospital and before it merged with Burnham Hospital, because she always had a “soft place in her heart” for the place she gave birth to two of her children.

Similarly, Robeson estimated she started volunteering at Burnham hospital in 1970 as she had always been fascinated with the medical field but gained an affinity for the center after she spent three and a half months there following the birth of her son.

At that time, not everyone could enter her room, so Robeson appreciated the volunteers who visited her while in recovery. That experience led her to volunteer to visit patients in kind; Luedtke recalled that when she first started volunteering, she brought mothers the developed film-photos nurses had taken of their newborns.

Eventually, the two became the principal runners of the hospital’s gift shop. They organized displays, ran the register, traveled to Chicago to acquire inventory — ultimately fundraising for new ambulances and welcoming those who needed someone to talk to. “We served as a sounding board for people that had someone in the hospital they were visiting,” Robeson said. “They would come in and we would just be people they felt they could comfortably talk to and sort of help them, relieve them. So, it was more than just selling items.”

[…]

Linda Tauber-Olson, the hospital’s volunteer manager, estimated the hospital has more than 100 volunteers who improve the patient experience in different ways. But Tauber-Olson said you don’t often encounter volunteers like Robeson and Luedtke, who each gave more than 20,000 hours to the hospital. She added that the two have gone on to train actual hospital employees like herself.

“I didn’t know anything about retail, so it was from Mary Ann and Phyllis that I learned how to run that gift shop,” Tauber-Olson said. “They actually ran it, I did what they told me to do.”

When asked where the dedication comes from, Luedtke simply said she was “a perpetual volunteer,” starting out first as a Girl Scout leader before she became the president of her Parent Teachers Association. It was something she enjoyed.

“It’s just something ingrained in you, you want to help,” Luedtke said. “I never felt it was a chore.”

SOURCE: The News-Gazette


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!


Q. ISO software for creating SOP manuals?

Q. Wondering if anyone knows of a cloud-based software (preferably free or minimal cost) for creating a store SOP manual. Looking for one that allows for workflows, spreadsheets, links and other documents to be shared and edited without having to manage multiple versions, edits, etc. We have a Word SOP manual that we keep on our shared drive, but each time a change is made, several pages have to be edited and updated which because a challenge when trying to manage the different versions of each document. Any thoughts, suggestions are greatly appreciated.- Shellee Laubersheimer, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, CA. 4/16/24

Do you know of a software for creating SOP manuals? <- CLICK TO COMMENT

Don’t just take; give back!

Do your part and leave a comment here or enter it at the bottom of the newsletter.

Thank you!

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡

How do you hold an Annual Chili Cook-Off in a hospital gift shop? This idea comes from Atrium Gift Shop at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, TX. Their shop manager explains how they put on this great traffic-generating event:

“We have been doing a free Chili Cook-Off for five years. Staff members or individual departments can enter the competition. It’s set up in the gift shop, though hoping to move to the cafe or park as it continues growing.

Attendees pay $10 and receive a ballet, one small sample of each chili (around ten), a bag of chips and some cornbread (made from scratch by staff & volunteers).

Their vote gets them a 15% OFF coupon for one item. We award a trophy and gift card for them to shop. All entries receive a certificate with their chili’s name and ranking. Last year the hospital CEO was a judge. We also give an award for the best chili name.”

Thanks to Atrium Gift Shop for this great idea!


SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


Retail inventory method: A how-to guide

Counting and managing inventory can be a time-consuming task. In order to quickly assess your inventory, you either need a retail inventory management system to track stock in real time, or a shortcut for manually gauging your inventory’s value. Here’s where you can use the retail inventory method for a quick inventory snapshot.

What is the retail inventory method?
The retail inventory method is an accounting strategy for approximating the ending value of your store’s inventory, i.e., the value of the inventory remaining at the end of your accounting period. This method estimates value by comparing how much you, the retailer, paid for the products to how much you sell the products for.

The retail method serves as a shortcut to conducting a physical inventory count, but should not replace it. After all, this method isn’t always accurate because losing or damaging a fraction of your stock is unavoidable.

For best results, use the retail inventory method only when the products you’re appraising have the same markup. For example, this method won’t work if you’re calculating the value of product with 50% markup. Instead, compare apples to apples.

Retail Inventory Method is a versatile tool that provides valuable insights into the current state of your stock. Advantages of using it include:

  • Faster alternative to conducting physical inventory counts
  • Help you understand when to replenish your stock
  • Provides insights into inventory-related expenses
  • It’s simple and efficient with little training required
  • It reflects market conditions by using current retail price
  • It implicitly accounts for shrinkage
  • It can help you maintain optimal stock levels because it provides real-time insights into the value of your inventory.

