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"Every retailer needs to remember that ‘shrinkage' will occur. Things get broken (by staff and by customers), some items will probably be stolen, and human errors happen. You can be alert to try to minimize these occurrences, and be wise to try to compensate for them.

"Suggestions to combating shrinkage in your gift department:
1. Try to minimize:
a. shoplifting and theft by greeting each customer and making eye contact. Try to know where customers are in the store at all times. Keep more expensive items, like more expensive jewelry, in a case.
b. errors-Train staff to double-check themselves when doing things like counting back money, and entering information on the cash register and credit card machine.
2. Compensate for shrinkage by:
a. increasing margins, when possible, taking your mark-ups when you can
b. writing off losses at the end of the year
c. discounting or donating slightly damaged items."

Susan Lewis
Gift buyer
Logos Bookstore
Dallas

April 25-27
Mid-South Jewelry & Accessories Fair
Memphis-Cook Convention Center
Memphis, Tenn.
630-241-9865
www.gift2jewelry.com

"Unless your store has chosen to carry strictly books and Bibles, I believe every Christian retailer should have a wedding section. In addition to the gifts and wedding supplies, you can also guide people to the Love and Marriage book section of the store and help them find marriage books and devotions for newlyweds that they are not likely to find elsewhere."

Karen Grosse, owner, Lighthouse Christian Books, Green Bay, Wis.
(" 'I Do,' You Should," Inspirational Gift Trends, June 9, 2008)

List based on sales data for March 1-31, 2009, provided by Christian Books & More Gold and used with permission.

'Purses With Verses' are 'one real winner'

The James Lawrence Company introduced its "Purses With Verses" magnets in January. Retailing between $4.99 and $5.99, the magnets come in a 48-piece assortment with a retail boutique merchandiser for $140. Brian Johnson, general manager of James Lawrence Co., reports that stores are selling out quickly and find that they need to re-order their assortment in less than 30 days after receipt of the product.

What should a Christian retailer consider when thinking about adding dolls to his/her store's gift offerings?
"Dolls are one of the most important gifts a person can give to girls because dolls help girls develop interpersonal skills, give them a sense of security and confidence, and help keep their hearts and minds in the imaginative place of childhood. Mothers and grandmothers know that dolls become treasured companions and family heirlooms, so they see them as a wise investment, not just for birthdays and holidays, but throughout the year. Dolls should be a regular part of a retailer's gift mix. Dolls have been popular for generation after generation, and they will continue to be popular."

Prayer box added to Russ Berrie's ‘Spiritual Harvest'
Russ Berrie U.S. Gift has released for 2009 the "A Woman of Noble Character" cross-shaped prayer box in its "Spiritual Harvest" collection.

The 5-by-6.5-inch prayer box (#CJ-0795) is crafted of resin and covered in colorful stones. Some customers may wish to use it to house a rosary or special jewelry. The verse on the cover is from Proverbs: "A Woman of Noble Character-She is worth far more than precious rubies ... ".

Suggested retail price is $18.

Family-owned candle company supports charities
Artisan Holly Eve leads the Leland, Mich.-based business Black & Light Co., wherein she has combined her two passions, helping others and a love for candles.

With the motto "We measure our success by how well we support those in greater need," Black & Light supports charitable causes and since mid-2007 has partnered with mentally and physically challenged adults to pack and fulfill its product.

Manufactured in the U.S., each fragrance-free, glowing candle requires more than three days in production and 20 man-hours to create. Designs are drawn by hand and take up to 50 hours to complete.

The company's inspirational candles, released in late 2008 and early 2009, bear one of three words, Faith, Hope or Love.

Each candle has a 15-hour-an-inch burn time, about three times the average store-bought candle, according to the company's Web site.

The candles are packaged in recycled and reusable boxes that require no wrapping paper, bow or ribbon.

Customers who visit Alda's LLC online will find that the company was closed after 18 years in business.

Company founder Alda Ellis, who is well-known in the Christian gift world, spoke with Inspirational Gift Trends Bulletin for the first time about the July 2007 closure: " (My husband) Buddy and I sold the store rather quietly about 18 months ago, before the economy went bottoms up. We remained active in it until December 2008 and then we were out. At the time we sold, I was gone and on the road more than I was ever home, and I missed home! Since Buddy and I rarely traveled together, I missed him too, for the business had just grown to be all-encompassing. Three trips to China and one to India in less than a year made for an easy decision.