Barking Up the Right Tree

Kids and pets are two niche markets that are often overlooked by many traditional gift
retailers. However, both provide solid sales growth and loyal customers, especially if
you offer innovative and unique products not found in big-box stores.

tough and durable chew toys are handcrafted in Canada from natural cotton. Non-toxic, natural vegetable dyes are used for colouring and the toys are all machine-washable.

They’re fun, keep canine
teeth clean and can be frozen
and given to teething puppies.

KULA KLIPS Wilma Simpkins from Melange, a delightful gift store in South Surrey, B.C., brought Kula Klips (SRP: $8 a set) to my attention as she sells hundreds of them to girls of all ages. Designed by Ashley Fraser-Sexsmith, the handmade clips are available in literally hundreds of hip designs. All are magnet-free and made with non-toxic glue. Their distinctive designs are ever-changing and are based on current trends with special editions and seasonal varieties introduced several times a year. They come carded and can be placed in baskets, trays or bins right at your cash area.

include fruit, cars, helicopters, flowers and bugs. With 32 styles, there’s a hat to suit every baby’s personality.

The company offers a countertop display invaluable to retailers. You may also want to consider creating an entire Nana Knit section by adding their matching sweaters and booties.

ROPE TOYS (top) Even if you’ve never stocked pet products, take a look at the rope toys (SRP: $10.99) from My Sassy Dog. The quirky,

TEA & CRUMPETS Lest we forget our cat-loving clients…These little bags of healthy and all-natural Tea & Crumpets cat treats (SRP: $4.99) sell like hotcakes. Each batch is made in a human kitchen with human food ingredients. Yummy tuna combined with catnip make these crunchy cookies appealing to both pets and their owners. Pop them into a large glass bowl on your cash counter or in another high-traffic area and you’ll be swimming in sales.

WHOLESALER LOCATOR

KULA KLIPS KULA KLIPS Telephone: (780) 641-2713 www.kulaklips.com

KNITTED HATS NANA KNITS Telephone: (519) 660-4138 www.nanaknits.com

Hope Milner, our resident queen
of product picks, is the
award-winning founder
of La Premiere
Compagnie de
Paniers/The New
England Gift &
Basket Company in
Pointe Claire, Que.
For more of her
product picks,
log onto
www.hopesbag.com.

ROPE TOYS MY SASSY DOG Telephone: (604) 319-8705 www.mysassydog.com

KNITTED HATS Created by a real Nana with eight grandchildren under the age of nine, these sweet hats (SRP: $23.99) are hand-knit and laundered to avoid shrinkage. The company – Nana Knits – conceives all the unique designs, which