How to calculate using the retail inventory method
The retail inventory method estimates ending inventory value. The formula for ending inventory value using the retail inventory method is:

Read the full article including a break-down of the formula and examples.

SOURCE: Lightspeed


UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

JUNE
Graduation Season Con’t 🎓
Jun 14 – Flag Day
Jun 16 – Father’s Day
Jun 19 – Juneteenth
Jun 20 – Summer Solstice
Jun 27 – Ntn’l Sunglasses Day 😎
JuLY
Jul 4 – Independence Day 🇺🇸
Jul 7 – World Chocolate Day
Jul 10 – Ntnl Pina Colada Day 🍹
Jul 14 – Ntn’l Mac & Cheese Day
Jul 26 – Summer Olympics Start 🏊🏼‍♀️
AUGUST
…fill with fun off-season sales!
Aug 3 – Ntn’l Watermelon Day 🍉
Aug 8 – Intn’l Cat Day 😻
Aug 9 – Book Lovers Day
Aug 15 – Ntn’l Relaxation Day 🛀🏽
Aug 21 – Senior Citizens Day
Back-to-School Season

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


APRIL 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #651
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • Five ways to be a better leader
  • Job Openings
  • Ideas for social media posts
  • 7 tips for captivating in-store signage
  • A. Has anyone else set up a “temporary” store?
  • Themed displays, cross merchandising & She Sheds!
  • Les Déglingos from France
  • Major trends that will shape retail in 2024
  • How to recruiting gift shop volunteers
  • Gift Market Calendar

DISCUSSION


Discussions are happening now in
the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook group!

Average 3 posts per day
Over 270 members
Private, vetted members
Hospital gift shop professionals ONLY!

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.

Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | April 15, 2024 💮

Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers

The Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, actionable content for gift shop managers, buyers, and volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has been a free, independent publication helping retailers optimize operations, increase revenue, and connect with one another. Starting in 2025, the newsletter will be published mid-quarter —in February, May, August, and November.

Its value comes from a close-knit, engaged community. We invite you to leave a comment or join the conversation in the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook Group, a private community for hospital gift shop professionals.


APRIL 15, 2024

Riverside Hospital, Leesburg, VA
Riverside Hospital, Leesburg, VA

Five ways to be a better leader

There is a saying in life that the “days are busy but the years are short” and when it comes to retail, this is absolutely the truth. After all, how often have years flown by and you’ve looked back only to regret how you managed your employees or other store responsibilities you had hoped to improve.

With employees and volunteers being essentially your store ambassadors, there’s no better time than now to strengthen your management skills. To help, consider these five tips:

Evaluate your employee scenario

Ask yourself this straightforward question — and give yourself an honest answer: Are you satisfied with the performance of your employees?

While it’s possible some employees will likely stand out among others for their positive attributes, it’s also likely many others will stand out for just the opposite reasons. Analyze your entire staff and identify the strengths, weaknesses and windows of opportunities. This first step can help lead you to the many others as you begin your journey to strengthen your employee team.

Create an evaluation checklist

When you’re analyzing your employees and their performance, it’s important to be consistent and evaluate everyone against the same criteria. Have a checklist or evaluation form to help you review each individual employee with the same standards and expectations. Ranking skills and store responsibilities on a scale of 1 to 5 provides a good baseline, with 1 being poor performance, 2 offering below average, 3 identifying average, 4 recognized as above average and 5 being outstanding. (Note: Avoid a 1-10 scale. The precision on the 0-5 rating is much easier.)

As you begin to create your checklist, consider points like store operations, customer service, social media, merchandising and marketing. All responsibilities should be included, as well as other key details such as being on time to work.

Schedule staff reviews

Once you’ve completed your checklist and filled out the evaluations, it’s crucial to schedule a one-on-one review with each employee to share your findings. Use this opportunity to discuss their strengths and weaknesses, as well as to communicate store goals, expectations, and employee responsibilities. Allow time for your employees to share their thoughts, whether in response to your review or regarding their employment or store concerns in general. Maintain a positive tone while also reinforcing the standards you’ve set for your business.

At a minimum, reviews should be conducted annually. Ideally, quarterly or bi-annually.

If you are doing your job as a manager, nothing should come as a surprise to your staff on the day of their performance reviews.

