Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers | November 15, 2022 💮
| CINDY’S NEWSLETTER for Gift Shop Managers |
Cindy’s Newsletter for Gift Shop Managers delivers practical, ready-to-implement content to gift shop managers, retailers, and volunteers across the country. We help our readership of over 3,000 retailers optimize shop operations, grow revenue, and connect with one another. The newsletter is published monthly and free since 2001.
Have you paid your dues this quarter?
The value and richness of this newsletter comes from your participation. Do your part by submitting two comments per quarter, at minimum. Reply to reader’s questions listed throughout the newsletter (in green) or simply share what is working or isn’t working in your shop, a great selling product, a helpful website or resource, an operating question, your biggest challenge right now, a terrific vendor you’ve come across recently, tips on managing volunteers, or tips on managing yourself!
LEAVE A COMMENT! Click the green comment tags 
throughout the newsletter, enter it in the comment section, or send to cindy@cindyjonesassociates.com.
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
Crystal Bridges Museum Store, Bentonville, AR
Retailing tips for the holiday season
Go idea hunting
Scour social media for ideas and content from other shops. Creativity and originality takes time and energy. You’re crazy busy at this time of year. Seek out the clever ideas for sales, displays, messaging, events, and more. You can search the web, but we find most of our inspiration searching Facebook, Instagram, and the like. For example, these inflatable ornaments from HoliBall. There is a lot of great content out there!
The charitable giving factor
The holiday season is a time of giving. Shoppers appreciate when retailers help a cause or benefit a charity by donating a percentage of sales. Highlight this in your marketing language especially this time of year. For example: “Give Local this Season! Proceeds from gift shop sales benefit Grace Hospital” or “Supporting your local hospital for over 40 years. Sales benefit Grace Health”. Include milestones for higher impact: “GIVING through GIFTING! Tilly’s Gift Shop donated $54K last year to Memorial Hospital. Shop today and give!”
Nurture your customers
You need to connect with your audience online via social media. Show up in videos talking to the camera and behind-the-scenes moments from your store. Post consistently, use engagement stickers on Instagram, and only 3-5 hashtags in your captions. Use Facebook Ads Manager to always advertise your most recent posts to get the most out of your content.
Plan marketing content early
Create content for holiday marketing – now – when you have the time. Write and schedule marketing content to the hospital’s eblast, newspaper or newsletter to run throughout the holidays. Remember to include: product images; a call to action (CTA); convenient delivery options (e.g., in-hospital, curbside, etc); discounts or sales; and professionally written, click-worthy marketing messaging.
Retarget past customers
It’s reported that 41% of every dollar sold in all our businesses has come from existing customers (Smart Retailer, Oct/Nov 2022). Remarket to your past customers via email, text, and social media to create a windfall of additional revenue.
Watch for next month’s article Instagram Engagement Stickers: That Really Work for ways to drive reach and interaction with your customers!
SPONSOR
Quickcharge POS provides all of the point of sale features
you need in an easy-to-use solution with automated
payroll deduction capabilities, contactless payment,
and reliable customer support!
Transitioning from your current POS system
is fast, easy, and affordable.
800-348-5545
www.mmhayes.com/giftshopPOS
Free guide: Developing & Managing Volunteer Programs
Here is a great place for resources on managing volunteers. The Management Library provide free, easy-to-access, high-quality online information to help businesses and professionals grow.
See their extensive guide on Developing & Managing Volunteer Programs.
Holiday idea: LIGHT-UP SALE 💡
Hold a LIGHT-UP SALE during the holiday season when the store is lite up! Offer 20% off every product in the store that light up (e.g. candles, lanterns, ornaments that light, even cards with lights or wrap lights around items to make it fun!). We love the alternative name: GET LIT SALE. : ) Get clever and funny with the messaging for this sale:
Light a fire under your holiday shopping!
or
Light up your Christmas with our holiday sale!
or
Twas the LIGHT before Christmas
Don’t forget to display lots of merchandise that lights up!
