Waterfront Living 2022 - 26

inventory 1,000 keychains with every
first name on them, as they can simply
rotate a much smaller inventory of
blank keychains and create only what
is in demand.
Tamara L. Moran, president of
Yarmouth, Maine-based Town Pride,
a curated collection of custom goods
sold at wholesale to independent gift
shops, noted with new technologies
comes greater creativity and the
opportunity
Ornament. Fire & Pine.
Circle 145.
" The technology behind laser
engravers has become much more
user-friendly over the years, allowing
just about anybody with an idea
the means to create something new
and useful with limited experience
and training, " he explained. " The
technology has also become more
affordable, and with more competition
between manufacturers, each new
machine is more user-friendly than
the last. "
Fire & Pine uses a number of different
technologies in its production but laser
engravers, Lanzel noted, is one of the
most important, as it has the ability
to cut or engrave on a wide variety of
substrates from wood, acrylic, glass,
slate, metals, and more.
" Whether you simply want to add
an artistic spin onto an existing item,
or create a completely new piece of
merchandise from scratch, the laser
engraver is an incredible tool to help
accomplish this, " he said. " We use
our fleet of lasers to not only create the
artwork we sell, but to also innovate
displays, jigs and problem solve
other issues that may arise across our
manufacturing floor. "
Retailers can purchase user-friendly
tabletop engravers with indoor
exhaust extractors to utilize a smaller
inventory of blank customizable
items, and create unique work on the
spot for customers in their shop.
So, with the right tools, a retailer
doesn't need to purchase and
26 GIFT SHOP® PLUS | WATERFRONT LIVING 2022
engraving and printing because it
allows greater flexibility with a variety
of our existing product types. "
MORE PRODUCT EQUALS
MORE CUSTOMERS
Not only does customization invite
to customize a wider
selection of products in a shorter time
frame and in lower quantities.
" We're seeing a lot of experimenting
with decorating on different materials
and fibers, " she shared. " We are also
developing multi-faceted
designs
using more than one type of decorating
on a singular piece, adding texture,
depth and interest. "
Kern Stevenson, director of business
development for Leewood, Kansasbased
DEMDACO, explained how
automation is reducing the back and
forth with customized product.
" The rendering stimulates
purchasers with new merchandising
ideas, helping to consultatively guide
the purchasing decision, saving them
decision-making time, " he said. " Our
initial exploration has involved laser
current customers to keep your brand
at the forefront of their minds, it also
opens doors to new potential clients
who may not be the market for your
current offerings.
" We have very limited opportunity to
capture the attention of customers, so
by providing a wider variety of goods,
we allow more face time with the
customer to browse and understand
our brand, " Lanzel shared.
Moran is most excited about
digital-especially DTF-as well as 3D
embroidery and newer sublimation
techniques, which she said brings a
larger cross-section of the public into
the store.
" It's our designs or artwork that
win over our customers, coupled
with the newest technologies and
quality goods, " she noted, pointing
out the top categories at Town Pride
Above: Dean Crouser Sea
Turtles Heart Peg Game.
DEMDACO. Circle 146.
Left: 25 oz Decanter and
12 oz Rocks Glass.
Carson Specialties.
Circle 147.
Waterfront Living 2022

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