Dawn Rennert, owner of Concord Bookshop in Concord, Mass., noted that many of her store's neighbors are gift shops and she tries not to overlap with their offerings. As such, she doesn't carry some mainstays like socks, jewelry, or candles, but Concord Bookshop does carry jigsaw puzzles, reading glasses, activity kits, and greeting cards.
For puzzles, Rennert has carried Pomegranate puzzles "for many years," and she's sourced from other suppliers like Galison and Flame Tree. The activity kits come from manufacturers such as Klutz, and the greeting cards include both individual and boxed cards. There are New Yorker cards that are "instant pick-me-ups," and "everyone loves" the store's branded tote bags from Enviro-Tote, based in New Hampshire. Recently the store added Slumberkins, which feature animal-themed snugglers paired with a board book and affirmation card. Rennert added that, fortunately, the store has not seen any supply-chain issues related to sidelines lately.
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At Arcadia Books in Spring Green, Wis., owner Nancy Baenen said cards and stickers are selling especially well. In fact, the shop sold more than 4,400 cards in 2022 and "probably just as many stickers." She sources them from a variety of wholesalers, publishers, and Faire. Recently, after realizing that the store had no "low-priced items for kids to buy with their own money," she brought in Dog Man and Dr. Seuss pencils, erasers, and bookmarks from Geddes. They've been "flying off the shelves."
Asked about locally sourced items, Baenen pointed to pressed flower cards made by local artist Christl Iausly; a "delightfully sassy" line of cards from a studio in Madison called Mina Lee; cards and stickers from Ink & Splash in Green Bay; and a new line of cards from Milwaukee called She Said It, featuring watercolor art and empowering quotes from women. On the subject of perennial favorites for the store, Baenen mentioned Cavallini Papers & Co. whose cards, puzzles, journals, aprons, and calendars all sell well.
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| Store-exclusive Reading Bug plush. | |
In San Carlos, Calif., the Reading Bug does very well with store-branded merchandise, particularly color-your-own Reading Bug book bags and plush Reading Bugs, reported store owner Lauren Savage. Much of that success, Savage explained, is thanks to the store's podcast, Reading Bug Adventures. Many listeners visit the store on summer break and "leave with Reading Bug stickers, coloring books, and merchandise."
Jellycat stuffed animals are another staple for the store, though Savage noted that recent price increases have presented a challenge. Plush that once retailed for $24-$36 now go for $48-$60. As such, it's become harder to sell a plush along with a picture book, which now are frequently hitting $18.99, $19.99, or higher. What was once a $40-$55 purchase is now $75-$80, and "that is not birthday gift-friendly pricing."--Alex Mutter
If you are interested in having your store appear in a future Sidelines Snapshot article, please e-mail alex@shelf-awareness.com.