Looking for new products to round out your inventory? Florists everywhere are looking beyond flowers and finding new gift items that really work for them.

1. Chocolates – Selling Affordable Luxury

Handmade Chocolates

Who doesn’t love a creamy, rich bite of delicious chocolate? Many florists are addressing their customer’s sweet tooth by offering a variety of specialty chocolates in their store. The key to selling chocolate effectively is to know your consumer. Here are just a few ideas to get you started on your shop’s chocolate plan:

• High-end Customers – Offer gourmet chocolates from around the world. Good chocolate is like good wine, you can taste little nuances of flavors from its origin. When your customer wants to treat themselves to something fancy, they will think of your shop’s fabulous treats.
• Holiday Fanatics – As the holidays roll around, incorporate hot cocoa mix into your add-on sales. You can create your own hot chocolate gift baskets or cocoa-filled packets using cocoa, marshmallows, and chocolate covered spoons.
• Novelty Chocolate – If your shop is known for it’s fun and festive gifts, try adding a few novelty chocolate items such as bacon-flavored chocolate, chili chocolate (hot) or chocolate covered bugs.
• Locavores – Carry locally-made chocolate in your store to entice your city’s locavores. (People who consume only/prefer locally-made products.)

2. Personalized Gifts – Appealing To The ME

Personalized gifts are a great addition to any florist’s shop. These gifts are always meaningful and cherished. Many times people see a personalized gift on the shelf and think, That really reminds me of Aunt Becky! Then of course they HAVE to buy it. Personalized gifts practically sale themselves!

• Hobbies/Interests – Choose gifts appealing to favorite hobbies, as well as interests like: pet-themed gifts, high school/college pride gifts, sorority gifts.
• Awareness/Charitable – The popularity of awareness gifts is rapidly growing. There are many types of cancer awareness pins, bracelets, and gifts available. You could also offer Fair Trade, handmade products and gifts to help with poverty around the world. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
• Jewelry – Personalized jewelry does not just mean your name written in gold anymore. Try offering charm bracelets/necklaces with dozens of personalized charms they can collect. Birthstone jewelry never goes out of style.
• Scents – People love to smell good. Great scented items make the best gifts! Think: candles, lotions, bath salts, soaps, etc.

3. Handcrafted Gifts – The Artisans Unique Touch

Hand Painted Glass

Offering handcrafted gifts will make your store stand out above the rest. You won’t have to look far for a line of handcrafted gifts. Create them in house or find your local artisans.

• Vases – Handmade/hand painted vases are great selling tools. Offer specials on your handmade vases: “Buy a hand painted vase and get an arrangement to put in it for 1/2 off.” Even you can paint your ordinary vases and turn them into something spectacular.

Marybeth Flowers from Flowers by Flowers in Parkville MD has found hand-painted items are really working for her shop! She offers hand-painted vases, glassware and even her gift bags have a touch of artistry! She is also working on a holiday collection for the upcoming season. Great work Marybeth!

• Pottery – Handmade pottery is a great way to add something unique to your store’s inventory. Contact your local potter’s guild or college pottery class to get some great, local-made pottery deals.
• Jewelry – Handcrafted jewelry is a big seller! Many florists even make their own jewelry in their downtime using wire and beads.

4. Fashion Accessories – Adding Flair

• Scarves – With cool weather just around the corner, scarves are a MUST! Fabric, wool or knitted, they’re all IN this fall!
• Jewelry – The glitzy bling of sparkly jewelry will always catch your customer’s eye. Choose lots of styles and options when it comes to jewelry. Luxurious, Playful, Vintage, Funky — all styles women crave! You can never go wrong with jewelry.
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  Creative Hair Bows

  Hair Accessories – Headbands, puffy flower hair pins, gemstone hair pins are all more great options for fashion accessories. You can even use your extra ribbon and wire!

The team over at Beautiful Blooms Floral Shop in Chouteau OK are creating incredible hair bows for their shop in all sorts of styles and colors. (pictured right) View more pics.

• Clothing – From boutique fashion to novelty t-shirts, the key to clothing sales is finding the right style for your shop. If you cater more towards high-end customers and glitz then designer fashion is a good choice. For shops with a playful, funky attitude then fun novelty t-shirts may be your best bet. It’s all about knowing your customer.

Once you’ve gathered your favorite add-on gift items, it’s time to promote! Don’t just sit around and let your customers stumble upon them on their own! As customers come into your shop, suggest your add-ons confidently. Try to ‘read’ your customer and determine the best add-on for them. Post pictures of your new items in Facebook. If it’s handmade items, update your pictures weekly with new creations. Announce your new items as they arrive weekly.

FLORISTS: If you are in search of new gift items to sell in your store, check out our sister site FGmarket, the retailer’s floral and gift source.

This post was brought to you by local Parkville MD florists.
Not in Parkville? No worries, use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory of florists to find a real local florist in your city!