Retailers received a crash course on making an impact by merchandising gifts, but they were also treated to "a great hands-on clinic" on inspirational products during a Product Intelligence Tour.

"If you want to stay in business to sell books and Bibles, gifts can really help you," said Michelle Amster, president of store design firm Integra GP, who presented the tour Monday and Tuesday.

Amster advised retailers to use seasonal displays, fabric, floral, acrylic risers and furniture pieces to spotlight their gift sections. She then asked the gift sellers to break up into groups to help create an attractive display of themed gifts-wedding, baby, Easter, Christmas and Father's/Mother's Day products-using five separate tables.

Kymburly Odell, gift buyer of The Master's Parable Christian Store in Clovis, N.M., told Christian Retailing that the product tour was informative. "It's a great hands-on clinic," she said. "It's a great way to incorporate the vendors who are here with their products in a hands-on experience for retailers."

The gift-merchandising tour was sponsored by Christian Tools of Affirmation, Dicksons, His Gem, Lighthouse Christian Products, Rhode Island Novelty and Scripture Candy.

Penny Adickes, assistant manager of Living Word Christian Store in Onalask, Wis., said the product tour "really helpful," adding: "It reinforced some of the things I already knew, but it also gave me some new ideas. The hands-on training was good. I used to be a school teacher, and I'm used to doing things hands-on."

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