It’s absolutely true that managers should be giving employees feedback throughout the year and shouldn’t blindside them with criticism in an annual review that they haven’t heard before. As a rule, managers should strive throughout the year to ensure that nothing in an evaluation will be surprising. Every single day is a an opportunity for a micro-review. A good manager will consistently guides staff in areas of improvement. Nothing should be a surprise on the day of the review.

Deliver an all-store team meeting

Schedule a meeting when the store is closed to bring everyone together. During this session, formally introduce store expectations, especially if this is a new initiative. Introducing an employee manual can be beneficial. For those preferring a less formal approach, consider a “Top Ten” list outlining the ten essential behaviors or practices the store expects from every employee. Display this list in a visible area where employees can regularly see it, ensuring they are reminded of these expectations each time they work (away from customers, of course). Regardless of the method you choose, aim to foster a positive and uplifting team morale while providing employees with clear leadership and direction. Emphasize the importance of teamwork and clearly define any sales goals you have set for the team.

Set daily goals

When managing employees, it’s essential to provide goals that are clear, accessible, and easy to understand. While aiming for “our best year yet” sounds positive, it lacks specificity. To achieve this overarching goal, integrate daily goals that align with it. Utilize data from your point-of-sale system and past sales years to set daily sales targets that your employees can aim for. Additionally, establish daily objectives such as merchandising specific areas, sending customer thank-you notes, and overseeing general store operations. By setting and communicating these daily goals, you’ll foster productivity and, ultimately, help your team achieve the broader business objectives.

A final thought

When leading your team, consider the leadership experience your employees are having. Reflecting on your leadership style helps you understand your employees’ behaviors better. Aim to develop a leadership approach that both you and your team can be proud of. This will benefit your store, enhance employee satisfaction, and contribute to a more dynamic and productive work environment, ultimately leading to increased sales.


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Punchkins WholesalePunchkins.com2024 Catalog sales@punchkins.com • 443-212-8670


SPONSOR

HospitalGiftShop.com
The easiest way to open an online shop!

– Open for business 24/7 with an online and mobile shop
– 20+ years of trust from hundreds of leading hospitals
– We manage your online shop and orders for you
– Zero fees, simple set up
– Expand your product selection & increase revenue effortlessly!

Join our trusted network and revolutionize your shop’s reach!

More information email: partners@hospitalgiftshop.com 
More information link:    HospitalGiftShop


Job Openings

Gift Shop Manager
IU Health, Indianapolis, IN

Manager, Volunteer Services ($54,000 – $88,000)
Mohawk Valley Health Systems, Utica, NY

Store Manager – Gift Shop
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Columbia, MD

Gift Shop Coordinator
SSM Health, Univ Hsptl, Saint Louis, MO

Manager, Gift Shop
Sentara Health, Harrisonburg, VA

Gift Shop Retail Operations Manager
Hamilton Health Care System, Dalton, GA

Gift Shop Supervisor
Grand Canyon Resort, Peach Springs, AZ

Gift Shop Manager
West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson, TN

District Shops Manager ($46,000 – $58,000)
Jekyll Island Historic District, Jekyll Island, GA

Volunteer & Gift Shop Coordinator
VCU Health System, Tappahannock, VA

Director Volunteer Engagement/Gift Shop
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR

Dir of Hospital Gift Shop & Volunteer Program
Neshoba General, Philadelphia, MS


Ideas for social media posts

Remind customers that you are OPEN for business!

Humor! Can’t emphasize enough the power of humor.

Promos and sales.
Of course!

Holiday themed product displays.

Eye-catching products.

Happy customers.


7 tips for captivating in-store signage

Gift Shop Plus shared seven great tips for creating great signage that not only inform but help drive sales. We took a few and built on them with our own suggestions:

Create professional looking signage. Print in color – avoid handwritten – do not tape on walls or shelving, don’t lean up against products. Acrylic photo frames are cheap, easy to change up, and look professional.

Tailor signage to resonate with your audience through specific language, colors and imagery.

Position signage so they can be read by wheelchair customers.

Use colors and fonts large visible for customers with limited vision. Use easy-to-read fonts and high-contrast colors.

Keep signage concise, clear, short. Use sentence fragments, drop nonessential verbiage, use short words.

Create focal points in the store by placing attention-grabbing signs near popular and high-margin products.

Treat your signage as you would your displays. Cheap signage can cheapen a beautiful display in seconds.

Your shop has it’s own branding, at least it should. Maintain consistency with your shop’s brand colors, fonts, imagery and logo. A cohesive, visual identity subconsciously calms and soothes shoppers. You’ve heard that a messy store is an uninviting store. Studies show this literally repel shoppers. Same applies to signage.

