Giftbeat

Giftbeat An ad-free and unbiased resource for independent gift, fashion and lifestyle retailers and buyers

Giftbeat's sole focus is providing independent gift retailers with unbiased, real-time, actionable advice to support their sales goals and set them up for success. Members of Giftbeat benefit from a monthly ad-free publication, packed with valuable industry insights and have access to an active member community forum, where they can share experiences and ask questions of their peers.

CURATION OVER COUNTRY OF ORIGINThis issue reveals not only that sales increased year-over-year in April for 57 percent o...
16/06/2025

CURATION OVER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
This issue reveals not only that sales increased year-over-year in April for 57 percent of our reporting stores, but it also reveals the stark impact the tariff war has had on store owners and customers across the country - from blue states to red states, from south to north and west to east.

Store owners are stressed out and customers are holding tight to their purse strings. Yet what this issue also shows us is that savvy retailers can increase their average sales when traffic is down.

This issue also includes time-saving tips, an indepth review of customer counts and average sales, retailer feedback on how vendors are handling tariff price increases, tips on managing your inventory during this critical time and why store owners are not pivoting towards made-in-America product.

I'm so proud of this issue. It's brimming with of-the-moment advice that helps the industry get a handle on how retailers and their customers are responding to the tariff war. And my designer tapped into the feeling of the market with layouts and graphics which illustrate the mood!

Subscribers were emailed a notice to download the current issue today from our website. If you don't have a current subscription, visit www.giftbeat.com to subscribe, set up your user name and password and then dive right into this 20-page issue! After that you can read back issues going all the way to 2018 - if you so desire;)

xoxo
Erica

NAVIGATING THE STORMThe threat of rising tariffs continues to hang over the industry, with no clear end in sight. For ma...
02/05/2025

NAVIGATING THE STORM
The threat of rising tariffs continues to hang over the industry, with no clear end in sight. For many of you, the impact has been stark—sales are down, and the uncertainty surrounding future pricing is causing hesitation in purchasing decisions. In this issue of Giftbeat, we delve into the very real struggle that many retailers are facing as tariffs and escalating costs disrupt the market.

But this issue is about more than just managing a crisis — it’s about seizing the opportunities that come from navigating tough times with creativity, foresight, and grit.

As our panel of reporting stores has proven time and again, it’s possible to weather the storm, adapt, and emerge stronger.

Stay resilient, stay innovative, and as always, thank you for supporting Giftbeat!

xoxo
Erica

APRIL ISSUE REVEALS NEW RETAIL REALITIESAs we step into spring, the majority of store owners are strugglingto navigate t...
31/03/2025

APRIL ISSUE REVEALS NEW RETAIL REALITIES
As we step into spring, the majority of store owners are struggling
to navigate the always unpredictable waters of retail — from economic conditions to shifting consumer habits. In the current issue of Giftbeat, we explore strategies and stories to help you navigate this uncertain landscape.

If you're not already a subscriber, head to our website, www.giftbeat.com, to subscribe today and receive this issue, plus access to our archives going back four years.

DID YOU KNOW???
Giftbeat is the only publication serving the market which is ad-free and unbiased. Our reporting is not influenced by vendors or advertisers, making Giftbeat the most trusted resource of industry insights since 1992.

FREE INSIGHTS
If you aren't sure whether the $129 investment a year is worth it for your store, visit www.giftbeat.com and sign up for our free insights delivered via Substack, and you'll see for yourself the value that Giftbeat can deliver to your bottom line.

- Erica Kirkland
Publisher & Editor

ALARMING NEWS😲🚨📣February sales data from Giftbeat's panel of 300 reporting stores signals a deep turn in consumer spendi...
10/03/2025

ALARMING NEWS😲🚨📣
February sales data from Giftbeat's panel of 300 reporting stores signals a deep turn in consumer spending, the most drastic decline noted in over a decade.

The data just came in and we're analysing the responses in order to provide readers with on-point, of-the-moment insight into what is happening right now with independent gift channel sales.

xoxo
Erica

MERCHANDISNG IDEAS FROM AMBIENTE!Photo 1: Painted pallet pieces form the backdrop of this display, and it is a great ide...
07/02/2025

MERCHANDISNG IDEAS FROM AMBIENTE!

Photo 1: Painted pallet pieces form the backdrop of this display, and it is a great idea for a feature display inside your store or a window display!

Photo 2: The use of mannequins to display fashion brings the pieces to life, while the parasol helps shoppers imagine themselves in a tropical setting wearing your gorgeous threads!

Photo 3: A great example of cross merchandising different product categories using color as the tie that binds all the various items together. TREND ALERT: I am seeing a lot of deep woods and rich hues like variations of orange, red, and browns mixed with some dark green.

Photo 4: Another great example of a feature display, using height with the bust and energy with the colours! TREND ALERT! There is a lot of orange and pink (again!) in fashion and holiday, both Christmas and Halloween.

