Marketpulse
A RETAIL NEWS SPECIAL REPORT FALL 2008
What’s Inside
2 From the Editor’s Desk
2 In-depth Analyses
3 Regional Differences
4 Category Comprehensive
6 Year-over-Year Review
8 Etcetera: Business Issues & Energy Costs
tracking the statistical pulse of the canadian giftware industry
AT-A-GLANCE
TOP 10 STOCKED CATEGORIES TOP 10 GROWTH CATEGORIES*
Product Category
#1 General giftware
#2 Canadian-made
#3 Candles & home fragrance
#4 Home décor
#5 Jewellery
#6 Christmas & seasonal décor
#7 Photo frames & albums
#8 Wall art
#9 Stationery &
writing instruments
#10 Eco-friendly products 21%
For an in-depth analysis of the top-stocked
categories, see pag e 2. Stocking levels for all
categories can be found on page 4.
stocking
50%
38%
36%
34%
32%
30%
27%
24%
22%
of those stocking
buying more in next
Product Category stocking 12 months
Canadian-made 38% 43%
General giftware 50% 30%
Eco-friendly products 21% 65%
Home décor 34% 28%
Jewellery 32% 29%
Candles & home fragrance 36% 25%
Wall art 24% 31%
Christmas & seasonal décor 30% 24%
* Determined by total percentage of respondents buying more of the category in the next 12 months
For an in-depth analysis of the industry’s top-growth categories, see page 2.
of total respondents
buying more in next
12 months
16%
15%
14%
10%
9%
9%
7%
7%
SALES TRENDS
Most Retailers Report Year-over-Year Gains
Fewer retailers reported sales increases this fall compared to last; however, almost half (47%) of the
store owners polled enjoyed year-over-year sales gains. On the flip side, the percentage of retailers
reporting sales decreases increased from 15% in 2007 to 26%.
reporting
47%
27%
26%
Sales increased
Sales were static
Sales decreased
For an in-depth analysis of sales trends, see page 3.
The data used to compile this report was derived from 600 telephone interviews conducted with independent giftware retailers in September 2008. © 2008 Canadian Gift & Tableware Association.
