GIFTS: Toys and Fair Trade grow category’s sales, while companies raise T-shirt prices

BY RHONDA SHOLAR

While gifts appeared to be an overall bright spot in 2012, a few areas stood out.

T-shirts continued to sell well despite rising retail prices. Some vendors’ decisions to raise prices to absorb increased costs has some worried as they remember a decade ago when shirts rose to $18.99 before the market collapsed. Customers are looking for quality shirts with clear graphics and are tiring of the logo “take-offs.”

Dicksons continues to do well with the “Full Armor of God” line that debuted in 2010 with a figurine to fill a void in the men’s gift category. Based on the outstanding response, the company added pocket stones with each of the six components of Eph. 6 and a display with an assortment that includes a key ring, bookmark, auto visor clip and ink pen.

Some stores continue to cut back on music and limit books to best-sellers to make room for toys and games. Five years after venturing into partnerships with general-market toymakers Melissa & Doug, Fisher-Price and Playmobil, New Day Christian Distributors reported 665% growth in toy and gift sales.

Kerusso celebrated its 25th anniversary with the publication of a gift book, Change Your Shirt, Change Your World by Vic Kennett and Friends, with proceeds benefitting Compassion International.

DaySpring achieved its goal of sending no solid waste to landfills. By mid-year, the company had not incurred any expenses on its cardboard recycling, but instead had made money on the endeavor.

For the second consecutive year, Lighthouse Christian Products received Family Christian Stores’ Business Innovation Award, for excellent product design and for helping to serve Family’s direct-import need. Evergreen Enterprises, a home and garden décor manufacturer, won the award for its service and distribution. Other retailers praised vendors such as P. Graham Dunn for producing quality art at affordable prices and for its customer service.

Gift companies that promote humanitarian efforts were in line with Exotic World Gifts’ support of artisans with Fair Trade items and Jedidiah Clothing’s partnership with World Vision to fight poverty and injustice. CBA gathered Fair Trade suppliers into a designated area on the floor at the International Christian Retail Show.

Despite the sad news in April of Thomas Kinkade’s sudden death, sales of his products at galleries and retail outlets spiked in the months following. Companies like DaySpring debuted new, Kinkade-inspired items with sales expected to continue through Christmas.

One framed-art product that did exceptionally well in several sizes, price points and décor styles is Carpentree’s Prince of Peace. Painted by then 8-year-old Akiane Kramarik, the image is the one Colton Burpo identified in Heaven Is for Real (Thomas Nelson) as the Jesus he saw in heaven. Licensed by Art & SoulWorks and framed and distributed by Carpentree, Prince of Peace is expected to continue its sales momentum, Marketing Manager Sherry Morris said.

• Prev
• Next