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With the prime tourist season upon us, this is the perfect opportunity for indie retailers nationwide to capitalize on gifts and impulse buys. Whether shoppers are looking for something to bring home to their family and friends, or you need small influential products that can easily be placed next to registers to increase a sale, Independent Retailer has you covered.
In the face of ever-changing consumer habits, the gift industry is constantly evolving. The global gift market’s worth is currently estimated at $62 billion, according to SaveMyCent, and 38 percent of consumers look at physical store displays for gift inspiration. Jewelry is a popular gift option, seeing as 58 percent of women prefer to receive jewelry as a present. This presents a huge opportunity for retailers to take advantage of and ensure sales in a difficult economy.
Smaller gifts that can be placed by the register make for perfect impulse purchases. After taking a hit early in the pandemic, sales of impulse buys are beginning to rebound, but they are looking a little different now than before the outbreak. Elizabeth Crawford details in an article some different impulse products that consumers are on the lookout for, such as multi- and variety packs of snacks.
Physical storefronts are not the only places that shoppers are making influential purchases. With the pandemic-driven rise in online sales, making impulse buys has also seen an increase. According to Statista, almost six-in-ten women surveyed in select countries worldwide said they mainly bought clothes or shoes online by impulse. Less than 40 percent of male respondents reported impulse online shopping in this category. For men, electronics was the most common impulse purchase via the internet, with roughly half of respondents. Other common online impulse purchases include toys and games, personal care products, and home/furniture/garden items.
To boost impulse purchases among online shoppers, Crawford states in her article that retailers are increasingly embracing ‘quick commerce’ — or the promise of fast delivery that targets snacking and other eating or drinking occasions that are based on whims, indulgence, or the need to satisfy cravings quickly. While quick commerce is still relatively new, in the last three months, 25 percent of consumers used it for sweet and savory snacks — making it an area to watch going forward.
While online shopping is still quite popular, a recent Tango survey affirmed that the physical store remains the main way that Americans make purchases. In order for indie retailers to capitalize on these gifts and impulse buy trends, they need to understand the changes that customers are making when it comes to shopping.
“For retailers to thrive in today’s environment, they need to have a firm grasp of consumers’ shifting needs, wants, and desires which have resulted in the acceleration of omnichannel requirements,” Pranav Tyagi, Tango President and CEO, said in a press release sent to Independent Retailer. “Brands had to respond to a myriad of new challenges in the last year and technology has proven to be an important tool to gather and identify customer insights for decision-making around these changes. The positive response from our consumer survey should encourage retailers and restaurants to continue to innovate their customer operations and store locations to deliver a seamless experience and address the current needs of shoppers in-person and online.”
One of the biggest consumer buying trends at the moment is live shopping, according to parcelLab CEO Tobias Buxhoidt. QVC used to be big for live shopping, but now it is coming back in a different format and brands are realizing the high engagement on these channels where customers like to experience shopping in a unique way. While Instagram and Facebook provide the easiest places to make live online purchases, Buxhoidt says that we will see brands begin to invest in this feature heavily in the future to be able to offer live shopping outside of social media.
It is super important to give shoppers what they are looking for in order to make sales. Especially with inflation continuing to rock the boat, consumers are being picky about where they spend their money. Tango’s survey found that even though customers are more satisfied with retail shopping experiences than they were last year, there is still room for improvement through innovation:
As retailers prepare for all of these changes and the influx in tourist shoppers, here are some hot and trending gifts and impulse purchases to offer them:
Coffee is such a great gift to give for anyone to enjoy. This blend is so solid and full of character, it will remind your customers of the quality craftsmanship their grandfather put into everything he ever built. Sourced from Guatemala and Brazil from various small farmholders, the tasting notes include hints of chocolate, concord grape, and almond.
OTIS 720-484-9516 otis.coffee.com
Say goodbye to throw-away wrappers and enjoy sandwiches on-the-go thanks to this environmentally friendly sandwich wrap. It has an easy fastener that makes it adaptable to different food shapes and sizes, such as sandwiches and fruit. It is convenient, compact, machine washable, and also serves as an individual placemat. Available in a wide variety of colors and designs and can easily be placed near the register as an eco-friendly impulse purchase.
Roll’eat www.rolleatusa.com
This candle smells just like autumn air. It has an inviting fragrance with top notes of cinnamon and citrus, a core of apple and berry, and an outdoorsy base consisting of pecan and cedar. This fragrance is infused with Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Patchouli, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Guaiacwood, and Sandalwood essential oils for a smooth, earthy aroma. The best part — it is made with a recycled coconut shell!
Backyard Candles www.backyardcandles.com
This all-in-one leather care kit comes with everything your customers need to clean and condition their favorite leather goods. From car interiors to favorite leather shoes and everything in between, this perfectly giftable kit features a Leather Conditioner, Leather Cleaner, and two lint-free application cloths. The best selling leather cleaner and conditioner since 1968, Leather Honey restores and protects all types and colors of leather with a non-toxic, water repelling formula offering 6 months of protection.
Leather Honey www.leatherhoney.com
This award-winning and intelligent produce bag is scientifically proven to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for two weeks or more. Veggie Saver will help to reduce food waste and save households money every year. It is an entirely natural product made from unbleached, unseeded cotton, so your customers can trust that it is non-toxic, non-allergenic, completely food safe, and 100% plastic free.
Veggie Saver www.veggiesaver.com
Available in a 5 oz tub, these sugar-free fruit slices are soft jellied candies that are available in four assorted flavors: Orange, Lemon, Lime, and Cherry. They are perfect for shoppers looking for a healthier snack while on the road. Twelve tubs come in a case.
Royal Wholesale 888-261-8277 www.royalwholesalecandy.com
Available in a wide range of flavors including Chocolate Caramel, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Cheese Coated Caramel, Poppy Chow, and so many others, this specialty gourmet popcorn is handmade from scratch and hand-packed in Wisconsin. Each bag contains seven cups of popcorn, perfect for sharing during a long road trip.
Hayward Gourmet Popcorn 715-934-8444 www.wholesalecentral.com/haywar0001
These chips are crunchy, delicious, and come in a variety of different flavors, including Roasted Red Pepper, Ranch, Nacho Cheese, and Salsa Verde, among others. They can be enjoyed right out of the bag or with complimentary dips. Twelve bags come in one case.
Brad’s Organics 561-703-8820 www.bradsorganic.com
This 48 count tower includes 12 4 oz Elk Hickory Snack Sticks, 12 3 oz Buffalo Hickory Snack Sticks, 12 4 oz Venison Hickory Snack Sticks, and 12 4 oz Wild Boar Snack Sticks. The tower can be placed on register counters for easy add-ons to sales.
Pearson Ranch Elk & Bison Jerky 505-994-2544 www.pearsonranchjerky.com
With so many dog parents out there, your customers are sure to love these bone-shaped car magnets. It comes with 72 facings of 54 breeds and 18 fun sayings, and the floor display is FREE with your purchase. As an added bonus, five percent of your purchase will go to the rescue of your choice, just tell SJT which one you want to help.
SJT Enterprises 800-326-7419 www.thousandsofsigns.com
Filed Under: Featured Products, Gifts and Souvenirs, Product News Tagged With: gifts and souvenirs, June 2022 Issue
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