Photo 5: From top to bottom, this display draws the eye in to explore every detail. It's a great window display idea spring!

xoxo
Erica

Ambiente, the largest consumer goods show in the world, is held in Frankfurt, Germany every February, and we were lucky ...
07/02/2025

Ambiente, the largest consumer goods show in the world, is held in Frankfurt, Germany every February, and we were lucky enough to be invited to attend as a guest of the fair!

The fair is massive and never disappoints. There are over the top, awe-inspiring merchandising ideas around every corner. This morning, my first stop was Christmasworld. Wow! Check out these trees!

Stay tuned for more inspiration and trend insights from Europe!

xoxo
Erica

Our February 2025 issue is not to be missed with deep dives into the holiday season (what worked, what didn't), the scoo...
01/02/2025

Our February 2025 issue is not to be missed with deep dives into the holiday season (what worked, what didn't), the scoop on the future of TikTok from the industry's foremost social media expert, Crystal Vilkaitis, founder of Rooted in Retail (formerly Crystal Media), our top picks from markets and much more!

Subscribers will also discover 90 proven top-selling vendors in over nine categories (listed below) plus learn who 2024's top-selling vendors were!

Discover Top-Sellers & Insights into the Following Categories:
Candles
Fashion Accessories
Functional Holiday
Holiday Decor
Jewelry
Paper Napkins
Plush
Spa Related
Stocking Stuffers

If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive ad-free and unbiased insights into what is selling from our panel of 300 reporting stores across the country, subscribe today at www.giftbeat.com

FREE INSIGHTS
Visit our website - www.giftbeat.com - and sign up to receive some free insights. You'll quickly see for yourself the value that Giftbeat can deliver to your bottom line.

TREND ALERT 4 of 4: Highland Cows!Highland cows starting to pop up here and there during the July markets, but at the Ja...
19/01/2025

TREND ALERT 4 of 4: Highland Cows!

Highland cows starting to pop up here and there during the July markets, but at the January markets they were EVERYWHERE.

xoxo
Erica

TREND ALERT 3 of 4: Charm Bars!This isn't a new trend but it's reaching PEAK pandemonium! If your store hasn't invested ...
19/01/2025

TREND ALERT 3 of 4: Charm Bars!

This isn't a new trend but it's reaching PEAK pandemonium! If your store hasn't invested in a charm bar, the time to start is now!

xoxo
Erica

TREND ALERT 2 of 4: Derby!The Kentucky Derby is an American tradition, and this year the shortest sporting event in the ...
19/01/2025

TREND ALERT 2 of 4: Derby!

The Kentucky Derby is an American tradition, and this year the shortest sporting event in the states is celebrating its 151st anniversary. For some reason, the gift industry has churned out a range of Derby-themed goods this year.

In fact, DM Merchandising was even running a promo during the show for a trip for two to this year's event!

This is a trend to definitely think twice about if you had dismissed it as not fitting for your store!

xoxo
Erica

TREND ALERT 1 of 4: Blue & White Walking the aisles of both the Dallas and Atlanta shows there were some clear trends: B...
19/01/2025

TREND ALERT 1 of 4: Blue & White

Walking the aisles of both the Dallas and Atlanta shows there were some clear trends: Blue & White, Highland Cows, Derby and Charm Bars. We also saw a lot of pink in Halloween decor as well!

Check out these blue and white-themed collections, ranging from traditional to contemporary with a slew of product offerings from tabletop, home decor, kitchen accessories, soap and more!

xoxo
Erica

My fourth and last day at ATL got cut a bit short (not feeling well😌 and Covid is going around) Had a great showroom tou...
18/01/2025

My fourth and last day at ATL got cut a bit short (not feeling well😌 and Covid is going around) Had a great showroom tour with The Link Companies. Shout out to all the wonderful people who work for this fabulous group. Special thanks to Brad, both Fred's :) and Josh who always give Giftbeat the VIP treatment. It was great meeting Matt Pope today - we are definitely operating at the same speed - fast;)

Highlights:
* Bath bombs packaged with a bracelet - $5 cost - Cait & Co
* New Celebrations collection of jewelry from Periwinkle By Barlow♥
* New pet toys from Warmies♥
* Two new collections from Center Court - always a great seller on our charts♥
* Keep Nature Wild - a great new brand under the Mad Man umbrella♥
* A new direction for Myra bags!♥

♥ Look for more details on these suppliers and products in upcoming editions of Giftbeat! Visit www.giftbeat.com to subscribe and not "miss a beat."

DID YOU KNOW?
Giftbeat was established in 1992 and is the only ad-free and unbiased publication serving independent boutique retailers. We only write about the products we actually like - our content and our chart rankings can't be bought which is why Giftbeat is referred to as the "Bible of the Industry." 🥰

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