Marketpulse
A RETAIL NEWS SPECIAL REPORT SPRING 2009
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: Suppliers’ Service Standards
tracking the statistical pulse of the canadian giftware industry
AT-A-GLANCE
TOP 10 STOCKED CATEGORIES
TOP 10 GROWTH CATEGORIES*
Product Category stocking
#1 Canadian-made 80%
#2 General giftware 66%
#3 Home décor 55%
#4 Christmas & seasonal décor 51%
#5 Candles & home fragrance 49%
#6 Wall art 47%
#7 Handmade 46%
#8 Jewellery 44%
#9 Eco-friendly products 41%
#10 Baby & children’s products 36%
For an in-depth analysis of the top-stocked
categories, see page 2. Stocking levels for all
categories can be found on page 4.
of those stocking
buying more in next
Product Category stocking 12 months
Canadian-made 80% 42%
Eco-friendly products 41% 64%
Handmade 46% 52%
Jewellery 44% 37%
Home décor 55% 29%
General giftware 66% 20%
Fashion accessories 31% 42%
Wall art 47% 27%
Baby & children’s products 36% 30%
Stationery & writing instruments 32% 30%
Floral goods 35% 27%
* 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.
SALES TRENDS
Sales Up for 40% of Respondents
The majority of retailers (40%) reported year-over-year sales gains. However, sales were down
for 34% of store owners, an increase of 10 percentage points from last spring. Of those reporting
sales increases, 51% said sales increased by less than 10%, followed by 33% who reported
sales gains in the 11% to 19% range.
of total respondents
buying more in next
12 months
34%
26%
24%
16%
16%
13%
13%
13%
11%
10%
9%
reporting
Spring 2009
40%
26%
34%
Sales increased
Sales were static
Sales decreased
For an in-depth analysis of sales trends, see page 2.
reporting
Spring 2008
54%
22%
24%
