SPI Thursday - Rustic Geometric Lantern

Do you love the ambiance that candle light adds to a gathering but not the worry that having open flames could cause havoc?  Lanterns are a functional and stylish option to eliminate the worry without sacrificing the warm atmosphere that candle light creates.  This rustic lantern from SPI Home is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and the design is simple enough to incorporate into any style of décor.



Item 48021 - Rustic Geometric Lantern
(candle not included - but Vance Kitira timber candles are the perfect ones to use)

For spring and summer, you can merchandise it with your garden and outdoor accessories.  In winter and fall, you can make it a merchandising element in your "bring the outdoors in" product mix.  Point out to your customers that it truly can be used year-round.  You (or your more creative customers) may also integrate it in your holiday décor.

The lantern is constructed of iron, sheet metal and glass.  It stands 12" high to the top of the finial and has a 6" square footprint at its largest.  It will fit up to a 4" diameter pillar candle.  The iron frame ensures that it will not topple due to sudden wind gusts or accidental bumps from lively guests.

On those rainy days that keep customers from venturing out and you're tempted to offer a flash sale on Facebook, make your shop more inviting by burning candles in the lanterns.  On darker days, both candles and lanterns really come to life.

The suggested retail is $45.  Keep in mind that your customers are likely to want multiples based on the size of their outdoor entertaining spaces.  You might consider offering a multi-unit discount - something like 2 for $40 each - to encourage those multiple sales.  You'll still like the margin, but it's important to bring in enough inventory to support the price break.   

Abbott Tuesday - Bottle Openers

#27-IRON AGE/199 - Double Vision Wall Bottle Opener



When I launched Abbott Tuesday, I promised to feature some of the company's quirky, fun pieces that can set your store apart and make customers smile, prompting them to tell their friends yours is the must-stop shop in town. 

Abbott offers a range of bottle openers, both wall-mounted and hand-held.  Looking for product for your "man cave" section?  Here it is!

The Double Vision Wall Bottle Opener (pictured above) is a surefire conversation piece that will liven up your next gathering.  The material is cast iron, so you can even mount it in an outdoor setting where you entertain in the warm weather months. It's sturdy and can withstand many uses over the years, so it's life won't end when your party does.

Retail it as $12.00 and smile (or get double vision) at the margin it offers you.

27-IRON AGE/45 - "Save Water/Drink Beer" Bottle Opener

The Save Water/Drink Beer hand-held bottle opener has been a favorite for several years and  continues to be a strong reorder item.  It's also made of cast iron but is lightweight.  Not only is it highly durable - it's also easy to pack for a tailgate party, a lake get-together or a picnic. 

For good measure, this one is also available in white.  You can retail this one for $8 and your margin will mean you can have both water and beer.

SPI Thursday - Birds & Cherry Blossom Wall Plaque

#33515 - Birds & Cherry Blossom Wall Plaque

As we approach the end of Cherry Blossom Festival season, here is a wall plaque that will keep that spirit of spring alive year round.  The Birds & Cherry Blossom Wall Plaque from SPI Home will create a sense of peace and calm in any interior.

It is made entirely of aluminum and measures 18" tall x 37" wide - a great size to make a statement in a medium-sized space without overpowering the room.  The depth is only 1.5 inches so even though there is texture it is not 3-dimensional in a way that you have to be cautious about contact when you or a guest walks past it.

Suggested retail is $145.

RootWorks Lazy Susan from Enrico

Item 2577 - Lazy Susan

A great new member of Enrico's RootWorks collection, the classic lazy susan is reimagined with a generous root wood platter and ball-bearing hardware.

Made from environmentally-friendly reclaimed fir stumps with an easy care food-safe finish (like all RootWorks products), each piece is hand-carved by skilled artisans so that no two are exactly alike.   

This item was on almost every Enrico order I wrote during January market in Atlanta, and it just started shipping in March - so you can still be among the first to offer it. 

Suggest it to wedding registry couples who are looking for functional items that they will use regularly.  It has added appeal to eco-conscious couples who prefer environmentally friendly gifts.

On a shelf or table, it looks like a simple platter.  The key is to encourage your customer to spin it (or spin it yourself) to demonstrate that it is much more.  Then wait for the "oh!" response when their face lights up.

