Posts Tagged ‘Gift Stores’
First Sales Trip of the Season
April 13th, 2010 | 
Author: Despite the economic situation, gift items are still selling!!
Just got back from a short trip to north Idaho/Spokane/Wallace/St. Regis to deliver a bunch of huckleberry rake orders. Believe it or not, gift store buyers are buying gift items for their stores! Other than huckleberry rakes, I sold some gourmet foods, postcards and personal care products.
I love my trips up north — Folks there are so nice and friendly – And the scenery is gorgeous!
I started out Thursday morning and headed up Idaho State Highway 95. Made my first stop to deliver rakes in Coeur d Alene. Drove another 40 or so miles to Wallace to visit with several accounts/friends there. Because Wallace is a tourist town, some of the stores were just re-opening for the spring tourist season. A few changes in Wallace as a couple stores moved and a few closed over the winter.
Delivered a large bunch of huckleberry rakes to my Montana group of customers. Montana has some great gift shops and I enjoying checking out the many different products when I am in the state.
After my day of stops, I returned to Coeur d Alene and stayed with my friend Kris who owns the Greenbriar Inn and 315 Martinis and Tapas Bar and Restaurant. Kris and I have been friends and business associates for several years. Before my health issues, we would spend quiet evenings talking about the gourmet food industry over a glass of wine. Now days, Kris’s restaurant and bar is hopping with great food and great atmosphere. If you visit Coeur d Alene, I suggest you stop by the Greenbriar Inn! Tell Kris Sandy sent you!!
On Friday, I made my last stops in Coeur d Alene and Spokane before heading to the freezer to pick up 20 gallons of frozen huckleberries – for the local restaurant in Orofino where I live!
Came home just in time to help my husband through a very bad attack of gout! No fun for him, but at least I got back before things got too far out of hand.
More on starting and working your sales rep business soon ….
Posted in Sales Trips | 
Tags: 315 Martinis and Tapas Restaurant, Coeur d Alene, Gift Stores, Greenbriar Inn, Huckleberry rakes, Sales Trip, Wallace | 
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Types of Gift Stores
Gifts are fun to sell and can be sold to a large variety of stores. Some of the stores you will visit as potential customers are as follows to (not an exhaustive list, but representing a large sample of store types you are likely to run across):
1. Independent gift stores
2. Museum gift shops
3. Convenience stores
4. Restaurant gift shops
5. Franchise or chain gift stores
6. Gourmet food stores
7. Kitchen stores
8. Food co-ops
9. Independent grocery stores
10. Gift basket companies
11. Fresh fruit stands
12. Produce.
13. Hotel/Motel gift shops
14. Book stores
15. Tourist attractions’ gift
16. Remote vacation destination
17. RV parks and campgrounds
18. Chamber of Commerce gift shops
19. College bookstores
20. Pharmacy and Drug stores
21. Home décor stores
22. Antique shops
23. Sporting goods outlets
24. Florist shops and nurseries
25. Variety stores
26. Airport gifts shops
27. More ….
After looking at the list above, I am sure you will see that gifts can be sold nearly everywhere! I have even sold gifts to beauty shops, liquor stores, pack and ship stores, bakeries and ice cream shops!
