Originally published in the May 2018 issue of Gifts & Decorative Accessories

Gift specialty stores comprise the largest share of types of retailers responding to Gifts and Decorative Accessories’ 2018 Today’s Gift Retailer survey. This year, they accounted for 37 percent of responding retailers, up two percentage points from last year. Stores in the “other” category, such as jewelry stores and boutiques, account for the second-largest share at 21 percent. Brick-and-mortar retailers are combating the ever-growing presence of online retailers in the gift industry by staying connected with their customers through social media and by offering customized in store experiences that aren’t possible online. One gift specialty store retailer says its in-store services are designed “to demonstrate value in shopping local as opposed to using online shopping sources.”

About the data

PBM’s Strategic Insights team fielded Gift s and Decorative Accessories’ annual online survey to gift retailers in March 2017, which gathered responses from 52 stores across the United States.

*10 pages*