What do tourists buy?
95- Treasured Pasts
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As I approach retirement, I plan on a little store close to the beach in Oregon or Washington. I wonder, what do tourists buy when they go in these little tourist traps? What kind of things do you buy as souvenirs?
Stuart
Treasured Pasts
96- thranax
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Cheap $5 or less "carp" items. Like keychains, magnets, and other things you would never buy if you lived there.
~thranax~Best thing to sell is souvenirs, as long as they have lots of pictures or writing of the place on it. I noticed that "flagged" products seem to sell very well in tourist hot spots. Get merchandise with landmarks and stuff, maybe even a souvenir where you take their picture and put it on something. People love pictures of themselves!
75- sneakorocksolid
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We have boxes of junk! We have in the last 20yrs or so chosen one thing really nice to remember our vacation. Usually a print or a unique piece of pottery. Ok, my son and I usually get strange t-shirts.
91- prettydarkhorse
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Treasured Pasts wrote:
As I approach retirement, I plan on a little store close to the beach in Oregon or Washington. I wonder, what do tourists buy when they go in these little tourist traps? What kind of things do you buy as souvenirs?
Stuart
Treasured Pastssmall things like less than ten dollars, things which are unique and they will know came from Oregon, small ballpen holder with Oregon flag on it, shirts with oregon on it, and thranx items, keychain etc
90- Jeffrey Neal
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When the wife and I find ourselves in one of these places, we're looking for something, a gift, for someone else, or a Christmas ornament for the tree or refrigerator magnet that reminds us of the place.
95- Janetta
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t shirts!!! you have to get a shirt with the name of the place you visited on it.
- 95
- Treasured Pasts
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That's helping a lot, keep them coming. Does anyone buy books?
96- darkside
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Treasured Pasts wrote:
As I approach retirement, I plan on a little store close to the beach in Oregon or Washington. I wonder, what do tourists buy when they go in these little tourist traps? What kind of things do you buy as souvenirs?
Stuart
Treasured PastsYou're going to have to go down there and watch people. Not just see what's in the shops, but see the look on their faces when they find something they like. Also take note of the prices.
You want to find out the best sellers from the shop keepers themselves? They're not going to be too forthcoming with the information. So grab a microphone, and a friend with a decent sized video camera and do interviews as if you're shooting something for a television program.
I imagine most would willingly give up some tips that you wouldn't have got in a million years had they thought you were going to be competition.
You could ask shoppers what they like, why they like it and what wasn't there that they would have willingly bought.
Hell, you might enjoy the experience so much yourself you decide that shooting mini-docos is your thing and you broadcast them via Youtube and you make hubs to accompany them.- 95
- Treasured Pasts
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Got the video camera- keep a look out next summer as I cruise the beach!
Treasured Pasts wrote:
Got the video camera- keep a look out next summer as I cruise the beach!
not wanting to be a naysayer, treasured, but do as darkside suggests. garner as much info as you can, keeping in mind that your competition sees you as just that. trinkets and t-shirts are a dime a dozen. even with a truly unique trinket or t-shirt, you'll still be in competition from those selling for ten cents less than you. it matters not that yours is a cooler t-shirt or a shinier trinket.
having done retail, i'm thankful to see that it's in my past. of course, it was a specialty gallery, focusing on a product specific item. still, there are so many factors beyond your control that will determine your success, or failure. do some homework. think long and hard about where our economy's at and where it's headed. let me know if you need more suggestions.Clothes and shoes...no matter where I go with my family, we always buy clothes and shoes.
My mother and I just spent all day in Boston (a city filled with history) and we shopped at Copley Plaza for 3 hours!
SHOES!
Oh, and umbrellas!- 75
- sneakorocksolid
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Treasured Pasts wrote:
That's helping a lot, keep them coming. Does anyone buy books?
One's that tell the history of the area are great!
85- tksensei
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Treasured Pasts wrote:
As I approach retirement, I plan on a little store close to the beach in Oregon or Washington. I wonder, what do tourists buy when they go in these little tourist traps? What kind of things do you buy as souvenirs?
Stuart
Treasured PastsTourists buy any and all crap. That's what's so great about tourists.
- 75
- sneakorocksolid
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Do it yourself clam digging kit! Or sell videos of the engineers that blew up the whale!
88- drej2522
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personally, I buy shot glasses wherever I go in order to continue my 'collection'. so, a collector's item perhaps?
91- lynnechandler
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I look for shops that sell handcrafted items unique to the area like if it is the beach then things made out of shells or driftwood. Mountains I like things made out of natural elements like grapevine wreaths or chimes from the wood in the area.
66- dutchman1951
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Treasured Pasts wrote:
As I approach retirement, I plan on a little store close to the beach in Oregon or Washington. I wonder, what do tourists buy when they go in these little tourist traps? What kind of things do you buy as souvenirs?
Stuart
Treasured PastsMost have agreed to bring back something for each family member, and friends, People always ask; hey bring me back something?
so it is t-shirts, key rings with the name of the place or symbols, animals native to the area, etc... cheep enough to give away to non family, or office mates.
Some spend big money for nice stuff though. Collector stuff also is good. Local Handcraft artists are a good source, get them to con-sign items to you, you take a comission, no overhead.Hats, hats and hats. I live in a beachy tourist area and tee-shirts by far sell the best but they can't be expensive. On the other hand, every time my family goes on a trip someone always comes home with a new hat because they forgot their old one. I've also noticed that rocks are becoming a favorite among the souviner seekers who are left at home. Someone always says bring me back a rock - given the area you are going to be selling in you might want to look for some inexpensive but interesting sources that you can promote.
- 95
- Treasured Pasts
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The next question would be to start fresh or buy an established business! I know how to check books and such to see if it is a good business.