Q. What are your best selling products that light up?
A strong holiday trend for many years has been products that light up. But it isn’t always easy to source good quality ones. Many are tacky or poorly made.
What are some of your favorites that sell well? Include the vendor and even non-seasonal! 💡
Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
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
Small Business Saturday: Nov 26, 2022
Customers want to shop small this year, so in everything you do, highlight your identity as a small business! Remind your customers that shopping with you benefits the community and its hospital. Share what makes your shop special and different from the big box stores!
Job Openings
Manager Gift Shop
NCH Healthcare System, Naples, FL
Gift Shop Manager
Audubon Institute, New Orleans, LA
Gift Shop Manager
Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury Factory, Burlington, VT
Gift Shop Manager
Thompson Health, Canandaigua, NY
Store Manager
Outdoor Voices, Austin, TX
Garden Shop Assistant Manager/Buyer ($44-$50K)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA
Store Manager ($35-$42K)
Kid-to-Kid Boutique, Charlotte, NC
Manager, Auxiliary and Gift Shop
St. Mary’s Hospital, Jefferson City, MO
Assistant Manager, Gift Shop
Saint Louis University Hospital, Saint Louis, MO
Gift Shop Manager
Cook Children’s Healthcare, Fort Worth, TX
Gift Shop Manager
HealthAlliance Hospital Broadway, Kingston, NY
Gift Shop Manager
Prosper Medical Center, Prosper, TX
Gift Shop Lead
Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, Fort Worth, TX
Book Shop Manager ($60-$65K)
Hudson Group, Boston, MA
Store Manager
Wolford Boutique, Georgetown, Washington, DC
Manager/Buyer, Gift Shops ($34K – $51K)
Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Gift Shop and Volunteer Coordinator ($20-$28/hr)
Wellstar Health System, LaGrange, GA
Gift Shop Assistant Manager
Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
**Salary ranges are from job postings
A. Who are some vendors for cancer items?
I have recently taken over our Cancer Resource Center. It’s located in another building and much smaller than my gift shop. I am looking to make it a much more inspirational and inviting space but still keep some of the cancer related items available to the patients (e.g., scarves, hats, turbans, medical alert bracelets, nausea remedies, wig care products, synthetic bangs, apparel, gift items, skincare products, night caps, wig halos). Who are some vendors you use for cancer items? – Lanie Ray, Cancer Resource Center, Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster, OH. 9/28/22
LympheDIVAs makes stylish and colorful compression arm sleeves, gauntlets, and gloves for managing lymphedema post treatment.
Cancer Be Glammed carries a large assortment of cancer related recovery products and lifestyle solutions (gowns, easy-access recover clothing, wraps, skin and hair care, cooling jewelry)
Brobe breast cancer surgery recovery wear (bras, robes, belts, etc)
Chemo Beanies offers a nice array of head covers in lovely styles casual to elegant. Great customer service! – Michelle Suggs. 10/17/22
MCCC Sportswear – Stephanie Barnes. 10/17/22
LippyClips for breast cancer themed chapstick holders. Demdaco for themed jewelry. Headcovers Unlimited for hats & head scarves. PsiBands for nausea remedies. – Elizabeth Hall. 10/17/22
Headbands of Hope. Amazingly soft and she is working to get us more variety in color and patterns! – Tricia Rochman. 10/17/22
MCC Sportswear has breast cancer apparel and jewelry. Their sweatshirts and t-shirts have sold well for us. – Tamara Szarszewski, Logansport Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, Logansport, IN. 83 beds. 10/17/22
We use Ganz for our turbans. – Helen. 10/17/22
PRIOR COMMENTS
We carry a large selection of turbans and other headwear from Hats with Heart. They are great to work with. – Anonymous. 2/3/20
We have purchased basic turbans for chemo patients for years from Betmar and a lesser expensive style from Kelli’s. We also recently started carrying a line of greeting cards called KimoKards. We have received a lot of positive feed back on these from our customers. – Sandy White, Shop Manager. 12/25/19
Click to leave your response.