Signage can be used for emotional marketing, your #1 marketing tool. Use signs to highlight the stories behind your products, allowing customers to connect with them emotionally.

What are the most powerful emotions to evoke when marketing to a customer of a hospital gift shop? First, what is your customer base? Medical staff, patients, family members. Next, what emotions are they likely to experience? Stress, grief, anxiety and fear, uncertainty, relief, gratitude and celebration. We suggest your signage speak to the emotions of humor, empathy, calmness, love, comfort, hope, wellness and comfort.


Advice, inspiration, and all the feel-goods!


A. Has anyone else set up a “temporary” store?

Q. Has anyone else set up a “temporary” store? Construction started on a large addition/renovation to our hospital, for 24-30 months. It is going to affect our volunteer gift shop. We are able to set up a small “store” in a hallway, which will require us to secure overnight. – Martha Burke, Rome Health, Rome, NY. 130 beds. 1/17/24

We purchased a used department store kiosk, bought an iPad & square credit card reader, and set up in a hallway. Snacks were the biggest seller. We also included a few seasonal items, and accessories. Our customers miss it! – Michaela Kanoski, CHI CUMC Bergan Mercy, Omaha, NE. 394 beds. 3/25/24

We had to set up a temporary store in what typically is a small waiting area during a 6 month construction. I only brought in my very best sellers and put all other inventory in storage. We had a small variety of greeting cards, candy, some plush, willow tree and other smaller items. It wasn’t ideal and sales were obviously low but we moved into a bigger and better space after the construction that made it worth it.  – Sarah Ryan. 3/19/24

When we had a remodel we were allowed to set up a temp shop in a conference room. It was minimal. Food and candy is our #1 seller. We kept most of that and and small seasonal display and some other go too items. We stocked and switched out items frequently. – Noelle. 3/19/24

We used to have a cart that volunteers would take around the hospital. It had jewelry, flowers, candy, and other assorted items. The objective was to offer convenience to staff who found it difficult to leave their area to go to the Gift Shop during their shift. Sales were either cash or check only.  – Peter Waugh. 3/19/24

They moved our to a portion of a conference room for about 6-8 months. How long are they relocating you? Do you get a bigger shop? When I worked at a kiosk at the mall years ago, we had a tarp like that went around and had a lock on it.  – Tricia E. 2/24/24

Our shop was closed for about 4 months in 2022. I found a vacated space and used it to set up a temporary shop. We mainly sold our logo wear and then had a “garage sale” to move inventory that had been in our storage room for more than a couple years. – Alison K.  2/27/24

Comment here or on the Hospital Gift Shops group on Facebook.

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡

Studio M. in St. Louis, Missouri had some fun with their displays and signage.

They paired clever monogramed flags with a beautiful display to spell out the theme and add a bit of whimsey.

This is a great opportunity for cross merchandising too!

Photo: Studio.M 

ncr pos point of sale system

SPONSOR

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Payroll Deduction and Inventory Management available.
Take your gift shop to the next level!
Ask for a FREE copy of our “Hospital Gift Shops:
Tips for Success” booklet.

887-809-9980
www.i3pos.com


Les Déglingos from France

We keep seeing this adorable line of baby and kid products from Les Déglingos. They are so whimsical, unique and adorable! They have a wide range of kids products from plush, travel bags, backpacks, rattles, baby comforters, teething rings, toys, pacifier clips, school bags, pencil cases and more.

We learned about them in 2020 – how did we miss them?! Their line has grown extensively. We just had to share! Is anyone carrying Les Déglingos?

Born in France in 2007, Les Déglingos was the very first company in the world to use soft corduroy fabric in soft toys. The brand focuses on quality and original products sold in many independent shops across the world. With more than 250 active products, our collections include plush toys, early learning toy, accessories, travel and school luggages from 0 to 10 years old. All our toys are stuffed with Recycled Polyester Fabric made from used plastic bottles.” Available on FAIRE


SPONSOR

ARBA Point-of-Sale Solution

Designed for Hospital Gift Shops, the volunteer-friendly ARBA POS system manages your inventory and automates payroll deductions. Easy current inventory import.   

Optional online store pulls from the same inventory as in-store and accepts payroll deductions and credit card payments.  

info@arbapro.com 
630-620-8566 
www.arbapro.com 


Major trends that will shape retail in 2024

There has been a lot of talk lately about retail trends for 2024. We found several articles touching on varying points, some overlapping and some not. We can’t print them all, but here’s a a few trends to look out for in the context of hospital gift shops:

82% of global consumers surveyed agree that receiving communications from local businesses makes them feel more connected to the business. Think social media!

