JGL recently attended the biggest and best souvenir and gift show in the county. With over 1,300 booths, the Las Vegas Souvenir and Resort Gift Show attracts most major cultural institutions and attractions from all over the country to see the newest products and hottest trends in retail sales.
As we walked the show floor, we took note of the trends and the booths that had the most activity. We also spoke to several vendors about what people were buying and what the retail outlook will be like for the next 12 – 18 months.
Most of us saw a “revenge spending” trend due to pent up demand, but what’s around the corner? Are supply chain issues still a concern? Will the potential for a recession and inflation deflate purchasing? Is staffing still a major problem?
The answer to most of these questions is still “YES”!
The question remains: how do we face these challenges and still be successful in our retail operations? We all know souvenirs and gifts are fun to buy and nice to have but are not a necessity to survive. If the merchandise has an added value, however, there is a better chance of making the sale.
Here are some trends we saw that are making merchandise more attractive.
#1 – Made in the USA
In the exhibit hall, Made in the USA manufacturers were grouped together, highlighted with signage, and called-out in the buyer’s guide. Approximately 10% of the booths were identified as exclusively Made in the USA. While there were too many to mention here, we’d like to highlight a few of the more interesting vendors below.
American Air Freshener Co. – Custom air fresheners
Small Town Dusk (veteran owned) – Custom, hand-dipped LED taper candles
Corkology – Custom designed eco-friendly cork coasters
#2 – Sustainable Products
We continue to see a rise in vendors offering sustainable/earth friendly products. While there is still so much work to do, it’s refreshing to see suppliers develop products that take the environment into account. It is notable that most of the companies offering sustainable products are also Made in the USA. Here are a few of our favorites:
Wuvvy Bamboo Blankets – Buttery soft bamboo blankets that come in a drawstring travel bag
Town Pride – Recycled cotton blend apparel, Made in the USA.
Steamer Lane Design – Sustainable wood magnets, keychains and ornaments. Made of sustainably sourced wood and Made in the USA.
#3 – Women and Minority Business Enterprises
Last, but certainly not least, were the added number of women and minority business enterprises that were present at the show this year. With the focus on DEIA at most cultural institutions across the nation, a great way to support this initiative is through the retail operation. There were some innovative products offered, and the stories behind the companies were even more interesting. Several women even started companies because of the pandemic. Below are three interesting enterprises we encountered:
Melissa Lew – Eco friendly jewelry designed for aquariums, zoos, parks, gardens, museums, and other cultural institutions.
Audra Azoury Design Ornaments & Jewelry – Stainless steel ornaments Made in the USA.
Factory57 – Postage stamp gifts and collectibles made from actual vintage postage stamps
In the end, we still believe the consumer is motivated to buy mementos of their experiences. We also think that if that memento can have the added value attached, the chance of making the sale will increase!