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
| DECEMBER |
|---|
| Dec 18 – Hanukkah Begins Dec 21 – Winter Solstice Dec 25 – Christmas Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve |
| JANUARY |
|---|
| Jan 1 – New Year’s Day Jan 16 – Martin Luther King Day Jan 19 – Nat’l Popcorn Day Jan 21 – National Hug Day |
| FEBRUARY |
|---|
| Feb 3 – Ntn’l Women Physician Day Feb 4 – World Cancer Day Feb 12 – Super Bowl Sunday Feb 14 – Valentine’s Day Feb 20 – President’s Day Feb 21 – Mardi Gras/Paczki Day Black History Month |
Sometimes we include some pretty unique “holidays”. Use them to help generate off-season sales. “National Sunglasses Day – 15% Today Only!”. Build some fun displays. Be creative! Put all umbrellas on sale for National Pina Colada Day! 🍹 ….by the way, it’s July 10th!
Two winning lottery tickets sold at local hospital gift shops
A Powerball ticket worth $100,000 for the Wednesday night drawing was sold by Lori’s Gifts in Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Then, a Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 with Quick Cash ticket for Thursday’s drawing was sold at Ladies Hospital Aid Society in UPMC Montefiore hospital. That winning ticket was for a whopping $482,025.
Both shops get a $500 bonus for selling the winning tickets!
SPONSOR
snoozies!® Animals
- Bears, Moose, Fox, and Snow Leopard are just a few!
- Available in Women’s, Men’s, Kid’s, Toddler and Baby
- Fully lined with our exclusive dyed pom pom™cozy Sherpa
- All with non skid soles
- Machine washable
See all snoozies!® Fall/Holiday collections at snoozies.com
Call your local rep or our in-house specialists:
Pam at 252-650-7000 ext 209
Danielle at 252-650-7000 ext 206
Q. Does your shop use Emporos POS?
I run The Orchard Gift Shop at Indiana University Health. They want to change our POS system to change to Emporo. We currently have Keystroke. Does anyone currently use Emporos POS? If so, what are your thoughts on it. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you. – Jodi Tyrie, Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital, Lafayette, IN. 191 beds. 10/15/22
Would you use a pharmaceutical POS in your shop? Why or Why not? Are you familiar with Emporos POS? 💊
Leave Jodi a comment here or enter it at the bottom of the newsletter.
Thank you!
FROM CINDY
We are not familiar with Emporos. It has not been mentioned in our ongoing POS survey as a system in use. At first glance, it appears to be designed for pharmacies. I would question its ability to meet the unique needs of a gift shop. Keystroke is designed specifically for retail operations. Emporos does have to great features: native payroll deduction and a mobile beside delivery option. Also, because it’s optimized for pharmacies, the user interface might be confusing in a gift shop environment unless they adapt it, which is unlikely.
Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
Grafton City Hospital gift shop reopens, three years after COVID
After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Grafton City Hospital gift shop (Grafton, WV) was forced to close its doors. After nearly three years, they are happy to announce that they will be opening their doors once more on Tuesday, November 1. “The gift ship will be open from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.,” shared hospital gift shop manager, Polly Foreman. “Our volunteers are very happy to get back to work!” Guests shopping with the auxiliary will receive a 25% discount on all inventory, aside from their Rada products, as a way to celebrate the reopening of the gift shop.
During the day, the auxiliary will also be having a bake sale beginning at 11:00 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m. The Gift Shop and the bake sale help the auxiliary as we continue our mission to support the work of the Grafton City Hospital.
Foreman revealed that the gift shop, located on the first floor in the lobby, will resume its former open hours, Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., however if because the hospital adheres to current COVID guidelines, those times could be altered in the future due to differences in local transmission rates.
