In Vineyard Haven, Mass., Bunch of Grapes Bookstore sells plenty of journals, with owner Molly Coogan reporting that there are options available in a variety of styles and at various price points. Some particularly popular brands include Bruno Visconti and Peter Pauper as well as Moleskine and Earthbound. The shop, which is located on Martha's Vineyard, also sells a "ton of greeting cards," and Coogan sources them from many different vendors in order to appeal to many different tastes. Cards range from sentimental to quirky, and she noted that cards and postcards made by local artists and photographers, or featuring local themes, always do well, especially in the summer.
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| Calendars at Bunch of Grapes | |
Calendars are also perennial sellers, and Coogan pointed to two particular calendars published by local photographers. One features photographs of the Vineyard paired with dates of Vineyard events and history. Started by the late Peter Simon, the tradition has been carried on by his wife. The store sells "hundreds of copies each year." Photographer Michael Blanchard does a Vineyard calendar that benefits a different local charity each year; Coogan said people are always "eager to support his work and mission."
Bunch of Grapes has had success selling Conscious Step socks, which are ethically and sustainably made and support organizations like the Trevor Project. Stickers are "having a moment," with Coogan mentioning Ace the Pitman and Mincing Mockingbird. The store can't keep items from Arcane Bullsh-t in stock, which include totes, stickers, and posters that feature public domain art and absurd text.
Being in a beach town, "rainy day items" are always popular, with some examples including puzzles from vendors like New York Puzzle Co., Pomegranate, and eeBoo, as well as board games and art supplies from eeBoo and Ooly.
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Sally Brewster, owner of Park Road Books in Charlotte, N.C., said booklights and reusable bags are the store's big sidelines sellers right now. She orders displays from Mighty Bright, and Baggu is the store's bestselling reusable bag. Brewster noted that she's been carrying Baggu for more than 10 years; in that time they've gotten very popular, and she and her team now need to preorder the designs they want. There are also canvas totes from Gibbs Smith, and Park Road Books recently brought in dog tags and charms from Quotable, which have been reordered twice. Brewster added that as a dog-friendly store, the latter's success makes sense.
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| Keyring from My City Souvenirs | |
For local merchandise, Park Road Books works with My City Souvenirs and carries items like magnets and playing cards with Charlotte landmarks and North Carolina themes. Postcards featuring images of Charlotte have also seen a rise in popularity lately.
Puzzles and greeting cards "sell constantly." For puzzles, Brewster orders from Heritage Puzzle, which is local, as well as New York Puzzle Co., Gallison, White Mountain Puzzles, Pomegranate, and Springbok Puzzles. The biggest seller for boxed cards, meanwhile, is Earth Sky + Water. Brewster said they are "incredible to work with." --Alex Mutter
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