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FEATURE
whwytriright 26 Souvenirs Update & Forecast
to get slightly bett er as the year winds down.”
SISKIYOU FINE PEWTER & GIFTS
“It’s certainly had an eff ect,” adds Felicia Riccardo, 3551 Avion Dr., Medford, OR 97504
Toll Free: 800-866-7475
owner and president of Starlinks Gift s. “We are such a
Tel.: 541-858-3412 • Fax: 800-650-9926
niche market that it’s necessary to fi nd creative ways
Email:
CustomerService@Siskiyougifts.com
Website:
www.siskiyougifts.com
to broaden that market.” Starlinks, which specializes
in metaphysical and fantasy themed jewelry and gift s,
has seen an upswing in business since in September.
low for wearers to place a personal note. Th e six keys retail
“It’s defi nitely been picking up,” Riccardo says. “People are
for $98.95 each.
looking to make purchases for the holidays, and in general
Similarly, Siskiyou Fine Pewter & Gift s is succeeding by
they seem to be in a lighter mood. Th at said, certain things
dominating its niche, according to marketing communica-
have remained strong sellers for us for a long time.” In par-
tions manager, Karyn Christensen. Th e company began 25
ticular, she says, anything that connotes protection or good
years ago, creating and selling uniquely designed pewter belt
fortune has been doing well. “Th ere’s usually a mix of love
buckles, but has since expanded to become a leading sup-
and health related items, but anything to do with good luck
plier of licensed sports products, including everything from
or making money is doing really well now.”
glassware (including thermoses and travel mugs) and gift
Popular items include a line of charms (priced $12.95 to
boxes, to candles, wallets, checkbook covers and trailer hitch
$20.95 retail; wholesale prices on request) featuring the Star
covers. Additionally, Siskiyou acquired Bergamot Gift s’ sports
of Solomon, denoting wisdom, intuition, and understanding;
product and gift s lines in August, as well as its Alfred Hitch
the Pentacle of Eden (love); and the Eye of Horus (health,
Cover line of trailer hitch covers. Bergamot will continue to
strength and vigor). Also selling well are the store’s divining
focus on its other metalwork products.
rods ($51.95 retail), purporting to be useful in fi nding missing
“Th e biggest challenge we face is the heavy competition
items and buried artifacts, locating energy lines and detect-
with licensed merchandise,” Christensen says, noting that
ing underground water or metal. Starlinks has also recently
Siskiyou’s clients include Major League Baseball, the NFL,
signed a deal with artist, Anne Stokes, an illustrator special-
the NHL, NASCAR, Ford, Dodge and John Deere. “Being
izing in the sword and sorcery genre, including designs for
on the web, as strong as we are, helps us a lot; not just with
the “Dungeons & Dragons” line, not only for pendants, but
the big distributors but also with the mom and pop stores
also for greeting cards and a Stokes calendar, the fi rst calen-
around the country. A lot of the big chains have cut back,
dar that Starlinks has ever off ered. “Th at’s an example of our
but as long as the smaller stores continue the good fi ght, we’ll
willingness to try something new, to expand,” Riccardo says.
be in good shape.” Doing particularly well at the moment
“We’ve also added a line of birthday cards since our Yuletide
are electronics and cell phone accessories, she notes. “Th at
cards have proven to be strong sellers.” Such cards retail for
has really been driven by people asking for it, rather than us
$20.95 per six pack.
or someone else just off ering it,” Christensen says. “Th ere
Th e company has also recently expanded its off erings
isn’t a lot of licensed accessories in that area, so there’s less
to include sets of runes (stone and wooden), which range
competition for us.”
from $24.95 to $50 retail, as well as “Keys to the Soul,”
Face plates for BlackBerry Storms and cell phones,
which are key shaped pendants featuring
as well as straps for iPhones featuring the logos and
gemstones and a mystical code of the 72
colors of major league sports teams, have been espe-
Names of God, along with an inside hol-
cially strong sellers, she says. Siskiyou will maximize
its marketing eff orts over the next several months,
STARLINKS GIFTS
2892 N. Bellfl ower Blvd., Suite 283
Christensen adds. “Th ere are a lot of the grass roots
Long Beach, CA 90815 marketing methods that are tried and true, like email
Toll Free: 800-867-4344 • Fax: 562-685-9817
marketing, direct mail to customers, and a lot of direct
Email:
www.starlinksgifts.com/articles.asp
Website:
www.starlinksgifts.com
phone calls. Overall, the frequency of customer contact
will be increasing.”
Continued On 30 whwytriright
28 November 2009
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