SOURCE: Mountain Statesman / Oct 28 2022
💮 GIFT MARKET CALENDAR 💮
| **Always double-check show dates** | Dec 4-7, 2022 Grand Strand Gift Show | Jan 4-10, 2023 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market | Jan 10-17, 2023 Atlanta Winter Market |
| Jan 16-20, 2023 LA Mart Winter Market | Jan 23–27, 2023 Seattle Winter Mart | Jan 29-Feb 2, 2023 Las Vegas Winter Market | Jan 31-Feb 4, 2023 Atlanta Apparel Market |
| Feb 5-8, 2023 NY Now Winter | Mar 1-3, 2023 Atlanta Spring Market | Mar 21-24, 2023 Dallas Apparel & Access Market | Apr 22-26, 2023 High Point Spring Market |
| May 8-10, 2023 Atlanta Spring Cash & Carry | Jun 21-27, 2023 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market | Jun 27-30, 2023 Dallas Apparel & Accs Market | Jul 11-17, 2023 Atlanta Summer Market |
| Jul 30-Aug 3, 2023 Las Vegas Summer Market | Aug 22-25, 2023 Dallas Apparel & Accs Market | Sep 18-20, 2023 Atlanta Fall Market | Sep 19-21, 2023 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market |
| Oct 14-18, 2023 High Point Fall Market | Oct 24-27, 2023 Dallas Apparel & Accs Market | Nov 6-8, 2023 Atlanta Fall Cash & Carry |
STATE CONFERENCES: VOLUNTEER & GIFT SHOP MANAGER
GSVRP will be held at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, St Simons Island, GA from February 19-22, 2023
OCTOBER 2022 NEWSLETTER: ISSUE #635
Did you miss last month’s articles, surveys, and discussions?
- Vista Health’s new hybrid gift shop
- A. I’m new to retail. What POS system do you suggest?
- Q. Who are some vendors for cancer items?
- This will drive your customers away
- A. What are some options/vendors for custom shopping bags?
- Post-pandemic shifts in hospital gift shop operations
- October Action Items
- “I must have that!” social media feed
- Gift Market Calendar
DISCUSSION
POS SYSTEMS
Q. I am taking over our hospital gift shop and have never run a retail shop before. I need to purchase a POS. Our shop is about 800 sq ft and only has one location. Any suggestions on POS systems? I want something that can track inventory and provide data on sales. The majority of staff for the gift shop will be volunteers (older women) so the payment terminal needs to be easy and user friendly. – Erica Ballard, Ascension Providence, Waco, TX. 225 beds. 8/31/22
We use PSG Point of Sale by Bostwick Braun. It has a very extensive back office and reports. – Ginger Taylor. CoxHealth, Springfield, MO. 1014 beds. 10/18/22
We use Quickcharge (MM Hayes) – Kristi King, Ozark Health, Clinton, AR. 114 beds. 9/22/22
We utilize Quickcharge (MM Hayes). It integrates with Kronos for payroll deductions, making that process (if your organization allows payroll deductions) much simpler. – Cherie Towers, Redlands Community Hospital, Redlands, CA. 229 beds. 9/21/22
We use RITE. – Nancy Williams, Director Volunteer Services, Piedmont Healthcare, Atlanta, GA. 9/20/22
We recently upgraded to Counterpoint by NCR and it has been amazing so far. It has tons of capability than we could ever possibly need . It is also very user friendly! – Juli Chrisman, WPR Cancer Institute Gift Shop, UAMS, Little Rock, AR. 9/19/22
I use QuickBooks. Very user friendly – Carol Colpitts, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA. 9/19/22
We use Square for Retail. Our senior volunteers thought it was much easier to use than our previous register. A simpler system, but tracks inventory and provides sales data is multiple ways at a reasonable cost. – Karla Glanzman, Seattle Children’s Hospital. 350 beds. 9/16/22
Hi Karla, I would love to visit with you further about utilizing Square for Retail. I’m definitely curious about the inventory management and reports. If you have some time to chat sometime, please reach out via email. Thanks! -Vicki Holcombe, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX. 9/19/22
Erica, We have the same size gift shop and same size hospital. We have Quickcharge by MM Hayes. I also have volunteers running the gift shop. I oversee inventory and reports. Reports are easy and inventory management is as well. Feel free to contact me if you would like more information. – Catherine Taschler, Volunteer Coordinator, Marshfield Medical Center-Weston, Weston, WI. 9/16/22
We will be using NCR (Counterpoint) starting in the new calendar year. I would highly recommend this system. We vetted many and found this to be far outstanding from the others. – Deb Kerr, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City. 385 beds. 9/16/22