Self-checkout will grow massively in sectors beyond grocery and fast fashion. Anywhere there are queues, this tech can make a difference.

In addition to an online store and brick-and-mortar locations, retailers are capturing sales and winning the loyalty of customers through social media channels.

Retail is embracing recommerce with retailers integrating resale, rental, and repair initiatives to boost revenue and respond to growing customer demand.

Consumers will seek products with authentic recommendations. People are tired of the conformist approach to shopping where everyone is fed the algorithms. They want products that fit them and that tell their story. 

Retailers are jumping into AI to create personalized marketing with micro-segmentation and building communities. Small businesses can use AI tools to save time and money. For example, to generate product descriptions. Gmail, Shopify and Canva are also integrating AI assistance into their apps.

Prepare for Gen Alpha, the largest generation ever with solid values and will make purchasing decisions based on those values.

Consumers will seek inclusive environments that demonstrate a mutual commitment between retailers and employees. 

Consumers have “green fatigue” creating an increased awareness in real sustainability, versus faux green marketing.

SOURCES:

The 5 Biggest Retail Trends For 2024

Four trends that will define retail in 2024

Four Monumental Trends Changing Retail in 2024


UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

mAY
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
May 6 – Nurses Day 🩺
May 4 – Kentucky Derby 🐎
May 12 – Mother’s Day
May 27 – Memorial Day 🇺🇸
Graduation Season Begins 🎓
JUNE
Graduation Season Con’t 🎓
Jun 14 – Flag Day
Jun 16 – Father’s Day
Jun 19 – Juneteenth
Jun 20 – Summer Solstice
Jun 27 – Ntn’l Sunglasses Day 😎
JuLY
Jul 4 – Independence Day 🇺🇸
Jul 7 – World Chocolate Day
Jul 10 – Ntnl Pina Colada Day 🍹
Jul 14 – Ntn’l Mac & Cheese Day
Jul 26 – Summer Olympics Start 🏊🏼‍♀️

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR

National, regional, and local shows.

Includes direct links to every show.


How to recruiting gift shop volunteers

Q. Does anyone have suggestions for recruiting Gift Shop volunteers? We have been low staffed since COVID. Hoping to increase our gift shop volunteers. – Pa Y. Facebook Group for Hospital Gift Shops. 3/31/24

Local neighborhood Facebook pages, church bulletins, and word of mouth. We asked all our employees to spread the word if they knew anyone. – Cindy Z. 

Have you hit local PEO or Church groups. Card groups. Independent living homes. Ask the town for a volunteer fair! – Tricia E.

I’m thinking of maybe doing a meet and greet and bring a friend. Hopefully get some new recruits. –  P. Yang

FROM CINDY

Try expanding your avenues of recruitment and volunteer ages. Try high school and college students that need hours for class and stay-at-home mom that needs a break. Write department heads or professors whose classes require volunteer work, like Social Work. Social media is where you’d get the highest reach. Local city or regional Facebook groups, library, fitness centers, high school and university bulletins, church bulletins, NextDoor, younger genz are on TikTok, hospital’s senior care center, geriatric dept,. Create new posts but also add to comments in relevant discussions. 

 


MARCH 2024 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #650
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?

  • What exactly is in your shop window?
  • How Hydra Health is transforming the hospital gift shop
  • WEBINAR: How can AI solutions reduce shoplifting losses?
  • Is shoplifting really surging?
  • Behind the smile: Artificial customer greetings
  • Q. Has anyone else set up a “temporary” store?
  • Top 5 free tools for generating subject lines
  • HGS Virtual Gatherings
  • Gift Market Calendar

DISCUSSION


Discussions are happening now in
the Hospital Gift Shops Facebook group!

Average 3 posts per day
Over 250 members
Private, vetted membership
Hospital gift shop managers, buyers, volunteer managers

↓ Click to join ↓

♡ Connect. Share. Grow. ♡


Want to advertise? Click here.

© Cindy Jones Associates, 2022. COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. Redistribution, copying, reselling, re-renting, or republishing is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Cindy’s Newsletter may not to be forwarded, redistributed, reproduced, reprinted, or posted online without prior permission from Cindy Jones Associates. Subscribers may share one issue with a fellow manager. Thereafter, the manager may subscribe here to receive future issues.