You can retail the lazy susan for $49.95 (a sweet spot price for wedding gifts) and maintain a very comfortable margin while also allowing you to offer a wedding registry discount and remain profitable.

Each piece from the RootWorks collection is hand-carved and has a beautiful wood grain that provides a welcoming, organic appeal whether you use it for serving or as a decorative item.  If you're interested in building a RootWorks merchandising story in your shop, allow me to show you all the offerings and get you started!

Abbott Tuesday - Birdhouse Salt & Pepper on Branch

#27-NESTER Birdhouse Salt & Pepper on Branch (set of 3 pieces)

As your customers turn their attention to spring entertaining - both indoors and out - they will be looking for charming table and serving accessories to make their efforts stand out as unique.

The Birdhouse Salt & Pepper shakers on the branch stand are not a new item for Abbott, but it is a perennial favorite that I continue to get reorders on.  We all know that means it retails and there is demand for more.

Each birdhouse shaker is ceramic and suspended from a resin branch stand.  The stand is 7.5" tall, making it a charming accent to your table setting that does not compete with your centerpiece. 

You can easily retail this item for $24.95 with a comfortable margin.

If you're interested in adding this and other salt & pepper shakers to your product mix, let me show you Abbott's extensive assortment where you are sure to find new ideas and inspiration for your shop's merchandising.

Is it time to update your store's bridal registry?

When I owned a gift store, it was in a small community that didn't have frequent wedding ceremonies, and a full-on bridal registry would not have been profitable.  Besides, the local Belk already had a formal bridal registry.

Instead, I took a more expansive view of the concept and maintained a Wish List program that worked for any gift-giving occasion.  I did still register some brides, of course, and learned that they were more keen on functional items they would use regularly rather than keepsakes or formal entertaining items that would be rarely used - but still needed to be stored somewhere.   

It's funny because it's true

My best example was when one of my favorite customers (and not just because she and her husband were my landlords) needed a gift for a bride with no registry anywhere.  We decided on a wall clock by Timeworks.  Remember them?  Anyway, when I saw my customer after the bridal shower, she said the bride was thrilled with her choice because she would use it in her new home and be reminded of my customer's thoughtfulness each day. 

So just because you are not a traditional tabletop retailer with a bridal registry, there's no reason you shouldn't engage (see what I did there?) this customer - especially as the modern couple is less likely to be a traditional consumer.   

Navigating the ritual is trickier than ever.  For example, if you're providing invitations you have to know how to list parents who are no longer - or never were - married to one another.  Engaged couples are also likely to cohabit and already own many essential items.  And don't overlook the couples whose upcoming nuptials are not their first.

In another sign of changing times (and opportunity to grow your business), you may also be registering same-sex couples. 
  

I don't actually sell all the items pictured here - like the fish course knife & fork

Throughout the month of April, I will be highlighting items from lines I represent (of course) as suggestions to add variety, spice and inspiration to your registry program.  With the most active wedding and engagement season upon us, it's a good time to spruce up your offerings to put smiles on the faces of newlyweds, confused gift givers and your accountant.

Remember - do a good job for them and they may register with you again for their next one.


SPI Thursday - Bunny Wine Bottle Holder

#50886 - Bunny Wine Bottle Holder (wine not included)
 

Since Easter is this weekend, it's natural that the featured item in this inaugural SPI Thursday is a bunny item.

Oh, you didn't realize SPI offers bunny merchandise?  You didn't know they have items like this for entertaining - or tabletop serving collections?

Well, now you understand the purpose of SPI Thursday.

The Bunny Wine Bottle Holder adds a touch of functional whimsy to your party.  It is made of cast iron and can easily support the weight of a full wine bottle.  It measures just shy of 10 inches so fits nicely on your table or sideboard.

If you're thinking "I like the idea, but I don't do bunnies" then you may like the Yoga Frog version.  We're going to visit the yoga frogs in a future post, but for now the wine bottle holder is pictured below.

#50887 - Yoga Frog Wine Bottle Holder (wine not included)

These are not the only wine bottle holders that SPI offers.  They just happen to be the only 2 in this particular design.  Suggested retail on each is $24 - a very reasonable price and a margin that you will love.