We use the Clover devices and absolutely love the system. – Jessie Davis, Hannibal Regional Hospital, Hannibal, MO. 99 beds. 9/16/22
PRIOR COMMENTS
We are using NCR Counterpoint. We installed this system almost 6 years ago and have upgraded successfully (and easily) twice since that time. Once was a minor upgrade to install an Ingenico Card Machine and most recently was to allow us to be compatible with Windows 10 software as required by our hospital. We have been pleased with the software and especially with the ease of use for our volunteer population. – Angela Quinn, UNC Lenoir Health Care, Kinston, NC. 1/16/20
We transitioned to Vend as our POS in May 2019 – Shellee Laubersheimer, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA. 600 beds. 2/4/21
Did you miss this question? Click to comment.
Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
SHOPPING BAG VENDORS 🛍
Q. Looking for options for custom shopping bags for the gift shop. You know, those pretty bags you give to customers after they make a purchase in your store! We have a current vendor, but am interested in hearing what others do and vendors they use. Thank you in advance! – Shellee Laubersheimer, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA. 600 beds. 8/23/22
Nashville Wraps is who we use. We make sure to qualify for free freight each time or it will eat up your profits, quickly! – Ali McCrary, Good Samaritan Gift Shop, Vincennes, IN. 9/15/22
We use Nashville Wraps also. We carry 4 size white kraft bags that we sell to customers with colorful tissue paper. – Stephanie Hubbard, General Manager and Senior Buyer, Memorial Healthcare System, FL. 9/15/22
We have used Nashville Wraps for bags and tissue for years. – Vicki Holcombe. 9/15/22
We use Nashville Wraps. Love the Christmas ones. – Nancy Williams, Director Volunteer Services, Piedmont Healthcare, Atlanta, GA. 9/15/22
Nashville Wraps. They also do stickers if you want to use them. We are the Pink Geranium Gift Shop, so I get pink bags. Everyone knows where you were :) – Tricia Rochman, Carbondale Memorial Hospital, Carbondale, IL. 154 beds. 9/15/22
Kelli’s Gift Shop Suppliers. Used to use Benton Kirby but they are no longer in business. We use paper bags. – Peter Waugh. 9/15/22
We also use Nashville Wraps. We have bought the pretty designs but have had to go to the brown and white to help cut costs. We are planning on ordering Christmas designs for the season and we will be selling those to our customers/employees who ask for a handled bag. We just can’t give them out like we use to. :( – Lanie Ray, Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster, OH. 8/24/22
We use Store Supply Warehouse. They also have decorative/holiday gift bags that we sell all year round. We also insert tissue paper in to the gift bag, which the customers always appreciate! – Suzanne Storelli, The Guthrie Clinic / Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA. 254 beds. 8/15/22
We use Nashville Wraps for our bags. Then we put a “Friends Gift Shop” sticker on the bag for promotions. Right now we have sunflowers. – Nancy Collins, New London Hospital, New London. 25 beds. 8/15/22
PRIOR COMMENTS
Hi there!! We use Nashville Wraps for our bags and boxes and it has worked out well. They are also a member of PPP. – Christine Parker, Kent Hospital, Warwick. 2/15/21
I have wonderful luck with Bags and Bows. Great prices, great customer service. – Grace Hutchinson, Piedmont Medical Center, Rock Hill, SC. 180 beds. 2/15/21
Nashville Wraps and S. Walter Packaging – Gale Cialeo 2/18/21
We use Bags and Bows and purchase bright colored plastic T-shirt bags along with small brown paper bags and handled brown paper bags. We also let the volunteers know how much each bag costs so they can decipher which bag is the best choice for each particular sale. – B. Putman, Coldwater, MI 3/15/21
We have been using Nashville Wraps and very satisfied. If you order $300 or more you get free freight. Yay!!! We get tissue, ribbons, hi-density bags, and lovely gift bags in a variety of sizes and designs. Love this vendor. Highly recommend. – Debbie Swan, Baxter Regional Medical Center, Mountain Home, AR. 126 beds. 3/15/21
Click here to share your favorite bag idea or vendor.
Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
FROG & TURTLE ITEMS
I’ve had several request for our gift shop to carry frog and turtle gift items. Do anyone know of any vendors for this? 🐸 🐢 – LaDonna Kelley, Gift Shop Manager, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Health System, Tyler TX. 400 beds. 8/19/22
Ganz has the little pocket tokens. Easy and inexpensive. Small space needed. – Tricia Rochman, Carbondale Memorial Hospital, Carbondale, IL. 154 beds. 9/15/22
I purchase frogs and turtles through our Ganz and Roman reps. – Cindy Mai, OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center Gift Shop, Hillsboro. 168 beds. 9/1/22
There is still time to comment. Click here!
Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
LOBBY SALE VENDORS
Q. We are in need of vendors for lobby sales that handle purses and accessories and also a sneaker vendor. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated! – Lucille Roberts, UHS/Binghamton General Hospital, Binghamton, NY. 7/15/22
Other lobby sales and fundraiser vendors: Outside the Box Shoes, Nom-Nom Popcorn Company, Scentsy, Collective Goods (formerly Books Are Fun), Jose Madrid Salsa, Corporate Jewelers, The Nutman, Masquerade, Lionne Designs Jewelry, Carline Leathers (312) 738-0150. 
Dillard’s brings a great purse selection to our lobby sale. – Brenda Welcher, Advent Health. 8/18/22
We use In The Bag as our vendor. It is under new ownership. – Ramona Kennedy, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Auxiliary, Ogdensburg. 115 beds. 8/16/22
We have partnered with In the Bag, for one of our shops. They are based out of New Jersey, I am located in Ohio. They have great bags, purses and accessories. Always a hit with our staff when he comes. – Lanie Ray, Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster, OH. 8/8/22
Thanks, I appreciate your response. It is now Melissa Blau at In the Bag and she won’t do sales unless provided 12 tables. – Lucille Roberts, UHS/Binghamton General Hospital, Binghamton, NY. 8/8/22
FROM CINDY
Hi Lucille, we have found that there are less and less vendors doing lobby/on-site sales. These were obviously not allowed during the pandemic. Many invested in online stores to accommodate the shift to online shopping. With all that transpired due to the pandemic, Gold Coast Promotions totally changed their fundraising format to an online format, holding over 100 online events in 2021. Here are examples of online fundraisers for UMHS and Memorial Hospital Gulfport. You can read suggestions from readers for other online fundraiser vendors in the April, 2021 issue.
Maybe onsite lobby sales are picking up again?! We hope other readers will chime in! There is still time to COMMENT! CLICK HERE
Connect. Share. Grow. ♡
PROMOTIONS
SPONSOR
Thank You Card for Healthcare Workers
A note of appreciation for healthcare workers!
- Made of bright white card stock with a red border
- Approximately 4 inches by 5 ½ inches
- Blank inside for personalized message
- Three (3) cards per package
GiftsWithHope.com
hello@giftswithhope.com
You’re here! Thanks for reading through the whole newsletter. Good things come to those that scroll…
© 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.
wpDiscuz
